What is HCG Diet?

What is HCG Diet?
The HCG weight loss diet consists of a very low calorie diet (VLCD) accompanied by treatments of HCG given either via injections, a topical cream or by mouth. The average HCG dieter experiences rapid weight loss averaging 1 to 3 pounds per day. In addition to loss of unwanted fat, the true benefit of the HCG protocol is its ability to help modify the dieter’s relationship with food and eating, resulting in easily maintained, long-term weight loss.

The diet is based on utilizing the amazing fat mobilizing properties of HCG. HCG is an abbreviation for Human Chorionic Gonadotropin. This is a hormone naturally produced in a woman’s body when she is pregnant. It has many functions and is used medically to treat a variety of conditions. It is the pregnancy hormone that almost completely controls metabolic functions. This hormone allows the body to mobilize fat and use it as energy for both mother and fetus. This acts as a “fail-safe” mechanism when energy is needed immediately. For weight loss, we use only minute amounts of HCG to capitalize on this same mechanism. Using HCG in this way does NOT mimic pregnancy; in fact, it can be safely used by both adult men and women.

What are the safety issues of HCG hormone?
HCG is extremely safe. All women experience very high levels during the nine months of every pregnancy with no adverse effects. The small amount used for weight loss has very few, if any, side effects.

The HCG diet is very low calorie, will I get hungry?
Because HCG mobilizes fat and makes it available to the body as an energy source, it naturally reduces appetite. Your appetite center sees your blood rich in nutrients so it is not stimulated to make you hungry. Therefore, even though you are consuming fewer calories, your body can access the energy you have stored in fat cells and use it for your normal daily metabolic needs. The thousands of calories of fat that already exists in your abnormal fat stores are mobilized so you lose weight as these stores shrink.

However, this effect is not immediate. The first three days of the diet help to begin the metabolic change from the HCG, so you eat normally. The next three days you go on the 500 calories a day, and this is the toughest part. We therefore recommend you do the diet with a buddy for support.

Shortly within the first week of the diet, most patients notice a significant decrease in their appetite. Moreover, most people have adequate energy and feel good while on the program. Short term appetite suppressants are usually not necessary and can create problems. However, we don’t want you to fail because you are excessively hungry.

Will it help to eat even less than 500 calories a day?
Studies have shown that eating less than 500 calories does not improve the results. The reason for the very low caloric intake is to create a negative calorie balance. An excessive negative doesn’t help and may change your metabolism to the worse. Eating lower amounts of calories do not speed up the process. Eating smaller quantities of food may actually stop the fat mobilizing mechanism.

What if I am not hungry on the HCG, do I have to eat everything listed in the VLCD?

Yes, whether you are hungry or not, you must eat the lunch and dinner in their complete from as directed. You cannot have one big meal per day. You may take the fruit from either lunch or dinner and eat it at breakfast. No other changes or substitutions are allowed as they slow or stop the fat burning process.

What are the advantages of the topical cream or sublingual drops of HCG compared to the injections?
The difference is primarily ease of use. If you use the cream or sublingual drops, you have no needles, no mixing, no bruising, no risk of infection, and no loss of potency in short time. The cream or liquid is a lot easier to use than the injections yet some people prefer the injections because they believe they have better absorption. Compliance is easier to achieve with the cream and liquid, making the effectiveness far higher because patients are more consistent with their dosages.

Will it affect my appearance? Will I get wrinkles or stretch marks if I lose all this weight?
No, not with this method. Abnormal fat deposits should disappear. Double chins, pot bellies, and fat around the thighs should be the first to go. The treatment does not deplete the subcutaneous or other essential fat. The face retains its freshness and natural appearance. Most people see a noticeable difference in their facial appearance due to the thinness of the face. The skin usually retracts and tightens on its own over time, no matter where it is on the body.

What effects can I expect from the medication itself?
Usually a loss of appetite occurs and patients notice that the severe compulsive hunger disappears. Most feel good to great and maintain an adequate energy level. The afternoon can sometimes be a bit weak, but this can occur with a normal diet.

What if I miss one or more doses?

This can just delay the total effectiveness of the program, potentially 3 days for every dose missed. You may experience increased hunger and cravings. If you miss more than 3 doses in one week the effect of the HCG is nullified and you may need to stop altogether or start over.

What do you recommend I eat at a restaurant?
Avoid eating at restaurants during HCG therapy. Most of these foods are heavily processed, loaded with trans fats, high fructose corn syrup, MSG, flavor enhancers and almost never fresh. The portions are outrageously huge as is the price. If you have to eat out, choose seafood and ask that it be prepared dry with no oil or butter. You can order grilled chicken, but only eat the 3.5 oz as directed. Ask for steamed vegetables but choose from the prescribed list or participate in the salad bar without the dressing and extras.

What about protein and vitamin deficiencies’ during the diet?
The diet is a very specific combination and balance of protein, carbs and fat. However, you must replenish your essential vitamins and other nutrients daily. Certain supplements are recommended and available at very modest prices. We recommend a high potency multi-vitamin be taken while on the program as well as on an ongoing basis. Vitamins and minerals are the basic foundation to optimal health and generally deficient in appropriate amounts in our food due to multiple reasons, including over farming and overusing the soil. Some vitamins have antioxidant properties and should be taken in larger amounts than in a single multi-vitamin tablet. We offer an array of supplements with this program in order to prevent deficiencies.

What if I am Vegetarian or Vegan?
If you are vegetarian there are a few alternatives but the weight loss is generally slower. It is more difficult to participate in the program as a Vegan but can be done with soy protein or a willingness to consume seafood. Just make sure you ingest the equivalent of 3.5 ounces of meat twice a day.

What happens if I get constipated?
That is uncommon if you are consuming the recommended water, fiber and magnesium supplementation. Black coffee is helpful as are multiple over the counter products that contain high fiber content without calories. Animal protein does not contain any fiber and although the diet includes fruits and vegetables it is vital that you consume extra fiber and a lot of water.

What if I occasionally get jittery or shaky due to the reduced quantity of food?
Although common without HCG, with HCG these usually do not occur due to the mobilization of thousands of calories from fat. However, blood glucose levels could fluctuate creating these symptoms. A 15 calorie Lifesaver or extra fruit when necessary, usually controls this and does not interfere with the weight loss.

What happens if I hit a plateau and stop losing weight?

If you reach a “plateau” phase where you have lost much weight but then you don’t lose weight for 4-6 days, you should do an “apple-day”: you ingest only 6 apples for a day. Begin just before lunch and continue until lunch the following day. Eat one apple whenever you feel the desire with a maximum of 6 apples in 24 hours. Plus, make sure you drink plenty of water.