Arnold Schwarzenegger marks 79th birthday with fitness challenge, says "I don't want any gifts"
Washington DC, July 31
Hollywood veteran Arnold Schwarzenegger celebrated his 79th birthday by encouraging people to embrace fitness instead of sending him gifts, according to People.
The actor and former California governor shared photos of himself on Instagram, working out at what appeared to be Gold's Gym in Venice, Los Angeles, while announcing a special offer for new users of his Pump Club fitness app.
"I turn 79 today. I don't want any gifts. Instead, my team and I are turning the fitness industry upside down," Schwarzenegger wrote alongside pictures of himself performing lat pulldowns and biceps curls.
The 'Terminator' star said first-time users of the Pump Club app can sign up for a seven-day free trial until August 9 and then pay USD 100 for the first year. He added that users who complete four fitness programmes will receive their USD 100 back.
"No fine print. Show up, do the work, and your first year is free. Link in bio. Go," he wrote.
Schwarzenegger also said the initiative is backed by him personally rather than outside investors.
"The Pump Club crusade is backed by me, not a private equity fund or a hedge fund," he added.
Reflecting on his lifelong passion for fitness, Schwarzenegger wrote, "I've been trying to get people to train for six decades, and I finally found something that works. If I can make millions of you train all year, I'll take the loss."
The actor has made birthday workouts an annual tradition. Last year, he celebrated turning 78 by sharing a video of himself cycling as part of his fitness routine, according to People.
Beyond his fitness initiatives, Schwarzenegger continues to remain active in the entertainment industry. He currently stars in Netflix's action-comedy series 'FUBAR' and is set to play Santa Claus in 'The Man with the Bag', which will premiere on Prime Video on December 2. He is also attached to the long-awaited 'King Conan', a sequel to his 1982 fantasy film 'Conan the Barbarian', according to People.
Schwarzenegger shares daughters Katherine and Christina, and sons Patrick and Christopher with his former wife, Maria Shriver. He is also the father of Joseph Baena.
— ANI
Reader Comments
I love how he's using his birthday to promote health rather than asking for gifts. That's the kind of selfless gesture we need more of. But ₹8,500 for a fitness app seems steep for many Indians. Wish he'd consider regional pricing or a free tier for developing countries.
Respect for the Terminator! 🏋️♂️ His discipline is unmatched. Meanwhile, I'm struggling to do 10 pushups after a heavy biryani lunch. This is my wake-up call to start working out seriously. Also, happy to see he's not owned by private equity - that's rare in today's world.
The "show up, do the work, and your first year is free" model is refreshing. It's like a gurukul approach - earn what you get through effort. And FUBAR on Netflix is hilarious! Good to see he's still active in entertainment at this age. Bollywood stars should take notes.
"If I can make millions of you train all year, I'll take the loss" - this line shows his genuine passion. We have so many celebrity fitness influencers in India just doing paid promotions, but Arnold actually backs his words with personal investment. But I hope he includes some desi workouts too - yoga, surya namaskar... that would be a true East-meets-West approach.
His discipline is legendary - from bodybuilding to Hollywood to politics, and now back to fitness full-time. The seven-day trial is nice, but honestly, I'd still prefer my morning walk at the park with other aunties over any app 😄
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