Doug Newitt ate only at McDonald’s for two months, living off Big Mac meals and cheeseburgers. Pic: Jamie Hanson Source: News Corp Australia
The father-of-two says he wouldn’t rush in to do the Maccas diet again. Source: Supplied
THERE are not many people prepared to pile on more than 20kg in eight weeks just to prove a point.
That’s exactly what Brisbane nutritionist and former elite athlete Doug Newitt did to show his clients, struggling with weight loss, that it can be done.
The Cleveland man visited McDonald’s twice a day for the months of August and September. He ate two Big Mac meals and four cheeseburgers each day, washed down with a mountain of confectionery.
In the two months, the former Australian cyclist’s weight ballooned from 80kg to 102kg. His blood pressure skyrocketed from 114 over 75 to a dangerous 160 over 90 and his body fat spread from 13 per cent to 33 per cent.
“One particular client of mine who was about 150kg and struggling to lose weight inspired me. I wanted to work alongside him and since the beginning of October he has shed 10kg in overall body weight, while increasing his lean muscle mass and I’ve lost 12kg of the weight I gained,” Mr Newitt said
As a former Queensland Road Cyclist of the Year, the naturopath and nutritionist has eaten healthily most of his life.
Doug Newitt is a former elite cyclist. Source: Supplied
“I have the type of body that is prone to weight gain so when mates from the cycling world heard what I was doing they thought I was mad. While I am glad I inspired my clients, I wouldn’t rush out to do it again. I felt like death – I lost all my energy, I felt physically ill and I was also very, very moody and would snap at the kids for no good reason,” the single dad of two said.
His weight gain was similar to that of Morgan Spurlock in the US food documentary Super Size Me who gained 11.1kg over 30 days on a diet of McDonald’s.
“My weight gain over two months is the equivalent of our festive period – December and January – so this is a real risk for many of us,” he said.
Mr Newitt insists that weight loss is mostly about diet and nutrition and while exercise is necessary for good health, exercise alone will not make you thin.
“I have lost the weight by eating healthy – no sugar and trying to eat within a six-hour period and allowing 18 hours of fasting. I’m planning to get back on the bike and get fit for Masters cycling,” he said.
“And after knowing how it feels to be overweight and unfit I can’t wait.”