Kareem Abdul-Jabbar blogs about core fitness

That exercise called the Plank has received plenty of mention here at That's Fit in terms of its impact on your core muscles. I incorporated the Plank into my exercise routine about three weeks ago and am seeing a difference. While flat belly abs are not emerging (have to lose more weight for that), I have noticed more power and grace when rising out of bed in the morning. I am also newly aware of my core, consciously tightening when twisting. A bit more definition in the obliques is sweet, too.

Thanks to a tip from Julie's Health Club, NBA star Kareem Abdul-Jabbar is a big fan of core fitness. He's now blogging about fitness and more at the Los Angeles Times. He says core fitness is the answer for the over-50 crowd to stay fit and prevent those nagging injuries that often pop up as we age. Here are Abdul-Jabbar's three recommended core exercises -- of course the ever-challenging and productive Plank is first in line:

• Plank: With elbows and forearms touching the ground, push up onto your toes, tighten abs for 10 to 30 seconds and lower your exhausted bod back down to the floor. Repeat 10 times, increase reps with time.
• Crunch: Unlike the traditional sit-up, lay on your back with knees bent, but keep your hands crossed across your chest. Curl shoulders only toward your hips as you crunch those abs. Keep the lower back firmly pressed to the floor throughout the entire motion. Start with 20 reps and increase as you get fit.
• Quadruped: Get down on hands/knees with forearms in the Plank position. Raise one leg up so your thigh is parallel to the ground and the bottom of your shoe faces up toward the ceiling. Form is important, keep that neck straight and avoid arching your back. Lower leg to the ground and repeat 10 to 15 times. Switch to other leg.

Abdul-Jabbar says do these a minimum of three times a week, concentrating on form over repetitions, and don't forget to steadily breathe. I do whatever the King of the Skyhook says, his smooth hook shot was about the only way I could score over my towering brothers during our driveway basketball scrimmages.