Arnold Schwarzenegger Warns We’re Raising A ‘Generation Of Wimps’

If there's anyone familiar with the concept of struggle, it's Arnold Schwarzenegger. 

A seven-time Mr. Olympia, Schwarzenegger, originally from Austria, has made a name for himself not just in bodybuilding but also as a Hollywood actor and later as a politician.

During his appearance on "The Howard Stern Show," he expressed concern over the potential for the US to cultivate a "generation of wimps" and advocated for embracing the hardships of life.

"The more you struggle, the further you’re gonna go and the stronger you’re going to get," he shared with the audience. 

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Schwarzenegger believes firmly in the merits of hard work and facing challenges head-on. "It’s just the way the world works."

He went on to discuss his observations of the younger generations, noting that "young kids today" seem to avoid difficulties and tend to "baby themselves" to steer clear of the hard work required for success.

Schwarzenegger passionately argued against this mindset, emphasizing the importance of embracing discomfort. 

"Anybody that tries to baby themselves, and pamper themselves and protect themselves — ‘Oh, I don’t want to feel bad, I don’t really want to go through any discomfort’ — It’s over," he continued. 

"You have to be able to struggle."

Fondly referred to as "The Terminator," Schwarzenegger posed a rhetorical question about who truly helped build the US. 

"Is it people that slept in? Was it people that were wimping out?" 

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He answered his own question emphatically: 

"No. These were ballsy women and men that went out there at five in the morning and got up and they struggled, and they fought, and they worked their butts off. That’s what made this country great," he asserted.

Schwarzenegger then cautioned against continuing down a path that might weaken future generations. 

"Continue this way. Don’t start creating a generation of wimps and weak people."

During the interview, Stern questioned the widespread use of Ozempic, a popular weight-loss drug, wondering if it might be bypassing a more significant issue.

Schwarzenegger suggested that relying on such a drug removes a critical element from the success formula: "resistance."

"The human mind can only really grow through resistance. You can only strengthen your character, become a really strong person inside, if you have resistance," he explained.

He clarified that his stance is not about lacking compassion, but rather about finding a balance between supporting others and avoiding excessive coddling. 

"Let’s go and teach kids to be tough, to do sports, to study and struggle and go through these kind of painful moments sometimes."

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Schwarzenegger, father to Katherine, Christina, Patrick, and Christopher with his former wife Maria Shriver, and to Joseph with his housekeeper Mildred Baena, also touched on his personal challenges with aging.

He humorously shared his morning routine with Stern, reflecting on his physical changes: "I kind of smile because every day I do look in a mirror and I say, ‘Yep, you suck,'" he remarked. 

"I look at this body … look at those pectoral muscles that used to be firm and perky and really powerful with a striation in there. 

"Now they’re just hanging there. I mean, what the hell is going on here?"