Birthday Month Challenge!
February is my birthday month! What better way to celebrate than by taking on the challenge shared in Chapter 2 of Jen Ashton’s book, Self Care Solution. This push-up and plank challenge feels realistic, doable, and perfectly aligned with Live Well with Angela.
Let’s dive into a few of the details that might inspire you to join me.
The beauty of this challenge is its simplicity. It focuses on two foundational strength movements, push-ups and planks, that work nearly every muscle in the body.
The structure is straightforward:
Start with 20 push-ups and a 45-second plank
Each day, add 1 push-up and 5 seconds to your plank
By the end you will or should have accomplished on your last day: 48 push-ups + 3-minute-long plank
One of my favorite parts of this challenge is how flexible it is. The plank doesn’t need to be held all at once or in one position (it can be on hands or forearms, switched to side planks, or a combination of moves). Push-ups can be done on your knees or against a wall or table.
Listening to your body and modifying as needed is encouraged. Strength builds when we stay consistent, not when we push through discomfort that doesn’t feel right.
Jen often completed this challenge in the morning, using it as a quick way to start the day strong. The entire workout takes about five minutes, which makes it incredibly realistic to stick with.
That said, timing doesn’t matter nearly as much as consistency.
You can do it anywhere, with no equipment.
Why Push-ups and Planks are so Important to Jen:
Activates nearly every major muscle group
Strengthen muscles, tendons, and ligaments
Build functional strength that supports balance, posture, and daily movement
Push-ups also help stimulate growth hormone, which plays an important role in:
Supporting lean muscle and fat loss
Slowing physical aging
Maintaining bone density and reducing osteoporosis risk
This is exactly the kind of strength training that supports my long-term health (especially when followed by a nice cold or hot Fizz drink afterwards – my favorite right now is pomegranate by itself or paired with tea).
Accountability Makes All the Difference
One thing Jen strongly encourages in this challenge is having an accountability partner to check in with, encourage you, and keep you moving forward.
If you’d like to join me this February and take on this push-up and plank challenge together, I’d love to have you along. We’ll keep it supportive, flexible, and focused on showing up.
If you prefer to go solo – I have included a tracker document, you can print out for yourself.
Here’s to celebrating another year—and another step toward living well.
x/o
Angela