Bodybuilding legend Lee Labrada believes muscle is the best investment possible for healthy aging. In a recent video (October 21, 2026), he broke down why building and maintaining lean tissue helps you stay stronger, more capable, and independent as you get older.
Labrada established himself as a top Men’s Open competitor during the 1980s and ’90s. While he never laid claim to the prestigious Mr. Olympia title, he came remarkably close. He routinely pushed eight-time Mr. Olympia Lee Haney onstage and is considered one of the best posers the IFBB Pro League has seen.
Though he no longer competes actively, Labrada is helping the next generation of bodybuilders coming up, including his son, Hunter Labrada. At 66, the Men’s Open star is determined to stay functional and healthy, which led him to explain why maintaining muscle is a non-negotiable for longevity.
Lee Labrada Reveals Why Building and Maintaining Muscle Is the Best Recipe for Longevity
In the video, Labrada shared that building and maintaining muscle isn’t just for aesthetics; it’s also an essential aspect of healthy aging.
“As we mature, building and maintaining muscle isn’t just about looking better. Muscle may be one of the most important assets that you have for staying healthy, capable, and independent as you age.”
“Starting in mid-life, we gradually begin losing muscle unless we actively work to preserve it. After about age 50, adults can lose roughly one to two percent of their muscle mass per year, particularly with inactivity. What’s even more concerning is that strength can decline faster than muscle mass.”
He explained that muscles release myokines during exercise that offer a handful of health benefits:
“Your muscles aren’t just motors; they are also endocrine organs. Every time your muscles contract during exercise, they release chemical messengers called myokines. Myokines allow your muscle to communicate with other parts of your body, including fat tissue, liver, pancreas, blood vessels, bones, and even your brain.”
“Exercise-induced myokines are involved in glucose control, fat metabolism, vascular function, inflammation, and even brain function. Scientists believe this muscle-to-organ communication may be one of the mechanisms that helps to explain why exercise is so strongly associated with healthier aging.”
Labrada also emphasized that regular exercise leads to stronger muscles and bones, keeping individuals more resilient as they age.
“As bone density declines with age, the risk for osteoporosis and fractures increases. Stronger muscle and stronger bones work together. Resistance training can help to preserve bone density while also improving muscle strength and balance that helps to prevent falls in the first place. You’re not just building muscle when you lift weights; you’re strengthening the entire musculoskeletal system that keeps you upright, mobile, and resilient as you age,” Lee Labrada said.
For optimal results, he recommended that those over 40 engage in two to three resistance training sessions per week.
“You should challenge yourself. For most people over 40, a good starting point is two to three resistance training sessions per week, training all of the major muscle groups. Focus on the basics: basic movement patterns like pushing, pulling, squatting, leg pressing, and carrying.”
Aside from Labrada, longevity has also become a top concern for bodybuilding icon Jay Cutler. Instead of pursuing size and conditioning, the four-time Mr. Olympia prioritizes mobility at 53.
“I’m not really working on the size game as much anymore. Just keeping the tone, keep the muscles active, flexibility is important for me. So I just want to make sure that I’m sticking to a routine that allows me not to be drastically sore the next day,” shared Cutler.
Labrada continues to help lifters of all ages find their footing inside the gym. He believes holding on to muscle is the best insurance policy you can take out against aging.
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