The best strength exercises after 40 are not the fanciest ones. They are movements that help you squat, push, pull, hinge, carry, balance, and move through life with more strength than you had before.

Body recomposition is the process of changing the ratio of muscle to body fat—and it can make your body look dramatically different even when the scale moves slowly. For women over 40, that means strength training, adequate protein, and intelligent fat loss matter more than simply chasing the smallest possible number.

You do not have to get in shape before you start strength training. Strength training is one of the ways you get there—and beginning after 40 can be much simpler than you think.