Hello Everyone,

Welcome to another edition of ‘Life’ Ingredients, the newsletter where I share a workout, a healthy recipe, and a piece of motivational advice.

Another year is upon us and, like most, you’re probably looking at another set of resolutions. Maybe it’s going great. Maybe you haven’t started. Maybe you’ve already failed. Well, I’m here to remind you that it doesn’t matter—if you’re struggling, succeeding, or stuck in neutral—because the past is gone and tomorrow isn’t guaranteed. All any of us ever have is the day—the MOMENT—that is in front of us. All the power you’ve ever had exists in the now.

Now is always the best time to get going. And remember, it never matters how you start, only THAT you start.

So what do you say? Shall we get started?

Neither can carbs or protein. Nevertheless, we demonized fat and one of the casualties of the war on fat was dark meat chicken.

Remember dark meat chicken McNuggets? I’m old enough to remember. And let me tell you, switching to all white meat did not magically transform the McNugget into a healthy food.

All of this is just to say that you shouldn’t be scared of a bit of dietary fat and you certainly shouldn’t be scared of dark meat poultry—wings, legs, and thighs—which is juicier, more tender, and tends to be more flavorful than the breast. My Asian Marinated Chicken Thighs bring that flavor up to the next level, and leaving the skin on so it gets good and crispy provides an added treat. This particular recipe calls for grilling the thighs, but if it’s too cold out where you live, a broiler will suffice.

I’ve got just the workout to pair with the theme of not overthinking it and just getting started. This 30-minute dumbbell circuit consists of basic exercises and keeps you moving from start to finish. You’ll get a good pump, a great sweat, and feel like a million bucks when it’s finished.

My good friend, Dave Reid, has filmed the workout so you can follow along or you can read the directions below!

DIRECTIONS

Perform the following workout as a circuit after a 5-10-minute warmup. Don’t rest between exercises and rest only 1 minute at the end of each circuit. Perform 15 reps of each exercise. Complete the circuit 4 times through.

EXERCISE

Dumbbell Squat
Dumbbell Bench Press
Dumbbell Row
Dumbbell Shoulder Press
Decline Sit up

It’s 100% accurate. I think when we want to achieve something that would mean a lot to us—whether that’s eating right, exercising, or getting a new job—we have a tendency to put too much on it. First, we make the mistake of thinking about how hard it will be to stick with it for weeks, months, or years, when all we should be thinking about is how to stick with it for today. Remember? All the power you ever had exists in the now.

Second, we make the mistake of thinking that losing weight or having more money will make us happy. Oh, boy, do I have bad news. You can be perfectly fit and wealthy and still be perfectly miserable. Happiness or contentment can only come from within, from taking care of your mental health as well as your physical. From keeping in touch with the things that matter most—the meaningful connections you have with your loved ones—no matter what you weigh or how much money you have.

So with 2024 under way, please keep that message close to your heart and remember the words I live by:

 Nothing is Impossible.