Men's Health: Muscle After 40: The Ultimate Step-by-Step Training Guide to Safely Build Your Best Body Ever in Your 40s and Beyond - Lose Unwanted Fat and Build Muscles!

I had major shoulder surgery when I was 30 (badly torn labrum and AC joint repair), and I haven’t really worked out in 12 years since. Throw in a couple of kids, and you have a recipe for a great dad-bod. I decided my New Year’s resolution was to lose 15-20 pounds, and more importantly tone up even though I regularly have shoulder pain in my AC joint. When I was younger I learned a ton using the Book of Muscle from Men’s Health, and this guide looked like a great place to get started again now that I’m 42. It’s not filled with a bunch of crazy details which is good because I know a lot of that. I just wanted a routine to follow to help get me back into the rhythm of working out, and give some info about building muscle at 40+. The book is broken up into three phases that are four weeks each (aka three month program). Each phase starts relatively easy, then fluctuates the number of sets to give hard & easier weeks. I haven’t done a lot of the exercises in the book before, but the pictures and description really help understand proper technique. About the only thing I wish it had was more alternative exercises because a few cause a lot of shoulder pain. Now that I’m back into the swing of working out though I’ve found similar exercises to do instead (and nothing a quick internet search engine can’t help with). I’m just about to begin phase 3 and following the program to a “T”, and I’m definitely starting to see results. I can tell I’m building muscle everywhere instead of just having big biceps, quads, etc… The day after soreness went away a while ago, and I’m not struggling to add weight/reps/sets either. Coupled with better eating habits I’m down about 10 pounds even with the muscle weight gain, and I had to tighten my belt recently. This book was perfect for me since I have weight trained before and just wanted some help getting back into shape, but even someone new to working out could get going with this. Experienced guys could use at least some of these exercises too, but it’s really meant for the previously mentioned guys. Final thoughts: I’m super happy with the money I spent on this guide. Using an app is fine and I could have gone that route too for about the same price, but since I just needed a jump start, and I like having a physical book, so this was exactly what i wanted and needed. As a quick note, after phase 3 you’ll have to come up with your own routine, but even if you don’t use everything is this book I would find it hard to not incorporate several new exercises I’ve learned. Hopefully this will help you as much as it’s helped me.

This is a great guide to a full body workout plan. It gives great detail week by week on how to train your body for peak performance. Definitely beholding the Men's Health name.

Great book, juat wish it had more different workouts.

I bought this book because I was in ok shape but I have tried everything to keep the dadbod away. This book works. The trick is simple movements not to over train. Lift slowly 2 seconds up and 4 second downs. Follow the tips for major growth. My diet didn't change. I used the book eat this eat that. Keep it simple and consistent. This book will change your life and looks. Not TRT no BS.

I'm Sorry but I haven't had a chance to use it yet....if you want an evaluation now. First I have to take it to a store to repair the spiral binding as it got crushed, I'm assuming, in transit. That's why the #3 rating. If you want, after I start using it, I can do another evaluation. It looks pretty easy to follow, so I think it was a good purchase.

Great exercise book. Easy reading.

I purchased this as a request for my Son's Birthday. He was so happy to receive it

If you are someone who has been away from a fitness program for a while, or are a parent wanting to get back in shape after a few years of hectically raising kids, pick up this guide. It's a program geared toward men over 40, basing its exercises to form a foundation of full body fitness and strength, and can just as easily be used for women as well (which is quickly addressed by the author). The guides are easy to follow, and the program graduates you into harder levels at a logical pace. If you are someone like myself who is already reasonably fit, the daily workouts leave room for additional set insertions, or allows you to partner a superset for additional challenge. This guide was a welcome change to my own daily gym routine, as it was getting stale, and as a man over 40, the tips it gives to avoid injury and increase recovery were also welcome. I am sure that more experienced lifters/trainers could put together a program like this on their own; but for those who are not educated in that way, and need some coaching, this is a good one to pick up, and then revisit.

Very basic manual, doesn't worth the money.