As you know, I'm trying to get down from 18 percent body fat to about 15-12 percent so that when I climb this summer I won't be carrying around too many unnecessary pounds. The thing about getting lean is the fact that making gains is easier early on in your lifting career because as a newbie you're more responsive to the new stimulus.
Also, for most people, the time they start lifting corresponds roughly with a period in their life when their testosterone production is highest, typically in the early 20s.
So it makes sense to make the most of those years by building as much muscle as you can. That said, even an older lifter (like me) can train hard and maybe get to a point where they are in really good shape from a muscle mass perspective and a lean perspective. No, you're not young enough to take advantage of higher testosterone levels, but that doesn't mean you can't still put on muscle.
Thankfully, you don't have to start at the age of 20 and get everything exactly right to get where you want to be provided that you are consistent .
I hope that's an encouraging word for you older lifters out there.
Have a wonderful day!