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

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.

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.

iTunes 40 Free Songs from Lollapalooza

Hello, friends! I know some of you out there have iPods, iPads and the like. Hopefully, you're not running with an iPad on your back. It might injure you.

I have here a download code which I got at Lollapalooza this summer for 40 free songs on iTunes. I don't use iTunes, so I'm passing it along.

Obviously, the code will only work for the first person who uses it, so get those trigger fingers ready. Good luck to the quickest of them all! Also, I have no idea what artists or songs are on this collection. Let me know how you like it!

I'm excited to do a few more 5k runs before the cold weather comes around.