Abdominal exercises can strengthen your core. The plank is on most lists of the best abdominal exercises. Engaging your core during this exercise can help you perform it safely. Do planks everyday to strengthen your core.

• Begin with your forearms and toes on the floor. Keep your torso straight and rigid and your body in a straight line from ears to toes with no sagging or bending. Your head is relaxed and you should be looking at the floor. Hold this position for 10 seconds to start. Over time work up to 30, 45 or 60 seconds. (sportsmedicine.about.com)

My five favorite plank variations from the list 20 Ways to Do a Plank are:

• Forearm plank
• Straight arm plank
• Side plank
• One-legged plank
• Plank with elbow lift

In preparation for Valentine’s Day, I was researching what men really want to do for Valentine’s Day and I came across this humorous list:) The top five are:

1. Have Sex
2. Watch something on Netflix together
3. Go to a restaurant where there is steak
4. Have sex again
5. Give and receive chocolate.

I thought that many women probably want to do these same things, just in a different order, maybe with a little lobster tail alongside the steak! So on February 14^th be sure to engage your core during sex, for dinner have a lean, juicy 3 oz. beef tenderloin (maybe with some seafood), large leafy green salad, along with  a 5 oz. glass of red wine, engage your core while trying some new plank exercises and watching Netflix, and make sure the chocolate is a small dark square of at least 72% cacao. Have fun!

Contact Well Health Coach Jan jan@wellhealthyways.com