For most people, it was time to stop eating so much fried cheese at 39. A recent study showed 42 percent of people decided enough was enough at that age.

“When you are young, fit and healthy, being concerned about your health and especially your heart health is the last thing on your mind,” Dr. Sarah Brewer, medical director for Healthspan, said. “Having to think about your diet and the impact it may be having on your health, and being concerned about issues like heart disease, can seem like something only older people need to worry about. While it might seem like a long way off, it’s never too early to start looking after your health while you are young, which can really help you when you are older, and the issues become more real.”

The reasons for deciding to do a sit up once in a while were varied, but not surprising.

1. Lack of energy
2. Weight loss is suddenly more difficult
3. Milestone birthdays (i.e. 40)
4. Climbing stairs leaves you winded
5. Running even short distances seems hard
6. People start pointing out you’ve put on weight (Which, also, RUDE!)
7. Clothes don’t fit anymore
8. Seeing a bad picture of yourself
9. Family member health issues
10. Injuries take a lot longer to recover from.

If you’re thinking of taking the leap into the world of exercise, but worry it’s too late, it’s not.

“It’s never too late to start looking after your heart health, as well as your entire body and mind,” Dr. Ameet Bakhai, consultant cardiologist at Spire Bushey Hospital, said. “It’s one of the needless misconceptions in the world that ‘it’s too late for me, I’ve already had a heart attack, it’s downhill from here,’ which is rarely the case. The difference between recovering well from a heart attack and recovering poorly is between seven-10 years of additional lifespan or being there for your grandchild’s university graduation.

“The difference often lies in a positive approach, wanting to share, wanting to query, wanting to know your numbers – asking the rehabilitation nurse or pharmacist about your blood pressure and cholesterol numbers and keeping those down and the step count up.”

A survey conducted on behalf of Tru Niagen shows that the most common answer is 36.

Okay. Not the answer I was expecting, but I’ll allow it. At least it wasn’t 23. Nobody likes you when you’re 23.

The survey results also showed that 59 percent of people used to be obsessed with slowing down the aging process, but have now learned to love their crow’s feet and gray hairs.

“We can’t turn back our biological clocks, and while there are some aspects of aging outside of our control, there are ways to improve one’s healthspan, or the years one is in good health,” said Andrew Shao, Ph.D. “The symptoms we associate with aging, like wrinkles, loose skin, and stiff joints, are all just outward signs of what is happening inside our bodies at a microscopic level. Our cells are, in fact, failing. By reducing stressors on our cells, like sun-exposure and excess alcohol consumption, and adding supplementation that can support our health at the cellular level, then we have a fighting chance at aging healthier.”

Those best ways to age healthily? I’m glad you asked.

1. Eating healthy
2. Exercising daily
3. Drinking water
4. Taking care of your skin
5. Maintaining mental health
6. Taking care of what their body tells you
7. Maintaining emotional health
8. Keeping a routine

Also, the average American apparently feels six years younger than they actually are. So my actual age must be 50, because I feel 44, even though my driver’s license says 41.

Time travel makes my head hurt.