This is fascinating stuff !
(At least for a geek like me it sure is)
Beginning of 2016, 150kg Andrew Taylor who described himself as having an “addiction to food” decides to eat nothing but potatoes for a whole year in order to drastically break a pattern and beat his addiction.
You can read the News.com article HERE
He reports that he as many potatoes as he likes. Approx. between 3kg and 4kg of potatoes every day. WOW!!
Crazy?
Maybe
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Effective?
It would seem so.
As of December 2016, Andrew has lost more than 50kgs and reports feeling fit, healthy and energetic.
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What can we learn from his journey?
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1 ) A calorie deficit is how ALL WEIGHT LOSS WORKS.
I have written about this HERE- Junk food diet, and HERE – How to lose weight (and possibly 1000 other places).
This is physiology 101 and I wish we could all stop arguing about this…
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No calorie deficit = no weight loss, even if eating healthy food
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Calorie deficit = weight loss, even if eating unhealthy food
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Andrew reports eating between 3kgs (2310 calories) and 4kgs (3080 calories) of potatoes each day. Andrew is a big guy who exercises regularly. Andrew (possibly) burns up to 4000 calories per day (As mentioned in the YouTube clip below), which gives him at least a 1000 calorie deficit per day.
There is NO magic slimming power in the potatoes. Andrews weight loss is achieved because he consumes less calories than he burns each day (calorie deficit).
This also illustrates another good point that I seem to bang on about a lot. NOT needing to go super-low calories to lose weight. In fact if Andrew had tried to stick to a low 1600 calorie limit (example) he may have ended up quitting, or worse rebounding and gaining weight.
Lesson – – Work out a rough guide of how many calories you burn each day HERE and consume less than that to create a calorie deficit.
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2 ) Potatoes contain fibre and many other nutrients
Fibre has many health benefits including blood sugar regulation and it also helps keep us full.
More fullness = less eating = less calories consumed = more chance at weight loss.
Lesson – Wherever possible choose foods that keep you full and don’t spike (then crash) your blood sugar levels. WHY? Because they will manage blood sugar levels better AND they will keep you full longer.
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3 ) Potatoes contain resistant starch
When potatoes are cooked then cooled, the amount of resistant starch contained in potatoes increases.
3kg of potatoes = 2310 calories, but if some of those calories are from resistant starch, those calories pass through our system without being digested, therefore never have to be “burnt off”.
I’m not sure if Andrew used this as a strategy, but its worth noting.
See Precision Nutrition’s article on Resistant Starch
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4 ) Less variety (often) = less chance of over eating
In our modern world we are surrounded by an array of delicious sights, smells, textures and tastes at every turn. If you limit yourself to plain, boring food only you take away the temptation to overeat for reasons other than hunger.
Andrew definitely took this strategy to the extreme, but you can learn from him and stick to a somewhat plain and boring meal plan for weight loss if you like the structure of it.
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5 ) Sometimes a drastic pattern interrupt is needed
We can all argue that this protocol is crazy and drastic. All valid points. But when someone feels completely out of control around food (as an alcoholic may feel in a bar), then sometimes a drastic pattern interrupt is a good thing.
I have written about it HERE on my post about meal replacement shakes.
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6 ) What about protein ?
Potatoes contain a small percentage of protein. Up to 3 grams per 100 grams of potato. That means Andrew was getting up to 120 grams of protein per day when consuming 4kgs of potatoes (3000 calories).
This worked for a 100+ kg person who exercises daily (ie – someone who burns 4000 calories per day).
A smaller person who doesn’t get as much movement during their day might only use up 2000 calories per day (example). Because this smaller persons calorie budget will be much lower, they should include some foods that contain a higher percentage of protein. Foods like beans, legumes, fish, seafoods, lean meats, dairy etc.
Lesson – get adequate protein in your daily calorie budget.
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7) Carbs are not the enemy
I have written about this HERE. As long as you consume less calories than you consume along with adequate protein, then you will lose weight and preserve lean muscle mass. This was a very drastic way to achieve it, but different strokes for different folks.
Lesson – – don’t fear carbs, however where possible choose carbohydrates close to their natural state and that contain fibre so that they manage your BSL and keep you full.
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8 ) Make your food boring and your life interesting
I heard Andrew say this quote in one of his YouTube clips. Whilst I don’t agree that food has to be as boring as ONLY potatoes for a year, I do agree with the sentiment that if food is the highlight of your day, then you might need to start looking at your LIFE, not just your food choices.
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9) Train your muscles
Andrew reports regular resistance training.
Exercising in a way that uses and overloads all of your muscle groups will help preserve your lean muscle mass. This is particularly important when aiming to lose weight.
Lesson – – use and overload all of your muscle groups at least 2 times per week
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10) This does NOT mean that you should adopt this strategy.
Just like any other time that you hear about your friend, neighbour or co-worker’s weight loss, it doesn’t mean that the protocol is right for you. Look at the lessons behind the protocol instead of the exact steps of the protocol itself.
Lessons like the following…
- Burn more calories than you consume to achieve weight loss
- Get some protein
- Choose foods that keep you full
- Choose foods that manage your blood sugar levels
- Less variety can often mean less over eating
- Resistance train
- Move your body
- Make your life more interesting than food
You absolutely could apply all of these lessons to enjoy a varied diet with a larger mix of quality nutrients (not to mention tastes and flavours).
Lesson – – look at the lessons behind the actions, not the specific actions themselves.
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What do you think about the potato diet?
I would love to hear your thoughts over on my Facebook page
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Want more help and coaching on how to achieve your fitness and fat loss goals?
Check out how I can help you HERE >> Fat loss programs