When you turn 40, or you’re over 40, it feels like you’ve immediately doubled in age. Those aches and pains become more pronounced, you begin having niggly thoughts about osteoporosis, and you feel like you need to start taking care of your health more than you have been doing.

The truth is, your body is going to age regardless of what you do, but by including beneficial workout routines into your life, you’re able to control how healthy and in control you feel.

If you want to feel good, look good, and have people say “wow, you’re really 40?” then pay attention to these workout tips below. Number four, believe it or not, could even prevent several hospital trips as you get older.

5. Fat Burning

It’s not uncommon to have a little extra fat lingering around as you hit the big four-zero, but it’s not something that you can’t give marching orders.

One of the most beneficial workout routines if you are over 40, and want to kick that fat to the curb, is including a range of high-energy exercises into your routine.

Do step-ups, thrusters, kettlebell swings, and squat jumps – all in the name of burning fat to feel better as you age.

4. Strength

Strength training is crucial as you age, as you don’t want your muscles to waste away to nothing, increasing your chance of injury when you do finally use them.

If you are over 40, you are going to want to include a warm up on a cross-trainer, rower, or with a skipping rope.

Then, you can work on leg strength with squats, additional back strength with dumbbell rows, shoulder presses for shoulder strength, and deadlifts as a finisher.

3. Mobility

Staying active is the first step to staying mobile, but if you want to make sure that you’re pain-free, flexible, and entirely healthy, then carry out mobility training as you turn 40.

Mobility and flexibility training involves moving your joints and being able to do so without pain. There is a range of activities that will help to keep you mobile and strengthen your muscles at the same time, such as shoulder pass-throughs, neck half circles, and walking hip openers.

2. Balance

Did you know that falling over is the second most common cause of accidental death? Many of these falls are the result of a loss of balance, something that tends to be a problem in the over-65 group.

If, however, you want to act sooner rather than later, you can begin workouts that focus on balance.

Spend at least two minutes standing on one leg at a time, balance on a wobble board, and do squats.  Then, if you’re really intent on doing yourself favors as you age, enroll in a Tai Chi class.

1. Health

If you want to be as healthy as possible as you age, then some exercises are better than others. Of course, being active in general is something you should be proud of, but wouldn’t it be best to focus on what is going to make the most difference?

According to the Harvard Medical School, swimming, strength training, Tai Chi classes, walking, and kegel exercises are some of the most beneficial workouts you should do if you are over 40.

Getting older is inevitable, feeling older is a choice. If you want to feel and look at your best, then there’s no time like the present to put in the effort and do tailored workout sessions.