The strength will come back much quicker than it took to attain the first time. I never worked out a day in my life until I was almost 30, and with the exception of the deadlift, all my numbers are quite a bit lower than anyone my same age who worked out even sparingly in their 20s. The people my age who were high school athletes make me look like an old man, and the people my age who were college athletes make me look like an even older woman. I always liken it to blowing up a balloon, you feel a certain amount of resistance the first time, but if you let the air out (lose strength) and blow it up again it's much easier.
Yeah, for sure! I've already experienced that once or twice after other start/stops. I made what felt like relatively quick progress when I first started lifting a few years ago, and I definitely think having been moderately athletic through my youth was a factor. (Never was particularly great at any sport, but at least they kept me in shape!)
