I would have to agree with liftnlady.

When I weighed 170 pounds and had a gut and back fat, I could easily run 10k - I did it 3x a week. While my resting pulse and recovery pulse were low and "healthy", my total cholesterol was through the roof and I hardly looked like anyone's definition of "fit".

I was NOT running for my health. I was trying to look good, and it wasn't working. And it was a LOT of work - it took a LOT out of me to try to keep doing all that running, plus long walks on non-running days.

When I ditched this routine in favour of heavy weightlifting, I finally got the look of fitness that I was after - lean, much lower bodyfat, and ironically, I can now eat a LOT more than I could in my running days. I understand why, now, of course - I had the fuel needs of "economy car", but was eating like a v-12.

Now, I have the fuel needs of a v-12.

MUCH better.

I think one would be hard-pressed to find on this board anyone whose goal it is to be able to subsist on LESS food - which is what happens as the capacity for endurance activities increases. I don't think I'm out of bounds when I say it's probably the case that most people would like to be able to get away with eating MORE, while still maintaining the look they desire. This is what happens with increased muscle mass, and excessive (note the word EXCESSIVE) aerobic training only interferes with this.