Sunday, March 24, 2013

Week 1 - Day 7: Rest

Well, the schedule calls for a rest day. 

But instead, I went ahead and did Combat 30: Kickstart. There were a couple reasons: 1) I really wanted to work out; and 2) as the day will be hectic, I may take my rest tomorrow. Just an ol' switcheroo. 

Heart Rate Monitor numbers


Again, my numbers were a little better for this same workout. 

And this marks the end of Week 1. I am seeing some definition in the arms. Would like to see that continue and start focusing more on the core and legs. 

Week 1

Week 1 - Day 6: Combat 60: Extreme Cardio Fighter

Another set with the cardio disc. Good news is I improved my performance with increased calorie burn, average heart rate and maximum heart rate. 

Heart Rate Monitor numbers

Week 1 - Day 5: Shock Plyo HIIT 2

Meh. I didn't even burn 300 calories in the 30 minutes. Was a little bit disappointed by that. I think it has to do with the level of modification I was doing. My hope is that next week, I'll step it up a notch. 

Heart Rate Monitor numbers

Week 1 - Day 4: Combat 60: Extreme Cardio Fighter

Sixty minutes of cardio fun. This was a decent workout. I must say I feel like I could have probably done something more intense than this. Maybe I'm used to Plyo X from P90X (which has been the only workout where I've burned over 1,000 calories in one hour). 

All in all, though, this is a great routine. My goal is to work on defining my abs. Cardio is key in burning off the fat that is covering my abdominal muscles. 

http://connect.garmin.com/activity/287249721

Week 1 - Day 3: Combat 45: Power Kata

Oh snap. Power Kata introduces a few new moves beyond jab, cross, uppercut and hook. The street brawl downward punch is downright nasty. You feel like you're kicking ass. Mainly your own. I really liked this workout.

Heart Rate Monitor numbers

Week 1 - Day 2: Power HIIT 1

Damn! No more punching and kicking. This workout is awesome resistance training. You will need weights (dead-lifts, squats, power cleans, and power presses). You also get to do fun stuff like push-ups, burpees, plyo lunges, jump squats. You finish with some core moves. 

I did not do burpees and I modified the plyo lunges. 

Heart Rate Monitor numbers

Week 1 - Day 1: Combat 30

Annnnd we're off! Started Combat.

This is a great short workout. Lots of punching and kicking. Lots of soreness in the obliques. That means something is working. 

Heart Rate Monitor numbers

Monday, March 11, 2013

Edamame + Roasted Corn Succotash

Easily one of my favorite recipes from the Ultimate Reset. A simple and flavorful dish.



Ingredients 


¾ cup frozen edamame

½ cup frozen corn, cooked and drained 
½ shallot, diced 
½ red bell pepper, diced 
¼ red onion diced 
1 Tbsp. rice vinegar 
1 Tbsp. extra virgin olive oil 
2 Tbsp. fresh lime juice 
2 Tbsp. fresh cilantro Himalayan salt and herbal seasoning (to taste)

Directions 


Preheat oven to 400° F and arrange corn in single layer on baking sheet. Roast for 10 minutes, or until caramelized and beginning to brown but not harden. Remove and let cool. 

Meanwhile, bring water to a boil and cook edamame for 5 to 7 minutes. Drain and set aside. 

Sauté onion, shallot, and bell pepper in olive oil for 10 minutes or until soft. Add corn and edamame to onion mixture; cook on medium for 5 minutes. Add vinegar and remove from heat. Stir in lime juice, cilantro, salt, and seasoning.

Tips

  • Use fresh lime juice - the concentrated stuff is a bit too overpowering and sour
  • I once ran out of rice vinegar and on a whim used a bit of white balsamic vinegar and white cooking wine. It seemed to do the trick!
  • This dish can be enjoyed hot or cold.

Monday, March 4, 2013

Turning 30

Last month, it happened. I turned the big 3-0. What did I do on my last day as a 20-something? A little Yoga X from P90X. It was the best birthday ever.

Yoga X
By the way, this is my Garmin FR60 heart rate monitor watch. I love it. Check out my review of it. It's fantastic for running and is a must to keep track of your cardio workouts.