A chef reveals the two foods he stopped eating to lose 200 pounds in less than a year: “it was my health”
Italian chef Matteo Grandi has found the key to rapid weight loss: “It wasn’t just about looks, it was about my health”
“If 20 seconds of pleasure make me feel bad for hours, then what’s the point?” reflects Matteo Grandi, one of Italy’s most renowned chefs, as he shares his incredible physical transformation: in just eight months, he lost 198 pounds. The 34-year-old chef revealed how he went from weighing 408 lbs to completely reinventing himself physically and mentally, thanks to a combination of exercise, intermittent fasting, and, above all, cutting out sugar and carbohydrates entirely from his diet.
The turning point came when overwork and a general lack of well-being led him to a serious realization: “I had lost sight of my health—not just for appearances, but to feel good about myself again,” he said in an interview with the Italian newspaper Corriere del Veneto. Since then, his routine has changed radically: he now eats two meals a day—one at noon and another at 5:00 p.m.—with foods like avocado, eggs, salmon, chicken, green vegetables, meat, and seafood. Pasta, bread, rice, and processed foods have been completely eliminated from his diet.
Beyond the physical transformation, the change has deeply impacted his professional and emotional life. “My mind is clearer, my energy is steady, and my productivity has increased. Plus, my psoriasis disappeared,” he shares. This new mindset is also reflected in the menu at his Michelin-starred restaurant, Matteo Grandi in Basilica, located in Vicenza, which now includes low-carb, dairy-free options made with fresh, high-quality ingredients.
A transformation that has sparked debate
However, this drastic change has sparked medical debate within the scientific community. Nutritionist Daniele Nucci, quoted in various Italian media, warned about the risks of eliminating entire food groups like carbohydrates: “They shouldn’t be treated as enemies. What matters is quantity and balance,” he stated.
The United Kingdom’s National Health Service (NHS) echoes this view in its official guidelines, noting that starchy carbohydrates like bread, rice, potatoes, and pasta “should make up just over a third of your diet,” as they are a key source of energy, fiber, calcium, iron, and B vitamins. Likewise, a 2022 study cited by European scientific publications emphasized that “a carbohydrate-rich diet is essential for balanced nutrition, as it provides glucose for bodily functions and physical activity.”
Similarly, another report published in The Lancet Public Health in 2023 warned that “a carbohydrate intake of less than 40% of total calories is associated with a higher risk of mortality.” Even so, Matteo Grandi remains firm: his personal revolution goes beyond diet trends, and his experience has been a healthy one. “It’s not just about losing weight, it’s about changing habits. And once you see the results, you don’t want to go back.”
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