Arnold Schwarzenegger Reveals Powerlifting Workout That Maximized His Bodybuilding Gains

The Oak reminisces about his friendship with the late Franco Columbo and shared a little about how he benefited from lifting heavy weights.

Written by Matthew Magnante

Last Updated onAugust 5, 2021

The iconic Arnold Schwarzenegger celebrated his 74th birthday on Friday. He sent out one of his monthly newsletters where he shares recent life events and more with his subscribers. The bodybuilding legend told of a few funny stories with the late Franco Columbu and Ed Corney, revealed his all-time max bench press, and talked powerlifting training.

525 Pound Bench Press Max and Powerlifting

The action movie star and former California governor said that his heaviest bench press was an impressive 525 pounds.

“In those days, that was a big lift,” he explained in the newsletter. He also mentioned winning powerlifting competitions in his younger days.

While bodybuilding was his focus, Schwarzenegger would include a powerlifting workout once a week and it no doubt helped his bodybuilding progress.

Bench Press Routine

On heavy training days, The Oak would work up to 495 lbs to determine his 3-rep max which varied from workout to workout.

“I loved mixing in powerlifting with bodybuilding one day a week. This was my heavy day: I warmed up with 135, then 225, then 275, then 315, 375, then 405, then 455, then 495. From that I would know the weight I could do for 3 reps, sometimes it was 455, sometimes more or less, it depended on the day.”

Performing low reps using heavy resistance would accustom his body to handling a lot of weight. This is also common knowledge and the best way for anyone to make strength gains.

But it can also have a lot of carryover to muscle gains because there’s a connection between strength and muscle growth progress. That’s probably why Arnie was an absolute monster!

Also read: Build Serious Strength With These Powerlifting Programs

“I would do 5-8 sets of 3 reps. It was a way to get my body used to lifting very heavy. And then I would take off the weight so it was only 315 and do as many reps as I could, and then I was finished with my bench press.”

The 7x Mr. Olympia champion had a bench press max that was impressive even by today’s standards, but he was an exceptional specimen in his prime.

Setting Goals and Embracing Failure

“There is a lesson in setting a goal and hitting it that has helped me all throughout my life, so if you’re young, set yourself some big goals and work on a sustainable plan to achieve them,” said Schwarzenegger.

He, like anyone who’s achieved any level of success, understands the importance of using failure as a learning experience to get better.

“What you learn is simple: failure is not losing, failure is part of growing. Before I lifted 500 pounds, do you know what I did? I failed to lift 500 pounds, not once, not twice, but tons of times.”

“One of the best lessons the gym can teach you is that failure is not an end – it’s a means to an end.”

He may be 74, but the Governator Schwarzenegger still lifts like a beast.