Man loses 22 pounds by only eating potatoes

harvested potato tubers different varieties (iStock)

A Melbourne, Australia, man who’s dealt with a lifelong struggle with food has vowed to eat nothing but potatoes for a year in an attempt to lose weight and improve his health.  So far, he’s lost 22 pounds from his 332-pound frame.

“I wanted to change the way I thought about food so that it’s not really controlling my life. Food is fuel kinda thing,” Andrew Taylor, 36, told 9news.com.au.

Taylor is documenting his experience, which he’s calling “Spud Fit,” on social media.

The father-of-one is allowing himself use of sauces and seasonings so his diet to enhance his spud dishes, will not use oil, and will allow himself to eat as much as he wants to avoid hunger, according to news.com.au.

“I’ve enjoyed it, much to my surprise,” he told 9news.com.au. “I’m feeling amazing — really, really good. I’ve been exercising more, I’m full of energy.”

Taylor had blood tests taken six days into the challenge, which he claimed had “pretty good” results, 9news reported.

Medical experts disagree with this singularly focused diet, noting that long-term, bowel cancer could be an issue.

“There’s no one food that gives you all of the nutrients that you need to support your body,” Dr. Joanna McMillan, an ambassador for Diabetes Australia, told 9news. “[Mr Taylor] will be getting plenty of carbohydrates but not fat and protein [or] nutrients. He’ll fall short on iron, zinc, calcium, iodine, omega-3 fats, antioxidants and several vitamins. He’ll be iron-deficient, potentially Vitamin C deficient. He’s not getting enough soluble fibers unless he’s eating [potato] skins, so he may be prone to constipation and possibly hemorrhoids.”

Taylor disagrees, claiming he had done research and is undergoing the diet with the blessing of his doctor, who is a qualified dietitian.