At 93, most people are happy lifting a cup of chai. Jim Arrington is lifting weights, and holding world records while he’s at it.
The California-based great-grandfather is reportedly the official Guinness World Record holder for the oldest competitive bodybuilder. But here’s the thing: Jim says the real secret to his longevity isn’t what happens in the gym. It’s what happens in the kitchen.
For decades, Jim followed the classic bodybuilding blueprint: heavy weights and even heavier protein from dairy and meat. But as he entered his nineties, he realised his body was no longer playing along.
Inflammation, he figured, was the enemy. So he did something most men his age wouldn’t dare: he threw out the old rulebook entirely.
In a video shared by Guinness World Records on YouTube in July 2023, Jim (then 90) revealed he had replaced his old diet of heavy milk and beef consumption with one rich in olive oil and mushrooms.
He said those two foods were not ones he was allergic to, but that they led to inflammation. Once he changed his diet entirely, he said, he found he could continue training and keep going.
The desi parallel writes itself: imagine giving up your daily doodh and gosht for olive oil and mushrooms. Jim did exactly that and then went and won a world record.
The Workout
His gym routine would humble men a third of his age. Jim trains three times a week, with each session lasting two hours.
His method is built around what he calls the 10-10-10 approach: perform 10 repetitions, hold the weight for a 10-second isometric squeeze, then perform another 10 repetitions to feel the burn. He is a firm believer in mechanical tension: no pain, no gain.
Perhaps the most striking part of Jim’s story is where it began. He was with a small frame. Nothing about his start suggested where he was headed, this golden path that has queued up admirers at his doorstep.
But Jim refused to let either his origins or his age write his story. He said the whole point of bodybuilding was adaptation. Because what works when you are young ceases to be relevant as you age.
The key, he said, was to keep listening to your body.
Also Read: When A Look At Mirror Leads To Fitness Goals: From Kohli To Dr Pachouri https://www.vibesofindia.com/when-a-look-at-mirror-leads-to-fitness-goals-from-kohli-to-dr-pachouri/
