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Will You Live To Be 100?
Posted by Su Avasthi on April 10, 2007 - 12:20am.

To my complete amazement, I'm expected to live to be 89 years old.

Well, that's according to an online life expectancy quiz called Living To 100, which I stumbled across while scanning CNN's website.

As optimistic as this prediction is, I'm skeptical. Generally, my habits are okay, but I know that I could make lots of changes (like just saying no to cheese) that are likely to prolong my life.

So, I went in search of a second opinion and found another life expectancy quiz on MSNBC's site. According to this one, I'm going to live till the ripe old age of 97. (This one is geared towards retirement planning, so I'm assuming that they were more generous with their calculations.)

Both quizzes are short. I resisted the temptation to fudge my responses and answered the questions honestly.

There are a few things I do that bought me several years. I don't smoke, always wear a seatbelt and try to not stress over little things (although it doesn't always work when I'm stuck in traffic.)

Still, I have several bad habits that I could improve on -- and making these changes could slow the aging process.

For instance, I don't exercise daily. I eat white bread once-a-day and like chocolate-y desserts. When it comes to barbecue, I go for the charred bits. Sometimes, I forget to floss. And, like pretty much everyone else in the country, I could try to get more sleep.

Overall, though, it's a pleasant surprise to realize that the positive habits we do have can make a significant impact on our health, even if it comes from an online calculator.

Personally, I don't put much validity in these quizzes, but it's still reassuring to see that I'm doing some things that may help me live for century. Even if there's no way to factor in the random-but-deadly lightening bolt that could have my name on it.

While these calculators put my mind at ease (at least momentarily) about my health, they did cause me to worry about something else: I really need to stop buying shoes and put more money into my 401-K plan.



<em>jjackson</em>'s picture
Nope.
by jjackson on April 10, 2007 - 11:54am
According to this, I'll live to be 79. That seems fine to me. I'm having a good time, trying to make it count. Suuure, I could tac on another 6 months by having a little less fun, but do I really want to spend the whole rest of this time avoiding things I love just because (barring lightening bolt, etc.) it'll stretch it out for a little bit longer? Is it worth it? Where's the line? Should we just stay in our homes and eat raw carrots and run in place all day? Maybe then we could live foreeeever. And that definitely sounds like an existence worth prolonging. 
<em>Hans_G</em>'s picture
Wait a second
by Hans_G on April 10, 2007 - 12:57pm
I'll be 79 too. I think I need to buy a sportscar
<em>Vicki_R</em>'s picture
quality of life is important
by Vicki_R on April 10, 2007 - 3:28pm
There comes a point where the golden years aren't so golden anymore.  Longevity runs in my family, but at some time, being old is just being old and a number.  It is the quality of your life that should be determined.  Who wants to be 100 and sitting in a wheel chair, staring at the tv?

<em>kellyjgarcia</em>'s picture
Weight loss
by kellyjgarcia on April 11, 2007 - 6:27am

I'll be 101... But i could live longer, if I lost some weight.. It's difficult, but it's sure worth the years of life!!!

www.coisa-mai-linda.blogspot.com


<em>straycat</em>'s picture
That's encouraging.
by straycat on April 11, 2007 - 11:20am
I got 91 years. I've lost 200 lbs and before my life expectancy was 45 years old.
<em>Vicki_R</em>'s picture
Amazing
by Vicki_R on April 11, 2007 - 3:18pm
That's amazing.  How long did it take you?  Now you have so many years to enjoy the new you!

<em>Harley</em>'s picture
predisposed
by Harley on April 13, 2007 - 10:58am
I wonder what genetics has to do with altering your life span.  Can we really change what we are predisposed to genetically?

<em>Vicki_R</em>'s picture
always hope
by Vicki_R on April 23, 2007 - 3:58pm
I do think we can make things better by taking care of ourselves.  Depending what you are predisposed to, you can eat certain foods that can help alter your chemical make-up and exercise to combat certain debilitating diseases.  We know so much more today about extending our life and what things help that I defintitely think there is hope.

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