Did I start fitness "late in life"?
I'm only 24 years old, yet I feel old in the lifting world.
I see all of these strong, fit girls that are sponsored by fitness companies and then I find out they're only 20! I didn't start getting into lifting until I was about 22. And somehow I feel like that was “late in the game”. I'm jealous of all of these girls that started lifting younger and learned how to eat healthy. I look at them and wish that someone got me into lifting earlier. Or maybe I should have listened to my basketball coach in high school when we had our lifting practices. I remember just using them as a time to chat with friends on the team. I couldn't have cared less about actually working on my strength (which may have made me a better basketball player).
On the other hand... There are women older than me just getting into lifting. And maybe they're jealous of me starting to get fit when I'm 24! Maybe they wish they started getting into fitness when they were younger also. Maybe they would have been stronger or fitter now.
Jeez, if I started powerlifting and eating healthy earlier in life I can only imagine where I would be today. My PRs would be crazy! (I assume ;) )
The point is, maybe everyone wishes they learned this fitness life earlier. Maybe everyone has doubts when they see 20 year olds who are stronger or more successful than them. Maybe we're not alone in this feeling. But, the thing is, we can't turn back time. You can't talk to your 19 year old self and convince her to get into the gym and pick up those weights, or put down that junk food. You only have now. You have today. Are you stronger or fitter than when you began? Then you're winning. You're a successful lifter. Will you be even stronger in a year? If you keep lifting you can be. This is where that quote “you vs. you” comes into play. Everyone has a different journey. You can't compare yourself to someone else or wish to be in someone else's shoes. The only thing you can do is work hard and try to beat the person you were yesterday.
So, go out there and show yourself what you're made of. Take pictures and record your personal records to prove to yourself how far you've come. You versus you baby, go get ‘em.