15 Bizarre Diets You Won’t Believe People Try

Some people can eat whatever they want and lose weight, while others feel like just looking at a candy bar adds a few pounds. Still, the best way to achieve sustainable weight loss is to watch what you eat, choose balanced meals, and stay active.

Jumping onto the latest weird diet trend is rarely the answer and can be more risky than beneficial. The lengths people will go to for vanity are downright shocking. It doesn’t take a genius to recognize how potentially dangerous some of these 15 Bizarre Diets can be.

We’ve compiled a list of 15 Bizarre Diets that you won’t believe anyone would actually try—some are extreme, some are questionable, and a few are downright dangerous!

The Ice Diet

You consume one liter or about four cups of ice daily on this diet. Other than that, you can eat what you want without making any lifestyle changes. The belief is that you can lose weight because you’re consuming more water, and your body has to burn calories to bring the ice to body temperature. Chewing on ice can damage your teeth, and you probably won’t lose weight.

The Air Diet

If you plan on doing the air diet, expect to be making, drawing, painting, imagining, or talking about food. Do not expect to be eating food. On this diet, you consume nothing but air. You may lose weight, but you’ll regain it when you resume eating.

The Cotton Ball Diet

This diet is said to have started in the modeling industry. Before eating, you dip cotton balls into soup, juice, or other liquids. It’s believed that it helps you eat less actual food, which helps you lose weight. However, doctors have slammed this diet as harmful and dangerous.

The Baby Food Diet

Baby food is good for babies, but some believe it’s also good for adults. The baby food diet comes in a few forms. Some say you should only eat one jar of baby food instead of a proper meal. Other versions say you should eat ten jars of baby food and one full meal a day or 14 jars of baby food a day.

Ear Stapling

It’s not really a diet, but some believe that stapling certain parts of the ear can help with weight loss. However, doctors have questioned the difference between ear stapling and acupuncture, and acupuncture by a trained professional is probably the safest way to go.

The Prayer Diet

Popular with religious people, the prayer diet requires you to pray every morning for the strength to eat less, lose fat, or build muscle. However, this diet is typically only successful when paired with a healthy lifestyle and eating habits.

The Sleep Diet

If you sleep all day, you’re not eating, which is the rationale behind this diet. However, if you sleep all day, you do not spend time at work, with your family, or simply enjoying life. Of course, getting good quality sleep can help promote good health, but sleeping all day to lose weight is extreme.

The Vision Diet

For this diet, you need to wear glasses with blue lenses. This is said to make food less attractive and prevent cravings. Another version of this diet is to see your food through virtual reality glasses because they make food appear larger, so you’ll think you’ve eaten more.

The Dessert With Breakfast Diet

With this diet, you’re supposed to eat a dessert with your breakfast. This is said to help curb sugar cravings for the rest of the day. However, this can cause blood sugar levels to rise and even affect your energy levels.

The Cigarette Diet

In the 1920s, a cigarette manufacturer promoted the potential weight loss effects of smoking. It was even suggested that people smoke a cigarette instead of eating a meal. However, today, we all know the risks associated with smoking.

The Twinkie Diet

Cut your daily calorie intake and eat mostly Twinkies, doughnuts, and other sugary junk foods. In 2010, a Kansas State University nutrition professor actually tested this diet and lost weight. But, the lack of nutrition makes it a bad idea for overall health.

Apple Cider Vinegar Diet

Some people believe that sipping some Apple Cider Vinegar before meals helps to curb their appetite and burn fat. Apple Cider Vinegar is supposed to have some health benefits, but too much can interfere with insulin and some blood pressure medicines.

Caffeine Diet

If you drink enough coffee, you may curb your appetite a little and maybe even burn a few extra calories, but probably not enough to lose any weight. Plus, too much caffeine can increase blood pressure, make you nauseous, or keep you up at night.

The Cabbage Soup Diet

I like cabbage, but I don’t want to eat cabbage soup two to three times a day, and that’s what you have to do on this diet. You also don’t get many options for other foods. On day one, it’s cabbage soup and fruit, and on day five, cabbage soup, beef, and vegetables. On any day, you’ll only be eating about 1,000 calories.

The Cookie Diet

Oh, if only this were real: eating cookies and losing weight. I could live with that. On this diet, you can enjoy nine 60-calorie cookies and one 500-700-calorie meal a day. You may lose weight, but you’ll also be low on minerals, vitamins, and calories.

15 Bizarre Items That People Bought and Sold on eBay

We all have an eBay account, but who still uses the platform? Traditionally, eBay was the go-to website to sell and buy used items. There are many marketplaces for second-hand items, but eBay is where weirdness abounds. What’s the weirdest thing you’ve seen on eBay? I can bet it wasn’t as weird as some of these items.

13 Home Renovations That Are Not Worth the Money

There’s something to be said about making your home your own. However, certain renovation projects simply aren’t worth the money and time invested.

Being pragmatic about the projects you decide to invest in around your home can be a considerable challenge. There’s always the temptation to add the features you’ve dreamed of having. Then there’s the reality of costs, maintenance, and the long-term appeal of realizing your dream.

I approached compiling the way I would suggest anyone start when contemplating a renovation. I dug into years of real estate sale and construction data from the last few decades to see how costs have fluctuated compared to buyer demand for certain home features. These were the resounding renovation losers, not worth the money.