Getting lean as you age seems to become more and more challenging.

(And if you are, kudos to you!)

But you’ve got the option to stillcut unwanted pounds.

woman doing side planks, concept of exercises for a leaner body in your 40s

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The key principles ofweight lossremain the same and involve a healthy combination of diet and exercise.

Nixing added sugars and staying away from “empty-calorie” foods is important as well.

This is why it’s important to continuouslybuild lean muscle massthroughout one’s lifetime."

plie sumo squats

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Pilates is a stellar form of exercise if you want to torch calories and enhance your muscle tone.

So keep reading to learn all about the seven best exercises for a leaner body in your 40s.

And when you’re finished, check out these6 Simple Exercises to Shrink Your Waistline After 40.

mountain climbers

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“Squats in general are effective for building the strength of the lower extremity.

Turn your toes out a bit.

Your body weight should be in your heels.

Complete three sets of 15 squats.

Extend your legs behind you as you roll up to the balls of your feet.

Extend it back behind you.

Complete three sets of 15 reps per leg.

Get ready to fire up your core, lateral upper extremity, and lower extremity muscle groups.

To get started, sit on the floor with your hands by your hips and your legs completely extended.

When you reach the top, gradually raise one leg up and forward to the height of your hip.

Then, bend that knee back toward your shoulder on the same side.

Complete three sets of 10 reps per side.