From Atkins to the Zone diet and everything in between, this is the time of year when we try to make amends for the indulgences of the holiday season.
The week of Jan. 1-7 has been dubbed “Diet Resolution Week.” The concept of healthy eating is said to have been introduced by George Cheyne, a Scottish physician born in 1672 who is best remembered as an early advocate of vegetarianism.
Once overweight himself, in 1724 Cheyne published “An Essay of Health and Long Life,” in which he recommended healthy lifestyle choices such as exercise, fresh air and avoiding rich foods.
Many other diets followed, including bizarre ones like the arsenic diet (which, unsurprisingly, could result in death) and the tapeworm diet (incredibly dangerous and something even your dog wouldn’t want).
Today, countless diets are available, with some dating back to 300 A.D. and low-carb options emerging as early as the 1880s. If you find it difficult to stick to your resolution to lose weight, you’re not alone. An estimated 88% of people who make New Year’s resolutions fail within the first two weeks. Why? Experts say it’s because expectations are often set too high. Instead of resolving to lose 50 lbs., start with five and go from there.