The Missing Piece Of Success

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Today’s Health Upgrade

• The missing piece of success

• Instant health boost

• The power of scheduling

• The laws of attraction

Arnold’s Corner
The Missing Piece Of Success

In all the stories of my success, there is one thing that they don’t mention enough, and it drives me crazy.

I am who I am because of family, friends, training partners, and mentors who helped me along the way.

When I was winning all of my bodybuilding championships, I wasn’t doing that alone. I was stronger because I trained with friends. My best friend, Franco Columbu. Dave Draper. Mike Katz. Ken Waller. Frank Zane.

Every day, we pushed each other in the gym. I know that we are all stronger with a training partner.

That’s why, for my birthday, I told the team I want to give all of you the gift of a training partner. For the next week, every single person who buys a discounted annual membership to the Pump Club app gets a second annual membership to send to a friend, for free.

I want you to have the same boost I’ve had for my whole life from having a training partner.

This solves two problems:

First, a lot of people don’t want to start something alone. Fitness is better together. Now, you don’t have to start alone.

Second, one of my most common questions is “How do I get my friends or family to start training?” Well, here you go.

This is your script:

“This lunatic Arnold Schwarzen-schnitzel had a crazy deal, and when I bought my membership to his fantastic app, he gave me a free one for you. Your membership costs me nothing, and it costs you nothing. Let’s start training together!”

If they love it, they can always renew their subscription next year, but for the next 12 months, your training partner is on your tab — and mine.

I want you to send each other those screens at the end of your workouts celebrating how many sets and reps you did, or how much weight you lifted. You can push each other to be better every day just like Franco and I did.

I know, some of you have tried fitness apps and online workouts before and been let down. The Pump Club app is different. It’s my vision. It’s built for you not to have to think or stress. It’s built for you to succeed.

You get a workout designed for your goal and fitness level, you get a habit tracker to help you build routines to make your vision, you get the most supportive community on the internet, and you even get weekly Zoom form check and Q and A calls with my team of coaches. There are live meetups where members come together around the country and around the world and hit PRs, and very soon, there will be the world’s simplest nutrition tracker.

All of the things other apps hide in VIP memberships or upsells, I just keep adding to the regular membership. That’s the benefit of Schnitzel owning the app, and not some board: we can keep adding value to every membership without some consultant telling us to charge more.

I can’t wait for you and your friend to join us. Do it now!

Arnold’s Birthday Sale

Regular price (USD): $12.99 per month or $99/year

Arnold’s birthday sale (USD): $79.99/year + a free annual membership for a friend

Instant Health Boost
The Walk That Could Save Your Liver 

If you’re looking for a low-effort, high-impact way to protect your health, recent research suggests a simple solution: put one foot in front of the other.

A 30-minute walk improved liver health by more than 30 percent—without changing diet.

In this study, older adults were split into two groups. One group stuck to their normal routine. The other added just one thing: a 30-minute treadmill walk every day for 12 weeks. No changes to food. No intense training plans.

But that small shift led to massive improvements:

• Liver enzymes dropped by up to 40 percent (a sign of healthier liver function).

• Blood sugar fell 17 percent

• Blood pressure decreased nearly 10 percent

• VO₂max (cardio fitness) rose 16 percent

• Bodyweight dropped 10 percent

• Belly fat shrunk by almost 5 percent

• Liver ultrasounds improved by 32%.

And this wasn’t a group of elite athletes. These were older adults living with metabolic syndrome and fatty liver disease—conditions that can increase your risk for heart problems, diabetes, and early death.

So how did something as simple as walking deliver such big results?

Researchers believe the benefits came from a combination of better insulin sensitivity, reduced inflammation, improved fat metabolism (especially in the liver), and more efficient cardiovascular function. In other words: steady, consistent movement helped the body work better—inside and out.

If you want to improve your health, start with what you can do consistently. You don’t need perfection, pain, or punishment. A 30-minute walk every day might be one of the most powerful prescriptions for a longer, healthier life.

Together With Wander
Want to Feel Better Right Now? Put Something on the Calendar

If you’re looking for a mental boost, giving yourself an extra reason to look forward to tomorrow can give you an instant jolt.

Researchers found that the simple act of planning a getaway—even if it’s months away—can lift your mood starting today. And the benefits might be stronger than the vacation itself.

In a study of more than 1,500 adults, researchers wanted to find out if taking a vacation actually makes people happier. They split participants into two groups — those taking a vacation and those staying at home. 

The scientists found that vacationers were happier before their trip than after — and it was a high that could last for weeks or months. 

So what’s the real gift of travel? It’s not just where you go. It’s the joyful anticipation and the emotional payoff of giving your mind a break from stress.

If you can, pick a date and book a weekend getaway. Plan a staycation. Put something on the calendar you can look forward to—whether it’s a road trip, a camping weekend, or just a day off to do nothing. The joy starts now, not later.

But one thing to keep in mind: Many people didn’t experience the same type of high after the trip because of the gap between expectations and reality. Only those who had extremely relaxing vacations experienced a happiness boost after returning, but it wasn’t as much as what they experienced prior to the trip. 

So if you’re going to plan a trip, make sure your accommodations match your expectations and you go some place that allows you to truly unwind.

That’s why we partnered with Wander, a company that’s changing the way travel feels. They’ve handpicked the most beautiful homes in the country and outfitted them with everything you need to rest, reflect, and recharge: Inspiring views, hotel-grade amenities, private saunas, and peaceful settings.

Whether it’s a solo reset, a romantic escape, or a family recharge, Wander helps make sure your experience exceeds your expectations.

As an APC reader, you get $1,000 off any 2025 Wander stay to make it easier and more affordable to help you recharge.  You’ll have $500 in Wander points already waiting in your account, and you’ll get another $500 off at checkout (minimum spend applies). The offer ends August 31 — but bonus credits apply for any trip you schedule before the end of the year.

Relationships 
The Laws Of Attraction (According to Science)

What makes a man physically attractive to women? If you’ve been led to believe it’s being ultra-shredded with massive shoulders and a razor-thin waist, you might be surprised by what science actually says.

We say beauty is in the eye of the beholder. But scientists recently had a different take. 

According to new research, men are rated most attractive when they have a moderate amount of body fat—lean, but not ripped—with a BMI between 23 and 27.

Researchers set out to test evolutionary models of male attractiveness by evaluating the relationship between body fat, body shape, and physical appeal. They used full-body DXA scans of men with varying physiques and asked participants across three countries—China, Lithuania, and the UK—to rate their attractiveness.

The findings revealed that both men and women rated males with body fat levels around 13 to 14 percent (and a BMI between 23 and 27) as most attractive. This level of leanness was significantly higher than what you'd see on most fitness influencers but lower than the average male body fat percentage. In other words, “fit” was favored—but not “shredded.”

The study also looked at shoulder-to-waist ratio (SWR), often considered a classic indicator of male attractiveness. While a ratio around 1.57 was linked to peak ratings, it explained far less than adiposity overall. 

Across all three countries, body fat percentage was the strongest predictor of attractiveness—even more than body shape.

The researchers suggest these results align with evolutionary expectations. Moderate leanness signals health, fitness, and reproductive viability without the hormonal disruptions or risks associated with very low body fat.

So while many men chase sub-10 percent body fat and exaggerated v-tapers, those extremes aren’t necessarily more attractive. In fact, the highest ratings went to physiques that are strong, lean, and healthy-looking—realistic goals that align with long-term well-being.

If you’re working on your physique, remember: you don’t need to chase extremes. A healthy, athletic look—not shredded—might be the sweet spot for both attraction and longevity.

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Publisher: Arnold Schwarzenegger​

Editors-in-chief: Adam Bornstein and Daniel Ketchell