At 70, Bryant is a rippling testament to age being nothing but a state of mind: He still works out twice a day, deadlifting 425 lbs (193 kg) without a grunt, and has no plans to hang up his singlet anytime soon, according to the Daily Mail .

“People ask me when I’m going to retire,” Bryant said. “’I say ‘never’. More people die retired than people do working. I love to work, I love to work out. I’ve been doing this for 27 years.”

The iron-pumping pensioner said he started lifting weights in the late 80s, when the gym seemed like a good way to deal with the breakdown of his second marriage.

Just 11 months later, he entered his first competition and came third in the novice category.

Bryant has now one more titles and trophies than he can count.

“I was just like a crack addict — I was hooked,” he told Augusta.Chronicle.com.

“People say it’s age that makes you old, but I believe it’s your state of mind that makes you old. Age is just a number.

“It gives most people a reason to be lazy and not do anything. I meet a lot of people who say, ‘wait til I get to that age’.”

“Then I tell them how old I am and they are embarrassed. And I tell them that to make a point — it’s inactivity and their state of mind that makes them old.’

As well as working out, Bryant still works night shifts as a forklift driver.

When he knocks off work at 6am, he typically stops for eggs and bacon at a local diner. Then it’s straight to the gym.

“I want people to recognise what I’m doing and realise that it can be done,” he said. “They can do it.”

“If you start thinking you’re old subconsciously, your conscious mind is going to take hold of that and your body is going to start acting old, feeling old. Then you’re old.”

“A lot of young guys, they go home, sit around, watch TV and do nothing — I’ve seen a lot of young guys who are older than me.”

‘I can’t sit around too long. I hate it. I’ve got to be busy.’