Built For Life: Motto for a New You
Built for Life.” Kind of an interesting title, if you think about it, because it has two meanings. The first is staying in attention-grabbing muscular shape for as long as you’re alive and able to exercise—you will remain “built” your entire life, never embarrassed to peel off your shirt at the beach, lake or pool. And as my colleague 60-plus-year-old bodybuilder Tony DiCosta so aptly put it, “You’ll usually be the best built guy in the room.” (Talk about a conversation piece!)
The second meaning is that you’re mentally and physically tough, prepared for whatever life throws at you. You’re “built” to withstand the stress, pressures and problems that come your way throughout your time on this planet—almost like you’ve created a bulletproof mental and physical fortress, able to deflect any negatives, that attitude-altering artillery shot at all of us every day.
Proper weight training can give you both of those—and contrary to popular belief, it doesn’t take joint-busting, spine-crushing poundages to make it happen.
In fact, training with max weights can be a negative, especially as you get older. Sure, if you’re a young ego-driven dude looking for a monster bench press, training heavy is where it’s at. Low reps and lots of sets will build your strength to the extreme—but not necessarily lots of muscle, as I’ll explain in future blogs—just be careful. There’s a cumulative cost. I’m still dealing with injuries I sustained during my powerlifting years.
I’m not saying powerlifting or power bodybuilding are bad training models—just that throwing around mega weights is NOT necessary for you to build an impressive bodybuilder-type physique, a body so muscular that people comment on the size of your arms or the width of your back or the vascularity streaking down your forearms. You can have a muscular look for a lifetime, and it doesn’t take soft-tissue damage or as much work as you think—if you train smart.
Whether you’re 18 (that’s Jonathan Lawson, my former training parter, in his 20s in the photo above with us) and just starting the muscle-building journey or a 50-something trainee who’s been lifting for decades (like me), lifting smart means training in the most efficient, safest and fastest ways to build muscle and burn fat.
I promise you that Old School New Body is a no-B.S. program—that’s because my sole goal is for you to have all the ammunition you need to own a physique that turns heads and raises eyebrows and one that supports your health and well being. I want you to be able to keep that attention-grabbing, muscular look—and feel healthy doing it—for the rest of your days.
Stay tuned, train smart and be Built For Life.
Steve Holman
Editor in Chief Iron Man Magazine and co-creator of the Old School New Body program
Category: Articles
About the Author (Author Profile)
John M. Rowley is an international best-selling author, speaker and contributor to the media. He is also the host of The John Rowley Radio Show and hosts TCT Alive on the TCT TV Network. John was one of the youngest Sr. VP's in Manhattan real estate, owned R&J Health Studio, the gym that was featured in the movie, Pumping Iron, starring Arnold Schwarzenegger and Lou Ferrigno and is the Wellness Director for the International Sports Science Association. John’s is co-creator of Old School New Body which features the F4X Youth Enhancing System For Men And Women!Subscribe
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First off, I’d like to say WOW!! You all look great. Becky your arms ROCK. I want my arms to look like that. I’m in my lower 40’s,mother of three kids. My youngest is 14yrs old and is disabled. She is totally dependant on me for everything. I have been lifting her since she has been born. I find that my left knee if making a grinding sound when I am walking up the stairs. Would there be a specific exercise to strengthen it? I want to be in shape for her and I have a complete home gym that I use occasionally. I mainly use the treadmill but find that it is soooo boring. What would be a good starting point for me? Thanks
A grinding noise in the knee can be caused by wear and tear over the years. You need to strengthen the muscles around the knee as well as the tendons and ligaments. You should do squats–remember, moderate-weight, high-fatigue F4X training does NOT mandate extreme weights. Keep it moderate to gradually strengthen the area.
Studies also show that one of the best cardio activities for the knees is biking–either stationer or outside.
Hope that helps.
Steve & Becky