The age is nothing but a number. Many action actors over 50 in a great shape adhere to this credo. They are the living proof that no matter how old we are, we can still maintain a healthy, muscular and good-looking body.
Like Brad Pitt once said “I am one of those people you hate because of the genetics. It is the truth”.
Sure enough, the genes have a lot to do with our look, but this is only something that we are born with. Nothing more, nothing less.
What is also true however is that without the necessary work and dedication we can much more easily let the time affect us in a negative way.
It is a well-known fact that when we reach a certain age, the traces left by the sands of time become more and more visible and this has an impact on our bodies.
Many processes in the human organism are slowing down including the one responsible for our energy and weight balance- the metabolism.
In the paragraphs bellow, we are going to quickly jump into the lives and training schedules of five action stars who are over 50 but still look like exactly an action hero should look- in a rock solid hell of a shape.
We are going to see how they still manage to maintain their athletic bodies while at the same time giving the finger to the humanity’s most notorious and deadliest enemy- the time.
So without further ado, let’s see who is in that prestigious top five list.
1. ARNOLD SCHWARZENEGGER (69)
Boys and Gals, this year, Arnold turns 70. It is unbelievable how good he looks at this time of his glorious life. But that is not at all surprising.
Being many years a bodybuilder, one might say that Arnie knows how to take care of his body. In fact, he has never stopped doing physical activity during his entire life. Once a bodybuilder, one stays always a bodybuilder, as the retired athletes love to joke.
The Austrian Oak is very active on social media and he often uploads pictures or videos showing him weighting lifts in the gym, riding a bike or jogging in the streets. He also loves doing mountain trekking.
Now, some of you might say that the ex-governor of California owes his great shape to the food supplements he takes or to the sophisticated contemporary medical procedures and products.
That is not true. Arnold may use some of those, but his stunning physical shape is due mainly to the hard work he puts in the gym, training.
He is spending a lot of time in the gym, hitting the iron every single day.
The man simply loves the sport and he is entirely devoted to it even after so many years. He has his own brand of sports supplements- “Arnold Schwarzenegger Series” and he is the founder of numerous sports festivals and competitions the most famous one being the Arnold Classic bodybuilding championship.
This is yet another reason that motivates him to stay in shape as long as he can. He is one of the most recognizable faces in the bodybuilding. Moreover, his name is a brand itself.
Sure enough, having a huge knowledge about the importance of the food in the sport but also in the everyday life, Arnold still eats clean and maintains a strict diet.
Let’s jump to his best pal…
2. SYLVESTER STALLONE (70)
If you have seen some of the “Expendables” movies, then you know why the 70- year-old Michael Sylvester Gardenzio Stallone is part of the top five actors over 50 in a great shape.
Sly is an example of a hardworking man who succeeded in achieving his dreams by giving enough credit to the sport.
He has arguably one of the most ripped muscular physics in Hollywood and this remains true nowadays when he is at the age of 70.
Stallone has stated numerous times that he is addicted to the gym. In fact, in order to prepare for his most famous roles, he needed to adapt himself to an intense training routine and a strict diet regimen.
That was the case while shooting “Rambo”, “Rocky”, “ Tango and Cash”, “Expendables”, Bullet to the Head”, etc.
It won’t be a lie if we say that all of the roles that Sly has played so far were physically demanding. After all, he is in the action movie business where the muscles and the testosterone levels are of an extreme importance.
That is why at the age of 70, he still looks awesome- because he continues to shoot action films and an action hero wouldn’t look convincing with a belly.(just look at Steven Seagal’s most recent roles)
Sly is a fitness maniac and builds his muscular physique in the gym, 6 days in the week. He also does boxing and a lot of cardio exercises.
Unlike many of his colleagues, Sly openly admitted that he sometimes uses steroids in addition to the other sports supplements that he takes.
Even now, his muscular mass can make a young professional bodybuilder jealous.
His diet includes mainly protein rich foods and liquid amino acids.
The rumor has it that Sly went into several plastic surgeries as well in order to maintain a younger look.
What is true is true, no matter what they say- the man looks perfect at the age of 70!
Let’s continue with his friend…
3. JEAN-CLAUDE VAN DAMME (56)
The Muscles from Brussels is the third proof on this list that the age is just an insignificant detail when it comes to a good physical shape.
The Belgium actor who is pretty active on social media is competing with Arnold to upload videos on which he pumps like an animal in the gym.
What is also true is that being a martial artist for such a long time has its positive effects on one’s body and looks. It has a huge impact on the overall condition of the body and the flexibility of the tendons and the muscles.
You can be sure that this preserves the body from aging and imparts a younger look.
Jean-Claude is famous for his karate and kickboxing skills and is known for his assiduous training plans through the years.
In order to continue to maintain his spectacular physique, Van Damme works out 4 days in a week, no matter how busy his day schedule is.
He is doing functional fitness, concentrating on an all-out attack on each muscle group. In parallel, he practices kickbox and karate and follows an adequate nutrition plan, the main goal being to gain mass and get ripped.
If you want to dig deeper in his training plan and even to start implementing it, you should look here.
Let’s continue with number 4 who is his good friend…
4. DOLPH LUNDGREN (59)
The Swedish actor is not only famous for his towering height, blue eyes, and square jaw, but also with his on-screen charisma coming from his stunning muscular physique.
At 59, Dolph can easily be on the cover of some modeling magazine.
How the heck that happens? Well, like you might be guessing, there is no shortcut to it.
The road to an athletic physique like the one that the star of 45 movies possesses is filled with a lot of sweat, persistence and hard work.
Lundgren has been involved in sports all his life and this has its reflections on his young look nowadays.
He holds a black belt in Kyokushin karate and continues to practice it almost every day. He also does swimming workouts and hits the gym regularly in order to develop functional strength and power.
Another thing is also sure- Dolph is concerned not only to maintain his own good shape but also provides advises to others on how to exercise properly.
He is the renowned author of a book called “Train like an Action Hero: Be Fit Forever”. In this, let’s call it training manual Lundgren explains how to combine good nutrition, supplementation, and training in order to defy age and stay fit.
He embarks on a journey with the reader unraveling his own secrets related to his great shape through the years.
I don’t know about you guys but as a man, I would kill to look like Dolph when I hit 60.
Let’s jump to mambo number five Mr. Neo…
5. KEANU REEVES (52)
If you take a look at a picture of Keanu taken 20 years ago and if you compare it to a picture taken the last week, you will notice no difference.
The 52-years-old actor didn’t slightly change. How is that possible? Is he a ghost? Or is he an immortal like Duncan Macleod the Highlander? No, wait, maybe he is the result of a sophisticated artificial intelligence engineering?
In fact, the buzz around his youthful looks is so big, that there is a whole website that was created only to discuss similar absurd questions.
By the way, don’t forget that Reeves is a smoker! We all know the destructive effect of the cigars on human’s body.
The truth is simple, though. As per his own words, Keanu owes his appearance to his ancestors. But that is not all. Like we have already discussed, the genes are far from being the only reason for a good look.
The talented actor says that he trains hard for years and he avoids junk food.
Playing in different martial arts movies (the last one being “John Wick”) he received serious training in various martial arts like Krav Maga, Jui Jitsu, Wushu, Boxing and Kung Fu. The man is not far from becoming a real- life Neo.
Keanu admits that his good shape is due to the fact that he always tries to keep himself active and doesn’t care much about how he looks.
Sure enough, there are rumors that he has a significant amount of botox in his skin as well as several plastic surgeries but this is highly unlikely for a modest man like Keanu who tries to always avoid the spotlight. Plus, he accepts such ridiculous gossip with humor.
So those were the five action actors over 50 in a great shape. There is a noticeable pattern here. The fact that all of them still continue to be physically very active and that they enjoy what they do.
I will leave you with this food for thought and please feel free to leave me a comment below.