Even the GOAT has had body image issues.

Earlier this week, Men’s Health Magazine caught up with Arnold Schwarzenegger to speak with him on a myriad of topics. The bodybuilding legend was more than happy to divulge and, among other things, he discussed his own body image issues and the idea that self-love and satisfaction may have their limitations:

“Remember that to be critical of yourself is very healthy because it makes you perform better. When I said that quote you’re referring to, it was the day of Mr. Olympia and I was training really hard and I posed in front of the mirror and I said, ‘Man, I still look like shit and I think I can make a lot improvements.’ Criticizing myself is the very thing that made me continue training. I could’ve sat back on my laurels, said, ‘Well, I won Mr. Universe and what a great thing that was,’ and gotten fat. But I didn’t. I always felt like my body wasn’t there and I was critical and that’s makes you hungry and puts fire in your belly to make you perform; to do more. That’s good when people feel like that. What is not helpful is if you stand there in front of the mirror and you say, ‘I see perfection.’ Because then it’s over. You will not be motivated to go and do the work anymore.”

And as usual he was more than willing to candidly address how this related to drug use in the fitness industry:

“Everyone in the world feels like [he or she] is not fully there yet. In politics, you always feel like you can accomplish more, that there’s something more to do. And when there is more work to be done, you don’t reach for drugs to help you reach those goals. The same thing goes for your body. We’ve got to teach people that if you’re dissatisfied with your body, you have to work to get better. You don’t become a better doctor by taking drugs; you won’t become a better bodybuilder that way, either. Yeah, you can get bigger. I see guys getting bigger, but you definitely won’t be better. I don’t see that. [Drugs] aren’t the answer. You have to pose and pose and pose. Work your ass off in training. That’s what makes you better.”

This is great insight from a true icon. Self-acceptance can lead to stagnation, but looking to drugs and other perceived shortcuts for improvement is often not the answer. This interview was part of a promotional push for Arnold’s new movie Killing Gunther, in theaters now!

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