As Rocky Balboa once put it, “Going in one more round when you don’t think you can–that’s what makes all the difference in your life.” But that might catch up to you later on, as Sylvester Stallone posted a throwback workout picture on Instagram that both shows just how physically fit he was in the mid-70s and offers a word of caution to muscleheads everywhere.
In the post, embedded below, Stallone shows off a Rocky-era dragon flag workout, taking direct inspiration from none other than Bruce Lee. He captioned it: “FLASHBACK. no wonder my back hurts.! When you WORKOUT remember EVERY exercise has long range consequences. Knees, elbows, shoulders, ankles, wrists, neck if you push too hard, these strenuous movements will come back to haunt you. That’s why I’ve always said getting in really great shape Will kill you! Lol.”
While the post is slightly tongue-in-cheek, nowadays, Stallone’s workout routine really is a little more lax than it was during his days of peak physicality. He has been outspoken about adapting as he ages. Now 76, Stallone said, “For me, at my age, I’ve found the newest, hardest, toughest, most productive way [of working out] is bands”–you know, the rubber things they give you at Curves! But hey, he put the work in early on. After all, there’s a reason the training montage from the first Rocky was selected to launch our inaugural “Scene Breakdown” series.
Stallone isn’t the only jacked celebrity to warn of the side effects of extensive workouts. Zac Efron spoke last year about the toll his exercise and diet regimen took on him while filming Baywatch, stating, “I started to develop insomnia…and I fell into a pretty bad depression, for a long time. Something about that experience burned me out. I had a really hard time recentering…[Looking this way is] unrealistic. I’m telling you. I got very big and buff for that movie, but I don’t want people to think that’s the best way to be. Like, be your size… I don’t want to glamorize this.”
Have you ever tried to follow Stallone’s or another celebrity’s workout routine? In which movie do you think Stallone is in his physically best shape? Let us know below!