There is more to potatoes than just fries and being mashed; if used correctly, they can help you lose weight. Just ask Andrew Flinders Taylor.

In December 2025, Andrew Flinders Taylor uploaded a YouTube video sharing his experience with eating potatoes for every meal, every day, for a year. The result? Taylor, who weighed 334 lbs earlier, lost 117 lbs by the end of his experiment. He called it the ‘Spud Fit Challenge.’ In 2019, he sat down for an interview and gave more details on the challenge: 

"My Spud Fit Challenge was only ever intended as a short-term intervention to treat my own food addiction. My behavior with food mirrored that of an alcoholic with drinking, so I decided to get as close as possible to treating it with the same abstinence model: I quit all food except potatoes."

Taylor ate every kind of potato in every form. He flavored his meals with dried herbs or fat-free sweet chili or barbecue sauce. He made sure to hydrate and substituted meat with vitamin B12 supplements. But nothing was done on a whim; he consulted his doctor and regularly checked in with him to track his progress. 

Since he was eating just one thing every day, there was no need for moderation; he kept eating until his hunger was satisfied. The best part was during the first month, he dropped 22 lbs without any exercise. However, he did eventually start exercising for 90 minutes every day.

After a year, Taylor not only lost weight but was able to kick his food addiction. Before the challenge, he struggled with anxiety and depression, but eventually overcame these issues and reported feeling healthier and happier by the end of his journey.

Now that the mission has been accomplished, he has upgraded his diet and included a variety of well-rounded options, but still, potatoes are the highlight of his meals. 

Do Potatoes Really Help Lose Weight?

Plant-Based Science London uploaded a YouTube video where the executive director of the Washington State Potato Commission, Chris Voigt, did something similar.

He ate only potatoes for 60 days, from October 1st, 2010, to November 29th, 2010, almost 20 a day, and lost around 21 pounds. Not only that, his cholesterol, blood sugar, and triglyceride levels also improved.

So, how can one vegetable make someone lose drastic amounts of weight? According to obesity specialist Spencer Nadolsky, D.O., potatoes are nutritious if prepared correctly. They are packed with fiber, potassium, vitamins A and C, and healthy carbs, which keep you full for long. 

Also, another thing to note here is that any diet can make you lose weight if it puts you in a caloric deficit. It doesn’t have to be just potatoes; burritos or pizzas can do the same job.

But before you decide to try it out, you must know that many health professionals don’t recommend it. In the short term, the diet may show positive results, but it can have serious repercussions. Eating only potatoes means you are not eating enough fat and protein, which will result in deficiencies.

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Written by

Ruwa Javed

Edited by

Shraabona Sengupta