Arnold Schwarzenegger just wants you to feel the pump

Add motivational speaker to Arnie's considerable list of talents. Image: Getty Images

Productivity killer Reddit has something for everyone: breathtaking vistas shot by amateur photographers, actress Anna Kendrick critiquing bedroom cleanliness and enough reaction Gifs to compliment any email reply.

Or, if you’re lucky enough, some weightlifting advice from former Mr Olympia and Governor of California, Arnold Schwarzenegger.

A 19-year-old man going by the username GnashBrowns posted a demoralised message on Reddit, saying that he had been put off going back to the gym by people laughing at him when he couldn't get his weightlifting form right.

After failing in his last set of squats, he moved on to deadlifts, where it only got worse.

“My right knee kept buckling and gave out on the fourth rep, causing me to fall once more," he said. "Same people laughed and got many looks in my direction because of the loud noise. Feeling completely embarrassed at this point, I put the bar and the weights in their places, and left with my head hanging low.

“I know everyone experiences failure once in a while, but having it served to me first-hand coupled with people laughing just destroyed my confidence.”

Eventually, he said he gave up altogether: "Feeling completely embarrassed at this point, I put the bar and the weights in their places, and left with my head hanging low."

While many argue, with good reason, that Last Action Hero has been Arnie’s greatest contribution to humanity so far, the action star – who’s no stranger to Reddit – swooped in to give the 19-year-old gym rookie the ultimate pep talk.

“Someone told me about this,” wrote the 67-year-old star under the username GovSchwarzenegger. “I’m travelling, but I wanted to chime in. I always say don’t be afraid of failure, because how far can you really fall? You found out — to the ground. It’s right there. Now you know it isn’t anything that should scare you.

“You should be proud that you weren’t afraid — not embarrassed that you failed. You could have made excuses not to walk into the door, but you didn’t. You knew it would be hard, and it would be uncomfortable, and it might be awkward — and you did it anyway. That’s courage. I’m proud of you.
“The last guy I rooted for broke a world record in the dead lift. You have more in common with him than you think.

“First, he started out lifting just the bar, too (when you look at him, he may have been 3 months old at that point). Second, imagine his courage. He walked up to that bar in front of a big audience and television cameras, knowing that not only had he never lifted that much before — NO ONE on earth had — and it was highly likely he would completely fail. You may not think about it this way, but you showed that courage, on a smaller level.

“Finally, I’m rooting for you, too. You took the first step and you fell, but at least you fell in the right direction, so get back up and take the next step. Keep moving forward.”

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"This is my rest day so it's absolutely killing me not being able to go,” the elated Reddit user replied. “But first thing tomorrow morning though, the tiny weights that I can pick up won't know what lifted them."

Next stop for the revitalised gym goer: feeling the pump.