Fat Ass Diet Talks About Potatoes Not Prozac

You may have grown up in a dysfunctional home; this home may contribute to your current state of depression which is directly responsible for your Fat Ass. But it's very possible that when you were growing up in that home, you were not fat!

Why were you not fat when you were growing up? You used to think it's because "little kids are never fat." One quick look around you at the kids growing up today shoots that theory all to hell. Kids are chubby to obese today because they no longer play physically, and because they eat processed junk food, which is now readily available, at home and away!

When you were growing up, it's possible that you ate THREE MEALS a day at REGULAR TIMES. It's possible that you ate BREAKFAST. Junk food was a treat, not a staple.

And what about the content of these meals? Whether you really wanted to eat them at the time or not, they were "balanced" meals. They included a protein, a starch, and vegetables!

We at Fat Ass Diet have been reading the Potatoes Not Prozac diet. This diet has seven steps to implement gradually. But we at Fat Ass Diet are jumping in "whole hog" (excuse the expression) like most chronic dieters would do.

One of the most interesting things about the Potatoes Not Prozac "diet" is that it takes one back to that earlier time, when you ate three "balanced" meals per day.

The Lazy Fat Ass way to check out a book:

Amazon.com Reader Reviews of Potatoes Not Prozac

Author's Website for Potatoes Not Prozac

We can tell that the author welcomes visitors to her website, even lazy fat ass people who haven't bought her book. She's on to us; this is not her first year at the rodeo. Plus, she actually wants to help people. Freaky, right??

Potatoes Not Prozac Progress Report

Day 1:

Breakfast: one fried egg, half of a Sara Lee bagel, and bacon. When was the last time I actually had bacon and eggs? It could be more than a year or two.

Breakfast was a personal revelation. This brought me back to a critical turning point in my life many years ago, and this turning point included a person who cooked bacon, eggs, and toast for me every morning after two years of eating very little protein. It was like dying and going to heaven.

For all 3 meals, I had some protein and a carb, and I even included some fresh, cooked broccoli.

I had the infamous potato at the recommended time.

That potato really kept me up. I barely slept. What was this about her saying that a potato helps you get a good night's sleep? But I'm willing to give it some time. I never get a good night's sleep so it will be nice to see what that's like again.

I was not hungry. The inability to sleep was a big problem.

Day 2:

I didn't lose any weight from Day One. If anything, I was up half a pound. No problem - my body is probably having conferences on all these changes.

The meals are just fine. Having 3 meals a day feels right. It's early in this, so I know I am allowed to ease into it. On Days 1 and 2, I add a snack of oatmeal with maple syrup and brown sugar.

I'm not having any cravings, but emotionally, the day was very difficult. I was flooded with realizations of where a lot of things stood. It was discouraging, but eye-opening. The thing is, none of these things were new - it's only that they were all hitting me at once with the reality check.

This night, I could not sleep at ALL. I was up till around 4am. How can a little potato keep a person up so much?

Day 3:

I have lost about 2 pounds or so. The reality check continues and this day is a highly anxious one. I don't know if this is related to the fact that I have some severe pressures on me at the moment or if they're related to the diet, but this is an even tougher day emotionally than yesterday was. I know this may be related to body chemistry changes, so I plan to see it through.

The best part is that I am having no cravings. The cravings are what cause a person to overeat and to eat what they shouldn't eat. The only times I've ever had relief from those cravings was when I was on diet pills. But diet pills backfire when you go off them, and threaten to give a person a heart attack when you're on them.

When the anxiety got really bad - and again, this is situation-related probably - I went for a short walk. That seemed to fix my feelings considerably.

At night, I finally had that promised sleep that the author was talking about. WOW. I haven't ever felt quite like this before. The author tends to downplay some of the "new" feeling, saying that you might miss the highs, if not the lows. But this feeling is really different.

Day 4:

I woke up feeling wonderful after enduring the strange day and getting past it to find serenity and a blissful night's sleep. I'm so encouraged in general. I am inspired to do more than what I am doing with my life right now. Move over, Tony Robbins!

After 3 days, I have lost 4 pounds! Four pounds, with eating potatoes every day (I don't skimp on the real butter either), and no hunger, and almost no exercise, due to my workload at the moment. I'll be getting back to exercising this week so between that and this newfound serenity, I hope I'll be feeling better than ever.

It's a lot easier to center my diet just around these foods. I feel proud that I'm doing so much "cooking" at home, and no going out to get food at some restaurant or drive-thru. The food lasts longer, costs much less, and is super easy to whip up.

I'm really not looking for a quick fix (but I won't turn it down) when it comes to weight loss, because what's the point of losing weight if you gain it back? I'm looking for long-term freedom from cravings as well as for being at a slim weight.

That's the progress so far.... there is NO hunger. There is a lot less of even thinking about food, and there is no desire to eat junk food. I like to be able to go for hours without even thinking about food, which unfortunately, has been a rare thing in the past. With PNP, that is already happening!

Day 6:

What day is it? It's sometimes hard to tell in my line of work if I don't check. Update: I am following Potatoes Not Prozac and I will say that this is the only "diet" I could ever follow and do "serious" writing at the same time. That in itself is a very big deal, because usually, if I am writing, it's impossible to deprive myself. With "PNP," I don't feel like I am depriving myself. I am having some sugar cravings, but not enough to do something about them (that's a big change from last week's visit to Marble Slab Creamery).

I am up about a pound. I attribute this to stress and no exercise. I have been cooped up writing in order to make significant progress. Once I get to a certain point, hopefully today, I will be able to get back to regular exercising. I think that will make a difference on the scale.

I notice that the author of Potatoes Not Prozac is very active in responding to posts and on her own forum. I thought the forum was only for paying folks, but today, after reading this very good blog, and then going back to Dr. Kathleen's site (Kathleen DesMaisons, Ph.D.), I found the Potatoes Not Prozac Forum, and I read some posts that perhaps explain those two overwhelming days I experienced emotionally when I started this. I did go into this without taking it step by step. But I have noticed that sugar has been making me feel SO horrible, I just can't stand it any longer. That's probably why it's easier for me to start this diet out "all the way." What little sugar I have had (the oatmeal with brown sugar/maple syrup) has given me a headache and a sick feeling. (Hey, why ask a doctor about it when you can just eat right and not have sugar problems....)

I'm not doing a lot of veggies this week; with the writing, I am not making grocery trips, just one quick jaunt to the little mercado to replenish my supply of potatoes!

The good news is that my mood is *stable* - and that is helping me get the writing done. Also, I don't experience "the big crash" that sugar or eating too much always brings - and that is HUGE. (Did I just say that?) The Big Crash costs so much in lost time and effort. Also, I don't need much sleep (6 - 7 hours has been fine) and I am sleeping better.

If you want to comment on this (Dr. Kathleen, please feel free...), write 'help at oak forest books dot com'

I plan to stay with PNP and I have SURE learned that one has to have protein and carbs together (I well remember different advice such as in Fit For Life but I guess it does not apply to the sugar-sensitive crowd), and eat within the first hour. I have never, ever been one to eat until several hours after getting up.

But Dr. Kathleen, I do not expect to ever give up my caffeine. It is half my life. I make espresso at least twice a day, girlfriend. I love it!

Dr. Kathleen, your Radiant Recovery site doesn't look like it would actually be your real site. I thought it was a fan site at first. I think you should revamp the look of the site and make it clear on the pages that it is the official PNP author's site! But what do I know, my sites still look like shit and this is bothering me to absolutely NO end.... that's on the list after this writing is completed... Dr. Kathleen, thank you for PNP; if potatoes will save me from myself, then maybe I should eat them a LOT. If this actually is the root of all the symptoms described, I really wish I had known this before I had children... then I would have been a perfect parent. I have been a really good parent in a lot of ways, but I would have preferred to make absolutely NO mistakes whatsoever. I'm serious.

Back to work....

Day 9 (the 31st)

I have not been hungry at all. I have forgotten to eat several times. Only the empty stomach has reminded me eventually that I forgot to eat. On PNP, you're supposed to eat breakfast, however, so you're supposed to eat even if you may not be hungry.

Now about cravings. I haven't had enormous cravings; only some mild thoughts that were not strong enough to be cravings. I have not had to consciously deprive myself of anything.

Those potatoes really work on making one's sleep much better. I don't know the chemistry behind it, but it works.

Because of not eating sugar, there are three MAIN benefits:

1. Things emotionally are far more stable than usual. I still get the highs when I turn on music...

2. I never experience "the crash" that comes after a meal that includes sugar. I never have "the crash" at all, and that is a HUGE (oops) advantage.

3. I'm experiencing what I wanted - to have no cravings or strong urges to eat. I'm not thinking about food. THAT is real freedom.

Stopping the sugar is great for the complexion, but I already knew that. I look at least five years younger just from doing that.

Weight loss has not been significant. I have lost probably another pound. However, I'm still not exercising the way I usually do, and I've had to dine out several times since I started this diet when I was with a friend or family member. I've also had a drink on most days recently.

What I Have Learned So Far:

I have tried "no carbs" but it makes me feel like lead. Every time I have lost weight in the past, I ate carbs. The PNP diet has carbs and protein together. I've learned that I have to have carbs with protein - and vice versa. That is what works best for me. Eating carbs without protein is a sure recipe to get FAT. Eating protein without carbs is fine but not for too long.

So the important take-away is: always eat protein with carbs, unless you want to be a Fat Ass. You'll also feel full longer. And most important of all, this means you don't have to give up hamburgers....

I have actually lost weight very quickly on hamburgers before; it can be done.

The second important take-away is: if you want to stop the cravings, stop the sugar, but do eat your protein AND your good carbs.

Just add potatoes and you're on PNP - saving money, and taking no pills.

Day 23 (the 14th)

Since the last writing, I have made a few changes. First, I am not eating potatoes at night most of the time, which is part of the PNP diet, but not something that you start from the beginning.

However, what is more important is that I haven't had any sugar or sweet taste in this whole time.

During this time, some major events took place, but I was able to think calmly and make rational decisions even during emotionally laden events.

I'm not too worried about starches; I'm eating whatever I want. I was discouraged by the slow weight loss, but now I can see that the projected loss is around ten pounds per month. That is definitely good.

No point in losing weight quickly because it doesn't even show up anyway on the body it if's lost too quickly.

A bout with perhaps food poisoning wasn't as bad as it would have been. I credit that to no sugar.

Cravings are almost always very low to non-existent. THAT IS GOOD.

Now, things that didn't taste sweet do taste sweet. THAT IS GOOD.

I'm down 8 pounds or so. Not bad for 23 days. I haven't even had one salad.

There has been a pronounced feeling of well being a lot of the time, one that is really amazing.

Moods are much more stable.

I'm much more aware of the effects of anything on my body. Everything is more sensitive.

It also feels that this effort is one that counts for the long run. I can live with this. I wish I had done this one year ago. Make that 30 years ago...!!

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