#TBT: In A Rare Photo, Arnold Schwarzenegger Shows Off Newbie Gains From Age 16

Arnold Schwarzenegger wasn’t always a beast.

Many times when individuals first start their fitness journey they feel it is a daunting task. When looking at individuals like Arnold Schwarzenegger or Lou Ferrigno, the usual consensus is “I’ll never be able to look like that”. Even for those who remain positive, they still may have a thought process that suggests building a ton of muscle will be an uphill battle.

Newbie lifters do have the luxury of making newbie gains in the beginning, but eventually it gets harder and harder to pack on muscle as your body gets used to training. It’s the reason why muscle confusion is so important when it comes to bodybuilding.

But while the newbies out there may feel like the task is simply impossible to accomplish, the reality is that everyone goes through that stage of making inconsequential gains. That is until they reach a certain threshold and break through.

Even Arnold Schwarzenegger who is considered to be the greatest bodybuilder of all time started somewhere. Yes, it may be hard for some of you to believe, but Arnold wasn’t born a massive bodybuilder. He had to put in the hard work and dedicate himself to getting better. If you’re finding that hard to believe then check out this photo recently posted by Arnold Schwarzenegger himself, showing what he looked like at age 16.

#tbt to when I was 16, before I ever competed.

A post shared by Arnold Schwarzenegger (@schwarzenegger) on

If you’re feeling lazy or bad for yourself and simply giving only half your effort in the gym, then expect to have some crappy results. But if you’re looking to make a difference to your physique then you’re going to have to put in the work just like Arnold did.

What do you think of Arnold Schwarzenegger and his newbie gains at age 16?

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Managing Editor at Generation Iron, Jonathan Salmon is a writer, martial arts instructor, and geek culture enthusiast. Check out his Instagram, Twitter and Facebook to keep up with his antics.

Jonathan Salmon
Managing editor of Generation Iron, Jonathan Salmon is a writer, martial arts instructor, and geek culture enthusiast. He has been writing about bodybuilding, combat sports, and strength sports for over 8 years. Check out his YouTube, Instagram, Twitter, Facebook, and Sound Cloud for in-depth MMA analysis.