Read time: 5 minutes
Welcome to Unstoppable After 40, my weekly newsletter where I reveal cutting-edge tips to get fit in your 40s & 50s while growing your business or career.
What’s in store for today:
- The secret to getting twice as much done in half the time
- Slow vs. Fast squats: which is better for muscle and strength?
- My favorite alternative to deadlifting from the ground
Today’s issue is brought to you by Unstoppable After 40 Coaching Program. We help entrepreneurs, executives, and business owners to get fit in their 40s & 50s while growing their businesses and enjoying their lifestyle (in less than 2 hours per week).
One of my clients recently shared a big win.
They dropped two pounds despite a busy week. Complete with a social dinner at a South Indian restaurant and lunch at a fast-food joint.
How?
By focusing on progress, not perfection.
They skipped breakfast, made smart fast-food choices like grilled chicken patties, and embraced grocery shopping—something they’d avoided for years.
Stocking up on healthy foods at home made it easier to stay on track between outings.
Traveling next month?
They’re already planning how to adapt, combining portable workouts with flexible eating strategies. Their success reminds us: progress doesn’t require perfection, just consistent effort.
What’s one small habit you could change this week to make staying healthy easier?
Small hinges swing big doors.
Here is your Unstoppable After 40 Friday Digest:
1- The secret to getting twice as much done in half the time
Ever feel like the harder you push for productivity, the less you actually get done?
In this episode, I sit down with Jeff Sanders—productivity coach, keynote speaker, and author—to uncover the secrets to staying focused and stress-free.
We cover:
- How to break unproductive habits
- Why perfectionism kills productivity
- Jeff’s personal challenges with stress (and how he overcame them)
If you’re ready to work smarter (not harder) and find balance as a high achiever, this is an episode you can’t miss.
Click here and listen to the Unstoppable In 2025 Series!
2- Slow vs. Fast squats: which is better for muscle and strength?
A new study looked at how the speed of the lowering phase (eccentric tempo) in squats affects muscle growth and strength. Participants squatted with either a 1-second or 4-second descent, training 2x per week for 7 weeks.
- Muscle Growth: Both groups achieved similar total quadriceps growth. However, the slower tempo group saw slightly more growth in the vastus lateralis (outer quad), suggesting tempo may influence regional hypertrophy—though this could be a fluke since other regions showed no difference.
- Strength Gains: The slower 4-second descent group gained more squat strength, contrasting with earlier studies that found slower tempos might hinder strength improvements.
Takeaway: I coach my body transformation clients to use slow, controlled movements during lifts—not obsessing over exact tempos, but ensuring control to maintain muscle tension and protect their joints.
While fast reps can build strength, they also increase stress on the joints.
A slower tempo helps distribute the load more evenly, reducing injury risk and promoting long-term joint health.
Whether your focus is muscle growth or strength, prioritize controlled movements and training close to failure for the best results.
3- My favorite alternative to deadlifting from the ground
I’m not a fan of deadlifting from the ground.
People have different leg and arm lengths, making it a tough move for many people.
However, I’m a huge Romanian Deadlift (RDL) fan.
No matter what your body dimensions are, you can safely and effectively do an RDL.
How many sets and reps? Try 1-5 sets of 6-12 reps.
Rest for 2 minutes between each set.
Or pair it with an upper-body pushing exercise like the bench press. Also, some technique tips often get left out.
And that’s what I get into with this video.
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Watch Romanian Deadlift Video |
Unstoppable After 40 Client Highlight: Kevin H.
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Meet Kevin.
At 36, with a thriving career and a beautiful family, he was grappling with weight issues, the dreaded afternoon slumps, and a cloud of gloom overhead. Docs suggested pills, but Kevin felt there had to be another way.
After researching online, he found the Legendary Life podcast and decided to invest in himself.
After 4 months, Kevin:
- Lost 25lbs of fat while putting on lean muscle.
- His joints felt better, and his mobility improved.
- Got a huge boost in confidence and his energy levels went through the roof.
More than just gym gains, he’s now rocking life with a tighter bond with his kids, a better relationship with his wife, and even snagged a sweeter job offer.
If you’re an entrepreneur who wants to be confident in your body and increase energy in a way that fits your busy life, click here for a strategy call.
Quote of the week:
“When you feel like quitting, remember why you started.”
It doesn’t matter how strong, tough, intelligent or positive you are. There will be days you are tempted to quit.
The difference in the successful is they are the few that don’t.
This is why knowing your core is so important upfront. Remind yourself of it daily. Pivot, change tactics, get help, take a break, just don’t quit.
Until next week,
Ted Ryce
Celebrity Trainer, Health & Wellness Coach & Longevity Expert
When you’re ready, here are 3 ways I can help:
1)Watch my Unstoppable After 40 Masterclass, where I teach you the simple 5-step process our successful clients are using to get fit in their 40s & 50s while growing their businesses and enjoying their lifestyle.
2) If you have questions about my coaching program click on the button below to check my FAQ page which answers a lot of the initial “how we work” questions and will give you a better idea of our pricing and process:
> Coaching Program FAQ Page
3)Are you an entrepreneur who wants to get fit in your 40s & 50s without feeling achy or spending hours at the gym?
> Schedule Your Strategy Session Now!
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Have feedback? We’d love to hear from you.
Email us at ted@legendarylifepodcast.com.
