Good day bodybuilding fans.
And thanks for stopping by.
Today we’re going to be looking at an Arnold Schwarzenegger steroids cycle.
If you were to ask any true bodybuilding fan whom they consider to be the greatest bodybuilder of all time.
99% of the time we can pretty much guarantee that they’ll say the Austrian Oak himself, Arnold Schwarzenegger.
Over the years there have been countless fantastic bodybuilders.
That not only had amazing physiques, but also who did wonders for the sport of bodybuilding itself, and for the fans.
Arnie was and still is, a fan favorite, and like it or not.
But when talking about Arnold when he competed in the 70s and early 80s, we need to discuss steroids.
In the world of bodybuilding, many people consider anabolic steroids to be synonymous with the sport.
It seems that people can’t see a jacked dude walking down the street without automatically accusing him of being on the juice.
Whether he is or he isn’t on gear.
The fact remains that you still need to put the work in, both with your training and with your diet, if you want to reap the rewards associated with anabolic steroid use.
As far as steroids go, while some bodybuilders will ignore the subject until they’re blue in the face.
Arnold has actually addressed his steroid use in the past.
Which we will be looking at later on.
For now, however, we’ll be learning more about the Austrian Oak.
His training, his physique, his amazing career, and of course, taking a look at an Arnold Schwarzenegger performance-enhancing drugs cycle.
Before we proceed any further with this article, it’s important that we get the legal stuff out of the way first.
We in no way, shape or form, condone the use of anabolic steroids.
We know that they are very dangerous and that they can be potentially fatal if abused.
With that said, we certainly will not cast judgment upon those that choose to use them.
Arnold in the past has been very open about his steroid use, as when he used them in the 60s and 70s, steroids were perfectly legal, so in theory, he and the other bodybuilders of the golden age of bodybuilding did nothing wrong.
Back then, using steroids was as legal as using creatine and whey protein.
Who Is Arnold Schwarzenegger?
Even though you and virtually 99% of the rest of the human population probably know who Arnold Schwarzenegger is.
We’re still going to bring you up to speed.
Arnold is a US citizen, originally from Austria, who has had one of the most remarkable careers.
And lives for that matter, in history.
He is a former multiple time Mr. Olympia winner.
He has won countless other bodybuilding accolades and is considered by many fitness fanatics to be the greatest bodybuilder to ever live.
Thanks to his small waist, huge chest, and enormous frame.
That coupled with his condition meant that he had one of the most aesthetically pleasing physiques to ever grace the Olympia stage.
Arnold wasn’t content with being the greatest bodybuilder of all time however, he soon set his sights on acting, and became one of the most marketable and successful action movie stars of the 80s and 90s.
So, after conquering the world of bodybuilding and the world of Hollywood.
Surely the GOAT had earned a well-deserved break?
Well, actually he was far from done.
As he then set his sights on the world of politics.
He ran for governor of California, and not surprisingly, he won.
He is now back in front of the cameras and will shortly be filming for a brand-new Terminator movie.
What’s even more remarkable is the fact that, despite being in his 70s, he still has an amazing physique.
Bodybuilding Career
Arnold was born in Austria and had a very strict upbringing by his Policeman father.
His father was strict, but fair, and encouraged Arnold to show an interest in sports.
Which he did, and he excelled.
He soon, however, fell in love with bodybuilding and as a teen.
He would lift weights at home, sneak into gyms, and train whenever he could.
It was clear he was genetically gifted as his physique responded very favorably to the training.
As he grew older he was forced to join the army.
Where he trained as a tank driver, all while still training like a madman.
He decided he wanted to compete on stage.
But the only problem was that he wasn’t allowed off base.
Arnold went AWOL in order to compete.
And he won emphatically.
Upon returning back to base.
He spent several days in military prison.
After getting out of the army.
Arnie decided his best chance of making it as a bodybuilder would be to emigrate to the USA, so that’s what he did.
He moved to the USA, worked at a gym, trained at the legendary Gold’s Gym, Venice Beach, California, and was soon discovered by Joe Weider – the father of bodybuilding.
Joe took Arnold under his wing and helped him with regard to the political side of things.
Arnold entered multiple shows and won, eventually turning pro.
He won titles such as Mr. Universe, and it wasn’t long before he competed at the Olympia.
The first time he entered, something happened to Arnold that he wasn’t used to – he lost.
Arnold used his loss to Sergio Olivia in 1969, to fuel his fire and spur himself on to better himself the next year.
In 1970 he won the contest and would win consecutive titles from 1970 up until 1975 when he retired to pursue acting.
After some success in Hollywood.
Arnold returned to the Olympia in 1980 and won in what many agree to be fairly controversial circumstances.
He still looked great, just not as great as in the past, and not as great as some of his competitors.
The judges, however, gave him the 1st place, giving Arnold his 7th Olympia title.
Hollywood Career
After retiring from bodybuilding, Arnold set his sights on a career in Hollywood.
He had wanted to be an actor for a long time, and he finally got his wish.
In 1970 he was cast as Hercules in the movie Hercules in New York.
As people have never heard of him, he was credited as Arnold Strong.
His accent was also so thick, that it was dubbed over.
He also appeared in The Long Goodbye, where he played a deaf-mute hitman for the mob.
In 1976, his real breakthrough came in the movie Stay Hungry, which won him a Golden Globe.
Now Arnold was being taken seriously.
The hit “mockumentary” Pumping Iron, really helped the public fall in love with Arnold.
As this gave an insight into the real Arnold and showed that he oozed charm, charisma.
Just a tad of well-deserved arrogance, and a hunger to succeed.
Pumping Iron followed Arnold.
And other bodybuilders, as they trained for the 1975 Olympia in Pretoria, South Africa.
His first major Hollywood blockbuster was 1982’s Conan the Barbarian, and 84’s Conan the Destroyer.
In 1984 however, Arnold’s most memorable, and some say his best role ever, was in James Cameron’s The Terminator.
Soon after, Arnold, along with Sylvester Stallone.
Became one of the most marketable action movies stars on the planet.
Hollywood was crazy for him, as were global audiences, and he didn’t disappoint.
During the 80s and 90s, Arnold starred in smash hit after smash hit.
Including titles such as Red Heat, Raw Deal, the Running Man, Total Recall, Predator, Commando, Terminator 2, True Lies, and many more.
Eventually, his career in Hollywood started to wind down.
As Arnold started to show an interest in politics.
Return To Acting
We won’t talk politics here because it has little to do with bodybuilding and generally it doesn’t bring the best out in people.
We’ll just say that Arnold served two terms as governor for California.
Earning him the nickname of ‘The Governator’.
He served from 2003 – 2011.
After stepping down as governor.
Arnold returned to acting right away and, after several cameos, took on a more prominent role in Sly Stallone’s The Expendables 2.
His first starring role since returning to acting was in 2013’s The Last Stand.
He went on to appear in The Escape Plan, Sabotage, The Expendables 3, and Terminator Genisys, where he reprised his role as the iconic T-800 Terminator.
All of the films did well, but not amazing by Arnold’s standards.
He is soon to start shooting for a sixth Terminator movie.
Which is said to be a direct sequel to Terminator 2, which many die-hard Terminator fans will be pleased to hear.
Arnold’s Physique
Before we take a look at an Arnold Schwarzenegger steroids cycle and look at which drugs Arnold used when he was training at his peak.
We’ll first talk about Arnold’s physique over the years.
When he was competing as a bodybuilder.
Arnold was a fan-favorite, a favorite of the judges, and a favorite of the sponsorship companies.
He competed at 6ft 2 inches in height and would step on stage between 235 and 240 pounds.
Off-season, he would bulk to around 245 – 250, though he stayed lean all year.
One reason why he is considered so popular is that his physique was described as being about as close to perfection as you could get.
His waist was small and narrow while his chest, V-Taper, and upper-body were huge.
His legs, despite being tall for a bodybuilder.
They were also very impressive.
His only weakness was his calves, which he brought up by training them even harder.
After retiring, Arnold still continued to bodybuild.
Especially as he often played action roles where he needed to look like he could kick ass.
Even to this day, despite being in his early 70s and undergoing two heart surgeries.
Arnold still trains regularly and still has crazy bicep peaks that some pros would kill for.
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Arnold Schwarzenegger Steroids
Now the time has come for us to address the elephant in the room.
As we look at a typical Arnold Schwarzenegger performance enhancing drugs cycle from the 60s and 70s.
Remember, back then steroids were not illegal.
So Arnold was not cheating or doing anything wrong.
Arnold surprisingly did not rely on powerful drugs like trenbolone for bulking up or clenbuterol for cutting, as he instead used them to maintain and preserve muscle tissue.
He would primarily use steroids when he was dieting and cutting down for a contest.
His three steroids of choice were: Primobolan, Deca-Durabolin, and Anabol or Dianabol.
While we do not have this set in stone.
It is widely thought that his steroid cycle looked something along the lines of:
Weeks 1 – 5
Primobolan – 600mg per week
Dianabol – 60mg – 80mg per week
Weeks 5 – 10
Primobolan – 600mg – 800mg per week
Dianabol – 80mg – 100mg per week
Deca-Durabolin – 400mg per week
Weeks 10 – 15
Primobolan – 600mg – 800mg per week
Dianabol – 60mg – 100mg per week
Deca-Durabolin – 200mg – 300mg per week
Weeks 15 – 20
Primobolan – 600mg – 700mg per week
Dianabol – 60mg – 100mg per week
Deca-Durabolin – 200mg – 300mg per week
Weeks 20 – 25
Primobolan – 200mg per week
Dianabol – 40 mg per week
Final Thoughts
Before we wrap things up.
We need to reiterate the fact that this is not proven to be the actual steroid cycle that Arnold Schwarzenegger used when he was working out like a pro bodybuilder.
Back when steroids were legal.
Based on the evidence, and what we know about similar cycles, however, it is likely that he followed something very similar.
References:
(1)https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/arnold-schwarzenegger-heart-surgery-stable-condition-terminator-governor-california-a8282311.html
(2)https://whatculture.com/film/5-reasons-why-arnold-schwarzenegger-is-the-greatest-actor-of-all-time
(3)https://www.bodybuilding.com/fun/arnold-schwarzenegger-blueprint-trainer-main.html
