As people on social media try to convince others that they have a new trick to lose significant weight, two beloved celebrities proved that keeping things simple can work. Remarkably, Kevin Smith and Penn Jillette lost 100 pounds each after they made one simple lifestyle change. Their success is especially noteworthy because what they did was extremely inexpensive.
The Successful Lifestyle Change Kevin Smith and Penn Jillette Both Used to Start Their Weight Loss Journey
In 2014, Penn Jillette had a serious health scare that included being diagnosed with high blood pressure. Later, in 2018, Kevin Smith suffered a heart attack due to having a 100% blockage in his left anterior descending artery. After both men had their own health scares, they knew they had to lose weight to improve their health. The first step they each chose to take after coming to that epiphany was to embrace potatoes.
In August 2016, Jillette spoke about how he lost 100 pounds during a Good Morning America interview. During his appearance, it was pointed out that the first step he took was to eat nothing but plain potatoes for two weeks as a cleanse of sorts designed to restart his diet. However, it was noted that he made the dramatic diet change while under the supervision of a doctor who ensured he did so safely.
After that period ended, Jillette adopted a traditional diet that focuses on whole foods while eschewing processed foods, added salt, and sugars. In the years since he changed how he eats, he has kept the weight off.
During a March 2018 episode of his Hollywood Babble-On podcast, summarized in an E! News article, Smith revealed that he’d also adopted the potato diet. He noted that he was inspired by Jillette’s success with it and remarked on how it felt and his next steps. “It’s a pretty intense program, but it’s been interesting. And, of course, necessary for my health and stuff. But once I get to a decent place, then I can think about eating again.” Just like the famous magician, Smith expanded his diet after two weeks and lost over 100 pounds in the months that followed, as noted by Parade.
While it is obvious that Smith and Jillette began their potato diets to lose weight, their choice had the unexpected benefit of being cheap. In fact, an article from The Dollar Stretcher advises that adding more potatoes to your diet is a quick way to save money.
A Fast Fix or a Health Hazard? What Medical Experts Say About the Potato Diet
As readers learn about Kevin Smith and Penn Jillette adopting the potato diet to start their 100-pound weight loss journeys, it is important to keep a few key facts in mind. The first is the fact that both men lost less than 20 pounds when they were only eating potatoes. They continued to lose more weight while eating a more traditional diet in the weeks that followed. The second is that doctors and experts have raised real concerns about the potato diet.
On Healthline’s website, several “downsides” to the potato diet are outlined, including that it is so restrictive that it is very difficult to adhere to and that it may cause muscle loss. Additionally, the website notes that it is a form of disordered eating that can lead to an unhealthy relationship with food and dangerous behaviors like binge eating. It also states that the potato diet is extremely low in protein and virtually devoid of essential fats. As a result, it can lead to nutrient deficiencies and can cause seriously negative health outcomes.
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