Arnold Schwarzenegger is on a mission to reverse the aging process at 75 years old. In recent excerpts from his Arnold’s Pump Club Newsletter, Schwarzenegger revealed a free and easy skincare solution and detailed his latest circuit workout of the week.
With a colossal chest, wide shoulders, and huge biceps, Schwarzenegger was a visionary in the 1970s, who sculpted a physique ahead of his time. Building one of the best résumés in the sport, Schwarzenegger pushed himself to the brink in the pursuit of excellence, having shared the stage with rivals such as three-time Mr. Olympias Frank Zane and Sergio Oliva.
Schwarzenegger was near unstoppable in his prime and would ultimately collect a total of seven Mr. Olympia trophies. His final victory was not without a fight as he returned after a five-year hiatus for the 1980 Mr. Olympia. This contest saw him narrowly take first place even though some thought the late fifth-place finisher Mike Mentzer deserved the nod. In the aftermath, a frustrated Mentzer decided to retire from the sport.
Aside from a life of competition, Schwarzenegger broke barriers in the 1980s after he became famous following his roles in action-themed films. His contributions to the Terminator franchise has stood the test of time and is still appreciated today. And while he served as the governor of California and a philanthropist, it appears Schwarzenegger’s focus is health, wellness, and longevity as he gets older.
Level Up Your Fitness: Join our 💪 strong community in Fitness Volt Newsletter. Get daily inspiration, expert-backed workouts, nutrition tips, the latest in strength sports, and the support you need to reach your goals. Subscribe for free!
Arnold Schwarzenegger Shares Study-Supported Anti-Aging Strategies for Better Skin Elasticity
Despite its simplicity, Arnold credits sweating as one of the best methods for improving skin health.
The Anti-Aging Secret
“A little bit of sweat might be the skincare solution you didn’t realize you needed.
Recent research suggests that the best way to have more youthful skin might be a consistent workout routine.
In the study, participants performed 16 weeks of either aerobic workouts or weight training. The scientists found that both forms of exercise resulted in skin improvements, such as better skin elasticity, dermal structure, and skin tone.
Schwarzenegger noted that a combination of cardio and weight training helps produce an inflammatory response that defends the skin against the natural aging process.
Exercise is likely so effective because does so much more than burn calories and build muscle. Both cardio and weight training help an inflammatory response that defends your skin against the natural aging of the cells in your skin. And, while supplementation gets all of the hype, exercise can also help increase your natural production of collagen, which is a key protein that supports healthier skin.
And for the record, you don’t need to train like Mr. Olympia to see the benefits. Both groups trained twice per week. The people doing cardio trained at a moderate intensity (about 65 to 75 percent of their maximum heart rate) for 30 minutes and performed a 5-minute warmup and cooldown. And the weight training group performed a 6-exercise full-body workout consisting of 3 sets of 10 reps each.”
Workout of the Week
In his latest ‘Workout of the Week’, Schwarzenegger revealed a circuit of seven exercises performed with a weighted vest or backpack of 30 pounds.
“This was such a fan-favorite in The Pump app, that we had to share it here.
We talk a lot about making workouts that fit into your life. And you guys ask for workouts you can do while traveling. Daniel was recently short on time, so he grabbed his ruck pack, put a 30-pound weight in it, and then did an amazing workout.
If you don’t have a ruck pack, you can put a few books in a backpack. Load up your backpack and then give it a try.
Each exercise is performed for a single set of eight reps each. Once completed, rest for 1-2 minutes and then repeat the circuit.
How to do it: Perform this workout as a circuit, which means you’ll do one set of each exercise. For each exercise, you’ll perform 8 reps. Do all reps of the first exercise, then with as little rest as possible, move to the next exercise. Continue this until you complete all 7 exercises. Rest for 1 to 2 minutes, and then repeat the circuit again.
- Stiff legged deadlift
- Bent-over row
- Clean
- Front squat
- Press
- Curl
- Overhead triceps extension
If you want to see what the workout looks like in action, Daniel filmed himself doing “the backpack workout.”
If you’re a beginner: aim for 2 to 3 rounds.
If you’re intermediate: perform 4 to 5 rounds.
If you’re advanced: complete 6 to 7 rounds.
Give it a try, and let us know what you think!” Arnold Schwarzenegger shared.
Schwarzenegger has prioritized health and longevity in retirement. On top of offering fans unique training plans on a weekly basis, Schwarzenegger also tackles other important barometers for health such as grip strength, endurance, recovery, and dieting.
He’s one of the most famous actors/bodybuilders of this generation, but it wasn’t always that way. Schwarzenegger has kept true to his roots and is known for looking back on his illustrious career. He admits his participation in 1977’s hit Pumping Iron with Lou Ferrigno set him and the sport up for long-standing success. He also credits the film for helping change the negative perception of bodybuilding at the time.
Just like his bodybuilding career, Arnold faced struggles in acting as well. In a recent interview with Academy Museum, the 75-year-old said he was discouraged initially because some industry pros mentioned his huge build and German accent would get in the way of landing roles. In the end, Schwarzenegger said those liabilities became strengths as he went on to achieve worldwide fame with a number of acting projects.
RELATED: Terrick El Guindy On Arnold Schwarzenegger’s ‘Forever Legacy’: ‘He’s an Icon of Modern Times’
Schwarzenegger encourages anyone to try his seven-exercise circuit workout routine. As for skin health, Arnold stressed that strength training, cardio, and a good sweat are among the best weapons for reversing the aging process.