Exchanging one fast food diet for another may not be the most obvious way to lose weight.
But it seems to work for Carsten Renken who switched from burgers and takeaways to eating little other than three Subway sandwiches a day with dramatic results.
The 41-year-old businessman says he has lost more than five stone (about 32 kilograms) in less than nine months, going from 16st 8lb when he started the diet last September to a much healthier 11st. His waist has also shrunk from 44 inches to 31.
In a normal week he eats a six-inch club sandwich filled with turkey, ham, beef and salad from the fast food chain for breakfast, lunch and dinner at least five or six times. On the other days, he will sometimes have Ryvita crispbread with cottage cheese and ham for breakfast.
It means he usually consumes no more than 1,100 calories a day, less than half the recommended intake for men of 2,500. But although Renken said he “oozes energy and feels great”, nutrition experts warned that he is not eating a healthy and balanced diet.
Sian Porter, of the British Dietetic Association, said: “Normally, for a man losing weight, we would recommend 1,300 to 1,500 calories a day as otherwise he can’t be getting all the nutrients he needs.”
Renken used to consume up to 5,000 calories a day, breakfasting on a double sausage and egg McMuffin from McDonald’s with a side order of hash browns and fries.
Lunch would come from Burger King or KFC while dinner would be a microwave meal followed by a bottle of wine.
The divorced father of two from Cheylesmore, Coventry, said his children Joshua, 14, and 13-year-old Sophie inspired him to embark on the diet when they were on holiday.
He said: “They started sniggering and one of them said “‘Daddy you’re the fattest man in the area’”. That’s when I thought something had to be done. I live a busy life so convenience was the only option, but I’ve found a fast food that works for me. The bulk of the weight fell off in three months.
“It’s all about portion size and I watch calories like a hawk. The sandwich varies from 300 to 320 calories as it’s made fresh every time. I also work out at the gym more regularly.”
The business development director for a German engineering company has now written a book entitled The Sub Diet to help others who want to lose weight and has his own website www.subdiet.net. - Daily Mail