"I mean lets face it...try as we may?...at some point?...."The Climb"...will be over for us...and "ADAPTING" to our physical decline will become the order of the day...and I'm not trying to be mean here...I'm trying to be helpful in explaining that...."
You have mentioned previously about 80 year-olds sort of being over the line, and at 56 you/we are adapting to decline. WRONG
At 56, you are just a beginner. I started at 58yo. You are NOT in a physical decline unless you want to be. There is a great amount of room (as many of us have proven) for physical improvement after 56 - but it is a matter of attitude. Don't put yourself down. Some of us are at our best, even into our 70's. You have years to improve, and you will, given a positive attitude.