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People Are Applauding The Way Schwarzenegger Responded To An Internet User Who Was Depressed For Months
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People Are Applauding The Way Schwarzenegger Responded To An Internet User Who Was Depressed For Months

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Former Mr.Universe, Hollywood star, and Governor of California Arnold Schwarzenegger is whipping himself back into shape, and taking his time to help others stay motivated, too.

Arnie has become well known for the care and kind words he has for his fans and has become a fixture on Reddit, where he posts under the name u/GovSchwarzenegger. He posts in a variety of forums, including politics and movies, but it is his nuggets of wisdom and advice to followers of his first love, fitness, and bodybuilding, that is inspiring so many. To bodybuilders Arnie is a God, imagine getting personal advice from an actual legend of your sport!

Ali from Canada, who’s been living with depression for some time, which was keeping him out of the gym, spontaneously asked Arnie for a little advice and motivation on how to get back into the groove. “I had been wanting to go to the gym for quite a while and had not been as I could not get any motivation going due to my poor mental health,” Ali told Bored Panda. “I figured that I wouldn’t have anything to lose just asking. Worst case scenario, no one notices and it gets ignored. Best case scenario… Well, you know!”

The boost from the exchange with this widely beloved famous person helped Ali get back to a regular routine. “If ever I feel like not going, I just imagine him saying “do it” in his accent,” he laughed.

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“When I saw Arnold’s first message I was immediately uplifted. And I mean immediately! By the time I came back from the gym people were already so happy in the comments and sharing their own experiences. The story wasn’t about me anymore, it was about the explosion of inspiration that Arnold’s words caused in his post.”

“I went to sleep that night feeling like a million bucks, knowing I had had an amazing day. Waking up the next day to see Arnold checking in on me still gives me goosebumps just thinking about it! Saying he was proud of me for having gone to the gym and asking how it went, it definitely felt unreal once again.”

The thread took on a life of its own and inspired so many more with positive vibes and advice. The benefits of exercise for those feeling depressed are well documented, but having the condition makes it even more difficult to take that crucial first step that, no matter how small, is a positive step in a good direction. Sometimes a boost can make all the difference!

“Working out is absolute witchcraft when it comes to feeling better,” Ali told us. “Obviously there is the immediate endorphin boost, but beyond that,, it gives you a sense of having done something worthwhile with your time. If you keep it up, you look better, have more energy, sleep better and even eat better just because your body craves good nutrients after working out.”

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Ali describes himself as a “generally a nice guy,” but since his exchange with Arnold, he has been ridiculously positive. “It’s hard to put a damper on my mood these days,” he said. And what was the first Schwarzenegger movie he watched after it all went down? “In the evening I watched Last Action Hero.”

Scroll down below to check it out for yourself, and let us know what you think in the comments!

Arnold Schwarzenegger is known as the tough guy, but he is loved for the time he takes for his fans

Image credits: schwarzenegger

Recently, someone who was not in a good place reached out to Arnold via reddit

And Arnold responded with hearwarming and important advice

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Arnold is well known for his charitable work, as well as his outspoken support of the Special Olympics

This is him helping out struggling families to celebrate the holidays

Image credits: CHARLIE CARBALLO

Arnold went undercover as a gym instructor to promote his ‘After School All-Stars’ program, which provides after school programs for kids from low income families

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Here’s what people had to say about the wholesome exchange

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James Caunt

James Caunt

Author, Community member

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James is a Bored Panda reporter who graduated with a BA in Peace And Conflict Studies and an MA in African Affairs. Before Bored Panda, he was an English teacher and also travelled a lot, doing odd jobs from beer-slinging to brickie's labourer and freelance journalism along the way. James loves covering stories about social and environmental issues and prefers to highlight the positive things that unite us, rather than petty internet squabbles about fictional characters. James is the grumpy, contradictory one who thinks that Bored Panda, due to its large audience, has a social responsibility to inspire and inform its readers with interesting issues and entertaining, well-researched stories. Let's do our bit to make our little corner of the internet a smarter, more truthful and less angry place!

Read less »
James Caunt

James Caunt

Author, Community member

James is a Bored Panda reporter who graduated with a BA in Peace And Conflict Studies and an MA in African Affairs. Before Bored Panda, he was an English teacher and also travelled a lot, doing odd jobs from beer-slinging to brickie's labourer and freelance journalism along the way. James loves covering stories about social and environmental issues and prefers to highlight the positive things that unite us, rather than petty internet squabbles about fictional characters. James is the grumpy, contradictory one who thinks that Bored Panda, due to its large audience, has a social responsibility to inspire and inform its readers with interesting issues and entertaining, well-researched stories. Let's do our bit to make our little corner of the internet a smarter, more truthful and less angry place!

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Laugh Fan
Community Member
6 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Love the 'teachable moment'. Might not have worked but at least he took the time to try. What a decent, compassionate human being he was in both incidences. Way to go!

Aaron Kara
Community Member
6 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

He has a way of communicating that alleviates any notion that he's a celebrity. He always seems genuine and curious about people, so when he's talking to a fan it always feels sincere and supportive.

Cesi Baca
Community Member
6 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I just wouldn’t take any advice from him regardless. His republican politics and personal behavior (cheating with the maid) don’t match his inspirational image. When he was governor here in California he did a lot of shady things.

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Laugh Fan
Community Member
6 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Love the 'teachable moment'. Might not have worked but at least he took the time to try. What a decent, compassionate human being he was in both incidences. Way to go!

Aaron Kara
Community Member
6 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

He has a way of communicating that alleviates any notion that he's a celebrity. He always seems genuine and curious about people, so when he's talking to a fan it always feels sincere and supportive.

Cesi Baca
Community Member
6 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I just wouldn’t take any advice from him regardless. His republican politics and personal behavior (cheating with the maid) don’t match his inspirational image. When he was governor here in California he did a lot of shady things.

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