Arnold Schwarzenegger is here to treat us to some of the surprising secret ingredients that fueled his bodybuilding success!

SUMMARY

Arnold Schwarzenegger, 76, is the first person that springs to mind when we consider the epitome of bodybuilding.
The former Mr. Universe, however, recently revealed his diet’s weakness in his newsletter, Arnold’s Pump Club.
The Austrian Oak, who trained under and lived with Frank Zane, admitted he was not “good at dieting” and that he “didn’t pick up much dieting advice”.

If there’s a person whose name comes to mind when we think about the pinnacle of bodybuilding, it’s none other than Arnold Schwarzenegger.

Famed for his gargantuan muscles and stunning physique, he has dominated the bodybuilding business for many years.

However, in a recent revelation in his newsletter, Arnold’s Pump Club, the former Mr. Universe acknowledged the Achilles heel of his diet, revealing both his struggles and his accomplishments off the gym floor.

Fans can get advice on proper form and ask the Austrian Oak questions about fitness at Arnold’s Pump Club.

As everyone knows, he lived with the renowned bodybuilder Frank Zane and trained under him.

Thus, in the latest newsletter, Schwarzenegger was asked about the lessons he learned from living with Zane and whether or not he put them into practice.

But because he is not good at dieting, he acknowledged that he “didn’t pick up much dieting advice”.

Arnold Schwarzenegger in a still from Commando
Arnold Schwarzenegger Admitted His Dietary Achilles Heel

With the goal of assisting people in leading healthier lives, Arnold Schwarzenegger hosts a daily podcast, email, and merchandise store called Arnold’s Pump Club.

In the recent newsletter issue, someone asked the actor if he used the lessons he learned from living with bodybuilder Frank Zane (via TheSportsRush):

“What specifically did you learn from Frank about his diet and training that you applied to yourself?” 

As he is “bad at dieting”, like the rest of us, Schwarzenegger immediately responded, saying he did not pick up much dieting advice. To quote him:

“I didn’t pick up much dieting advice because I’m bad at dieting. I added in a lot of the exercises I thought at the time were Mickey Mouse because I loved big movements, and then I just trained more than him.”

A scene from Arnold Schwarzenegger’s Netflix documentary, Arnold
Even though Schwarzenegger was a devoted disciple of Zane’s and followed some of his routines, the latter was already above the rest.

It took a lot of work for the three-time Mr. Olympia to achieve what is still regarded as the most exquisite physique in bodybuilding history.

Zane had very particular tastes in food and quantities. He once said (via Exercise With Style):

“Don’t get out of shape in the off-season. If you do, you will lose a lot of time getting back there”. 

He used to go to the gym early in order to train in solitude and concentrate on the caliber of his form.

Arnold Schwarzenegger is Not a Diet Fanatic?

But Arnold Schwarzenegger, who used to train hard and long, did not stick to a strict diet; instead, he focused on his pump, according to Men’s Health.

The Terminator star won’t start his training regimen with the “heaviest” weights because he is aware of his physical limitations (via TheSportsRush):

“It’s not about working out with the heaviest weights; I’m just trying to move as fast as I can from one exercise to the next.”

According to Schwarzenegger, a good pump is mentally beneficial. He has consistently pushed for using the right exercise regimen.

The 76-year-old former Mr. Olympia is aware of how important it is to “protect” his body now. He told Men’s Health:

“After having several heart surgeries, and surgery on my shoulders, knees, and those kinds of things, it’s important to protect my body and do therapy training at the same time.”

Arnold Schwarzenegger in The Terminator
Even though Schwarzenegger has previously claimed that he never monitored his caloric intake, he did change his eating patterns after getting weight loss advice (via Insider)

“I was never a fanatic about diet.”

Rather, in order to lose weight, he said he started eating later in the day and made sure to get plenty of protein.

So, the next time you find yourself having trouble with your diet, know that even the greats face challenges.

Embody Schwarzenegger’s fierce determination, and never let your dieting struggles hinder your path to greatness.

On the work front, he will next be seen as ‘The President’ in David Sandberg’s upcoming martial arts comedy Kung Fury 2.