If you’re trying to break a world record for having the biggest biceps and triceps, you now have your work cut out for you.
In fact, even Popeye might have met his match — and it isn’t Brutus.
Meet bodybuilder Moustafa Ismail. More specifically, meet his awesome arms.
The Egyptian muscle man, who lives in Massachusetts, has earned a spot in the 2013 Guinness World Records for having the largest upper-arm muscles ever recorded on the planet.
Ismail’s upper arms measured in with 31 inches of muscle, which is about the size of an adult man’s waist. They’re so big he has to buy special shirts that won’t rip from the bulk.
“They call me Popeye, the Egyptian Popeye,” the 5-foot-11 Ismail told The Telegraph on a recent trip to London for a Guinness World Records showing.
Two differences?
Ismail prefers chicken over spinach.
He isn’t chasing Olive Oil, either.
The 24-year-old consumes about nine pounds of carbohydrates, seven pounds of protein and three gallons of water every day to provide the nutritional building blocks for his massive muscles. He also takes mineral and vitamin supplements.
Though some skeptics scoff at this arms, Ismail told The Telegraph he doesn’t use steroids, hasn’t received oil injections and did not have implants. He said independent physicians collected blood samples, did ultrasound tests and X-rays on him to confirm the veracity of his muscle makeup.
Guinness is currently conducting a review on Ismail’s record. No word on whether the original Popeye is going to use that extra time to beef up his comparatively wimpy-looking arms.