Arnold Schwarzenegger‘s dedication to longevity fuels his daily operations. Having endured heart surgeries, Schwarzenegger’s life, especially training, has changed drastically since his bodybuilding days. In a recent YouTube video, Schwarzenegger discussed his current workout routine, and why he no longer trains heavy at 76.
Boasting one of the most decorated bodybuilding careers of all time, Schwarzenegger claimed a total of seven Mr. Olympia titles in his prime. Revered for his quality muscle definition, towering structure, and massive biceps, Schwarzenegger later used his bodybuilding gifts to make a successful transition into acting and Hollywood.
From acting, and bodybuilding, to governing California, Schwarzenegger’s ability to make personal connections alongside his relentless work ethic has constantly been on display. Even as he has gotten older, Schwarzenegger hasn’t slowed down his training regimen, instead, he has tinkered with it to accommodate his age.
Arnold Schwarzenegger Says He Stopped ‘Heavy Lifting’ Talks Workout Routine: “I Want to Look Half-Decent At My Age”
According to Schwarzenegger, an active lifestyle and moderation are key to living a fruitful life.
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“I think it’s very hard to do [lose weight] because I can tell you for myself, I have to go on bike rides every day, I work out every day because it’s very hard to kind of stop eating and go on severe diets like some people do, I’ve never done that.
Of course, you develop a little bit of stomach because of that but I think the key is to keep it in moderation and not to gain too much weight because otherwise it’s bad for you, it’s bad for your heart, health, and everything.”
As for Schwarzenegger’s workout schedule, he rides his bike daily for 45 minutes to an hour and trains weights at Gold’s Gym for 45 minutes a day. He stopped lifting heavy weights after doctors told him it could damage his aortic and pulmonary valves following heart surgery.
“I go on a bike ride, I ride the bike around 45 minutes to an hour a day. I work out with weights at Gold’s Gym, I would say around 45 minutes a day. But very light. Nothing heavy because I had heart surgery in 1997 and then the doctors were telling me that I should stop the heavy heavy lifting because it’s not good for your valves.”
“They get kind of wiped out sooner and so therefore I just instead of lifting less weights, more reps and stuff like that but I work out regularly but as you know when you get older, it’s kind of like how the hell do you hold on to some of the stuff that you once had? It’s really tough.”
“No not for normally for hearts, but it is when you have valve surgery, aortic valves, and pulmonary valves, you don’t want to put that much pressure on it. When you really bench press heavy or do heavy deadlifts of squats, and you put a lot of pressure on that valve and it’s necessary. Their idea is to use less weight therefore you don’t have to switch the valve.”
Despite his best efforts, the 76-year-old still had to undergo surgery on his aortic valve.
“After 23 years later I still had to exchange it anyway and had another surgery and all that stuff but the bottom line is you don’t want to abuse it.”
Schwarzenegger shared that he gets inspired when he sees other people training and testing their physical limits.
“I get a lot of energy when I go to a gym and I see everyone else working out and sweating and training hard it makes me inspired and then I want to work out too.”
He likened life to a black-and-white movie, but after a workout, says he can see things in color.
“It’s not that intense, it’s not that intense [my workout schedule]. First of all, I love working out. I’ll tell you what, it just makes me feel good when I work out I feel good. I always say to people when I get up in the morning and I bicycle down to the gym I feel like I’m bicycling through a black-and-white movie and then all of a sudden when I’m finished working out and bicycling back, it’s a color movie.”
Overall, Schwarzenegger feels more optimistic about life when he works out, and added that it has become an addiction, albeit a healthy one.
“I feel more positive,” said Schwarzenegger. “it’s addictive. I’m addicted to working out. To me, it’s not kind of a chore because I know why I’m doing it. I want to look half decent at my age. Even though it’s pitiful.”
Aside from discussing his love for the gym, Schwarzenegger is also passionate about his nutrition. In a recent podcast appearance, the bodybuilding legend talked about his ‘70%’ plant-based diet, which he has enjoyed for the last five years. He revealed he reduced his red meat intake to aid his cholesterol levels as well.
With a one-of-a-kind career behind him, Arnold Schwarzenegger’s passion for fitness and exercise remains robust, despite implementing significant changes to his daily training routine for the sake of heart health.
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