"Keeping those leg muscles strong and flexible is a big deal as we get older, whether you're just starting your fitness journey or you've been hitting the gym for ages. As the years go by, our fitness goals shift from chasing picture-perfect glutes and bulky quads. "Even Arnold Schwarzenegger, who's well into his 70s, changed up his workout to stay spry, not just for the mirror. You know, regular things like going upstairs or taking a stroll can become a bit more challenging as we get older."That's why having a sturdy lower body is like the foundation of independence in your later years, according to Maurice Williams, a senior fitness guru at the National Academy of Sports Medicine. After hitting the big 3-0, you can start losing about 3% to 5% of your muscle mass every decade, as Harvard Medical School tells us. Plus, your bones naturally get less dense with time, as the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reminds us. They say about ...