Swimsuit season is right around the corner, which means the pressure to get the "perfect" bod is on — however you define it.
Of course, the combo of a healthy diet and exercise is the best way to go, but that knowledge wasn't always common back in the day — which is why we have such a long and storied history of completely bonkers fad diets.
Looking back at these eating regimens through the ages, we were struck by one indelible fact: People have done some really crazy stuff in the name of weight loss.
How crazy? Well, there was a diet consisting completely of cabbage soup (bet those participants smelled quite fragrant), and don't even get us started on the cigarette diet.
So, while we may know better now, let's take a walk down memory lane and sneak a peek at some of the most popular diet crazes from days of yore.
We think it goes without saying that, barring a few notable exceptions, you probably shouldn't try these at home, mmkay?
1087: The Liquid Diet
Historians credit William the Conqueror as the inventor of the first fad diet.
Legend has it that the English king became too heavy to ride his horse, so he went on an all-liquid diet.
His liquid of choice?
Liquor.
The diet didn’t exactly work, and he actually died later that year after falling off the poor, probably exhausted horse.
1820: The Vinegar Diet
“Roses are red, violets are blue. Drink lots of vinegar and you’ll feel ew.”
That could've been prose by English poet Lord Byron. He regularly cleansed his body by drinking lots of vinegar and water.
It’s no wonder he felt lighter after this practice; side effects include vomiting and diarrhea.
These days, dieters use apple cider vinegar as a weight loss tool. It reportedly works if you take a couple of tablespoons of the stuff 30 minutes before a meal.
Devotees say you’ll feel full and will eat less.
We say fine — as long as it's not your entire meal.
1863: The Banting Diet
We all think of Dr. Atkins as the inventor of the low-carb diet, but that title actually belongs to Englishman William Banting.
He lost 50 pounds (we’re talking weight, not British currency here) by cutting bread, butter, milk, and potatoes out of his diet and adding more meat.
He wrote a pamphlet, “Letter on Corpulence, Addressed to the Public,” about the experience.
It became so popular that “banting” became a new term for dieting.
See the rest of the story at Business Insider