Man Who Lost 34 Pounds While Eating Only McDonald's for 44 Days Shares Surprising Health Update

Most people don't turn to fast food to lose weight, but one man is shattering that notion and his health update is shocking. Kevin Maginnis, 57, has vowed to eat McDonald's three meals a day for 100 days and is documenting his experience on TikTok. His goal is to lose 50 pounds, which is likely he'll achieve. He's only halfway through journey and has already lost 34 pounds. 

Maginnis Started TikTok to Hold Himself Accountable

Maginnis' first TikTok was rather personal as he shared his commitment to lose weight. "I woke up this morning and weighed in at 238 pounds, and I decided that is absolutely unacceptable. So I drove down to McDonald's," he laughed. He added that he wanted to show people, "It's not as much what you're eating, it's the quantity that we're eating that really jacks us up." In an interview with TODAY, he explained that never thought his experience would be the viral sensation it is and that he only joined TikTok to hold himself accountable. There's "millions of people [on the app]. They're pretty good accountability."

The Rules to Maginnis' McDonald's Meal Plan

It may seem like Maginnis doesn't have a well thought out plan for his weight loss goals by eating fast food three times a day, but he has an approach that's working for him. He only eats half of what he orders, which will help his caloric intake and help him be mindful of portion control. He doesn't allow himself to snack and he drinks water instead of soda.

There are No Cheat Days

Maginnis, who is in financial services, explained how he doesn't need "cheat days," because he eats what he wants as long as it's on the McDonald's menu. "I'm never depriving myself," he said. "I'm eating McFlurries, I'm eating cinnamon rolls, I'm hitting Big Macs, I'm eating French fries," he says. "I'm just delaying myself because I'm going eat the whole thing. I'm just not going to eat it all in one sitting."

How He Got the Idea

Maginnis shared that restricting calories has always worked for him anytime he had to lose weight. He told TODAY'S Carson Daly, "I was a wrestler and I boxed in the military. There's times when you have to make weight and you cut calories. So the idea of having a way to track it, attack it, have a plan and cut it in half, then let's see what the results were." He added that by the end, "My belief is I'll be down 50 pounds lighter and my blood work will be better." 

Just Because You Can Lose Weight Eating Fast Food Doesn't Mean You Should, Experts Say

Eating McDonald's and cutting calories has helped Maginnis lose weight, but some experts don't believe that's the healthiest way. Registered dietitian Frances Largeman-Roth previously told TODAY.com that fast food doesn't have the best ingredients, which can lead to other health problems. "Even though Kevin is cutting his meals in half, he's still getting well over the recommended 2,300 milligrams of sodium daily. One bacon, egg and cheese biscuit contains 1,330 milligrams of sodium, and a Big Mac has over 1,000 milligrams without ketchup or mustard," she explained. Largeman-Roth also stated that it's not just about portion control. Being physically active is also necessary or Maginnis' weight loss could plateau. "And let's remember that health isn't just about the number on the scale. It's also about cardiovascular health and other measures," she added.