Update: Weight up, cholesterol up for man who lost 27 pounds on Twinkie diet
August 30th, 2011
04:00 PM ET

Update: Weight up, cholesterol up for man who lost 27 pounds on Twinkie diet

Nutrition professor Mark Haub, who lost 27 pounds eating mainly Twinkies, powdered donuts and Oreo cookies, is back to an average American diet.

Since ending his junk food experiment in November, he has gained 2 pounds and his cholesterol has also increased a little bit, he said. He also has gained a new insight into the debate over healthy eating.

"People have a hatred towards (processed) foods," he said. "I like them. I eat them. It's amazing how people believe if it's processed, it's not food."

What also caught Haub by surprise was "how vitriolic people can be when they take a stance, whether it's low-carb or paleo diet. It's like politics. Those discussions can get heated. It's the same thing with religion, I'm right. You're wrong."

Last fall, Haub shed 13% of his weight over two months restricting his diet to 1,600 calories while eating "junk food." Surprisingly, his cholesterol readings improved and his level of triglycerides, which are a form of fat, decreased. This could have been explained by the decreased consumption of calories.

November 8, 2010: Twinkie diet helps nutrition professor lose 27 pounds

Today he eats three meals a day, consuming about 2,200 calories with food choices like turkey sandwiches, peanut butter, and snacking on pears.

"The main thing I did was reduce portion size," he said about what he learned from the diet. "It's that concept of mindfulness or mindful eating - I eat relatively the same. I just eat less."

And he still munches on an occasional Twinkie or snack cake.

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Filed under: Food • Health • Nutrition
soundoff (283 Responses)
  1. Jazzzzzzz

    Exercising is another main ingredient to healthy living folks...doing anything for an hour a day and water! always WATER!

    August 9, 2011 at 6:14 pm | Report abuse |
    • Kyle

      Exercise? Like the people who die while jogging?

      Genetics are the key to longevity. Not exercise of what you eat. Period.

      Stop being such a san franciscan living in fear off of rabbit food and live life.

      August 30, 2011 at 9:04 pm | Report abuse |
  2. Mmmmm

    I wonder if that'll work eating bowls of potaTOES salad with a side order of cheeTOES...I know I would definitely lose this humongous a$$ if that were my only options...

    August 9, 2011 at 6:18 pm | Report abuse |
  3. Jazzzzzzzz

    LMAO...Mmmmm...pardon the PUN !

    August 9, 2011 at 6:22 pm | Report abuse |
    • Kyle

      OMG lololololololololololololololololololololololololololololololololololololololololololololol

      loltrain! OMG so funny! lololololololololololololololol

      August 30, 2011 at 9:05 pm | Report abuse |
  4. Silver Wraith

    I'd lose more than 27 pounds on Haub's diet.
    I abhor those food products, so I'd eat much less that 1,600 calories a day.

    August 9, 2011 at 6:23 pm | Report abuse |
    • Mmmmm

      what are ya? skin 'n bones or a diabetic???

      August 9, 2011 at 6:27 pm | Report abuse |
  5. Justa

    Fried twinkies...yum. Diet, be damned!

    August 9, 2011 at 6:36 pm | Report abuse |
  6. leeintulsa

    I always knew twinkies were good for you..

    August 9, 2011 at 6:40 pm | Report abuse |
  7. sciihs1958

    Fatbutt Michelle Odumbo should try that twinkie diet,

    August 9, 2011 at 6:52 pm | Report abuse |
    • Kyle

      so should you

      August 30, 2011 at 9:06 pm | Report abuse |
  8. Silver Wraith

    @ Mmmmm:
    I'm not diabetic!
    I just couldn't eat that many Twinkies! LOL
    (I'd upchuck)

    August 9, 2011 at 6:54 pm | Report abuse |
    • Jazzzzzzzz

      Especially if your in a ROLLS-ROYCE ! Hmmm

      August 9, 2011 at 7:04 pm | Report abuse |
    • Kyle

      you're*

      Not your.

      You must be a bible thumper.

      August 30, 2011 at 9:07 pm | Report abuse |
  9. Jazzzzzzzz

    I'm pregnant. And I don't know who the father is.

    August 9, 2011 at 7:40 pm | Report abuse |
    • Kyle

      There's no way the donation was voluntary on his part.

      August 30, 2011 at 9:13 pm | Report abuse |
  10. Jazzzzzzzz

    Why do I have a sudden urge for twinkies, ice cream, and pickles.

    August 9, 2011 at 7:50 pm | Report abuse |
    • Kyle

      Obesity is a severe problem that needs to be addressed.

      August 30, 2011 at 9:14 pm | Report abuse |
  11. Silver Wraith

    You're kidding, Jazzzz.
    ?
    Well, those are symptoms...

    August 9, 2011 at 8:09 pm | Report abuse |
  12. Jazzzzzzzz

    @ Silver that's a TROLL WHOS PREGGERS...

    August 9, 2011 at 8:26 pm | Report abuse |
    • leeintulsa

      What's the size of your average litter of trolls? And must you enter the underdark to find out..?

      August 9, 2011 at 8:45 pm | Report abuse |
  13. Jazzzzzzzz

    @ Lee...LMAO, I wouldn't want to find out my friend. how you doing in your corner of the world?

    August 9, 2011 at 8:52 pm | Report abuse |
    • leeintulsa

      @jazzz: we stayed under 100 today and have a 20-30 percent chance of rain every day this week..

      Aaaaahhhhhh 🙂

      August 9, 2011 at 8:57 pm | Report abuse |
    • Kyle

      OMG LMAO!! LMAOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOL

      LMAAAAAAAAAAAAAAO

      lolololololololololololololololololololololololololololololololololololololololololololololololololololololololol

      Sooooooooooooooooo funny!

      lololol

      August 30, 2011 at 9:08 pm | Report abuse |
  14. Silver Wraith

    Trolls probably produce litters the size of a dog's–?

    August 9, 2011 at 8:54 pm | Report abuse |
  15. Jazzzzzzzz

    I imagine them to be GREYHOUNDS

    August 9, 2011 at 8:57 pm | Report abuse |
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