3.5 stars
I enjoyed the explanation of why building muscle will ultimately help you be healthier and promotes longevity. I do struggle with the recommendation of how much protein to eat - 30 grams minimum per meal. I wished there were more recipe/meal plan ideas, or even just a list of things that would contribute to this. I also think I expected a bit more info on the weight training. The first two sections of the book seemed to focus on the science and background, but the third section on taking action was noticeably shorter. Overall, it gave me some ideas, but I don't know that I walked away from reading this with all the info I need to implement the life change.
The book did end with some recipes, which were helpful.

As someone who has been dieting on and off for the past 25 years, I appreciated Dr. Lyon’s take on health and longevity. She shares a lot of good evidence-based information about why her nutrition recommendations make sense as well as specific how-tos for diet and exercise. I think the focus on muscle growth for aging well rather than simple weight loss is a great idea. I am excited to implement the Lyon Protocol!

Thank you to the publisher - I received a complimentary eARC of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

During our trip to Colorado last year, we encountered many older men and women doing 10+ mile hikes and high-altitude mountain biking. One such lady was staying at our Bed and Breakfast. I was flabbergasted to learn she was 80 years old!  The ability to not only preserve independence at that age but to thrive at such a physical level piqued my interest in the study of longevity. Forever Strong: A New, Science-Based Strategy for Aging Well by Dr. Gabrielle Lyon is a book about longevity that focuses on Lyon's muscle-centric protocol.

First, Dr. Lyon talks about the benefits of increased muscle mass. The information provided is very accessible. I appreciate how well she breaks down the science to make it easier to understand. I also loved the graphics for a quick recap of what was presented.

Not only does she talk about the importance of muscle mass, but she also systematically dissects and rebutts arguments concerning nutrition science and modern-day nutrition. She goes on to discuss the importance of meeting daily protein goals for optimal health.

The book eventually gets to her personally developed Lyon Protocol. It is thorough with information concerning body assessment, the importance of exercise and nutrition, and even gives commonly encountered obstacles and strategies for overcoming them. There is an included 5-day exercise program, meal plans for various goals, and recipes. Overall, this book is a wealth of information!

Read this if you like:
• Nonfiction books about health
• Learning about longevity
• Physiology 

Also shared on Goodreads, Amazon, and Instagram.

Finally, a book that is complete with lessons to heal your body, a smart way of eating, and encouragement of exercise to optimize your muscles and body composition. Thank you, Dr. Lyons. This book is a winner!!!

Some of the information in here did not seem like the best advice for everyone (like heavy meat diet and being vegetarian doesn't provide enough protein). I agree that exercise and protein are important but was looking for more guidance about the importance of strength training, especially as you age. Seems like opportunity missed with the title.

Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for advanced copy, and I give my review freely

While I generally agree with Dr. Gabrielle Lyon's perspective on health and fitness in Forever Strong, I found this book to be less than perfect. The information provided is extensive, but it occasionally delves into technical intricacies that overwhelm readers, even those with a solid understanding of health, biology, and fitness.

As far as the writing goes (this is a book, first and foremost), the writing often lacked a clear, cohesive purpose. It felt like it was trying to be too many things at once. Is it a manifesto? A protocol? A biology textbook? Who knows!

For a book called “Forever Strong” there didn’t seem to be a ton of emphasis or content on actual strength. I had expected more in-depth research and information about the importance of muscle and its impact on overall health.

Dr. Lyon's passion and expertise in advocating for a high-protein, active lifestyle shines in the book, but this is definitely a book best suited for readers who already have a foundation in health and fitness.

Thank you to Gabrielle Lyon and Netgalley for the ARC!

I am enjoying this book and find it incredibly educational and ahead of it’s time. Finally a manual for growing stronger as we age! The information is solid and backed by both science and modern day medical breakthroughs that challenge how we treat and view aging and what the body is capable of doing and becoming as we age.

I applaud Dr Gabrielle Lyons new book “Forever Strong” and will be promoting and recommending this to my over 50 personal training clients.

It is a must read!

Karen S Bluhm

Excellent book. Informative and actionable information. I love Dr Lyon’s podcast and the book is so good to have as a physical reference! Definitely…get the book! And listen to her podcast…and of course take action, exercise and eat more protein.

Okay, so I'm gonna give this 3 stars because although the basis of this book is correct, (Exercise, focus on building muscle not losing weight, and upping your protein consumption) there are a lot of problematic information in here. The author seems to demonize certain diets like vegetarian diets. It is true that some vegetarians can lack in the protein department, it is false that you can't get enough protein that way. Also, she talks about a meat only diet in this book as a good thing which, I know isn't healthy. So, while the basis of this book I agree with, exercise and consume more protein, there is a lot in here that I don't.

One of the main aspects that I liked about this book was the science backed descriptions of how important muscle is as we age. Most people focus on the 20's and 30's and then assume that once we are into our 40's muscle doesn't matter as much. It's not about the aesthetics anymore like it is in our youth. Once we understand this I think it makes it a motivator to keep working out and finding ways to incorporate strength training and not just cardio into our weekly exercise routine.

I knew absolutely nothing going into reading this book. This book was wonderful! Kept my attention and I would definitely recommend to others.

Dr. Lyon has written a succinct and yet thorough masterpiece for those of us wanting to understand how to optimize our bodies. I’ve followed her for years and love how real she gets with her own story in this book - she’s relatable because she isn’t telling you anything she hasn’t changed for herself. Her recommendations are easy to follow and she gives plenty of research and examples from her clinical background to back her claims. There was no fluff - this book just tells you each step and as much information as you need to believe and comprehend what she’s saying so you can change your life. Building muscle is key to healthy living, even if you don’t want to look like a bodybuilder, and I’m so glad she finally wrote the book so I can help others understand how to live well and age gracefully.

After many years with a medical practice, Dr. Gabrielle Lyon, offers the general population her findings on living a healthier life both now and as you age. While not the first that I’ve heard of this idea in general, Dr. Lyon presents the information well and in more detail. I appreciated that she assumes her readers are intelligent. She didn’t dumb down the presentation of any information.

The book starts with some finds from her practice, and then quickly dives into the workings of the human body, and specifically, how protein intake and muscle mass impact the various organs, processes, and one's general health. Dr. Lyon then gives readers a lesson in the scientific process when she presents how to determine one’s maintenance calorie needs and then adjusting daily calorie goals to lose weight. I think one would have to be very committed to spend four weeks tracking calories in order to just start this program given the upfront data collection period. Lastly, exercise and example meal plans are offered.

Overall, an interesting read. I liked the overall message, and since friends have had success with similar approaches, I would likely try to incorporate much of what the author presented into my diet and exercise routine.

Not sure if this just wasted the book for me or if you just need to be in a certain headspace for it. It was tough to get through, a little too preachy for me.

Thank you @netgalley for the ARC of Forever Strong by Dr Gabrielle Lyon.
I was interested in this book as someone who lifts and exercises. I read a lot of research and material about aging well and eating healthy. This book had some good information and some problematic information. I was happy to see the promotion of lifting weights. I wish there was more focus on that with the title being called Forever Strong. However, most of the focus was on eating. I appreciated the message on increasing protein in order to build muscle, but some of the other information was misleading or false. Lyon promotes eating a lot of red meat as a primary protein source and puts down a vegetarian diet. She talks a lot about cardiovascular health, but focuses on steak as what should be eaten and even denies that high cholesterol and other health problems are from food and from meat. To be clear, you can be vegetarian and still consume adequate protein. She talks about using a meat only diet to reset, which is horrible for your gut, especially without any fiber. However, her recipe portion focuses on lean meats, shrimp, chia pudding, and protein shakes. Her messages on carbs is also problematic. She does focus on eating vegetables, but states not to eat bananas and watermelon, which have a ton of nutrients. She also villainizes potatoes and rice. I am leery of anyone who promotes not eating healthy, naturally occurring foods. The main takeaway from this book should be lift weights to age well, move your body, and increase your protein.

Science-based book focused on healing the body and aging well through solid nutrition and resistance based exercise. No gimmicks or useless “tips and tricks.” There is even an entire section on how to evaluate articles when reading research! This is a great read for anyone, regardless of your current knowledge level in health and wellness. I was familiar with much of the information but still learned some newer brain-based research. So glad I was able to read an advance copy!

Like the history behind our current societal understanding of nutrition. Don't like the arguments against plant-based proteins. Nutrition is individual based and should allow for modifications.

Dr. Gabrielle Lyon has written a research intensive, fact packed book telling us that, with regards to our health, we as people, and the medical community which cares for us, have been focused on all of the wrong things.

Rather than treating symptoms and illnesses, we should be looking into prevention of ill-states. Rather than focusing on the number on the scale, and rising obesity rates (just one example) with the accompanying health diseases and challenges, we should be focused instead on what can improve our chances of staying healthy and fighting disease throughout our lives: building muscle, staying strong, and eating more protein to support muscle growth and muscle cell turnover. This in turn will help us get fewer maladies, give us a better chance to diminish the extent of the conditions we do get, and generally put us in a better position to live longer, be stronger, and enjoy life more.

This book, while very heavy with data and statistics, did motivate me to make changes in my life with regards to both exercise and diet. It's never too late to learn, or to make changes to better yourself and your life experience. Complete with exercise and suggested diet information, menus and even some recipes, it's impossible to doubt the author's commitment to her passion and mission to spread the word about her findings. As the founder of The Institute of Muscle-Centric Medicine, Dr. Lyon is in a good position to do so.

My thanks to Atria for allowing me to read a DRC of this book via NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions expressed in this review are my own and are freely given. Publication is scheduled 10/17/23.

Lyon lays out her theories on how building muscle can help you stay young and strong in this well researched book that will appeal to fans of the genre. I would argue, however, that it isn't appropriate to use Twinkies and processed plant based foods to argue in favor of steak as there are many many non-processed sources of plant based protein, Thanks to netgalley for the ARC. There's much to take from this.

I'm a big fan of Dr. Lyon's podcast, so having this book with all the information I've learned from her over the past year is extremely valuable. Dr. Lyon is consistent and thoughtful throughout the chapters and provides real-world solutions to my lifestyle/dietary problems.

The changes I've made in my life as a result of listening to (and now reading) Lyon's science-backed information has truly changed my world.