Lotte is someone who likes to take on a challenge, so we have come to the right place for a sporty challenge. She attempted the split in 4 weeks.
The author of the book Do the Split in 4 Weeks claims that anyone, no matter how old or stiff you are, can do the split in 4 weeks. I want to be able to do that too! So:take that book with you and get started!
Well I'm not a stiff by nature, but putting my legs behind my neck isn't exactly one of my talents. I can barely touch my toes if I do my best and because of all the running my hamstrings are a bit stiffer than they should be. But hey! This book is for everyone right?! I'm hopeful. In 4 weeks I'll be watching Netflix in the split.
The first week of this split challenge I start stretching fanatically. I do stretches for the hamstrings, inner thigh muscles, all neatly on schedule. Although I notice that I can touch my toes more easily within a few days (YOUHOE!), I get the feeling that it will be quite a task to be able to do a real pancake split (in full split, with your upper body on the floor , as the 70-year-old ladies in the book's success stories can do, so I want this too!).
Also read Lotte's Challenge:drink two liters of water every day
Maybe I should supplement the current stretch schedule by following a number of YouTube videos. Flexible gymnastics girls show how it goes. They fold in all directions with ease and surprisingly often shout 'No pain, no gain'. ah! That makes it a lot less fun. Still I will do my best (with the necessary breaks, I don't want to force anything), because I want to do everything I can to achieve this challenge (and the gymnastics girls completely agree).
Two weeks of stretching and a lot of motivational Youtube shouts further, I'm halfway through my challenge. Time to make up the score:within these 14 days I went from touching my toes, to easily holding my heels. I feel super flexible, but the split? It is not yet visible. Keep going then, persistence wins! So:I start the days well with a good warm-up, fold myself in half, lash my legs apart, puff through the minutes and have to recover until my body is flexible again and then start all over again. “No pain, no gain!” I hear the gymnastics girl yell in my head. Practicing the split is top sport! But then it MUST be a success, right?!
Also read Lotte's Challenge:hooping a kilometer
Well no! After 4 weeks of lashing, plodding and puffing, no split is visible yet! Let alone the pancake split.. I do get a lot further in the split (and the splits too) and where I could first barely touch my toes, I can now fold my body in half, but whether you makes an impression at a party..?!
Want to read more from Lotte? Every Sunday she writes a blog on Santé about a new challenge. Also take a look at her Instagram @happy_lotte_
