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    Goals to look better than the younger you

    Posts: 128 Member
    edited December 2024 in Health and Weight Loss
    Just started working out again 18 weeks ago and my goal is to look better than my 23 year old self (pic below).

    I’m now 35 with 2 young kids and want to stay fit to keep up with them.

    Anyone else have similar goals?

    [image removed by MFP Mod]

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    • Posts: 128 Member
      ElizabethKalmbach wrote: »
      You may find it's a lot easier to look good at 35 than it was to look good at 23, if by "good" you mean cut.

      The goal it to match my 23 year old measurements. I’m getting close after 18 weeks of training and learning new things on the way. The routine that got me to the pic above was a typical bro-split with 3 mins rest between sets.

      I’m finishing workouts in 30 minutes or under now and only taking 1 mins rest, which seems to be more than sufficient.

      Now I think that to all that time o spent in the gym that wasn’t needed.

    • Posts: 1,415 Member
      84creative wrote: »
      The goal it to match my 23 year old measurements. I’m getting close after 18 weeks of training and learning new things on the way. The routine that got me to the pic above was a typical bro-split with 3 mins rest between sets.

      I’m finishing workouts in 30 minutes or under now and only taking 1 mins rest, which seems to be more than sufficient.

      Now I think that to all that time o spent in the gym that wasn’t needed.

      Hahaha, yeah. I used to *hang out* at the gym for hours on end, messing around with this and that and waiting on whoever needed to lose 2 lbs of water for weigh-ins to finish killing themselves on the treadmill.

      Now I'm twice the age of most of the kids using the squat racks around me and I'm in and out in about half an hour.

      I honestly don't know if I could get down to my 23-year-old measurements. I can hit that fat percentage, probably, but having shifted lifestyles from ballet and figure skating to pit bull wrangling and heavy lifting, my build (and workouts) has changed rather significantly in keeping with my lifestyle.
    • Posts: 128 Member
      Luckily I’m around the same weight as my 23 year old self (12st/168lbs) but I’ve less muscle and more body fat than back then.

      cjdmmaxw2z3y.jpeg
    • Posts: 128 Member
      Ironwoman2219 wrote: »
      Umm... what was the question? 😂

      Ha :smile:
    • Posts: 128 Member
      @Ironwoman2219 I was wondering if other people have the same goal as me which is to look fitter and stronger than they did 10 years ago. Thinking of those that used to exercise and haven’t worked out in years.
    • Posts: 142 Member
      Yes! I was decently active a decade ago, gained a ton, and now am losing it. I will look better than I did then ( mostly)
    • Posts: 3,495 Member
      How are you defining "better"?
    • Posts: 128 Member
      aokoye wrote: »
      How are you defining "better"?

      For me it’s beating my old body measurements and lifting more weight than I could 10 years ago.
    • Posts: 142 Member
      aokoye wrote: »
      How are you defining "better"?

      And for me, that’s why I add the “mostly” , I will have wrinkles and saggy baby tummy most likely. But, I will BE stronger and fitter, I will LOOK stronger and fitter. To me, that is the better, as opposed to wrinkle free pre baby thinnish weak and not a muscle to be seen.
    • Posts: 3,913 Member
      edited October 2019
      84creative wrote: »
      @Ironwoman2219 I was wondering if other people have the same goal as me which is to look fitter and stronger than they did 10 years ago. Thinking of those that used to exercise and haven’t worked out in years.

      Yes, that’s why I’m here. Having a plan helps. I used to weight train in high school and college, but life tends to have its own timing and ideas. It doesn’t look like it’ll be hard for you, good luck! And I was just being silly.😅🤷🏽‍♀️
    • Posts: 28,055 Member
      Ironwoman2219 wrote: »
      show previous quotes

      Yes, that’s why I’m here. Having a plan helps. I used to weight train in high school and college, but life tends to have its own timing and ideas. It doesn’t look like it’ll be hard for you, good luck! And I was just being silly.😅🤷🏽‍♀️

      I thought your initial response was hilarious :lol:

      I gave you the Hug, because that used to be the Awesome reaction ;)
    • Posts: 90 Member
      You look awesome.
      I actually achieved my goal. 50 now and look better than ever thanks to a clean diet and weight training.
    • Posts: 3,913 Member
      kshama2001 wrote: »
      show previous quotes

      I thought your initial response was hilarious :lol:

      I gave you the Hug, because that used to be the Awesome reaction ;)


      Aww, thanks for the hug. Right back at you!🤗 Honestly I was kind of shocked when I saw 👆🏽I had to quickly look around to see if anyone could see my screen.🙈😬 I’ll wear the cone of shame now, but I don’t regret it. 😁
    • Posts: 25 Member
      I’m on the same track, I have just hit 30 and on track to looking and feeling more healthy than I was when I was 20! You look great, keep up the work! 👍🏻
    • Posts: 128 Member
      Ironwoman2219 wrote: »
      show previous quotes


      Aww, thanks for the hug. Right back at you!🤗 Honestly I was kind of shocked when I saw 👆🏽I had to quickly look around to see if anyone could see my screen.🙈😬 I’ll wear the cone of shame now, but I don’t regret it. 😁

      I read your reply and then thought to myself, this thread subject line doesn’t make as much sense as it didn’t when I originally created it. Had me questioning what I’d put lol it had been a long day :-)
    • Posts: 128 Member
      As much sense as it did.
    • Posts: 128 Member
      biggiwig4483 wrote: »
      You look awesome.
      I actually achieved my goal. 50 now and look better than ever thanks to a clean diet and weight training.

      Thanks! You look fantastic.
    • Posts: 128 Member
      MarcyMavin wrote: »
      show previous quotes

      And for me, that’s why I add the “mostly” , I will have wrinkles and saggy baby tummy most likely. But, I will BE stronger and fitter, I will LOOK stronger and fitter. To me, that is the better, as opposed to wrinkle free pre baby thinnish weak and not a muscle to be seen.

      Luckily I’m not comparing the thick head of hair and I once had or I’d be a mostly too.
    • Posts: 128 Member
      JJ3UK wrote: »
      I’m on the same track, I have just hit 30 and on track to looking and feeling more healthy than I was when I was 20! You look great, keep up the work! 👍🏻

      Thanks! Glad to see others with the same goals and achieving them.

    • Posts: 2,153 Member
      edited November 2019
      84creative wrote: »
      Just started working out again 18 weeks ago and my goal is to look better than my 23 year old self (pic below).

      I’m now 35 with 2 young kids and want to stay fit to keep up with them.

      Anyone else have similar goals?


      That's my plan. I'm 42 and one size away from being my smallest. And I definitely think better looking because I lacked the confidence and mental strength at 23.
    • Posts: 2,153 Member
      Oops I quoted your pic :#
    • Posts: 128 Member
      isalsayourface123 wrote: »
      Oops I quoted your pic :#

      Thanks for the reminder of the goal I’m working towards ;-)
    • Posts: 128 Member
      rainbow198 wrote: »
      This happened to me by accident. When I first started my dreams was to lose the fat, eventually have a fit body, to stop shopping in plus-sized clothing stores and I was also thinking about my future and I didn't want to take pills, be in pain etc.

      It took years, but I worked hard and made my dreams come true and received so many more benefits outside of looks. I feel great, sleep better, I get more opportunities/projects at work and I now shop in the junior's section in stores. Plus I'm the smallest I've been in my entire adult life. :)

      The combination of losing weight, getting fit, having access to better clothes, gaining confidence and life experiences is making my 40's fantastic!

      Sounds fantastic! I’ve not worked out properly in years and I had a nagging. Feeling that I had to do something soon.

      Think I made the decision to work out again 2 months before my 35th birthday and committed to it. Now I feel better for doing so and I’m enjoying the process.
    • Posts: 9,812 Member
      You look great! I would love to get my physique at least back to where it was before baby#3, maybe even better! My face though has aged and years of sleep deprivation has taken its toll so not much I can do about that.
    • Posts: 448 Member
      84creative wrote: »
      show previous quotes

      Thanks for the reminder of the goal I’m working towards ;-)

      I want to be in a better state of physical fitness, so sort of? I'm an endurance athlete and am the same size I was pre-kids. However, I am stronger and fitter than that too. Me at 23= 45 on the ellipitcal. Me at 36= running marathons and lifting g heavy-ish.
    • Posts: 4,907 Member
      When I was younger I thought that the goal was to have as little body fat as possible, but now, at 47, I realize that I actually look better with a little bit of extra weight because my skin has lost some of its elasticity and if I am too thin I look kind of gaunt and tired. That said, I work really hard to preserve my muscle mass as well. From a fitness standpoint, I am probably in the best shape I have ever been in.
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