Arnold Schwarzenegger vs Larry Scott
By Samuel Nichlos / May 18, 2023
Both Larry Scott and Arnold Schwarzenegger have won the coveted Mr. Olympia title, the greatest accolade in the sport, making them two illustrious individuals in the bodybuilding community.
Although their mutual success, their divergent training, and eating habits sparked spirited debates among fans and professionals.
The different exercise and eating approaches of Larry Scott and Arnold Schwarzenegger will be compared and contrasted in this article, along with each approach’s advantages and disadvantages.
Arnold Schwarzenegger – The Austrian Oak
Most people agree that Arnold Schwarzenegger is the best bodybuilder of all time. From 1970 through 1975, as well as in 1980, he won the Mr. Olympia title seven times. Schwarzenegger had a big chest, a thin waist, and large arms that made up his body.
He regularly changed his workout routines and activities to “shock the muscles,” which was the basis for his training philosophy. Each day of Schwarzenegger’s six-day training split was dedicated to a different body area.
For instance, Monday was a day for the chest and back, Tuesday was for the shoulder and arms, Wednesday was for the legs, Thursday was for the chest and back once more, Friday was for the shoulders and arms once more, and Saturday was for the legs (again).
Schwarzenegger generally did 16 sets for smaller muscle parts like the biceps and triceps and 20 sets for bigger muscle areas like the chest and back. Schwarzenegger was renowned for his rigorous diet in addition to his exercise regimen.
He ate mostly chicken, fish, eggs, and vegetables as part of a high-protein, low-carb diet. He stayed away from processed and sugary meals and ate supplements like protein powder and amino acids.
Larry Scott – The Legend
In 1965 and 1966, Larry Scott became the first bodybuilder to win the Mr. Olympia title. He was referred to as “The Legend” because of his legendary arm growth. “Train smart, not hard” was the guiding premise behind Scott’s training philosophy.
Instead of just utilizing large weights to bulk up, he believed in employing the proper routines and techniques to focus on certain muscle areas. Each day of Scott’s four-day training split was dedicated to working on a different muscle group.
For instance, Monday was dedicated to the chest and triceps, Tuesday to the back and biceps, Thursday to the shoulder and triceps, and Friday to the legs. Scott would often work out with smaller weights and more repetitions than Schwarzenegger, performing 9 to 12 sets for each muscle group.
Scott was renowned for his fondness of dairy foods, such as milk and cheese, when it came to his diet. In addition, he ate a lot of fruits and vegetables and abstained from processed food and sweetened beverages.
Arnold Schwarzenegger vs Larry Scott – The Debate
The main topic of discussion in the debate between Arnold Schwarzenegger and Larry Scott is which exercise and dietary strategy is best for developing a lean body. On the one hand, the “shocking the muscles” method advocated by Arnold Schwarzenegger is seen to be more successful in increasing strength and muscular growth.
Schwarzenegger avoided his body adjusting to his workouts and reaching a plateau by switching up his exercises and regimens often. He was able to maintain his long-term growth in both strength and size because of this.
Yet, Scott’s strategy of “training smart, not hard” is seen to be more successful in developing a balanced and attractive body. Scott was able to concentrate on the quality of his muscular growth by utilizing lesser weights and more repetitions as opposed to merely lifting huge weights for the sake of it.
He was able to grow each muscle group in a way that complimented the others, giving him a more proportionate body. To increase muscle building while decreasing body fat, Schwarzenegger’s diet was rich in protein and low in carbs.
He was able to provide his muscles with the building blocks they needed for development and repair after workouts by eating plenty of protein. He also avoided processed and sugary meals to maintain a low body fat percentage, which made his muscles more pronounced and defined.
Conversely, Scott’s nutritional plan focusing on ingesting a considerable amount of dairy products, fruits, and vegetables, is regarded to be favorable for maintaining general health and increasing longevity.
Dairy products are recognized for their calcium content, which is necessary for keeping healthy bones and other vital elements. However, fruits and vegetables are rich in vitamins and antioxidants, which assist to mitigate the risk of chronic illnesses like cancer and heart disease.
Conclusion:
Both Larry Scott and Arnold Schwarzenegger have effective bodybuilding strategies that were adapted to their tastes and objectives. A high-protein, low-carb diet, and Schwarzenegger’s “shocking the muscles” technique allowed him to sustain long-term growth in both strength and size.
A diet high in dairy, fruits, and vegetables, together with Scott’s “exercise smart, not hard” philosophy, allowed him to build a proportional and balanced physique while preserving his general health and longevity. The ideal method for bodybuilding and nutrition will ultimately rely on a person’s objectives, tastes, and lifestyle.
FAQ’s
Arnold Schwarzenegger is a former professional bodybuilder and actor. He won the Mr. Olympia title seven times from 1970 through 1975 and in 1980.
His training philosophy was based on “shocking the muscles,” which involved changing up his workout routines and activities frequently to avoid plateauing.
Larry Scott is a former professional bodybuilder who became the first person to win the Mr. Olympia title in 1965 and 1966. His training philosophy was to “train smart, not hard,” which involved using proper techniques to focus on specific muscle areas instead of simply lifting heavy weights.
Arnold Schwarzenegger followed a high-protein, low-carb diet that primarily consisted of chicken, fish, eggs, and vegetables. He avoided processed and sugary foods and consume supplements like protein powder and amino acids.
Larry Scott’s diet was rich in dairy products, fruits, and vegetables. He consumed a lot of milk and cheese and abstained from processed foods and sweetened beverages.
The main topic of discussion in the debate between Arnold Schwarzenegger and Larry Scott is which exercise and dietary strategy is best for developing a lean body.
The advantage of Arnold Schwarzenegger’s “shocking the muscles” training philosophy is that it can lead to increased strength and muscular growth. However, the disadvantage is that it may not necessarily result in a proportional and balanced body.
Larry Scott’s diet, which is high in dairy, fruits, and vegetables, is considered better for general health and longevity. Dairy products are a good source of calcium, which is essential for healthy bones, while fruits and vegetables are rich in vitamins and antioxidants that can help mitigate the risk of chronic illnesses like cancer and heart disease.