People have done some really gross things to lose weight over the past two centuries. Please, don't eat tapeworms or baby food to fulfill your New Year's weight-loss resolution.

1087: The Alcohol-Only Diet

According to Time, William the Conqueror went on his alcohol-only diet in 1087. But rather than losing girth, "he died later that year after falling from his beleaguered steed, leaving his subjects to struggle with finding a coffin big enough to fit the corpulent king." Don't let this be you! Getting around by horse is difficult enough these days, much less doing it drunk.

Source: 4.images.spike.com

1820: The Vinegar and Water Diet

These got more delicious-sounding through the ages, right? The poet Lord Byron popularized the vinegar and water diet in 1820. Byron was anorexic and bulimic and consumed large amounts of water and apple cider vinegar (sometimes also red cabbage), which is said to have caused diarrhea and vomiting. So you might look at this as one of history's first (and least healthy!) cleanses. Scientists agree that drinking vinegar will not lead to weight loss.

Source: poetryfoundation.org

1829: The Graham Diet

Invented by Sylvester Graham, this vegetarian diet consisted of fruits, veggies, and limited amounts of dairy, especially butter. Graham also invented the Graham cracker, which was also to be consumed on this diet. The main point of this diet was to "cure" masturbation, which Graham thought caused blindness.

Source: cdn-www.cracked.com