Hey Folks,

I’m back with another edition of Life Ingredients, the newsletter where we nourish the body and mind with exercise, healthy food, and positive thoughts. I write this newsletter because I want you to look after every aspect of your physical and mental health and create a life you love.

We’re going to kick things off as we always do, with a good hard workout.

Now let’s get to work!

If you asked me what my training philosophy was at any point in the past 40 years, I would have told you that it was, at its core, old-school bodybuilding. I modified it some and eased off the heavy loads as I got older, but the main principle of bodybuilding—chasing the pump—has been central to what I was after every time I set foot in a gym.

This philosophy, though, has its drawbacks, especially as you age. I’m not 25 anymore, and my biceps are as big as they’re ever going to get. Fitness, then, needs to be about keeping my muscles and joints healthy and strong, and to put off “feeling my age” for as long as possible.

My trainer, Steve Wrona, opened up my eyes to the “Fit For Life” concept, and it’s been a total game-changer for me. The total-body circuit below is a prime example of the kind of functional training I’m doing these days. It keeps me lean, strong, and most importantly, moving around in the world pain-free. Watch the video to see Steve explain everything in detail, then give it a try. I guarantee you’re gonna feel like a million bucks.

WORK OUT

Circuit 1 (3 Rounds)

Ski Erg – 50 reps x 2, recover HR to zone 2 after each set of 50

Med Ball Rotating Wall Slam – 10 reps x 4, recover HR to zone 2 after each set of 10

TRX Squat to Row – 20 reps x 4, recover HR to zone 2 after each set of 20

Circuit 2 (3 Rounds)

Assault Bike – 30 second hard effort x 3, recover HR to zone 2 after each 30 second effort

Sandbag Hang Clean – 10 reps x 4, recover HR to zone 2 after each set of 10

Renegade Rows – 5 reps each side x 4, recover HR to zone 2 after each set of 5 each side

Lean cuts of steak are cheaper than the well-marbled ones. That’s because the fat doesn’t just add flavor as it melts, it also keeps the meat tender as it cooks. Hence, a ribeye cooked to medium-well keeps its tenderness in a way that a well-done flank steak, which is pretty lean, does not.

So, bearing in mind that you really don’t want to cook flank steak beyond medium or medium-rare, you can still use flank steak to get a meal that’s altogether delicious, easy-to-make, and affordable. Just give it the TLC I outline below and you’ll be on your way. So while you don’t need to splurge on an expensive cut, you do need to follow my directions closely. Most importantly, don’t skimp on the marinating time; it’s essential for keeping the steak tender.

As the Robert Irvine Foundation (RIF) continues to grow, help more people, and expand its footprint, the foundation is a topic that comprises a larger portion of what I am asked in most interviews. One recent interviewer asked me at what point I would consider the mission of the RIF to be complete. I answered that the mission will never be fulfilled. As much as we grow and as many more people as we are able to help year over year, there is always more to do.

Ronald Reagan was perhaps more to the point when he said, “We can’t help everyone, but everyone can help someone.”

I want you to carry that ethos with you in your daily life. You’ll never be able to help everyone who needs help, but one small act of kindness could inspire other acts of kindness in the world around you. Moreover, helping others is good for your mental health. Counterintuitively, it is not hobbies or leisure or pleasure-seeking that can bring us the most joy and happiness. It is helping others. Because unlike selfish acts, selfless acts give us purpose, resolve, and meaning. And it is why, even if you feel like you might be the one most in need of help, it is important to find someone to whom you can lend a helping hand.

You could be saving two lives: theirs and yours.

Until next time, remember the words I live by:

NOTHING IS IMPOSSIBLE.