{"id":320383,"date":"2026-02-27T16:46:13","date_gmt":"2026-02-27T16:46:13","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/320383\/"},"modified":"2026-02-27T16:46:13","modified_gmt":"2026-02-27T16:46:13","slug":"lou-ferrigno-still-boasts-a-hulking-physique-at-74-these-rules-help-him-maintain-strength-and-size","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/320383\/","title":{"rendered":"Lou Ferrigno Still Boasts a Hulking Physique at 74 \u2013\u00a0These Rules Help Him Maintain Strength and Size"},"content":{"rendered":"

If you know Lou Ferrigno, you probably remember him for his bodybuilding<\/a> and acting career, most famously as the Hulk in The Incredible Hulk. Standing at 6ft 5in, Ferrigno dominated the screen long before CGI did the heavy lifting. He first rose to global fame in 1977 after appearing in Pumping Iron alongside Arnold Schwarzenegger.<\/p>\n

Now 74, Ferrigno still trains hard. In a recent video with Men\u2019s Health US, he breaks down his training philosophy and the principles he continues to follow to maintain strength and size in his seventies<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Lou Ferrigno\u2019s Training RulesRule 1: Enjoy Training<\/p>\n

\u2018When I was very young, I was very poor,\u2019 says Ferrigno. \u2018I didn\u2019t have gym equipment.\u2019 He recalls going to a junkyard and building a makeshift barbell simply because he loved to train.<\/p>\n

\u2018The great thing about bodybuilding and fitness<\/a>, it gave me that discipline to do anything I want to do. Nothing holds me back. That made me a warrior and a fighter,\u2019 he says.<\/p>\n

Training, he explains, has always been therapeutic. It gave him an outlet and a vision for the future. \u2018I want to know how I can maximise my body. The next step was me to start working out and getting the feeling of picking up the iron. And it gave me a great feeling. I just liked working out. The more I saw my body started to change, the more I became obsessed.\u2019<\/p>\n

\"lou<\/p>\n

James Cheadle\/\/Getty Images<\/p>\n

Rule 2: Leave Your Ego at the Door<\/p>\n

When he trains now, Ferrigno says, \u2018I feel that all isolation. It\u2019s not about the weight, it\u2019s how you do it.\u2019<\/p>\n

He prioritises rep quality over load, an approach that can be especially valuable for older lifters. Focusing on control and execution helps improve lifting efficiency while reducing injury risk.<\/p>\n

He also avoids comparison. \u2018I don\u2019t compete with other people. It\u2019s all about competing with yourself,\u2019 he says. \u2018Be the best you can be. Because, having that, being the best you can be, your personal power \u2013 that\u2019s powerful.\u2019<\/p>\n

Rule 3: Food First<\/p>\n

Speaking on the Pawn After Dark podcast<\/a>, Ferrigno outlined his food-first approach to nutrition<\/a>, centred on whole foods.<\/p>\n

\u2018I eat like meat, fish, fruit and vegetables,\u2019 he says. \u2018I eat my calories. I don\u2019t drink my calories. I like my occasional wine in the evening.\u2019<\/p>\n

He aims to keep things simple and minimally processed. \u2018I stay away from fried food, very high-fat food, processed with chemicals, stuff like that. That\u2019s why I eat as natural as possible.\u2019<\/p>\n

Rule 4: It\u2019s Never Too Late<\/p>\n

Ferrigno is adamant that age shouldn\u2019t be an excuse to stop pushing forward.<\/p>\n

\u2018You only live once. You can\u2019t turn 75, 80, 85 and say, \u201cIf I, should have, I should have.\u201d That\u2019s it, it\u2019s done. You\u2019re done. It\u2019s all about every day to maximise what you have, your personal power and your vision and your short-term and long-term goals.\u2019<\/p>\n

\u2018If you have passion about something, that makes you powerful. People are afraid to achieve things in life. They\u2019re afraid to take risks. I love taking risks,\u2019 he says.<\/p>\n

For Ferrigno, it comes down to facing fear head-on. \u2018You got to embrace the fear factor. If you embrace fear, you can do anything.\u2019<\/p>\n

The Workout<\/p>\n

Warm-up: Treadmill walk or jog x 10 minutes<\/p>\n

Machine chest press x 3 sets of 12 reps
Machine preacher curl x 3 sets of 12 reps
Alternating dumbbell curl x 3 sets of 8 to 10 reps per arm
Triceps kickback x 3 sets of 8 to 10 reps per arm<\/p>\n

How to Do the Moves<\/p>\n

Adjust the seat so the handles align with mid-chest. Sit tall and brace your core. Press the handles forward until your arms are extended without locking out. Pause briefly, then return under control until your elbows reach roughly 90 degrees.<\/p>\n

Set the seat so your armpits rest comfortably on the pad. Grip the bar with palms facing up. Curl the weight, squeezing your biceps while keeping your upper arms fixed. Pause at the top, then lower slowly until your arms are nearly straight.<\/p>\n

Stand tall with a dumbbell in each hand. Curl one weight towards your shoulder until your thumb reaches your collarbone, keeping your elbow close to your side. Lower under control, then repeat on the opposite arm.<\/p>\n

Triceps Kickback<\/p>\n

Hold a dumbbell in one hand and hinge slightly at the hips with a flat back. Bend your elbow to 90 degrees, upper arm tucked close to your side. Extend your arm behind you, squeezing your triceps at the top, then return slowly.
<\/p>\n

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