Arnold Schwarzenegger is known for his iconic muscular body.

The professional bodybuilder pushed himself to the limit to attain his physique when he was young. Schwarzenegger’s gladiator appearance was meticulously sculpted over the last 50 years.

Now, the Austrian-born bodybuilder may still look strong, but he doesn’t have the strength to engage in the heavy workouts he used to do in his younger years. The actor opened up about his body health and the kind of exercise he does these days.

Arnold Schwarzenegger flexing his torso in an advertisement for a German protein product in 1967 | Source: Getty Images

The movie star decided to start building his body when he turned 15. He saw a magazine cover of „Muslim Fitness,” and on the cover was bodybuilding champion Reg Parker. Schwarzenegger read his story and was inspired by him. He knew he wanted to have exactly the same career as Parker, so he started training vigorously.

Arnold Schwarzenegger poses for a portrait on Venice Beach in Los Angeles, California in August 1977 | Source: Getty Images

Schwarzenegger looked up to other bodybuilding champions who motivated him to work out more hours every day and push harder to look like them and have a future like theirs. The bodybuilder said he joined a weightlifting club and became really religious about bodybuilding.

Arnold Schwarzenegger poses for a portrait session in Los Angeles, California on June 13, 1985 | Source: Getty Images

Schwarzenegger knew that bodybuilding was his new life. He even envisioned himself being Mr. Austria and Mr. Europe. His vision was so vivid and so clear that all Schwarzenegger did was follow through with the work. Through determination and hard work, Schwarzenegger achieved his dreams and surpassed his imagination.

Arnold Schwarzenegger poses against a brick wall in Santa Monica, California in 1977 | Source: Getty Images

He gained international fame as a bodybuilder, won contests, and popularized bodybuilding as a sport. Schwarzenegger also transitioned from bodybuilding to acting and became a prominent Hollywood star. Today, the bodybuilder opened up about how his life has changed over the years.

Arnold Schwarzenegger and Andre Ferguson at the Arnold Sports Festival in Columbus on March 7, 2020 | Source: Getty Images

How is Schwarzenegger’s Life Today?

Schwarzenegger’s life has changed today, and so has his exercise routine and body. The actor revealed that most of his muscles are gone, which makes him find it hard to look at himself in the mirror.

Arnold Schwarzenegger visits SiriusXM’s „The Howard Stern Show” at SiriusXM Studios in Los Angeles, California on October 04, 2023 | Source: Getty Images

He said he doesn’t like seeing his belly or the muscles that used to be strong just hanging on his body now. However, „The Terminator” star sometimes just laughs it off, acknowledging that this is his body today.

Still, Schwarzenegger admitted that it is difficult for him to look at his aging body because he doesn’t see the body that used to be praised in his younger years. All he sees now is a body that is out of shape and no longer has muscles with popping veins.

Arnold Schwarzenegger at the premiere of Netflix’s „FUBAR” in Los Angeles, California on May 22, 2023 | Source: Getty Images

The „Predator” star revealed that he had a heart surgery just before he turned 50. Doctors told him that his heart performance was going down and that he’d need a valve replacement. Two years after the doctors gave him this information, Schwarzenegger had heart surgery.

However, this heart surgery failed, and the actor had life-threatening body reactions. Schwarzenegger knew the heart surgery would be a non-invasive and small procedure, but the doctors made a mistake during the surgery and poked his heart. This mistake led to the actor bleeding internally.

Arnold Schwarzenegger is seen in Los Angeles, California on September 12, 2023 | Source: Getty Images

Two hours after the first surgery, Schwarzenegger had the second surgery carried out to stop the internal bleeding and correct the mistakes made the first time. Luckily, the second surgery went well, and the actor’s heart functioned effectively to date.

However, the 76-year-old said he felt like „damaged goods” and „vulnerable” after the surgery because the doctors told him he shouldn’t lift heavy weights anymore. Today, Schwarzenegger doesn’t do heavy weights but focuses on efficient workouts.

Schwarzenegger said it is now important for him to protect his body but still work out. The actor does therapy training and is learning to embrace aging and his new body physique. However, Schwarzenegger hasn’t retired and is still gracing people’s screens in new productions while doing his philanthropic work.