Wacky diets: Have you ever tried one of these crazy fads?

The cookie diet. Picture: Thinkstock (Image: CuorerouC)

New Year is the prime time in which many people set a resolution of getting fitter and healthier. However, this sometimes involves trying out diets that are a little out of the ordinary. Have you ever tried out one of these crazy fad diets?

Cookie diet

If eating cookies worked as a way to get healthier and lose weight, wouldn’t everyone be doing it? The cookie diet involved eating between six and nine special (around 90 calorie) cookies per day, along with one sensible meal, with the theory that these cookies would provide you with all the essential nutrients you needed. Somehow I don’t think so. This diet also had people consuming so few calories, accompanying exercise was not advised. A tad silly when there is plenty of evidence that exercise makes people healthier and none that says cookies can…

The grapefruit diet. Picture: Thinkstock (Image: DenizA)

Grapefruit diet

The grapefruit diet has been a common crash diet for decades, first finding ‘fame’ in the 1930s. The diet advocated eating foods rich in fat and protein alongside a grapefruit. The idea was that grapefruits have a miraculous ability to burn fat, so eating the two together at every meal would somehow result in rapid weight loss. This is likely, yes. But only because of the low caloric intake the plan prescribed.

Baby food diet

The baby food diet was an internet phenomenon rumoured to have been started by celebrity trainer Tracy Anderson. It involved replacing one or two meals or snacks a day with baby food and was simply a gimmick for cutting calories and controlling portions. Jars of baby food range in calories from about 20 to a still (very) measly 100!

The cabbage soup diet. Picture: Thinkstock (Image: ALLEKO)

Cabbage soup diet

Start by making a huge batch of cabbage soup… It’s going to be pretty bland and boring but with this diet you’d have to like it. Why? Because it’s all you’d really be allowed eat for seven days! Each day of the week is a little different to the last; day one is soup and fruit, but no bananas, however day four is bananas and skim milk, but no other fruit. Side effects of this crazy diet included light-headedness, weakness, decreased concentration and sleepless nights. As a result, it’s a no from me.

Fletcherism diet

American Horace Fletcher came up with this odd idea in the very early 1900s, which involved chewing each mouthful of food around 50 times, or until it was in liquid form. Anything left after this could then be spat out… is there’s anything actually left by this point though?

The master cleanse diet. Picture: Thinkstock (Image: bhofack2)

Master cleanse diet

This detox diet was somehow a bit of a celebrity favourite. It involved avoiding food for short periods of time, and instead drinking lemon water flavoured only with maple syrup and cayenne pepper. Want a break from this repetitive cycle? Of course… you’re also allowed a laxative before bed. Sound appealing? I’m not so sure.