All posts by Your Machine Your Body

Steering the attention away from unhealthy practices, diets and products. Mother Nature provides everything you need and in return you will operate smoother and think clearer. The human body is essentially a machine. Fuel it wisely and the possibilities are endless.

The OG Routine.

Results not happening?

You’re eating healthy, and have your food intake down but something is missing?

You’re doing everything, just not receiving the results you want?

Try getting away from the “monkey see, monkey do” work out machines and endless hours of cardio and just go to  The OG’s of the weight room. Bench, squats, and deadlifts.

Arnold Schwazenegger has a famous quote, “No Pain No Gain” and boy is he right. They call it “working out” for a reason, it’s meant to be hard. The harder you push yourself for that last rep or throw another plate on the bar the better the results. This is going to make or break your physical gains in the gym.

Diet and cardio can only take you so far the rest is made with blood sweat and steel. Louis Baltz of All American Gym in Lakeland Florida taught me at a young age that, “If gains in the gym were easy, then everybody would be muscular”.

I’m in the gym Monday, Wednesday and Friday. I try not to not drink alcohol or eat low quality foods during the week. My results are from the intensity in my routines.

Monday is, I believe, everybody’s favorite day in the gym, Chest day! Here is Monday’s workout.

I start every workout with a good lower body stretch, upper body stretch and finishing with lower lumbar stretch. My first stop is always the bench press. I continuously adjust the spacing of my hands on the bar during my routine.

images

Next stop is seated dumbbell press or if you know them by “Arnold’s,” then awesome.

Seated_Arnold_Dumbbell_Press_F_WorkoutLabs

Next up is Flat Bench Skull crushers keep your elbows in and just destroy those triceps!

horse_triceps_brad_french

Now that I have moved on to triceps and biceps I want to completely exhaust these muscle groups to stimulate growth. I do several heavy full extension concentrated rope pull downs and slowly drop the weight until the tricep is so fatigued I can barely hold onto the rope.

cable-tricpes-pushdown

Seated pull down bar curl’s three sets of ten and just as I did with triceps, I go to failure. Start with as heavy as you can handle and slowly drop the weight. You are trying to shock the muscle, so you must go as far past failure as possible.

images

I finish up my day with standing curls overhand and underhand. Remember, keep your elbows in tight on your side and don’t sway your body to get the bar up. For all of your lifts, you need to execute with perfect form. DON’T CHEAT! Simply drop the weight and correct your form. Correcting the essential movement is key to muscle growth. If you lift your butt off the bench or swing to get the bar up you are using momentum and cheating yourself. Quick side note: if you slam the weight down after your set of 2.5 you need to rack them and get something you can handle for at least 8-10 reps. Slamming weights in the gym? You suck because that shit is annoying.

 

Post Meal: Starchy Carb and Grass fed organic protein I also throw a non pasteurized cow’s milk with grass fed whey protein shake in the mix as well. My daily post meal is usually Grass fed beef with red skin potatoes. You can find everything but the non pasteurized milk at Whole Foods. You will have to locate a dairy farm and see if they sell grass fed cow’s milk for “Animal Consumption only.” Yes, its illegal to sell for human consumption. You have a 30 minute window after a work out to feed your machine!

organic-dairy-cows

Now thats all it takes. Consistency in your diet, routine in the gym, and plenty of sleep! Have fun with The Original Gangster Workout! Wednesday’s workout is comin’ at you on Monday.

 

 

 

 

The Underutilized Egg

When I read the marketing slogans used to advertise eggs with terms like free-range, cage free, and organic I still am not confident I’m actually getting a quality egg. Pasture raised is where it’s at and what I want. Although, the egg is rather resilient from absorbing toxins from its mother hen, still it’s important that hen ate her natural diet to nourish her eggs. Chickens eat grass, grubs, slugs, and other insects. They don’t eat “chicken feed.”

Nutrition? Lets talk macros. Egg contains your protein and healthy fats including omega 3. This easily obtainable, underutilized source of protein is packed with everything your muscles want and need. Perfect for a snack or post workout feast as pictured below.

Screen Shot 2015-06-20 at 7.34.08 AM

We’ve all heard the bad rep the egg has.  The egg has been blamed in the American health food industry for a lifetime as raising bad blood-cholesterol and leading to heart disease. I call BS, and so did scientists. The real culprit is man made vegetable oils, transfats, and sugar. Especially refined sugar. View the new Scientific report of the 2015 Dietary Guidelines Advisory Committee from the USDA here and read for yourself. It states, under the bold headline:

Cholesterol. Previously, the Dietary Guidelines for Americans recommended that cholesterol intake be limited to no more than 300 mg/day. The 2015 DGAC will not bring forward this recommendation because available evidence shows no appreciable relationship between consumption of dietary cholesterol and serum cholesterol, consistent with the conclusions of the AHA/ACC report.2 35Cholesterol is not a nutrient of concern for overconsumption.

Foods containing cholesterol and the serum cholesterol in our bodies are two separate materials and they should have different names.  The rise in Cardiac Vascular Disease has caused fear of consuming cholesterol containing foods when in reality your body actually needs cholesterol to be fully nourished. Including, to make testosterone. So… Let the gains begin. Crack some shells!!

Pizza Day

As a kid, I remember the question “What is your most favorite food?” I also remember my response; PIZZA! Well, the pizza options usually contain gluten and sugar, even in the sauce. These days it’s not easy to find healthy alternatives. Kara Lee and I took a quick trip to Whole Foods Market where we found all of the ingredients for this delicious gluten free Paleo Pizza.

Bring on the gains because with this option you can totally remove “cheat meal” from your vocabulary. I won’t lie I would rather have a bourbon than grain-filled food that will ultimately lead to bubble guts later. My friends, it’s now possible to have a cheat meal but not actually cheat.

Cauliflower Crust Pizza

Preheat oven 450 degrees.

Crust:

Combine in food processor:

  • Half head of raw cauliflower
  • ½ cup almond meal/flour
  • 2 eggs
  • 1 tablespoon melted coconut oil
  • 1 green onion
  • 2 garlic cloves
  • Few sprigs of parsley
  • Salt and pepper to taste

Form into ball and drain excess liquid with cheesecloth.

Pat flat onto pizza stone or greased cookie sheet.

Pre-cook crust in oven for 8 minutes, reduce heat to 350.

Sauce:

Combine in food processor:

  • 1 large tomato
  • 1 can organic roasted tomatoes
  • 1 tablespoon coconut palm sugar

Now, the fun part. Sauce the crust, sprinkle the grass fed cheese, and add all your favorite toppings. We used rotisserie chicken, Portuguese sausage, bacon, uncured pepperoni, and black olives.

Bake for 8 minutes. Then broil on high for 2 minutes.

Screen Shot 2015-06-19 at 9.48.42 PM

Bone Broth

I’ve never experienced such an epic work out like I did my first time supplementing with Bone Broth. Think outside of the box. Think about this: What gave our ancestors the strength to fast for days when supply was low yet still have energy to hunt and survive? Jittery pre-work out formulas are full of unknown ingredients that possibly do more harm than good. Guilty! I’ve used them in the past and absolutely loved the rush of energy and the unstoppable feeling I would get from “two scoops.” I, however, did not enjoy the jitters or the crash I would have later on in the day.

It’s time to turn to Mother Nature and look at holistic/organic approaches to pre-workout supplementation geared towards the athlete. At the time I was listening to many podcasts on health and wellness and I kept hearing the buzz about bone broth and how “the liquid gold has gut healing properties and turns you into a super human.” Naturally I was curious to know more. After some research, a trip to the local market, and a stop to see Jack at http://www.healthyheritagebeef.com/ we had everything to make our first batch. Aside from the gut healing probiotics and collagen protein this stuff is also amazing if you’re feeling under the weather or even nursing a hangover.

Screen Shot 2015-06-17 at 1.50.17 PM

     Crockpot: 7 quarts

     Yields: About 10 pints

     Ingredients:

  • Low Heat 24-36 hours (DONT LET IT BOIL)
  • (Free roaming) Chicken feet
  • (Free roaming) Chicken carcass
  • ¼ Ounce Apple Cider Vinegar
  • (Grass fed) Beef knuckle
  • (Grass fed) Marrow bones
  • (Grass fed) Beef neck
  • Herbs of your choice
  • Onion
  • Garlic
  • Fill to the top with quality filtered water. I use a Soma water filtration system check them out. https://www.drinksoma.com

When do you consume this super power pre-workout? I take a little more than a pint with me to the gym and drink it on the way. It takes me about fifteen minutes to get to the gym and by then its doing its magic. I stretch and let the gains begin!

Screen Shot 2015-06-17 at 1.56.27 PMScreen Shot 2015-06-17 at 1.58.08 PM Screen Shot 2015-06-17 at 1.50.17 PM

Breaking The Fast

Right here, this is the way to Break The Fast.

Bacon, Avocado, and then an Egg baked right in the center.

This is what I call “Just chillin’ with my Baes.”

BACON

Bacon. Mmmm… Sounds amazing. Bacon contains Choline which is a micronutrient that aides in brain development and has many health benefits. BUT steer clear of nitrates, make sure you’re purchasing the right bacon from the right sources. Bacon with MSG will just make you stupid.

AVOCADO

Avocado contains monounsaturated fat. It’s a healthy fat. The avocado supports nutrient absorption from other foods as well as increasing HDL, the good cholesterol.

EGG

We all know the egg is an amazing source of protein. Unfortunately, it can be underutilized due to the bad rep it received for contributing to heart disease. As it turns out, that is not true. In fact, our bodies need fat and cholesterol. What we don’t need are refined carbohydrates made from ingredients not found in nature. Carbohydrates make you fat, cause inflammation, and contribute to heart disease. We definitely do not need to be eating Egg Beaters and there is absolutely no reason to be throwing away the yolks. Nourish your body, eat the whole egg. Read Eat the Yolks by Liz Wolfe.

Screen Shot 2015-06-13 at 3.05.33 PM

BAEs

  • Half your avocados
  • Scoop 1 tsp from each center
  • Create a separation from the skin and the fruit using a spoon or butterknife.
  • Tuck bacon in the space made around the avocado creating a bacon bowl for the egg
  • Crack egg into center of the bowl you have created
  • Note* use muffin pan to keep BAE’S upright.

Bake at 350 degrees for 25-30 minutes until your egg is done the way you like it.

Serve it as is. The skin is very easy to remove from the fruit.

Your Turn To Host? Need An Appetizer?

When I attend work events, social events, or even Kraft Services on set the snack/appetizers are unfulfilling as far as my needs, wants and goals. They are usually full of grains and unnatural ingredients. You can avoid taking these steps in the wrong direction. Remember if you can’t pronounce the ingredients you surely don’t want to eat it. If you need to take a dish to pass or if you’re hosting a cocktail party these healthy, yet delicious little veggie cakes will be a hit. You’ll be asked for the recipe and given compliments as well. Trust me when I say, “You won’t be taking leftovers home.”

Veggie Cakes

Yields: 24

Peel, steam, and chop:

  • 1 Butternut squash
  • 2 Sweet potatoes
  • 2 Carrots
  • 1 Parsnip

Sauté 1/4 yellow onion chopped

Blend:

  • Everything above
  • 1 clove of garlic
  • 1/4 Himalayan salt
  • 1 pastured egg
  • 1/2 cup rice flour
  • 1/4 cup coconut oil

Heat Grass fed butter in cast iron skillet on low-medium

  • Form mixture into 1.5″ balls and drop into pan
  • Flatten with a spatula
  • Cook each side 5-6 minutes
  • Place on cookie sheet to keep warm in oven

Goat Cheese Dollop

Blend:

  • 2 tbs goat cheese
  • 1 tbs avocado
  • few sprigs of parsley to taste
  • 1/2 pastured egg
  • Olive oil

Place in piping bag and squeeze a dollop on each cake serve warm.

Or skip the dollop and drop a few cold cakes in your salad.

Screen Shot 2015-06-12 at 12.13.03 PM

Screen Shot 2015-06-12 at 12.04.39 PM

Sweet Tooth?

Don’t worry. Chocolate is a food group. And these Choconut Date Bites have organic cocoa powder. carob chips, and shredded coconut to satisfy your sweet tooth. Be sure to indulge in your sweets and carbohydrates in the evening to avoid sugar crashes during the day. Think about it, our ancestors woke up early and hunted, essentially training. They were preparing for the evening feast, which would often include carbohydrates such as fruits and berries gathered during the day. Let’s remember in a more modern day, sugar and chocolate were associated with wealth and was unobtainable to the common folk. What also was associated with wealth?… Gluttony and obesity.  So, I say eat chocolate and be rich. Just make sure to get the good stuff and THE REAL STUFF. Stay away from the drug store candy bars. 

Screen Shot 2015-06-11 at 10.39.53 AM

Choconut Date Bites:

Yields: 18

Blend (set 1/4 cup aside for the coating):

  • 1/4 cup unsweetened shredded coconut
  • 1/4 cup brazil nuts
  • 1/4 raw almonds

Blend:

  • 10 pitted dates chopped
  • 1 tbs Coconut Oil
  • carob chips

Combine the two mixtures in medium bowl with:

  • 2 tbs grass fed whey protein
  • 2 tbs cocoa powder

Form into 1” diameter balls and roll in remaining coconut powder

Refrigerate for 1 hour and serve. Store in refrigerator.

Fast Then Feast

Grass fed beef, pasture raised eggs, uncured bacon, avocado, broccoli, and melted grass fed butter in the center for dipping. All organic, of course. The bacon and eggs are from our local farmers at Healthy Heritage Beef Farms. http://www.healthyheritagebeef.com Jack brings the goodies to the local Tampa Bay markets.

The breaking the fast. Fast then Feast!

Where Athletic Performance Starts in the Kitchen

This is Your Machine Your Body. Where I post snapshots of my life, mostly what happens in my kitchen. It is important to know what you feed your body and what yields the most results across the board. Here we stay far away from slogans, trendy products, unknown chemicals and unnatural supplements. 100% all natural gains for the body and the mind.

We are taking it back to our ancestral roots and way of life.  If it is not a whole food found in nature, then you won’t find it here.

Enjoy the pictures, tips and recipes provided as your guide to a healthier lifestyle for an overall quality of life. Thanks

Justin Kucsulain
Screen Shot 2015-06-10 at 11.05.52 AM