Lou Ferrigno Sr. Shares His No-Nonsense Chest and Arms Workout

Brett Williams, NASM
·2 min read
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Lou Ferrigno Sr. is one of the most legendary names in bodybuilding. When he talks about gym etiquette, you should probably listen. His first lesson to the MH crew: don't be a clout chaser and sacrifice good exercise form for heavier weights.

"I've seen guys pick up 50-pound dumbbells, swing them, drop them, because they want to make an impression," he says. "You don't want me to be angry—and you won't like when I'm angry, because you don't want me to become the Incredible Hulk! So make sure you do it correctly." For anyone who never paid attention to superheroes before the MCU that last bit wasn't just a pop-culture reference. Before Mark Ruffalo (and Edward Norton and Eric Bana) went green, Ferrigno was the actor most people associated with the Hulk, playing the angrier side of Bruce Banner for a TV series that ran from 1977 to 1982.

Before his superhero role, Ferrigno won two Mr. Universe titles and featured heavily in the iconic musclehead documentary Pumping Iron. The 69-year-old star is also the proud father of Lou Ferrigno Jr., an actor in his own right, who has appeared in Stargirl and S.W.A.T. and keeps up the family tradition of staying swole. But that's not because Lou Sr. sat Jr. down and forced him to hit the weights. "I know it’s got to come from him," Ferrigno Sr. told Men's Health in a conversation about parenting. "I never wanted to force training."

But that doesn't mean that Ferrigno Sr. doesn't still put in time at the gym. He walked the MH crew through a standard upper body chest and arm split, proving that he's still got prodigious strength and the motivation to train. When he's in a weight room, Ferrigno Sr. isn't there to mess around. "I'm not at a bar. I'm not at a nightclub. I'm not at a boardwalk on the beach. I'm at a gym," he says. "The gym is where you fix your body, you get in shape, you take care of yourself."

You should probably take him seriously, and take his advice on spending your gym time wisely. You won't like him when he's angry.

Lou Ferrigno Sr.'s Chest and Arms Workout

The Warmup

  • Treadmill Walk/Jog

10 minutes

The Workout

  • Machine Chest Press

3 sets of 12 reps

  • Machine Preacher Curl

3 sets of 12 reps

  • Alternating Dumbbell Curl

3 sets of 8 to 10 reps per arm

  • Triceps Kickback

3 sets of 8 to 10 reps per arm

Want more celebrity workout routines? Check out all of our Train Like videos.

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