Want to Get Lean After 40? Do These Exercises, Say Experts | Eat This Not That - Eat This, Not That

"When it comes to [a lean body] and great abs after 40, a good tactic that I've found and many people don't consider, is including the elliptical trainer into your regimen," says Patrick O'Connor, a fitness expert at Gym Gear Central.

"The elliptical trainer, because of its adjustable resistance levels and the fact that the handles allow you to engage your muscles in the running motion means you get a much more effective muscle building workout when compared to just running," he says.

"[A] fantastic exercise for midlifers is swimming," Alex Parren, personal trainer and running coach for health and fitness equipment specialist Meglio, recently explained to the UK's The Telegraph.

When it comes to recommending great exercise methods to his clients who are over 40, Joshua Lafond, a NASM-certified personal trainer and founder of Health Gym Habits, advises his clients to lift weights in a very specific way.

But as it pertains to people over 40, one trainer recently explained to the The Telegraph why it's a great way to get lean. "Walking can shed just as many pounds as running; it just may take a little longer," said Alasdair Fitz-Desorgher, personal trainer at Openfit, a fitness app.

I'd recommend setting yourself a walking challenge, varying the speed and intensity of the walk, and introducing hill walks." And for more reasons to walk, don't miss these Incredible Things That Happen When You Walk More, Say Experts.

In short, you get the benefits of cardio by getting your heart rate up—"it improves oxygen flow in your bloodstream and is great for your heart," Jeff Parke, of Top Fitness Magazine, told us—and by performing strength-training moves you're promoting muscle growth, which will lead to more calorie-burn as you make gains.

"HIIT is an extremely effective and efficient form of exercise, elevating your heart rate quickly and burning a significant amount of calories in a short amount of time," Tom Holland, MS, CSCS, CISSN, an exercise physiologist.

In fact, according to one study published in 2016, volunteers who doubled the amount of time that they lowered the weight down on a bench press exercise compared to the time they pushed it up experienced a better workout overall.

See here for all of the ways you can implement this method into your own routine. And for more ways to fight the effects of aging, don't miss The One Exercise Move That Slows Down Aging, Claims Fitness Coach