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Built Different™
530 members • Free
11 contributions to Built Different™
3d •Â
What's the identity you train from?
Most men don't quit training because it's too hard. They quit because they stopped having a reason that means something. Motivation fades. Discipline is built on identity, on who you've decided to be, regardless of how you feel that day. I've been training for 40 years. There were mornings I didn't want to be there. I went anyway. Not because I was fired up. Because I'm Built Different, and that's what Built Different men do. What's the identity you train from? Drop it below. 👇
2 likes • 11h
@Adam Smith Thanks, Adam. Much appreciated.
2 likes • 11h
@Keith Hanenian Esq Thanks, Keith. Your advice and support has been spot-on. I value your opinion and ideas very much. Thank you for all you do for this community.
13d •Â
Rest days in question
I have a schedule on my refrigerator of what muscle groups I'm training each day. My workouts cover two body parts except for legs, which get a complete training session dedicated to them. But I continue to wonder if I'm giving too much rest to each group. adding in a session for ab work, cardio, and some exercises that are not the basics, what I call "secondary, very specific" (like forearm work and inner-outer quad work) . Each muscle group gets about 5 days rest before I hit it again. I'm feeling good and in good overall shape, but am beginning to think it's too many days before I hit a muscle group again, and could probably get away with 4 days rest for a muscle group. Guys--your thoughts and experiences, please...
1 like • 5d
Thanks, Rob. I appreciate it.
1 like • 4d
Thanks so much Carsten. My workouts take anywhere from 40 minutes, to at most, an hour. I've made a slight adjustment for this week to reduce rest time to 4 days--I'll check in and discuss how it's going for me. Thanks again, and keep on driving yourself!
15d •Â
Rest Period
Something I want every guy in here to understand about training over 40: Your rest periods are not just rest. They're part of the workout. I keep it to 30–45 seconds max between sets. Not because some program says so. Because I know that once you let that window stretch to 3, 4, 5 minutes, you lose the synergy. You lose the pump. You lose the muscle connection you just spent 3 sets building. Get in. Work the muscle. Move on. Get out. You're not training to impress anyone. You're training to feel it, grow it, and protect it. That's the approach. That's what we do. What's your rest time between sets right now? Vote below, and drop a comment if you're going to change it this week.
Poll
49 members have voted
4 likes • 15d
40 to 50 seconds
25d •Â
What pulled you back in?
Let me ask you something honest. When you fell off before, and most of us have, what actually pulled you back? Not the advice. Not the motivation. Not the right video. What was the moment? Because I've noticed something with the guys who stick with this long-term: they all had a moment. A doctor visit. A photo. A morning where they couldn't do something they used to do without thinking. The discipline came after the decision. Not before. What pulled you back in?
Poll
33 members have voted
2 likes • 20d
Many years back, after about 8 or 9 years of training, I sustained a bad rear delt/shoulder tear that was extremely painful for a couple of months forcing me to stop training. About 18 months went by in all, I was healed, but I still had not gotten back to the gym. One evening my wife and I went shopping, and I needed a pair of jeans. I had always had a 29 or 30 waist jean size, was lifting heavy, and if good shape. And now I was in the dressing room, and this pair of jeans was a 36 waist, and I could not button it. I walked out of the dressing room and said to my wife--I'm not buying these, I'm not being like this. That was the October 1987 and I was at 201 lbs. I started training again, but really training with all I had, every day, on schedule. I also had a cholesterol issue due to my poor eating over that 18 months, so I changed my entire diet. By May of 1988, I weighed 151 lbs. The gym owner stopped me and said--holy shit, do you see what you look like?John you can compete! That May I competed in my first all-natural show, taking 4th place in the men's open. I've continued training and competing and never looked back.
26d •Â
Quick one for you guys
Quick one for you guys, and I want your feedback after you try it. When you're doing any pressing exercise, chest, shoulder, doesn't matter , most guys stop thinking the second they pick up the weight. They're counting reps. They're watching the clock. They're in their head about what comes next. Here's what I want you to do instead: Before you even touch the weight, place your hands together in front of your chest and press hard for 5 seconds. Feel that? That squeeze in your pecs, that's the connection you need to be chasing on every single rep. Your muscle doesn't know how much weight you're lifting. It knows whether you're connected to it or not. Try this before your next chest or shoulder session and tell me what you notice. Drop a comment below, does this change the feel of the exercise for you? 👇
0 likes • 26d
OK so ounds like a great idea.
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@john-cianti-3765
Retired professional, lifting all-natural, always for over 40 years. Competed all-natural for 9 years.
Active 11h ago
Joined Jan 12, 2026
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