Scott ... Growing up Italian there was lots of pasta and sauce (gravy ??? ) and I've always been a meat and potatoes guy as well ... Being a musician there has always been a fair share of alcohol, although NEVER in excess ... at least not while on a gig ...
I was the most out of shape 35 yr old around ... starting jogging and got hooked and before too long I was running 50 - 60 miles per week, (ran the NYC Marathon 3 years) but still eating pasta etc. At 39 I was in just about the BEST shape of my life, other than perhaps my time in the military ...
Unfortunately, different injuries curtailed the running but not the appetite and weight came back on ... I am a big guy today, and have been trying to lose some weight through the South Beach diet ..
While the running resulted in a knee replacement, my heart and lungs (capacity)are still reaping the benefits ... Other than these 'bumps in the road' I've been hitting, my health is pretty good ... some cholesterol, but nothing unmanageable ...great blood pressure, pulse, etc. ... Today my diet consists of less pasta, bread, potatoes, etc, and less fat, but I still eat red meat ...
My advise is the old and true "everything in moderation" with a reasonable amount of exercise ... Unless someone has a severe situation to correct, I don't believe in 'going off the deep end' with anything ...
Either way ... we are all going out of here the same way !!! ...
t.