After suffering a near-fatal heart attack, Kevin Smith, the actor-director-comedian known for playing Silent Bob, embarked on a journey of lifestyle changes to improve his health. His experience highlights the importance of adapting one's diet and exercise habits after a serious health event. This article delves into the details of Kevin Smith's potato diet, its effectiveness, and expert opinions on such restrictive eating plans.
The Wake-Up Call: A Widow-Maker Heart Attack
On February 25, 2018, Kevin Smith experienced a "massive heart attack" after a show in Los Angeles. He later revealed that the doctor who saved his life told him he had 100% blockage of his LAD artery, also known as "the Widow-Maker." This life-threatening event served as a catalyst for Smith to re-evaluate his health and make significant changes to his lifestyle.
Doctor's Orders: Lose 50 Pounds
Following his heart surgery, Smith's nutritionist at the hospital emphasized the urgent need for him to change his diet, noting the 100 percent blockage of the artery. She told him, "The best thing you can do for yourself now is to lose 50 pounds." Taking this advice to heart, Smith embarked on a weight loss journey that began with an unusual eating plan.
The Potato-Only Phase: Two Weeks of Spuds
To kickstart his weight loss, Kevin Smith adopted a "mono diet" inspired by magician Penn Jillette, who had also used a similar approach to lose weight and combat heart disease. For two weeks, Smith ate nothing but potatoes. This meant consuming only baked or boiled potatoes, a strategy designed to drastically alter his relationship with food.
Smith reported losing 17 pounds in just nine days on the potato-heavy diet. He tweeted, “I’m officially down 20 pounds as of this morning! 20 pounds in 13 days & my blood pressure is amazing. How did this happen?” He also emphasized that this was necessary for his health.
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Transitioning to a Plant-Based Diet
While the initial phase of Smith's diet focused solely on potatoes, he didn't stick to this restrictive plan long-term. Instead, he transitioned to a broader plant-based diet, similar to the one his daughter follows. Smith explained, "So this wasn’t a diet: these results came from a total lifestyle change of eating solely plant-based foods (which is tough because I hate vegetables)."
He acknowledged the challenges of embracing vegetables, admitting, "I can’t guarantee I’m going to be a vegetable eater. I ate the way I wanted for 47 years and look where it got me." However, he recognized that his health depended on making this change.
The Importance of Lifestyle Changes
Kevin Smith stresses that although he started with the mono philosophy of eating just potatoes, he didn't ultimately go on what he thinks of as a "diet," since he's made permanent lifestyle changes.
What Kevin Smith Eats Now
Kevin Smith's current routine emphasizes simplicity and consistency. He thrives on the monotony of his chosen meals.
- Morning: Smith fasts and drinks unsweetened iced tea.
- Lunch: He typically has Mondo Nachos and a Beyond Burger at Veggie Grill, a vegan chain restaurant. He brings his own pita flatbread to reduce WW points.
- Snack: MadeGood Chocolate Banana Granola Minis.
- Dinner: Bombay Spice chickpeas.
When his work takes him away from his preferred Veggie Grill, he seeks out local vegan restaurants or opts for Mediterranean fare like hummus and falafel, or Mexican rice and beans. He particularly enjoys beans, noting that they count as zero of his daily WW points.
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Professional Opinions on Mono Diets
While Kevin Smith and Penn Jillette found success with the potato-only diet as a jump-start to their weight loss, dieticians and nutritionists generally advise against such restrictive eating plans.
Madelyn Fernstrom, NBC News Health and Nutrition Editor, stated that "The desperation of wanting to lose weight - and see results quickly - will lead people to choose a plan that makes no biological sense. This is not an advisable plan." She cautioned that even a two-week period on a mono diet could be rough on the body and a person's mood.
Dena Champion, a registered dietician at The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center, emphasized the nutritional deficiencies of a potato-only diet. "Not only that, but this diet is extremely low in most micronutrients including calcium, zinc, selenium, and vitamin A, to name only a few." Champion told Men's Health she wouldn't recommend a spud-only diet to any heart attack victim, or anyone trying to lose weight.
Daniel O'Shaughnessy, a registered nutritionist and registered nutritional therapist in the United Kingdom, was also skeptical of Smith's post-heart attack diet. "I don’t think it’s healthy for anyone, due to the lack of nutrition, variety, and also psychological boredom," he told MensHealth.com. The diet may be very low calorie, which would drive quick weight loss, but it's not the most ideal method for long-term sustainability, O'Shaughnessy added: "You’d see a weight loss over two weeks and be fooled in thinking this is the diet for you."
The Importance of a Balanced Diet
Nutritionists emphasize the importance of a balanced diet that includes a variety of nutrients. A potato-only diet lacks essential protein, fat, and many micronutrients. Over time, such a diet can lead to essential fatty acid deficiencies and various micronutrient deficiencies.
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Other Lifestyle Changes
In addition to dietary changes, Kevin Smith has incorporated other healthy habits into his routine. He walks his miniature dachshund, Shecky, for an hour each day, often to the top of Runyon Canyon. He also uses the WW app to track his food intake and practices portion control.
Smith quit smoking cigarettes by switching to weed.
The Mental and Emotional Impact
Smith's near-death experience has also shifted his perspective. He says, "Now I’m like, ‘Well, at least you’re in better shape.’ I’ll put it through the ultimate prism, which is ‘Bitch, you’re supposed to be dead! All of this is gravy!’ ” That outlook has made it easy for him to grind out a routine of Groundhog Day-like repetition.
A Creative Resurgence
Smith has tons more energy. “Never tired. Always ready to go.” This has fueled a creative resurgence. After years of false starts, he’s in preproduction on Jay and Silent Bob Reboot, reprising the role he played in his first film, Clerks.
Smith's Sex Life
One thing that has required adjustments is sex with his wife, Jennifer Schwalbach Smith. “Our sex life was always very healthy,” he says. “But at one point my wife was like, ‘We have to figure out a new way to do this. Your body’s different. You used to have, like, a lot of cushion for the pushing. Now you’ve gotta go harder.’ And I was like, ‘All right! I might be up to that challenge!’ ” He’s been enjoying more time on top. “It’s a wrinkle, like, ‘Holy shit! Who knew this was possible?’ ” he says with a laugh. “So it’s been beneficial there as well.” The point is that some pleasures make persevering a little easier.