Arnold Schwarzenegger Gets Candid About Why It's Worse To Be Aging After Having Been A Great Athlete Your Whole Life: 'It Just Sucks'
It's not easy getting older.
Aging is a natural part of life, just like taxes and the natural sense of dread that accompanies Mondays. Everyone gets older, even the richest and most famous among us, including celebrities in Hollywood. Former bodybuilder Arnold Schwarzenegger is contending with father time, and one could say he’s still looking good at his age. However, the beloved star – who’s now in his 70s – shared a very candid take on why aging is worse after having been a great athlete for your entire life. To put it simply, Schwarzenegger firmly believes “it just sucks.”
Decades ago, the Terminator actor made a his mark on the world of bodybuilding when he was named Mr. Universe at the age of 20. He then went on to earn the moniker of Mr. Olympia a whopping seven times. In his prime, he was widely considered to be the pinnacle of physical fitness and for good reason. Though the 76-year-old former California governor is still in good shape today, he’s naturally not the physical specimen he was from the late ‘60s through the ‘80s. He got honest about what it’s like to see his physique today, and he didn’t hold back when it came to critiquing himself:
As harsh as his sentiments might sound, they are understandable. I’ve never been anywhere close to being in the Terminator icon’s shoes, but I can definitely see how it would be hard to grapple with a once-impeccable-looking body changing over time. Those who’ve never been particularly focused on working out may not feel that as hard as someone who’s spent the majority of their lifespan in the gym. The author and public speaker shared even more thoughts on the matter during his appearance on The Howard Stern Show:
Some might say Arnold Schwarzengger is being a little too hard on himself, though. After all, he’s still very healthy and imposing enough that I wouldn’t want to cross him. Funny enough, he himself has no problem pointing out the fact that he has good genes. But what his comments signify is that aging can impact people in different ways, depending on your personal viewpoints and experiences. You have to give Schwarzengger a lot of credit for being so honest about how he feels about his body.
He may be older now, but the Total Recall alum’s weight-lifting legacy certainly lives on, as enthusiasts still widely view him as one of the innovators of the craft. By doing that, he helped inspire an entire generation of not only bodybuilders but of A-list action stars as well. For example, Marvel and Extraction star Chris Hemsworth has spoken about how posters of the iconic Austrian immigrant inspired him to get in shape as a young man. The Predator icon’s own son, Joseph Baena, is also following in his footsteps and already has the bodybuilding poses down.
Additionally, Arnold Schwarzenegger continues to work out on a regular basis today and sometimes posts videos of his routines. He showed off his intense biceps workout just weeks ago, and it’s almost enough to make you want to go back to the gym. So even though Schwarzenegger thinks it “sucks” that his body has changed, he definitely still has a lot to be proud of and grateful for.
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Erik Swann is a Senior Content Producer at CinemaBlend. He began working with the publication in 2020 when he was hired as Weekend Editor. Today, he continues to write, edit and handle social media responsibilities over the weekend. On weekdays, he also writes TV and movie-related news and helps out with editing and social media as needed. He graduated from the University of Maryland, where he received a degree in Broadcast Journalism. After shifting into multi-platform journalism, he started working as a freelance writer and editor before joining CB. Covers superheroes, sci-fi, comedy, and almost anything else in film and TV. He eats more pizza than the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles.