Steve Reeves' story is a perfect blueprint for building an iconic physique like the legendary bodybuilder.

Born in 1926 in Montana, Steve Reeves was one of the most influential figures in bodybuilding, widely celebrated for his symmetrical physique. He rose to fame in the late '40s and early '50 by winning major titles like Mr. America and Mr. Universe.

The base for his strong body was laid in his childhood with jobs like farm work and paper delivery. After losing a fight with someone much smaller than him, Reeves started weight training, but it wasn't after his return from World War II that he entered professional bodybuilding.

Besides bodybuilding, he was also a celebrated actor and made a name for himself by working in Italian-made sword-and-sandals movies. His massive physique made him a tailor-made choice to play athletic roles like Hercules, Aeneas, and Sandokan.

Some of his most notable films include Hercules (1958), The Last Days of Pompeii (1959), and The Thief of Baghdad (1961). At one point, he was the highest-paid actor in Italian cinema.

Steve Reeves' workout routine that made him a legend

Reeves set a benchmark for natural physiques in bodybuilding. He followed a training program based on athleticism and aesthetics. He once shared, "To me, a bodybuilder is someone who not only builds his body naturally, but has functional, real-world muscle that can be used at any time, and will help the person perform any activity better."

He trained three days a week (usually Monday, Wednesday, and Friday) for 90 minutes. He wasn't a believer in the concept of absolute failure, but instead worked in achievable three to four reps, until his body gave up. His workout consisted of 30-40 sets and 8-12 reps, with a rest time of 45-60 seconds between sets for the smaller muscle group, and 60-90 seconds for larger groups.

Here is his full legendary workout routine for strength and size:

Monday -

• Military Press
• Bench Press
• Bent-over Row
• Barbell Curl
• Triceps Extension
• Parallel Squat
• Standing Calf Raise
• Dead lift
• Crunch

Wednesday -

• Alternating Dumbbell Military Press
• Parallel Bar Dip
• Pull-up
• Alternating Dumbbell Curl
• Triceps Extension Bench Press
• Front Squat
• Seated Calf Raise
• Back Raise
• Hanging Leg-raise

Friday -

• Upright Row
• Incline Press
• One-arm Dumbbell Row
• Concentration Curl
• Lying Triceps Extension
• Dumbbell Lunge
• Standing Calf Raise
• Dead lift
• Sit-up

Steve Reeves' rules to build strength, size, and health:

1. Train three times a week.
2. Never cheat while exercising.
3. Set a goal for every workout.
4. Do leg exercises at the end of your workouts.
5. Pair opposing muscle group exercises to ensure a balanced development.
6. Create sets, reps, and rest time for your goals.
7. Include deep breathing in your workouts.
8. Never forget to stretch.
9. Try power walking to improve mental and aerobic health.
10. Maintain a 60% carb, 20% protein, and 20% fat diet.

Are you willing to try Steve Reeves' legendary workout routine? Let us know in the comments.

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Written by

Ruwa Javed

Edited by

Joyita Das