This week had a major upside to it. A phone call interview with Chael Sonnen. You can hear it as part of our podcast for TSN 1290s The Weigh In. Before the interview we talked about this project, encouraging fight fans to try aspects of the training. We talked briefly about his hilarious commercials for Nexersys (more on that later) and getting people fit. During the podcast interview we talked his picks for UFC Fight Night, and about his ability to always be ready for any fight any time. His answer was simple. It goes back to his wrestling days, and you never know whos going to be your opponent. You simply have to be ready and be your best. Chael isnt as big on strength training, and in fact sees it the same as some of the "old school" guys do. Its more to break up training than to add to it. Its a mental break, something new. It got me thinking about my week of training. I spend a lot of my time doing the work I have my pros do in the strength room. I also make time for kickboxing. Unfortunately, finding time to get to a jujitsu or wrestling class never matches my schedule, but I can always hit a heavy bag. Which led me to take a look around the internet, my hope was to find a few things MMA fans could try that could match their schedule if they wanted to try striking. The fitness you need for 20-30 minutes of striking is actually incredible. It truly is one of the top cardiovascular workouts. If you want your body to lose fat, cardio burns it off. Especially if that cardio is done in intervals, and high intensity training (HIT). I checked out a brand new franchise to the market, its called 9 Round Fitness. Basically a new class starts every 30 minutes. You are involved in a circuit of 9 x 3 minute rounds of activity. So if you are a fan of MMA or Kickboxing, but are not quite ready to enter a full fight gym, this is the perfect start. Trust me when I say, fight gyms can be intimidating. Go at the wrong time and you can see blood on the mats, and sweat flying everywhere. Its not the best starting point for a lot of people. Something with the basics of kickboxing, and people there simply to get a workout and try the sport they love is perfect. If you dont want to leave your home, you need to try a Nexersys. Its a stand-alone piece of workout equipment. It comes with software to ensure you are progressing, learning and increasing your fitness. The targets have accelerometers to insure your safety when striking. For a beginner in kickboxing its great, and it can advance you as you get better at your striking game. Again, anytime you can work in high intensity intervals into your training, its a great thing. I would love to see fight fans try something like this, just to get introduced to the sport they love. Building an understanding of what goes into training, builds more passion for the sport. It also builds sponsorship opportunities for athletes. Meaning, they get paid to train and the fans see more complete fighters. My week was capped off by a meeting with my trainer; its time to buckle down. Im looking to be able to hit 205 by the end of this 10 weeks. Currently my weight is sitting at 221 pounds. That means its time to tighten up on diet. This is the worst part of training. Its also why fighters hire trainers. Im using Jeff Fisher at Elite Performance in Winnipeg; hes helped athletes in all sports cut weight to be their best. Im using a trainer because I would not do what it takes if it was up to me. You need someone to reinforce the necessity of being strict on the diet. If a pro misses weight, it ruins his reputation and costs him a portion of his winnings. So to test how I can do with training and cutting calories my diet this week has a lot more focus. No sugar at all, increasing my good fats, using select supplements to ensure my vitamins and minerals are up even though my calories are being cut. I will eat 5 times in a day, 3 meals and two smaller snacks. Im also taking care to remove carbohydrates that have gluten, and extra dairy products. A lot of pro fighters are avoiding dairy as their fights approach. Dairy can in some people increase the production mucus, which affects breathing through the nose. Last week I started running with my SISU Mouth guard. Even though it has significant improvements in how well it fits, you still shouldnt be breathing with an open mouth. So dairy is reduced. Im on track, it feels good and I cant wait to hear from fans of the sport of MMA as they turn their health around, and develop some healthy habits thanks to their passion for MMA. Lots to learn and a lot of fun to be had while getting active. Roy Oswalt Jersey . Mired in an offensive slump, Lowry - the NBAs leader in taking charges this season - did what he has learned to do best, standing his ground and drawing a crucial offensive foul on the Cavaliers all-star point guard. Fast forward 30 seconds to the Cavs next possession, with the home team still trailing by three, Spencer Hawes - one of the leagues best passing big men - threw an interception, intended for Tyler Zeller and picked off by DeMar DeRozan. Brad Peacock Astros Jersey . -- Two out of three aint bad. http://www.baseballastrosproshop.com/michael-brantley-astros-jersey/ . "Weve given ourselves now a tougher task," said Carlyle after the Friday practice, the Toronto head coach notably chipper and upbeat throughout. "But the bottom line is we just have to win our share of games [and] not worry about what anybody else is doing. Nolan Ryan Jersey . Villar connected off Joe Saunders (11-14), sending a drive well over the left-field fence for his first career homer. The Astros scored six times in the first three innings to chase Saunders. Jake Marisnick Astros Jersey . Mickelson shot a 2-under 70 after opening with a 77 -- his worst score of the season -- on TPC San Antonios AT&T Oaks Course. Lefty was 11 strokes behind leader Steven Bowditch, the Australian who had a 67 to reach 8-under 136.PHILADELPHIA -- A.J. Burnett and Marlon Byrd were the two acquisitions the Philadelphia Phillies were hoping would help them get back to the post-season. Well, they helped them get a win in a season going nowhere. Burnett threw 7 1-3 sharp innings, Byrd hit a three-run homer and the Phillies beat the San Diego Padres 5-2 on Tuesday night. "Create some momentum. We just have to carry it over into tomorrow," manager Ryne Sandberg said. Back from a 1-5 trip that left them tied with the Cubs for the worst record in the NL, the Phillies opened a six-game homestand with only their 13th win at Citizens Bank Park. Burnett (4-5) allowed two runs and three hits to earn his first win since May 20. "It all starts with our pitching," Burnett said. "If we hold them down and give our guys a chance, the better off well be." Jonathan Papelbon left the bases loaded in a scoreless ninth to record his 300th career save, becoming the 26th pitcher to reach that mark. He has 14 consecutive saves after blowing his first try. "It was tough because I didnt feel that emotion in a while," Papelbon said. "It means a lot to me, more than most people would think." Will Venable hit a solo homer for San Diego. Starter Ian Kennedy (5-7) gave up five runs and seven hits in seven innings. Kennedy retired the first nine batters before Ben Revere lined a double to right to start Philadelphias fourth. Chase Utleys RBI single tied it at 1. After Ryan Howard singled, Byrd hit an opposite-field shot into the seats in right-centre field for a 4-1 lead. "It seems theres always one pitch youd like to take back and that was the pitch," Kennedy said. "Not a good location." Utley and Howard hit consecutive singles before Byrd drove in another run with a sacrifice fly in the sixth to make it 5-1. That was enough for Burnett, who shook off his recent struggles and was in control throughout. The righty was 1-4 with a 7.25 ERA in his previous six starts. Burnett waalked two after issuing 10 in his last two starts.dddddddddddd "It looked like he was throwing more strikes and he had some contact outs early in counts," Sandberg said. "He also mixed in some two-seam fastballs, which worked for him in getting ground-ball outs to left-handed hitters." Burnett only threw 89 pitches before giving way to Jake Diekman, who got the final two outs in the eighth on strikeouts. Diekman reached 100 mph on one of his fastballs. "I dont like to come out of a game, period," Burnett said. "But he throws a little harder than me." The Padres took a 1-0 lead in the third when Venable lined a 3-1 pitch into the seats in right for only his second homer in 179 at-bats. Venable hit a career-high 22 homers last season. The light-hitting Padres entered with the worst batting average in the majors at .218. Carlos Quentin snapped an 0-for-24 slump with a seventh-inning double. But Everth Cabrera (0 for 18) and Jace Peterson (0 for 18) were 0 for 5 to extend their hitless streaks. Quentin scored on Yonder Alonsos sacrifice fly to cut it to 5-2. NOTES: The Phillies had some positive injury news. LHP Cliff Lee could start throwing soon. Hes missed the last four starts because of an elbow strain. 3B Cody Asche (hamstring) should start a rehab assignment this weekend. An MRI showed that RHP Mike Adams doesnt have a torn labrum. Adams will get a cortisone shot and expects to return after a stint on the DL. ... Only Arizona has fewer home wins (12) than Philadelphia. ... Papelbons save was his first since May 24. ... The Padres lost for only the 11th time when having a lead at any point in a game. Thats the third-fewest total in the majors. ... The Phillies and Padres have 11 sacrifice flies this season. Only Pittsburgh had fewer (9). ... The Phillies signed RHP Aaron Nola, the seventh overall pick in last weeks amateur draft. ... RHP Tyson Ross (6-5, 3.22) of the Padres faces LHP Cole Hamels (2-3, 3.49) on Wednesday night. ' ' '