Lose 18 Lbs in 14 Days with the Potato Only Diet

Magician and performer Penn Jillette used to be obese. After having surgery for a blocked heart, his doctors suggested that he get gastric bypass surgery to prevent him from overeating, but Jillette didn't want it.

Instead, he went on a POTATO ONLY diet where he was allowed to eat as many potatoes as he wanted, but the catch is he could not use salt, oil, or sour cream. As a result, Jillette ate an average of 5 potatoes a day and losing 18 pounds in 14 days. He then added other vegetables to his diet and went on to lose 72 pounds after 5 months.

If you had to stick with one other food for 14 days, what would you choose? Let us know in the comments.

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[Starburst]

I would not recommend raw potatoes ever! I did this a few years back. 19 pounds in two weeks. No oil, no fat no animal products. I did lots of spicy sauces and salsa. Sugar free ketchup on my oil free shredded hash browns.

[JacksonX-hw]

The potato diet works! So far I have lost 40 pounds!

[Hachiko]

I did this diet about 1 year before he did and lost 58 lbs in almost 3 months without exercising once. I added spices to my water in the pot and ate it like a soup for the most part. Worked wonders.

[bitfinesse]

Purple cabbage at every meal for me. 1.5-2lbs every four hours between 11am and 7pm (11, 3, 7) with a potato. It’s perfect.

[SPINEVENTZ]

I do better with sweet potatoes. The best is boil or steamed then let cool in fridge and reheat before eating, that will lower gi.

[Kavita_]

1 other food along side 🤔 Probably broccoli or cauliflower

[shinebrightandbethelight]

Medical medium has this as a mono option in his healjng books. You can have lettuce with your potatoes

[etfremd]

I am doing this now! I love cold air fryer baked potatoes I do spray a very little oil on them for baking…I eat sour dough bread! My favorite starch!

[lukaszbbbb]

Boiled potatoes and Boiled rice AS MUCH AS YOUR LIKE FOR LIFE, Is absolutely fine. As long as the fat intake is very very low and the protein is very very low.So No oils or fats of any kind and unlimited calories and you'll look like a refugee with 4% body fat.

[i.can.sew.anythingchic]

Does that include eating sweet potatoes with the skin on?

[MoniqueLMontague]

Brown rice! I would do brown rice. They are my second favorite carb! Potatoes are first!

[JazzBear]

I am currently doing this. I haven’t been weighing. But I’ve been on potatoes for a month now.

[jaym]

Which non-organic potato has the least pesticides (esp if eating the skin)?

[KevinGeneFeldman]

What if you just eat boiled potatoes with greek yogurt and spices? Would that still work?

[prishlavrghs]

I started the potato only diet after reading it contains the highest amount of potassium (with skin)..and to my surprise my high BP 189/131 dropped to 129/81 in two weeks straight. I eat boiled potatoes with skin along with a bowl of curd mixed with chilli powder and salt, just to enhance the taste. I haven't checked any weight loss but yes it feels better and sleep quality has increased. I had a stroke due to high BP and is on medication. This is my third week on it. Milk tea twice a day is the only additional drink I take.

[Leftaintright]

I will say one thing for this particular diet. I have done both this and then the extreme other end keto, I feel more satisfied on the potato diet and I eat less than I do one keto and I lose weight much quicker. Much quicker. I lost 40 pounds in six weeks.

[PassportbPassportbros]

Yes I lost 40 pounds on it in about 2.5 months. 254lbs to 214lbs I used oil each time.

[Alexx]

soo is other seasoning off limits or just no salt?

[tilasole]

I am attempting this now. One week in. Not having salt is tough, when eating russet (brown) potatoes. They are so bland! But the red and yellow (Yukon gold) are not so bad. Boiling loses a lot more water soluble vitamins, though. And no one is drinking a pot full of water to get back what was lot.

[jon]

I am not new to extreme diets. When I was younger I would only eat crackers for a week and lost weight. I have also done the carnivore diet for a month straight and cycled back after 6 months with impressive results but right now I am on day 5 of the potato diet and this has been the hardest diet I have ever done and will never do it again. Potatoes are very filling so I don't feel hungry on this diet but it is very brutal to eat a baked potato every day without the usual extra that makes it enjoyable. Eating feels more like a chore and it gets harder each day. I also noticed to feel cramps in my stomach probably because of the fiber content. My bowel movements are also inconsistent, sometimes its normal and sometimes I would get watery stools. The only positive thing I've experienced is my sleeping patterns. I am able to sleep early and wake up earlier than my alarm clock but overall, it is not worth it. I am only doing this for a week and I'm almost at the finish line. Moving forward I am only doing 4 days max and it won't be potatoes. I'm thinking popcorn diet or boiled eggs.