capability, performance, etc

kirkor

I think the 30s is a good time to map out what our expectations are for health and fitness for the rest of our lives.
We've getting to the point where we realize we can't quite do as many things as we could in our 20s, but we still have enough juice to keep building a base that will carry us into later decades.
One of my core beliefs is "never let your best days be behind you".
So maybe as I get older, being "better" in shape will mean I'm healthier in terms of blood test results, or am better at yoga, or better bodyfat ratios, etc.
Or maybe better means 'how fit *am* I for how fit I *could* be right now in this moment?' ... that way, it's not about comparing my current self to my past self, but only to my *potential* self, which is always ahead of me.
We can always hit the reset button on our potential, because everything that happened in the past is a sunk cost. There is no "what if I'd only...", there is only "what can I do from now on?"

mamarundrc

This is a great way to look at it. It is definitely easy to say "I used to be a great athlete" or "I used to be so strong". None of that matters unless you are willing to put in the work now.

DaFibble

This is how I'm looking at things now. I'm 37 and my aim is to be in great shape by 40 and get into the habits *now* that I can keep for decades. I've tried to recapture how I was in my late teens to early 20s and yeah, that is a kind of nostalgia and ultimately has to fail as motivation eventually.

I think it helps to try to achieve something totally new – something you've never tried before. Also new kinds of fitness, so you're not simply comparing your level of fitness with a previous peak you reached before. Its great to see that progress.