Real Life ‘Popeye’ Defends 31-Inch Upper Arms, Says They Are Natural


Milford, MA – “Egyptian Popeye” Moustafa Ismail says his cartoonish upper arms are the result of long workouts, not steroids.

The Massachusetts bodybuilder eats seven pounds of protein and nine pounds of carbohydrates and drinks three gallons of water every day to maintain his 31-inch upper arms.

Skeptics believe Ismail used steroids or other artificial means to get his bulging biceps and triceps. Guinness World Records is waiting to decide if they will recognize him or not.

Ismail said he lost a night’s sleep due to the criticism but ultimately decided, “[It] is motivation for me — it’s not something that’s gonna put me down.”

Ismail insists his arms are natural and the result of a punishing workout regimen he started after a guest at his uncle’s wedding mocked him for being overweight.

The 24-year-old said, “They call me Popeye, the Egyptian Popeye. I like chicken, beef, anything but spinach.”

As astute commenters have pointed out, Ismail is more of a reverse Popeye, since the latter had skinny upper arms and bulging forearms.

Ismail uses generous amounts of seafood, poultry, and protein shakes to fuel his daily two-hour workouts in which he lifts as much as 600 pounds. He also takes vitamin and mineral supplements and drinks gallons of water.

Since the rest of his body is average-sized, Ismail said it is a challenge to find shirts that ft his arms.

Moustafa Ismail moved to the United States from Egypt in 2007 and said he worked two jobs as a gas station attendant to pay for his gym membership and dietary requirements. He quit one after his wife complained that he was pushing himself too hard.

Guinness called him last fall offering him an all-expenses paid trip to London for an appearance with the world’s shortest woman and other record holders. He went, but the controversy started shortly after.

“It is hurtful,” Ismail said. He also said supporting his wife and family members in Egypt doesn’t leave him a lot of money to buy steroids. He even had his muscles X-rayed and had a blood sample drawn in Tokyo to prove that there was nothing abnormal about his arms.

Guinness quickly removed references to Ismail from its website, and spokeswoman Sara Wilcox said last month that the company was conducting research with medical specialists and reviewing Ismail’s category.

Fellow bodybuilders defend Ismail’s muscles and said he works hard to get them.

What do you think of Moustafa Ismail’s “Popeye”-like muscles?

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