Jim Arrington was born premature and suffered from various health conditions throughout his childhood. That started to change in the late 1940s when, as a teenager, he decided he wanted to be as strong as his favorite superhero and started going to the gym.
Seven decades later, Jim is still a regular at Gold’s Gym in Venice Beach, training for two hours at least twice a week. His last bodybuilding competition will be in 2022 and he said he has no plans to retire. At 90, he officially holds the record for the world’s oldest professional bodybuilder.
In a recent video on the Guinness World Records YouTube channel, Jim explained that one of the secrets to longevity is listening to your body and knowing when to switch up your workout routine as you age. “What works for a person in life is not the same,” he says. “And that’s what bodybuilding is all about. It’s adaptation.”
Jim also completely overhauled his diet. As a young bodybuilder, he consumed large amounts of milk and beef, as well as an “old school” diet for muscle growth. “These two foods weren’t allergic to me,” he says. “But they cause inflammation, [so] I completely changed my eating habits. I thought that would allow me to continue training and maintain this form. “
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Jim said that winning the competition and breaking the world record “opened up a whole new world” for him, and that it keeps his passion and enthusiasm for bodybuilding alive.
“What inspires me are the people who come to me saying I inspire them. they’ he says.
Philip Ellis is the next news editor. men’s health, fitness, pop culture, sex and relationships, and LGBTQ+ issues. His work has been featured in his GQ, Teen Vogue, Man Repeller, MTV and is the author of his next book. Love Scams and Other Scams.
