Pastor Alan Martin of North Carolina decided to lose weight in an unconventional fashion: eating at Olive Garden for eight weeks
Alan Martin, weighing 222 pounds, decided to take his own approach to lose approximately 10 pounds.
Instead of following the traditional “cut out carbs” principle that most diets follow, he decided to eat nearly all his meals from popular restaurant Olive Garden for eight weeks using a special pass issued by the restaurant allowing the holders eight weeks of free pasta.
Martin, a self-proclaimed Southerner, said that his Olive Garden meals were definitely healthier than his usual food choices, consisting mostly of barbecue sandwiches and a regular late-night hamburger.
Martin did not manage to achieve his original weight loss goal of 10 pounds but managed half of that – 5 pounds – which is quite impressive considering his diet consisted of main pasta.
The special Olive Garden pass also allows holders to get free soft drinks and breadsticks.
Martin managed to reduce the number of calories he consumed by rejecting Olive Garden’s free sweet tea glasses, eating as much salad as he could, and consuming only the toppings of the pasta dishes he ordered.
Martin’s unique strategy to enjoy his favorite restaurant and promote weight loss
Martin added that he made sure to eat only a single breadstick per meal, saying that the calories in the restaurant’s famous breadsticks could “add up” over time.
In addition to his Olive Garden exclusive diet, Martin made sure to work on his exercise routine, lifting weights on a regular basis and watching the calories he consumes out of the restaurant.
The Martin family also enjoyed the benefits of the free-pass, with Martin claiming his two young daughters have already proclaimed Olive Garden as their favorite restaurant.
Martin’s wife, however, was less happy, as she was following a no-carbohydrate diet.