Building Strength And Muscle After 50 by Chad Landers is one of the most practical books you’ll ever read about getting in shape in mid-life and beyond.
I emphasize the word practical because there’s a glut of longevity information out there today, but most so-called solutions for slowing the effects of aging are the exact opposite of practical.
Too often they involve eccentric personalities, esoteric theories, bizarre protocols, and a cocktail of 20 supplements – all of which cost a fortune – but don’t even work.
Chad cuts through the crap in the over-50 fitness space and gives you the real prescription: iron – as in pumping it – combined with a healthy diet and lifestyle followed with consistency.
When I flipped through the book for the first time, I saw instantly how practical it was because the bulk of the pages are dedicated to expert exercise instruction and actual training programs. You get routines for two, three, and four days per week – which is really all most busy people need with smart programming.
The workouts are laid out clearly with exercises, sets, and reps. And speaking of reps, you’re not expected to train with ponderous loads and low rep schemes that can wreak havoc on aging joints. This is training for longevity, strength, and function – not winning a powerlifting championship.
Another standout feature: Chad doesn’t just prescribe exercises; he teaches movement patterns. That means you get a template you can customize endlessly and keep using for years. Swap out a squat for a leg press? No problem. Prefer dumbbells over barbells? Easy. Want to use machines or cables instead of free weights? Make the switch. The options are built in.
You also learn 76 exercises, and the selection is brilliant.
There are no circus-trick exercises included for novelty’s sake like you see on social media today. Instead, Chad teaches the fundamental movements proven by science and decades of real-world coaching to give you maximum results with minimal risk.
Even more important, he highlights exercises least likely to cause pain or aggravate old injuries. And for exercises that might be risky for certain people, he shows you how to minimize the risk or simply switch to a safer variation. Chad’s philosophy is simple: Work around it. Modify. Forge on.
He also includes movements that bulletproof your core and strengthen common vulnerable areas like the rotator cuff, so you reduce the odds of dealing with pain in the first place.
Chad’s commentary throughout the book explains everything you need to know about his training principles. He even includes a section on nutrition and a section on cardio. But you’re not stuck reading for hours. The text portion of the 190-page book is probably only about 60 pages. He knows you’re busy, so he gets right to the point, without fluff, then dives into the exercises and workouts.
This is a 5-star, A+ book, but I could also call it a “Triple-E” book: Encouraging, Empathetic, and Evidence-Based.
It’s encouraging because Chad will convince you that it’s never too late to start building muscle and strength and he will pump you up in the process.
It’s empathetic because, being over 50 himself, he understands his readers and their struggles. Everything in his approach is adapted for the challenges of an aging audience.
And it’s evidence-based. Throughout the book you’ll find scientific studies that support what he teaches, and there are references in the back if you want to dig deeper into the research.
On top of all this, Chad is simply a great guy – respected across the industry.
I had the good fortune to meet him years ago in Los Angeles. He gave me a tour of his personal training studio in North Hollywood – Push Private Fitness – which has been thriving for 23 years. There he trains everyday folks right alongside movie stars and rock stars. (Duff McKagan wrote the foreword.)
He even drove me around the neighborhood, pointing out where Vince Gironda’s legendary gym once stood (now a burger joint). After chatting, it was clear that Chad is not only an evidence-based modern trainer but also someone who appreciates the history and roots of classic bodybuilding. That’s a great combination.
It shows in his book. He blends methods proven since the Golden Era with the most cutting-edge training insights of today.
Building Strength and Muscle After 50 is also lighthearted and fun to read…
The book is filled with references to 80s and 90s nostalgia – Karate Kid, MacGyver, Beastie Boys, Guns N’ Roses, Ferris Bueller, The Breakfast Club, MTV, D&D, and more. Good times. Gen Xers will feel right at home.
We have a lot in common. Chad might be a brother from another mother. We even finished school almost the same time – Chad with a degree in kinesiology in 1991, and me with a degree in exercise science in 1990.
If you’re part of our generation, it’s not too late and your 50s can be a make or break decade
Your 50s are a great time to get serious about building strength and muscle, especially if you’ve only trained sporadically.
If you’re drifting into mid-life and haven’t stayed on top of your health and fitness, I encourage you to get your house in order before you hit your 60s. That’s when – if you’ve been neglectful – things really start to slow down, and it gets legitimately harder to regain lost ground.
What if you’re over 60? It’s still not too late. It may be more challenging, but you can build muscle at any age. Chad’s oldest client was over 90.
If you’re in your 40s, this book is still a relevant read. Many people in their 40s already feel Father Time tapping them on the shoulder – and the half-century mark comes around fast. Better to be prepared.
In fact, all the information in this book applies to younger people as well. A twenty or thirty-something lifter wouldn’t go wrong with any of the programs or advice. Chad simply speaks most directly in this book to genXers.
Overall verdict: 5 out of 5 stars.
If you’ve read this far, you’re probably the ideal audience – and will benefit hugely from this book. Grab it on Amazon and get yourself in the best shape of your life. Get the book to support Chad as well, because he’s one of the genuine good guys in an industry full of shady “influencers.”
Get the book on Amazon here==> https://amzn.to/49ZcC5c (This is my Amazon associates affiliate link)
Reviewed by Tom Venuto
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