2-week rotation · beginner core

Workout schedule

Monday, August 10 Week B active
Monday Rest / light mobility rest

Optional recovery

  • Full body stretch 15 min
  • Foam rolling — legs & back 10 min

light recovery

Tuesday Morning gym swim + core gym core

Morning gym — swim laps

  • Warm-up: easy freestyle 4 lengths
  • Main: freestyle laps 10–12 lengths, rest 30s each
  • Cool-down: backstroke 2 lengths

Evening core (home) — 2 rounds

  • Crunches 2 × 12, slow & controlled
  • Lying knee raises 2 × 10
  • Plank hold 2 × 20 sec
  • Dead bug 2 × 6 each side

Swimming engages your core on every stroke — it pairs naturally with a brief evening ab session.

Wednesday Morning gym weights + core gym core

Morning gym — machines (upper)

  • Cable lat pulldown 3 × 12
  • Seated cable row 3 × 12
  • Chest press machine 3 × 12
  • Leg press (light) 2 × 15

Core finisher — 2 rounds

  • Bicycle crunches 2 × 10 each side
  • Hollow body hold 2 × 15 sec
  • Side plank (from knees) 2 × 15 sec each side
Thursday Morning gym basketball + core gym core

Morning gym — basketball

  • Shooting / pickup 1 hour

Evening core (home) — 2 rounds

  • V-ups (or tuck crunches) 2 × 10
  • Lying leg raises 2 × 10
  • Russian twists 2 × 10

Keep evening core brief since you already moved hard in the morning.

Friday Hockey night hockey

Hockey

  • Game Full effort — high intensity

Optional morning activation

  • Plank hold 2 × 20 sec
  • Glute bridge 1 × 15
Saturday Core focus day (home) core home

Core circuit — 3 rounds

  • Crunches 3 × 15
  • Lying leg raises 3 × 10
  • Plank hold 3 × 25 sec (+5 sec each week)
  • Russian twists 3 × 10
  • Dead bug 2 × 8 each side

Home dumbbells — 2 sets

  • DB goblet squat 2 × 12 — light
  • DB shoulder press 2 × 10
  • DB bent-over row 2 × 10 each side

Biggest core volume day of the week. Track your plank time — adding 5 seconds per week is real, measurable progress.

Sunday Outdoor hike (3.2mi) outdoor

Hike — 3.2 mile route (~1 hr)

  • Outdoor trail hike 60–70 min, moderate pace
  • Alt: 15% incline treadmill 30–40 min if weather is bad

Post-hike (10 min)

  • Hip flexor stretch 60 sec each side
  • Hamstring stretch 60 sec each side

Sunday hiking builds the aerobic base — consistency compounds.

Monday Core + home weights Today core home

Core circuit — 2 rounds

  • Crunches 2 × 15 (progress from Week A)
  • Lying knee raises 2 × 12
  • Plank hold 2 × 25 sec
  • Side plank (from knees) 2 × 20 sec each side

Home dumbbells upper — 2 sets

  • DB chest press (floor) 2 × 12
  • DB bent-over row 2 × 12 each side
  • DB bicep curl 2 × 12

Week B Monday is active, anchor

Tuesday Morning gym weights + core gym core

Morning gym — machines (lower)

  • Leg press 3 × 12
  • Hamstring curl machine 3 × 12
  • Shoulder press machine 3 × 12
  • Cable tricep pushdown 3 × 15

Core finisher — 2 rounds

  • Bicycle crunches 2 × 12 each side
  • Dead bug 2 × 8 each side
  • Hollow body hold 2 × 20 sec

Week B shifts machines toward lower body and arms

Wednesday Morning gym swim + core gym core

Morning gym — swim laps

  • Warm-up: easy freestyle 4 lengths
  • Main: freestyle intervals 12–14 lengths, rest 30s each
  • Cool-down 2 lengths easy

Evening core — 2 rounds

  • Lying leg raises 2 × 12
  • Russian twists 2 × 12
  • Plank hold 2 × 25 sec
Thursday Morning gym basketball (pre-hockey) gym

Morning gym — basketball

  • Shooting practice / pickup 1 hour

Evening — light stretch only

  • Hip flexor stretch 90 sec each side
  • Quad stretch 60 sec each side

hockey — skip evening core entirely, stretching only.

Friday Hockey night hockey

Hockey

  • Game / practice Full effort — high intensity

Optional morning activation

  • Plank hold 2 × 20 sec
  • Glute bridge 1 × 15
Saturday Core focus + home lower body core home

Core circuit — 3 rounds

  • V-ups (or tuck crunches) 3 × 10
  • Lying leg raises 3 × 12
  • Plank hold 3 × 30 sec
  • Side plank (full or knees) 3 × 20 sec each side

Home dumbbells lower — 2 sets

  • DB goblet squat 2 × 12
  • DB Romanian deadlift 2 × 10
  • Glute bridge with DB 2 × 15
Sunday Outdoor hike (3.2mi) outdoor

Hike — 3.2 mile route (~1 hr)

  • Outdoor trail hike 60–70 min, moderate pace
  • Alt: 15% incline treadmill 30–40 min if weather is bad

Post-hike (10 min)

  • Hip flexor stretch 60 sec each side
  • Calf stretch 60 sec each side

every Sunday