I've heard a lot of success stories with the HCG Diet so I figured I'd give it a try. If you have never heard of the HCG Diet, read on and I'll do my best to explain it.
HCG is a hormone naturally produced in both the male and female body. It has many functions and is used medically to treat a variety of conditions. It is sometimes called the pregnancy hormone even though the male body also produces it. One of the functions the HCG hormone allows is for the female to metabolize fat and use it as energy for both mother and baby in the womb. This acts as a “fail-safe” mechanism when energy is needed immediately. For weight loss, we use only a very small amount 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 men and women.
The diet was put together in the 1950-60s with 20 years of research by Dr. A.T.W. Simeons, MD. While fat is converted into blood sugar and used as energy, Dr. Simeons' research showed that the body needed additional proteins. He found that a 500 calorie high protein diet would help in the process of losing weight while using HCG to convert fat for fuel. HCG is most commonly injected into the body. In some areas of the USA, the cost can be as much as $600 to $1200 for the 6 week diet.
The diet is followed for 6 weeks. If you have more to lose, you go off the diet and HCG for a month to 6 weeks before starting up again for another 6 weeks. You repeat as many cycles as you want until you get to the desired weight. If you want to lose more weight and can stand to be on the diet longer it is ok to do so. I have people doing it for 60-90 days at a time and they are losing 60 to 100 pounds on back to back rounds. There is no immunity to worry about!
Good sell, huh? That's what I thought. I've talked to people who take the shots and who do the drops. Although you can lose more taking the shots, that didn't seem like such a viable option for me. I'm afraid of needles. So, I ordered my drops, stopped drinking diet soda and got a good HCG Diet cookbook. I've read the literature on how to do the diet and I must say the first two days of the diet seem like the best days.
Phase 1
The first two days when you begin taking your drops, you drink your 2 to 4 quarts of water and eat everything and anything, especially items high in fat. Gorge yourself.
Phase 2
The next 41 days are the hardest. The 500 calorie a day diet begins. Admittedly, I was picturing having to eat nothing but boiled chicken breasts and salad for these days, but now that I have a cookbook for recipes that are allowed on the diet, I feel I can honestly do this. No, it won't be easy but I'm willing to give it my all. What can I lose? Pounds? Inches? I hope so!
Phase 3
For the next 3 weeks, I can begin introducing other foods slowly into my diet, with a goal of 700 to 1500 calories per day.
Phase 4
This is what they call the maintenance phase. This would be good if I was at my goal weight, but I don't think I will be so I'll be starting the diet over again. But, when I do reach my goal weight, this phase has me eating normally. Normal means not over eating and maintaining the recommended calories per day for my weight.
So when do we start? Well, I want to make sure I'm set up entirely for success so I will be starting when I have been able to shop for the good wholesome foods on the diet list. That basically means lean meats and certain fresh vegetables and fruits. You'll just have to check back to find out when.
