After suffering a heart attack on February 25, actor/filmmaker/podcaster Kevin Smith decided to get serious about weight loss. Some people go plant-based to try to get healthier, but Smith took it one step further: he went potato-based.
For two weeks, Smith ate an all-potato diet. Mashed, boiled, or steamed - didn’t matter, so long it was 100 percent potato.
Smith got the idea from a book called “Presto!: How I Made Over 100 Pounds Disappear and Other Magical Tales,” wherein magician Penn Jillette revealed how he lost weight with a diet that’s received more than a little criticism from health professionals.
The plan, called the “mono diet,” involves choosing one food to eat and eating only that food for a period of two weeks. Jillette chose potatoes “because they’re funny,” he wrote on Grub Street. “Could have been corn, could have been beans, but I didn’t want a lot of fart jokes.” Once the two weeks were over, he introduced salads (without fruits or nuts) and vegetable soups alongside the starchy vegetable.
“The desperation of wanting to lose weight — and see results quickly — will lead people to choose a plan that makes no biological sense,” Madelyn Fernstrom, NBC News Health and Nutrition Editor, told Today when the book was released in 2016. “This is not an advisable plan.”
“It’s a pretty intense program, but it’s been interesting,” Smith said on his podcast, Hollywood Babble-On. “And of course necessary for my health and stuff.”
On the surface, it does seem that way - if you’re judging his health on whether or not he’s lost weight. “I’m officially down 20 pounds as of this morning!” he announced on Twitter. “20 pounds in 13 days & my blood pressure is amazing.”
But health experts aren’t as enthused about his progress.
“As with many other diets, weight loss is inevitable and generally straightforward in the early stages,” said nutritionist Julie Mancuso to The Daily Meal. “Sustaining such weight loss on a long-term basis is usually the challenge.”
Mancuso says this can happen when people deprive themselves to the extreme — like, say, by omitting all foods except potatoes — and their nutrient-deprived bodies begin to rebel.
“With that said, potatoes are beneficial in a number of ways,” Mancuso added, noting their impressive iron, calcium, zinc, magnesium, and vitamin C content alongside some antioxidant properties. “The fact that potatoes contain no cholesterol can also be of great benefit to someone in Kevin Smith’s situation,” she says.
However, the all-potato diet “it is just incomplete, nutritionally-speaking. Potatoes contain very little protein, which is needed by the body for repair of tissue and cells,” Mancuso explains, “And potatoes do not contain fat, which is essential for heart health.”
In any case, Smith’s weight loss might simply be a function of the amount of food he was eating. “While this diet may result in weight loss, it is due to overall calorie restriction and not the magic power of potatoes,” registered dietitian Bari Stricoff told The Daily Meal. “Especially for cardiac health, this diet has no scientific basis or evidence to support it.”
Eating only potatoes isn’t even that weird, so far as Hollywood goes. Your favorite celebrities probably have some weird diet habits.
Related to potatoes and weight loss
FAQs
How did this happen?” he tweeted on Wednesday. “My Doc said lose 50 pounds. 20 down, 30 more to go!” Smith lost the weight by eating only potatoes for two weeks.
How much weight did Kevin Smith lose on a potato diet? ›
In the diet, Jillette ate only potatoes for two full weeks, then phased in vegetable stews. So far, Smith said he's lost 17 pounds in just nine days. "It's a pretty intense program, but it's been interesting," Smith said of the diet. "And of course necessary for my health and stuff.
How much weight can you lose on the potato diet? ›
This extreme eating plan focuses on consuming nothing but cooked potatoes for rapid weight loss. For instance, you might even lose up to one pound (0.45 kg) per day after following the potato diet for three to five days. However, longer-term versions of the potato diet might not have significant health benefits.
Would I lose weight if I only ate potatoes? ›
Healthline Diet Score: 1.08 out of 5
BOTTOM LINE: The potato diet lasts 3–5 days and only allows you to eat plain potatoes. It may help you lose weight but is extremely restrictive, lacks certain nutrients, and may lead to unhealthy eating behaviors.
What is the 2 week potato diet? ›
"I once ate nothing but potatoes for two weeks as a detox," he told ES Magazine. "Just boiled potatoes and Himalayan pink salt. Apparently it's a cleanse… you definitely lose weight." He then explained some of the other weight-loss techniques he's attempted in addition to the Pattinson Potato Plan.
Is the potato diet legit? ›
The potato diet is like a magic trick without the magic. If you eat nothing but plain white potatoes for three to five days, you might lose a few pounds in the short term, but you'll also put your body at risk. Your muscle mass will shrink, essential nutrients will go AWOL, and your blood sugar will go a little batty.
Can you eat potatoes on the 5 2 diet? ›
I know potatoes often get a bad rap because of their high glycemic index and I do acknowledge that I have been avoiding them like the plague on fast days, but with a little forethought they make a fabulous 5-2 meal. All that is required is a little attention to portion size and care in the preparation.
Is potato good for losing belly fat? ›
Riley Kusuma, accredited practising dietitian at Bupa, agrees that potatoes are a great inclusion to a balanced and healthy diet, and can help you reach your weight loss goals. “Potatoes rate very highly on the satiety index, which means they keep you fuller and satisfied for longer after eating,” says Kusuma.
Can I lose weight eating a baked potato everyday? ›
There are certain types of foods that make weight loss a little more difficult, but a baked potato isn't one of them. The truth is, you can eat a baked potato when you're trying to lose weight. This vegetable is relatively low in calories, a good source of fiber and rich in many nutrients that support good health.
Which diet is the most effective in weight loss? ›
Mediterranean diet
This diet emphasizes eating plenty of fresh fruits, vegetables, nuts, whole grains, fish, olive oil, and a small amount of meat, dairy, and wine. In addition to weight loss, health benefits include: Combats inflammation and oxidative stress. Lowers blood pressure and cholesterol.
Both rice and potatoes are great thanks to their fat content being less than 1g, which makes them perfect candidates for weight-loss foods. Vitamin-wise, rice is a great source of vitamin B spectrum, while potatoes have gotten their good reputation in vitamin C content as one of the highest amongst vegetables.
Are potatoes less fattening than bread? ›
Of rice, pasta, potatoes, and bread, potatoes are the healthiest of these starchy and complex carbohydrate foods. This is because potatoes are dense in nutrients, containing essential minerals, vitamins, and other micronutrients. Potatoes are also high in fiber, helping to satiate hunger and regulate blood sugar.
Can I eat potatoes every day? ›
The Bottom Line
It is totally fine to eat potatoes every day. While how you prepare and cook potatoes and how much you eat could possibly impact your health, whole potatoes with skin are a nutritious vegetable with health benefits.
How long did Kevin Smith do the potato diet? ›
Some people go plant-based to try to get healthier, but Smith took it one step further: he went potato-based. For two weeks, Smith ate an all-potato diet. Mashed, boiled, or steamed – didn't matter, so long it was 100 percent potato.
Do potatoes detox your body? ›
Experts say that there is no evidence that potatoes are an effective method of drawing out toxins or helping people get over an illness faster. While participating in the trend is not really harmful or dangerous, experts do not recommend trying it.
Can you drink on the potato diet? ›
Water, plain coffee, and plain tea are the only beverages allowed on the potato diet. It is important to stay hydrated, so plenty of water is encouraged while on and off the potato diet.
How long did it take Kevin Smith to lose weight? ›
Smith was able to downsize from 256 pounds to 205 pounds and dropped about 51 pounds within six months. His transformation garnered the attention of his fans and inspired many.
How much weight did Penn lose on a potato diet? ›
After four months, Penn had lost 100 pounds. It was then that he added another life-changing habit: exercise. In his book, Penn admits he had become pretty addicted to foods loaded with salt, sugar, and/or fat. The extreme “mono diet” Ray Cronise recommended was designed to break him of these unhealthy food cravings.
Does the sweet potato diet work? ›
Yes, sweet potatoes can be a healthy and nutritious addition to a weight loss diet. They are a good source of fiber, vitamins, and minerals while being relatively low in calories. Sweet potatoes provide complex carbohydrates that can help keep you full and satisfied.
What is Chris Voight potato diet? ›
All-potato diet: 8 years later By Zeke Jennings. For two months in 2010, Chris Voigt ate nothing but potatoes, 20 potatoes a day, to be exact. When it was over, he was a healthier man. Chris Voigt made national and international news when, for two whole months, he ate nothing but potatoes.
