Diets go through some bizarre fads but how do you really know if they’re effective? In one of the most random acts of weight loss, the media published a story a few years ago that claims a man at college dropped 245 pounds by eating nothing but Subway sandwiches. There’s no shortage of weird diets on the market, with companies and experts clinging to anything that offers the slightest hint of weight loss. Some dangerous, some effective, some simply bizarre, diets are a big business. However, the more random diets tend to rely on foods people enjoy eating, so they tend to be easier to stick to. One of the weird diets researchers have found to have mixed effects is what is known as the Tailgater’s Diet – this relies on consuming around 1500 calories a day from sausages and craft ale. Psychologically, it’s an easy one to stick to because the foods are appealing and tasty. However, as a long-term solution for weight loss, it has no nutrients and will cause a problem for your health. Protein is a great way to fill up though, so it’s a good idea to use it with each meal to stave off hunger – lean meats or tofu and legumes are great sources.
The bacteria diet works by you consuming the kinds of foods which plump up the amount of healthy bacteria in the digestive tract. Creator of the diet, Stella Mestovas, found that in each of her clients who ate at least half a cup of probiotic-rich foods each day, each lost around 21 pounds over six months. This is all without cutting any calories from their diet. Despite the unappealing name, this diet can actually be very effective in regulating your appetite and metabolism. A better balance of healthy bacteria in the gut can prevent weight gain, so try eating some fermented foods each day. Sauerkraut and kimchi can be great options, as these have healthy bacteria in them. Love Starbucks? Christine Hall, aged 66, reportedly lost over 75 pounds over two years simply by surviving on Starbucks and sticking to a 1000-calorie a day diet. Hall claimed that the portion sizes helped her to limit her overall calorie intake, helping her to lose weight. It doesn’t need to be just Starbucks, though. You can download apps that monitor the calorie intake of fast food, to help you estimate what that bought lunch will cost you, weight-wise.
It may not be the most appealing diet, but the cabbage soup diet has had its time in the spotlight. You only need to be on it for a week to see results, but the downside is that it’s boring – breakfast, lunch and dinner all consist of the same veggie meal. You can lose up to 10 pounds on this in just a week, but the boredom factor means many people give up after just a couple of days. The soup includes half a head of cabbage, cooked with green onions, tomatoes, green peppers, celery, mushrooms and carrots. The copious amounts of liquids mean you’ll feel relatively full, as well as having less room for high-calorie foods. Any low-calorie and low-salt soup eaten 15 to 30 minutes before a balanced meal will help to keep you fuller before you overeat on fattier foods. With this variation you won’t lose weight as quickly, but you’ll also be able to eat a more balanced diet overall, stopping you from skipping vital nutrients. You can also try drinking water before meals for the same effect.
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