A 57-year-old Tennessean went viral on TikTok in late February after saying his dedication to an unconventional method to weight reduction: consuming solely McDonald’s for 100 days.
“I do know a few of you might be considering that is likely to be loopy, however I’m gonna eat nothing however McDonald’s for the subsequent 100 days,” Kevin Maginnis shares in his first-ever TikTok.
As day 44 rolls in, Maginnis, who introduces himself to his over 76,000 TikTok followers as bigmaccoaching, has stayed true to his plan. The truth is, it has labored, he shares along with his newfound following. He has misplaced 34 kilos up to now and studies having improved levels of cholesterol.
His method appears counterintuitive, however Maginnis explains the key sauce to his success along with his easy-to-follow every day pointers. He eats three McDonald’s meals every day from anyplace on the menu and doesn’t snack in between. He cuts every meal in half and saves the remaining portion for his subsequent meal. He additionally chooses a bottle of water as a substitute of soda with every meal. For breakfast, he’ll generally select the Egg McMuffin and hash brown, minimize each in half, and save the remainder for both lunch or breakfast the subsequent day.
The famed McDonald’s devotee is just not bored—a minimum of but. He celebrated his birthday this week with half of a 10-piece hen nuggets, apple slices, a few dipping sauces, and a “birthday shake”—as a result of McDonald’s, sadly, doesn’t supply drive-through birthday muffins.
However Maginnis has confronted criticism, with some feedback pointing to the famend movie Tremendous Dimension Me, which paperwork the unfavourable well being outcomes of consuming solely McDonald’s for 30 days and sheds mild on the dangerous results of America’s quick meals trade.
Maginnis claps again on the platform, saying for him, it’s “half-size me.” In his thoughts, portion management overrides meals’s dietary worth. He responded to 1 inquirer who requested why he can’t portion-control home-cooked meals—that are minimally processed, have a decrease sodium content material, and supply extra nutrient selection.
“Overeating at house is what acquired me in hassle; by making a ‘go away the meals on the home alone’ situation, it has helped me.”
Specialists weigh in on the McDonald’s-only method
Medical consultants are fast to critique Maginnis’s method.
“I’ve cardiologists that like it and I’ve cardiologists that hate it,” he mentioned on day 10 of his problem on the At the moment present.
And whereas Maginnis doesn’t contemplate his plan a typical weight loss program, calorie-based weight-loss approaches usually fail, consultants level out.
“Is a calorie a calorie in the case of weight reduction? Technically, sure. That’s what will work on this scenario,” says Tara Schmidt, lead registered dietitian for the New Mayo Clinic Diet. “The matters that haven’t but been addressed, although, are nutrient density (weight loss program high quality), stability, and sustainability. Analysis tells us that any calorie-controlled weight loss program program will work, however most individuals will expertise weight regain when they’re not capable of preserve it.”
Whereas portion management can result in weight reduction, weight shouldn’t be framed as the only real measurement of well being. Solely specializing in weight glosses over the significance of different well being metrics integral to sustaining optimum well being and a way of well-being.
“Within the realm of meals decisions, it’s additionally notable to contemplate the standard of meals being consumed and its influence on the physique,” says Tara Schmidt, lead registered dietitian for the New Mayo Clinic Diet.
The truth is, the kind of meals we eat will help scale back the chance of persistent situations like coronary heart illness and diabetes. Extremely processed meals, like fried meals, may cause inflammation, placing individuals in danger for long-term well being situations like coronary heart illness, kind 2 diabetes, and most cancers. Quick meals can also be excessive in sodium and low in fiber, which implies it’s digested rapidly and may induce what seems like a sugar crash, which may negatively have an effect on temper and set off fatigue.
Consuming various meals can also be related to a stronger intestine microbiome, which helps shield us from sickness.
“By consuming numerous totally different plant fibers, that provides the constructing blocks for the emergence of various bacterial populations,” Dr. Richard Day, vice chairman of medical affairs and scientific growth at ADM, a meals processing firm, beforehand informed Fortune.
And the Mediterranean diet—a method of consuming based mostly on abundance and the prioritization of a wide range of fruits, greens, entire grains, and plant-based protein—has been related to longevity. Aiming for 30 different plants a week can enhance the intestine microbiome, decreasing irritation and bettering coronary heart and mind well being. Whereas Maginnis can select from your complete McDonald’s menu, the choices are nonetheless restricted, as his movies present.
So the McDonald’s-or-bust method will not be for everybody.
And whereas Maginnis says he understands different components can enhance his general well being, till day 100, he’s sticking with half of the perfect of what McDonald’s has to supply.
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