Arnold's Philosophy on Bodybuilding

Just about everyone who walks the face of the earth has heard of the legendary Arnold Schwarzenegger. The man is an inspiration to millions of men around the world, both in success and fitness. Even though times have changed, today's bodybuilders are far bigger than in Arnold's time, we can still learn a lot from the man that brought bodybuilding to the masses. In his novel, Arnold: The Education of a Bodybuilder, he thoroughly describes his philosophies and gives the reader insight on how to become just like him by following simple workout routines. Arnold's approach to bodybuilding was more mental than physical. For him, it was, and still is, all or nothing. While competing, he did not go through the motions; he worked out to be larger than life. In one of his most powerful philosophies he connected bodybuilding to the mind, explaining that, " the secret is to make your mind work for you, not against you" (Schwarzenegger, 2005, p.177). Here Arnold is stating that the goal of a rational bodybuilder should be to fully actualize your potential as a human being, not simply your physical potential, but your intellect and spiritual development as well. After all the body includes not merely the muscles, but the brain and the sense of self that concentrates on using both effectively. He also believes that focusing so obsessively on only one aspect of the body will result in a lopsided development of one's human physique. Arnold always reminds beginners that they have to start somewhere and that it is better to start slowly rather than quit quickly. According to him, "it is preferable to spend more time at the gym doing your sets and reps properly rather than rush through your routine, see no results and ultimately give up" (Schwarzenegger, 2003, p. 47). He warns that novice bodybuilders should not neglect any body parts and advises that they should always face obstacles instead of shy away from them. When Arnold first came to America, he had a huge