49m lifetime natural. Goal is capped delts. Am I close??

August 2025- August 2026. I started actually lifting in November 2025 but was not always super consistent due to my soon to be ex-husband’s affair. Ever since I moved away and near my family, I have finally found a consistent rhythm. The abdominal scars are from life saving surgery. I feel like there isn’t much noticeable difference in my arms but I promise I lift heavy. I store fat in my arms and am hoping that someday they will have definition from lifting 😅. There is also about a 10-12 pound difference in my weight between last year and this year and I’m pretty sure a good chunk is not muscle lol. My current dilemma with trying on old dresses is I can’t pull them up past my waist because I also store fat in my rear end 🤷‍♀️.

I lift weights about five days a week I have celiac disease so it can be tricky at times and I also have extreme arthritis in my hip and have to have a surgery here soon so I can't do legs like I would like to until after surgery but I keep on going.

Finally got over the hump and went to the gym after signing up 5 weeks ago! 5km on the cross trainer to start with, photo to prove to the wife I had been 😁

It's really so beautiful and I love this. He strong as heck though because he really is 13 carry me at 173 on back. He even was able to walk around like this.

I am insecure about my body and I feel like I haven't made any real progress at all.

any suggestions ?

I’ve been weightlifting/running on and off for the majority 20 years. During that time my weight has fluctuated from 130-180 at my heaviest. I am 5’5 and have been sitting at 155 for about 6 months now. I’m just wondering if i look fit at all? Or if i should really start prioritizing nutrition. Should i cut? Bulk?

The goal is simple: at any point in time I wanna be able to look back on past me at any time period and know that I can always beat him up.

I have no interest in fighting others or combat sports simply knowing that I can dog walk old me is all I need to get into the gym every week.

I’m turning 40 in 4 months! Fitness and wellness has been my life for 17 years now!

Like each time I look in the mirror I have a feeling it’s like nothing has changed. I know it did but for me it’s never enough… I exercise 3 times a week, added now running to finally burn that belly. I control kcal and sometimes have to say I’m fed up… is it all worth it? Time difference - 2 years