Great tips, very grounded.
I worked out a little formula, after 20+ years of keeping myself fit from the age of 50. You're right that people don’t often ask "how long" but I like to set their expectations so they don’t quit early.
Here's my secret sauce - divide your age by the number of times per week that you go to gym (or train - not just activity). That's how many weeks before someone will notice - whatever that may mean. Usually it means someone will say "you look better/lost weight/more energy/brighter eyes/something different what have you been doing?