Author: Dr. Pete Murano

About the Book:

The pursuit of fitness used to be mainly a goal of the young. But with the advancing age of the baby boomer generation, more and more older adults are becoming interested in fitness. There is increasing awareness among older Americans that many health indices can be improved through age appropriate strength training. These include weight and body fat loss, decreased blood pressure, decreased insulin resistance, improved mental sharpness, improved physique and increased muscle mass and strength. Author Peter S. Murano has documented his strength training experiences and recommendations in his Old Man Muscle handbook, “The Older Man’s Guide to Building Muscle and Strength Later in Life”, providing the workout he recommends as well as carefully explained nutrition, lifestyle and spiritual strength training tips. The book is divided into seven chapters: (1) Introduction, (2) The Challenges We Face as We Age, (3) Before You Start Training, (4) The Old Man Muscle Workout, (5) The Importance of Lifestyle, (6) Spiritual Strength Training, and (7) A Better Life at Last. It contains in excess of 200 fact-filled pages, including 34 detailed tables, 80 eye-opening figures, over 200 defined glossary terms, and close to 300 references. It is simply an indispensable read for the adult man - of any age - interested in maintaining an independent quality of life into his later years.

About The Author: 

Peter S. Murano earned the M.S. and Ph.D. degrees in Human Nutrition and Foods from Virginia Tech in 1986 and 1989, respectively. He is a baby boomer, born in 1954.

 He served as Deputy Administrator at the USDA Food and Nutrition Service, Washington, D.C. from 2001-2004 during the George W. Bush administration. In that capacity, he supervised a dozen Federal nutrition assistance programs, most of which developed anti-obesity goals and objectives. He and his FNS Child Nutrition Division team created the Healthier US School Challenge (HUSSC) in 2003, a voluntary certification initiative recognizing schools enrolled in USDA’s Team Nutrition that have created healthier school environments  through promotion of nutrition and physical activity. In 2004, he received the U.S. Secretary of Agriculture’s Honor Award for Superior Service for implementing the National Fruit and Vegetable Pilot in five states and Indian Tribal Organizations, which has since become a permanent and expanding program for school children.

 At Texas A&M University since 1995, Dr. Murano serves as a research and teaching professor in the Department of Nutrition and Food Science, and has published in a variety of academic journals including the Journal of Food Science, Journal of the International Society of Sports Nutrition, Medicine and Science in Sports and Exercise, Advances in Medical Education and Practice, Obesity Science and Practice, FASEB Journal, and Nutrients. He founded and directed the Institute for Obesity Research and Program Evaluation at Texas A&M from 2007-2013. In 2014 he was appointed Vice-Chair of the Texas State Leadership Council for Obesity Prevention.

 In 2019, Dr. Murano achieved certification as a personal fitness trainer through ACE (American Council on Exercise) and ISSA (International Sports Sciences Association). As owner and operator of the Old Man Muscle Fitness Studio, he is serious about helping men aged 50 and up get back into shape and build up strength in order to succeed in activities of daily life, combat aging, and remain independent for as long as possible. Using proven old school methods, he devised a brief but effective age-appropriate whole body workout for older men that is performed three times per week. He started using it at age 63 in mid-2017 after four decades of sedentary life, and has transformed his body and health status. Peter is also a firm believer in the value of being strong spiritually, and leads a weekly bible study.

REVIEW

A Book Every Man Over 50 Should Read - And Revisit

I picked up Old Man Muscle: The Older Man’s Guide to Building Muscle and Strength Later in Life because I was looking for something different from the usual fitness advice aimed at younger bodies. What I found was not just another workout book, but a thoughtful, practical guide written by someone who clearly understands both the science of aging and the lived reality of it.

What immediately impressed me is the author, Peter S. Murano. He brings an unusual combination of experience to the table: decades as a professor in human nutrition, leadership roles in national public-health initiatives, peer-reviewed scientific publishing, and personal experience rebuilding his own strength later in life after years of inactivity. As a reader, that matters. I never felt like I was being sold a gimmick or a shortcut - only clear explanations and realistic expectations.

This book doesn’t pretend aging can be reversed or ignored. Instead, it explains - clearly and respectfully - what actually changes in the aging body, why many traditional gym routines stop working well as we get older, and how properly designed, age-appropriate strength training can dramatically improve strength, body composition, metabolic health, confidence, and daily function. Improvements in weight control, insulin sensitivity, blood pressure, mental sharpness, muscle mass, and overall vitality are presented not as miracles, but as achievable outcomes when training, nutrition, lifestyle, and recovery are aligned.

I also appreciated how well the book is organized. Across seven chapters, it walks you from understanding the challenges of aging, through preparation and safety, and into a concise but effective full-body workout performed just three times per week. Along the way, Murano integrates nutrition, lifestyle habits, and even spiritual strength - acknowledging that real health is about more than muscles alone. That holistic perspective is refreshing and rare.

The depth of the book surprised me. With over 200 pages, dozens of tables and figures, an extensive glossary, and nearly 300 references, this is both a hands-on manual and a serious reference. And yet it never feels overwhelming. The writing is clear, encouraging, and grounded in real life. It’s the kind of book I expect to return to - not once, but many times.

What I value most is that Old Man Muscle isn’t about chasing youth or competing with younger men. It’s about reclaiming control, preserving independence, and building a better life - physically, mentally, and spiritually - well into later decades. If you’re a man who wants to age with strength rather than surrender to decline, this book isn’t just worth reading - it’s worth keeping close.

-P.C.

REVIEW

★★★★★ A Game-Changer for Strength, Health, and Independence After 50

I can’t recommend Old Man Muscle: The Older Man’s Guide to Building Muscle and Strength Later in Life highly enough. This is not another generic fitness book recycled for older readers - it’s a smart, practical, and deeply credible guide written by someone who truly understands aging, physiology, and real life.

I have struggled over the years trying to get my fitness act together, and now I’m in my sixties. I am so glad I found this book.  In my opinion, what sets it apart is the author. He combines decades of academic experience with hands-on expertise as a certified personal trainer who rebuilt his own strength later in life. That combination shows on every page. The advice is grounded in science, realistic for aging bodies, and focused on what actually matters: strength, independence, metabolic health, and quality of life.

The book clearly explains how aging changes the body, why traditional gym routines often fail older men, and how properly designed, age-appropriate strength training can reverse much of the decline we’ve been told to accept. The basic workout itself is efficient and sensible, performed just three times per week, and supported by clear guidance on nutrition, recovery, and lifestyle habits. I could feel a difference in just over two weeks with this workout! And he explains proper breathing technique and  the importance of two different kinds of stretching and when they occur in the workout - I never knew these things.

I think what I appreciate most is that this book offers a roadmap - backed by research, personal experience, and common sense - for becoming strong, capable, and independent well into later life. Each of the basic exercises is fully discussed and illustrated, making them easy to understand and perform. The depth is impressive, with extensive references, glossary terms, photos, yet it remains readable and encouraging throughout.

If you’re a man over 50 who wants to stop feeling like you're spiraling downward, regain confidence in your body, and invest in a healthier future, this book is absolutely worth your time. In my opinion, Old Man Muscle is an empowering, honest, and practical handbook - and easily one of the best fitness and aging books I’ve ever seen.

-R. S.