Arnold Schwarzenegger is one of the most of the very few people who have found success in two different careers. In his case, it was bodybuilding and acting. The Terminator star is known for his godly physique and his action-packed films. Besides, he has excelled as a businessman, a politician, as well as a filmmaker. However, there’s something he has always liked when it comes to bodybuilding.
It wouldn’t be an overstatement to say that bodybuilding has truly shaped Schwarzenegger’s life and career. The Austrian Oak has been dedicated to bodybuilding since he was 18 years old. He clinched the title of Mr. Universe at the young age of 20. Driven by his determination for the sport, Schwarzenegger moved to the US in 1968, and the rest, as they say, is history.
Arnold Schwarzenegger Liked Being Over Trained
In a video titled Blueprint to Cut, on his YouTube channel, Arnold Schwarzenegger was asked about his opinion on overtraining and whether he preferred the same during his prime. Schwarzenegger replied by expressing his preference for pushing his limits, especially when a competition was around the corner. The 7-time Mr. Olympia emphasized the positive reaction to intense training, particularly while preparing for competitions, although he did recognize the concept of overtraining. Although Schwarzenegger found himself thriving with the more intense training approach, he doesn’t recommend the same to all bodybuilders.
He shared that it helped him get better results and a better muscle definition, given the limited dieting methods in his era. He also spoke about the limited availability of supplements for getting a leaner body compared to the abundance of supplements meant for muscle gain.
Arnold Schwarzenegger said (via YouTube):
“I think that I liked to be a little bit overtrained because to me, I responded better and I got more definition because, remember in my days, we were not as sophisticated when it comes to dieting. And we didn’t have the food supplements that are available today with getting definition and you know, cutting down and all. We had food supplements that were really good for gaining weight, but we didn’t really have much available to lose weight.”
During the 80s and 90s, Arnold Schwarzenegger and Sylvester Stallone were fierce rivals in Hollywood. Both talented actors fought for box office supremacy through their iconic franchises, including Terminator and Rocky.
Arnold Schwarzenegger Had a Tough Time Entering Hollywood
Although his reign was ended by Haney and later by Ronnie Coleman, Arnold Schwarzenegger is still one of the most famous bodybuilders in history. Watching his films like Terminator 2: Judgment Day, True Lies, and Total Recall, you might believe it was easy for the actor to enter the acting industry. However, this notion is far from the truth, as he was believed to be too big to be an actor.
He told Team Coco:
“… In the 70s when I said I wanted into movies, all the producers and directors said to me ‘it was never gonna happen,’ and one the reasons was that my body was too big.”
After a decade or so, the industry saw a major shift, with actors like Schwarzenegger, Stallone, and Jean-Claude Van Damme coming up as some of the biggest action stars.
