Khoshbin already had a strong work ethic, but during his first years in America, he also sought workout inspiration and cultural understanding. So, like many teenagers then, he immersed himself in American life, learning both mannerisms and fitness routines from \u201880s legends like Arnold Schwarzenegger<\/a> and Sylvester Stallone.<\/a> \u201cMy first English came from watching Rocky, Rambo<\/em>, and Commando<\/em>\u2014those two are my idols,\u201d he explains. \u201cI always looked up to them because they both started from nothing.\u201d<\/p>\n Now at 54, Khoshbin has upgraded from those original dumbbells to an eye-catching home gym that shares space with his prized collection. \u201cWorking out and looking at my cars does make it more fun to work out,\u201d he admits. Yet, he remains loyal to the training principles he learned from reading about Arnold in fitness magazines, often throwing on a Rocky T-shirt before his morning routine that commences with a pullups\u2014an old-school move that shaped his philosophy and remains a staple of his weekly workout regimen.<\/p>\n \u201cMy strengths are doing pullups and situps,\u201d Khoshbin says. \u201cYou have to have them in your routine.\u201d<\/p>\n Through body-weight exercises, just part of his program that also incorporates plenty of circuit training and core work, he\u2019s still proving that when it comes to maximizing both both mind and body, discipline still beats luxury.<\/p>\n It\u2019s a great post-50 example Khoshbin, who is also an author of two books\u2014Driven<\/em><\/a> and Contrarian Playbook<\/em><\/a>\u2014hopes to share to help young and future entrepreneurs. While many tune into his YouTube channel<\/a> for the latest fuel-injected garage addition, his real motivation, he says, is to share his journey\u2014the victories and, more importantly, the failures\u2014and to prove that success is possible for anyone, whether it\u2019s your first million or your first pullup.<\/p>\n \u201cA big part of my social media is I don\u2019t monetize it, but I do it to share my journey to hopefully inspire young people,\u201d he says. \u201cSo that\u2019s one way for me to give back.\u201d<\/p>\n One of the biggest training takeaways: Unlike his favorite McLaren P1, which accelerates from 0 to 60 mph in just 2.5 seconds, Khoshbin\u2019s approach to maintaining his still-ripped physique is the opposite of speed or extravagance. The slow, steady consistency that has benefitted his health and business alike is proof that training can give you what a limitless bank account can never buy: mental resilience.<\/p>\n \u201cFitness really saved me,\u201d he says. \u201cIf I didn\u2019t work out, I would\u2019ve probably had to file bankruptcy.\u201d<\/p>\n Starting from scratch in a new country, Manny Khoshbin arrived with two clear ambitions: to excel in business and in fitness. And both journeys began at a local garage sale. \u201cThe first two things I bought from swapping were two dumbbells when I was 15,\u201d he says. \u201cI started bench pressing, doing the dumbbells in my apartment patio.\u201d<\/p>\n Though his physique never matched that of his iron idols, the young bodybuilding fanatic felt a unique bond with the seven-time Mr. Olympia himself<\/a>. Four-plus decades later, his admiration for Schwarzenegger remains unwavering. \u201cIt was just his stamina to not give up and also having that mindset and commitment to become Mr. Olympia,\u201d Khoshbin says. \u201cHe came here as an immigrant and didn\u2019t have much money, but he worked on his body and he conquered. He wanted to be an actor and a governor, and he did both. All those milestones in his life, it all led back to fitness.\u201d<\/p>\n Thanks to his dedication and physique, Manny\u2019s images were featured in the August 1990 issue of Flex magazine\u2014ironically, the same month Arnold graced the cover. \u201cI still have the magazines,\u201d he says proudly.<\/p>\n While Khoshbin enjoyed early gains from lifting weights, making it to the Olympia stage was never his goal. \u201cI didn\u2019t have a big focus on building my body to a bodybuilder level, but it\u2019s now mostly for my cognitive health and clarity.\u201d<\/p>\n![\"Manny](\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.muscleandfitness.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/Manny-K-working-out-at-the-cable-station.jpg?quality=86&strip=all\")
<\/div>Inspired by Arnold, Powered by Bodyweight<\/h3>\n