I know there's a quote that says if you're going to lie, lie big.  But how have all these fatties heard it?   I think it's more along the delusional lines.  They think that super fit people must be doing things at the extremes of human endurance.     But most fit people aren't doing anything like these events.  Most are just sweating for 40 mins a day then not pigging out.    That's it.  Nothing you could make a movie or nike commercial about.     But that's the key.    Get your heart rate up for 40 mins, don't eat like a pig.