Q: I know it's never too late to start, but I think the damage is done and I wonder, why bother trying to fix it. I'm 32 and live a very, very unhealthy lifestyle. Can you do irreparable damage to your body in terms of diet and leading a sedentary lifestyle?
A: Look, we know that for some people, trying to gain good health can feel like a longer road to travel than Route 66. But that doesn't mean you can't get there—with a little gas, a good set of directions, and some people to keep you company along the way. Yes, it's true that you can do irreparable damage if you have structural changes such as calcium in your blood vessels or cancer cells propagating in your body. But the great thing for most of us is this: Three years after changing your habits, especially if you're younger than 35, you'll have about 90 percent of the benefits of doing the healthy habit as if you've been doing it all your life. Start now, make three changes (see this list of "feel younger" recommendations), and gradually add more and more changes. You'll be amazed at how much healthier you will be in less time it took you to get through high school.
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