Because it’s not about the potatoes.
A year ago Mr Taylor, 36, of Elwood, weighed 151 kilograms, with an addiction to pizza, chocolate and soft drink.
He blames an unhealthy relationship to food. Having been an elite kayaker in his youth, he’d stopped exercising and suffered depression and anxiety.
He needed a circuit-breaker, but couldn’t just stop eating, so in desperation he tried the next best thing – focusing on one foodstuff.
Potatoes seemed to offer the most vital nutrients, including iron, protein and vitamin C, and so since January 1, 2016, he has eaten 3.5kg to 4kg of spuds per day.
A wild experiment, but a spectacular success. He has lost 52kg, feels mentally well, and kayaks or rides his push scooter one or two hours a day.
His cholesterol, blood pressure and blood sugar are now normal and his iron and calcium levels are “great”.
He has received thousands of emails, including from a US man who lost 30kg by eating potatoes, and appeared on TV in Romania, Poland and Britain.
His advice is to stop looking to food for pleasure and emotional support and have “a healthy detachment from food”.
“I’ve got a saying now: ‘Make your food boring and your life interesting.’ ”
On Sunday morning he will break his fast on Seven’s Sunrise program, live from Elwood Sailing Club, and doctors and nutritionists will speak.
Mangoes would be nice, but under his new ethos, he’s not fussed. “I’m looking forward more to the party and people than the food.”
From 2017 Mr Taylor will eat a plant-based diet – fruit, veggies and grains and no meat, eggs or dairy.
Having quit teaching, he will be a stay-at-home father to his son Teddy, aged three, and do public speaking, health coaching and write a book.
“I want to help people get healthy and change their relationship with food in a similar way to what I’ve done.”
Lorraine Baker, the Australian Medical Association’s Victorian president, was impressed Mr Taylor stuck to a disciplined exercise and unprocessed food program – which included soy milk for mashing, sweet potato and B12 supplements – and sought medical advice. But the diet wasn’t recommended because a more enjoyable, varied diet was more sustainable.
Dietitians Association of Australia spokeswoman Melanie McGrice said Mr Taylor’s diet was “extreme” and large quantities of potatoes were needed to meet daily nutrient requirements.
She wondered whether the weight would stay off. But the diet could be a good kick-start, and too few food choices could be more effective than too much choice, leading to junk food.
[“source-ndtv”]
