Congrats on the clean Bill Of Health, OP. But I'd be very careful on those double cheeseburgers. Eventually, those will catch up with you. As a treat? Fine. As standard fare? I'd steer clear.

I've always been lean and in shape, mostly because I've always been an endurance athlete. Running, cycling, swimming with some weight training will keep you lean and healthy as long as you don't eat yourself out of your workouts. You can always do this. I've got friends that run marathons, so they think they can eat like garbage dumps, and it shows. It takes hours of hard exercise to burn 2,000 calories. It only takes 30 minutes to eat them plus another 1,000 to actually gain weight after a hard workout. Lean protein and low glycemic carbs are the key to keeping your weight down and your heart healthy.

I let my training guide my eating. I can go further, faster on salmon, brown rice, and broccoli than I can with a milkshake and a cheeseburger. But once in a while? Sure! I indulge in something "not-so-healthy". My passion happens to be hot dogs and rootbeer. I could eat a dozen with a gallon of rootbeer. Will power and training keeps me off of that train wreck.

I lost a very good friend two years ago to a massive coronary from a clogged coronary artery (the widowmaker). He was thin and lean but never exercised. He used to brag how good he looked and could eat anything he wanted and still stay thin. And he did - he ate anything he wanted as much as he wanted. He was a garbage disposal. And it caught up with him. Even though he looked healthy, he passed away with 85 percent of his coronary artery clogged.

So everything in moderation is my motto. Sure, I want to enjoy life and eat great food, but cakes, pies, cheeseburgers, fatty steak, bacon, hot dogs and pizza are foods I classify as treats rather than meals.

My 2 cents worth.

Aloha!

-Zip