Former 1983 Mr. Olympia champion Samir Bannout hasn’t stopped training or eating clean since calling it a career. In a July 28 Instagram post, the bodybuilding legend showed off his shredded six-pack and broke down how to maintain conditioning as you get older.
Bannout proved himself in the Golden Era of bodybuilding. He won the sport’s most prestigious title against elite-caliber athletes, including former eight-time Mr. Olympia Lee Haney, Frank Zane, and the late Albert Beckles. Since stepping away from competitive bodybuilding, Bannout still keeps his hand on the sport’s pulse.
Aside from sharing his unfiltered take on the Men’s Open class, Bannout continues to provide his fans with actionable advice to sculpt their physiques. This led him to break down how he’s maintained ab development at 70.
Samir Bannout Shows Off Abs at 70, Reveals His Secret to Maintaining Conditioning
When asked how he’s maintained his physique, Bannout kept it simple: listen to your body, train, and eat the right foods.
“Still there,” shared Samir Bannout. “I’ve been asked, how do I maintain good condition at over 60. It’s simple. Get in the habit of training, listen to your body, eat the right foods.”
According to the former Mr. Olympia, protein options like steak, fish, and chicken are ideal. He also said to add complex carbohydrates or medium glycemic foods around training.
“Lean meat, steak, whether it’s fish, whether it’s chicken, and add to it some nicer complex carbohydrates, and you know what? When you are training, you could also have medium glycemic foods that can actually absorb into your system pretty fast.”
“There’s one thing that I follow, which is I listen to my body all the time. Even if you train every other day with weight training hard, you can eat from a good menu.”
He explained that you don’t have to train too long. Bannout aims for around 40-minute sessions during each of his workouts:
“Allow recovery to take place, and don’t panic. Your body will respond, as long as you allow enough recovery time after hard training.
You don’t need to train long. You need to train hard. I don’t really train more than 40 minutes per workout, at the most. So, eat well, feed the muscle. The more muscle you gain, the faster your metabolic rate allows recovery to take place.”
Bannout isn’t the only bodybuilding legend to maintain incredible shape beyond the stage. Kevin Levrone, a 1990s standout in the Men’s Open, is also sporting a ripped six-pack at 62. He revealed that his training goals have shifted from hypertrophy to longevity.
Having conquered the sport decades ago, Bannout hasn’t forgotten the fundamentals that turned him into a champion. He continues to serve as a top bodybuilding ambassador, helping the next generation of lifters find their footing inside the gym.
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