Running and cycling used to be my main forms of exercise- and yes, I sure did use them as an excuse to eat! I ran a marathon when I was 22 years old and after the race I ate an entire bag- I mean the big one- of M&M’s- such was my carb tolerance it did not even make me sick! And- if you do long distance biking- which I have also done- it is even easier to eat- you can stop at every ice cream joint along your route. Anyway, I would be careful with the marathon stuff. I have friends that really want me to train for longer things like that now and I do not want to because I know I will eat like a pig if I do. I love your description of a beagle in heels- LOL- but if I ever do get up the nerve to do a comp- it will be for the same reasons you have listed- I don’t think there is anyway I will ever be commited enough to see my abs without a comp to shoot for.