'Egyptian Popeye' defends his 31-inch upper arms

MILFORD (AP) — Don't tell Popeye. It turns out you don't need to eat your spinach to get the world's biggest arms.

Massachusetts bodybuilder Moustafa Ismail eats seven pounds of protein, nine pounds of carbohydrates and three gallons of water each day to help maintain upper arms that measure 31 inches around. That's as big as a small man's waist.

Critics have accused him of using steroids or injecting his arms with synthenic substances. Guinness World Records planned to include him in its 2013 edition but has backed off and is doing a review.

Ismail can lift as much as 600 pounds. He says that his biceps and triceps are all-natural and that as a gas station attendant, he couldn't afford artificial means anyway.

Cox Media Group