The Burrito Diet
How One Man Lost 80 Pounds Eating Burritos
By Kimberly Papa
Matthew Lisk has struggled with his weight his entire life. He has tried many diets -- from SlimFast to Atkins -- only to see the pounds eventually pile back on. He finally broke the yo-yo cycle by inventing a diet that worked with his hectic schedule. His trick? Eating burritos. The 35-year-old accidentally created the “Burrito Diet” while trying to find a convenient way to lose weight. It took him eight months to shed the unwanted pounds and he’s kept them off for more than three years. Click the gallery below to learn about Matt’s struggle with the scale and his inspiring weight-loss journey.
Burrito Diet
"When I was a little kid, I definitely struggled with my weight," Lisk says. "Kids used to tease me, and it hurt." Although he played sports, Lisk says that eating healthy didn't come naturally. "I remember lots of showdowns with my parents at the dinner table, trying to get me to eat veggies."
Courtesy of Matthew Lisk
"I was always on the heavy side, but it wasn't until I was in high school that I became aware of my body," Lisk says. To lose his baby fat, Lisk tried the Slim-Fast diet and started working out regularly. "It was a little awkward bringing the shakes to school and stuff, but I did it and it worked."
Courtesy of Matthew Lisk
"When I went to college, I put on a tremendous amount of weight." Late-night eating, paired with drinking and an all-you-can-eat meal plan contributed to Lisk's 80-pound gain while he was at school.
Courtesy of Matthew Lisk
"When I entered the work force, I realized just how much weight impacts people's perception of you," Lisk recalls. He knew it was time to get in shape, but wasn't sure how. Lisk did some research on the Internet and found the Body for Life Challenge -- a 12-week program with cash prizes.
Courtesy of Matthew Lisk
"I was more focused on the competition than learning healthy habits, so I wasn't doing things that were sustainable," Lisk says. His weight-loss program included hitting the gym two to three times a day and eating as few as 800 calories in a day. "Granted, I looked great, but it wasn't sustainable."
Courtesy of Matthew Lisk
Although he got down to 190 pounds, within the first three months after completing the challenge, Lisk says he gained back about 20 pounds. By the time he married his wife, Lauren, in October 2002, Lisk had put on 30 pounds.
Courtesy of Matthew Lisk
"I'm about 300 pounds here." Lisk says. "I went from 190 pounds and 6 percent body fat [right after the Body for Life Contest] and basically put on an entire other person." It was a health scare that helped him decide to shape up for good.
"I went to the hospital with shortness of breath. It felt like my chest was closing in." After running a series of test, doctors found that Lisk had adult-onset asthma, dangerously high cholesterol and severe sleep apnea. "The doctor said all of this could go away if I lost the weight, and that's when I started the burrito diet."
Courtesy of Matthew Lisk
"I needed something that was quick and I could do on the go," Lisk says. At the time, he was living in a hotel room four nights a week because he lived in New Jersey, but commuted to Virginia by plane. "That, along with having a new baby, was not the easiest schedule to lose weight with," he admits.
His wife found high-fiber, high-protein tortillas one day, and Lisk began using them as a weight-loss tool. "Basically, the diet consists of taking healthy food and wrapping it up in these tortillas. The burritos were just the container that helped with portion control, and the goal was for each to contain fiber, protein and fruits or veggies." Lisk ate three burritos a day, along with three snacks -- usually cottage cheese, yogurt, an apple, or some almonds.
Courtesy of Matthew Lisk
Today, at a healthy 220 pounds, Matt continues to use burritos as part of his weight maintenance plan, but now he lets himself eat what he wants in moderation. "I think it's important for people to understand the diet isn't about going to Taco Bell three times a day," Matt explains. "It's nutrition basics -- eating the right thing, in the right portion and feeling full." Lisk now sells his e-book, "The Burrito Diet," which includes a 30-day meal plan and recipes, on his Web site.
Courtesy of Matthew Lisk
Read and Post Comments |
More on AOL Health
Recent Comments
Davekale 11:47:14 PM Jul 31 2009
I'm trying some different things and one of them is breakfast burritos. I peaked at 227 4 weeks ago and have made it down to 220 so far. I caught wind of the concept of incremental changes. I have to make my own bkfst and I like bacon and eggs. So I make 6 burritos on Sunday to grab one each morning. I use a little under 1 egg each. They last all week and in 25 seconds each morning, I have a to-go meal that I eat in the car from my favorite breakfast foods. Another change is taking the extra grilled chicken breast from one dinner and getting 3 dinner salads out of it during the week. I also started making 3 small turkey sandwiches on Sunday night and letting that be my lunch at work 3 days. Portion control is one of the keys. 1/4 lb a day times 300 days is 75 lbs at 7 lbs a month. The next increment is to walk more and eventually jog again. Target 185. I'm 20% of the way there.
pafect 08:00:54 AM Jun 04 2009
I'd stay away from the burritos man. They're not good for you.http://fitconnect.com
biglockman 01:57:17 PM Apr 12 2009
The need for calories is minimal I lost 300 lbs in 14 mo with 600-900 calories a day it was easy with lbs of the corect food.When anyone realy want to lose and take responcibility for what they put in there cake hole the lbs fall off I now have gone 1 year of maintanence and amkeeping it off.Best of luck for all.Bob C.
atmosphere8304 10:13:54 AM Apr 12 2009
I'm honestly a little surprised he was able to get these results. It does seem, however that he's consuming enough calories to sustain. After getting into reading Good Calories, Bad Calories by Gary Taubes my thought process regarding nutrition and it's correlation with obesity has greatly shifted. The science that goes into what we put in our bodies and how it turns into energy, fat, etc never ceases to amaze me. I highly recommend the book to anyone who is even slightly interested in challenging what they hear, and have heard, in the media.
Mgainglis5 04:13:09 AM Apr 11 2009
I find it hard to believe, I have been eating Burritos all my life and I am 300lbs. There is only one way to lose weight and that is up the excercise and reduce the calorie and fat intake so you have a calorie deficit diet for a prolonged period, period.www.planet-weight-loss.com
Salasd23 06:42:56 PM Apr 09 2009
HELLO!!!!!. He says he made his own burritos using high-fiber, high-protein tortillas and putting healthy food in them... "The burritos were just the container that helped with portion control, and the goal was for each to contain fiber, protein and fruits or veggies." SO DONT RUN OFF TO TACO BELL PEOPLE!
OOMMMA 06:37:13 PM Apr 09 2009
PLEASE read people. He says he made his own burritos using high-fiber, high-protein tortillas and putting healthy food in them... "The burritos were just the container that helped with portion control, and the goal was for each to contain fiber, protein and fruits or veggies." He was NOT going to Taco Bell or a mexican restaurant.
BearzFL 06:24:24 PM Apr 09 2009
Cool diet, congrats buddy. You look better now than you did when you were younger. I am a big guy myself at 6'1" and 248lbs since I am getting close to 250lbs I realize I need to do something. I want to get down to around 225lbs.
Jaredwillcarter 06:24:14 PM Apr 09 2009
Does anyone know if this really works? I guess you have to make your own burritos for this to work in a wrap. I have been doing Weight Watchers and according to my point calculator Burritos are allot of points at fast food chains...Thanks for the help...
Itz MrWolf 06:11:43 PM Apr 09 2009
"The Burrito Diet" works incredibly well for losing weight. It's what I do whenever I put on weight, and has been my go-to solution for years. Early in the 2000's I moved to California. I used to exercise for about an hour a day, six days a week, before that and experienced a good deal of weight fluctuation. I'd lose about 40 lbs through exercise. When I moved to Ca, I started working at a mexican restaurant called La Bufa that served amazing "wet burritos". I loved them, having never before or since encountered a burrito so good, and switched over from a "normal diet" to eating 1-3 burritos ranging from 1/2-1 lb each per day, eating half at a time. I decided to abstain from pork or beef, instead using chicken, and adding brown rice, black beans (NOT refried), pico de guillo (sp? it's tomato blended with a few herbs), sour cream, cheese, tomato, hot peppers and enchilada sauce. I stopped exercising completely and lost 30 pounds over a year, while eating my fill. So if you want to know
