Arnold Schwarzenegger’s Diet and Workout Plan

It’s been decades since the release of movies like “Stay Hungry” and “Pumping Iron,” and yet the Arnold Schwarzenegger diet and workout plan remains as effective now as it ever was. Of course, that doesn’t mean you can handle it. After all, the former bodybuilder did win the Mr.Olympia contest no less than seven times, a feat that requires serious dedication. Schwarzenegger also retained a truly cut physique well into his career as an A-list Hollywood star. Should you want to achieve anything close to his former levels of indomitable strength, prepare for a fitness regimen of the truly intense variety.

What was Arnold Schwarzenegger’s Diet?

Arnold Schwarzenegger is more or less vegan these days, but he used to be the exact opposite. At the height of his physical prowess, he abided by the rule that for “every pound of bodyweight, he needed one gram of protein.” Needless to say, when you weigh 250 pounds as he did, that amounts to a lot of protein.

However, he didn’t shy away from grains, vegetables, micronutrients, and fats either. In that regard, Arnold Schwarzenegger’s diet plan isn’t all that different from what’s being recommended for today’s bodybuilders. On the other hand, he did go much heavier on saturated fats, not that we’re here to argue with egg yolks, red meat, and bacon. The ultimate goal is to add quality mass to the body by way of quality calories.

Arnold Schwarzenegger Diet Tips

As you’re probably aware, Schwarzenegger didn’t just eat right and workout, he shared a broader fitness philosophy with the world at large. Here are some pearls of wisdom that have been personally dispensed by the man himself.  

1. Study Nutrition – Knowledge is power, literally in this case.
2. Eat Protein – Yeah, I think we got that part.
3. Calculate Your Protein Intake – According to Arnold, you should consume one gram of protein for every one pound of body weight.
4. Supplement with Protein – In other words, remember to drink your shakes.
5. Egg Yolks Are Fine – Hooray!
6. Skip the Fat-Free Foods – Fat-free foods usually supplement the fat with sugar, and virtually anything is better than sugar. Plus, mono and saturated fats help build testosterone.
7. Take a Multi-Vitamin Daily – You got it, Dr. Schwarzenegger!
8. Eliminate Sugary Foods – Schwarzenegger said if he could recommend one dietary change over all others, it would be to rid your body of things like corn starch, high-fructose corn sweetener, maltodextrin, and other sugary foods or ingredients.
9. Choose Your Foods Carefully – Quality matters.
10. Make Your Post-Workout Meal Count – When you hit the gym as hard as Schwarzenegger did, you must immediately replenish with vital nutrients. He also suggests eating carbs 30 minutes after a workout.
11. Eat More to Gain Mass – Still not packing in the extra pounds? Up your caloric intake. Protein shakes will help.
12. Skip Dessert – This one pretty much speaks for itself.
13. Monitor Your Portions – Consistency is everything in the world of bodybuilding, which is why you should know exactly how much you’re eating when you eat it.