HCG Diet
Recently, the HCG diet has become very popular though it is not new. Actually, this diet supplementary plan has been used for decades by dieters in many countries. The abbreviation means the human chorionic gonadotropin1. This hormone was discovered in the 1920s. In 1950s, doctors found out that it is able to subdue appetite and stimulate weight. Shortly after that Dr. Simeons suggested to use it as an addition to a low-calorie diet.
What Is the Human Chorionic Gonadotropin?
The HCG is mighty hormone, naturally produced by pregnant women’s bodies. The human chorionic gonadotropin is a type of glycoprotein3, consisting of 244 amino acids. Its purpose is to encourage healthy suction and dispensation of eaten food. As the pregnant woman eats for two and needs very much energy, so the HCG helps to distribute the food between the fetus2 and her own body. If she does not have enough energy, the hormone will turn the body’s fat stores into it.
Dr. Simeons spent many years researching the human chorionic gonadotropin. Being an endocrinologist, he was able to create the diet which turned out to be very effective for overweight and obese patients.
How Does It Work?
When you go on the HCG diet, you will eat very little. Normally, the human body would go into a so-called starvation mode and shut down, but the HCG hormone gives your brain signals that there is a baby inside the body. So you brain has to provide you with energy, and it can be taken only from the stored fat.
What is more, injections of the HCG reset the hypothalamus4 gland, handling storage and distribution of fat in the body. Hypothalamus glands of overweight people usually function very slow and are not able to manage fat properly. As a result, their bodies store much excessive weight. The HCG shots stimulate the hypothalamus thus helping to lose weight.
Shortly speaking, injections of the human chorionic gonadotropin boost the metabolism and you are able to grow thin without going really hungry. You are allowed to consume up to 700 calories in a day. If you want to speed up the process, you can do light physical exercises (walking, jogging, etc).
What Are the Benefits?
Supporters of the HCG diet contend that it suppresses appetite, resets food cravings, uses stored fat and helps to avoid its storing. It means that the diet give you the possibility to lose weight without strenuous effort. Moreover, the HCG can be easily bought.
Are There Any Health Risks?
Many doctors and dietitians think that the HCG diet can be very dangerous for health. If abused, it can even result in death. High amounts of the HCG may lead to starvation and destruction of you fat and muscles.
You should also know that the U.S. FDA (Food and Drug Administration) said that products with the HCG are ineffective and fraudulent. It means that they are illegal in the USA.
Remember: you must consult your doctor before going to this diet.
What Foods Should Be Eaten?
When you are on the HCG diet you should constantly count the calories. For the best results, you may not exceed 500 cal per day. As Dr. Simeon advises, your daily ration must contain about 200 grams of protein (fat-free) and a bit of starch.
You can eat chicken, fish, seafood, tea, plain water, coffee, pepper, salt, garlic, some fruits and vegetables. Very rarely you are allowed eggs.
What Else?
You cannot use cosmetics (except for powder, eyebrow pencil, and lipstick).
Massage is prohibited.
Birth control and aspirin are allowed on the HCG diet.
HCG Diet Plan
The HCG diet, created by Dr. Simeons, is very popular now due to the astounding results, achieved with its help. The diet consists of three stages following specific steps.
Phase 1 – Preparation
This round is one of the most important ones, but some dieters skip it. During this stage it is necessary to increase the fat and calorie intake for a couple of days. You also need to start taking the HCG shots or drops. The hormone prevents your body from filling fat cells and forces it to reject fat.
This is the preparation stage for the rest of the hCG diet. If you follow it accurately, it will help you to lose weight quickly on the second phase.
Phase 2 – Beginning
The beginning phase is the strictest one. You are allowed to eat no more than 700 cal per day (better about 500 cal). For many dieters, it is a real challenge.
The most important thing is to select the right foods. The best ones for the HCG diet include fish, chicken and other lean proteins. You can drink tea and coffee for breakfast and have proper meals for lunch and dinner. Use special recipes for the HCG diet.
You will have to take the HCG and lower the calorie intake for two months or even more. If you do everything correctly, you will be able to lose up to fifty pounds within this round. It is normal if you lose half a pound every day in the first ten days.
Phase 3 – Relieving
This is the stability round which is a real relief after the limitations of the second phase. The dieters are allowed to consume up to 1500 cal per day. But you still are not permitted to get outside hormones. So forget about low fat amounts and milk. You do not have to take the drops or shots during this stage because within it the HCG should be removed from the system. It will take you no less than twenty three days. Later you can resume the whole diet, if necessary.
The third round will help you to persist in losing weight. If you skip it, you body will get used to the HCG. So, follow multiple cycles, if you want to lose much weight.
HCG Diet Success Stories
Betty
The main reason for Betty to start the HCG diet was health concerns. While growing up, she saw members of her family fighting fierce battles with their diabetes. She herself was borderline diabetic so she had to start a weight loss program. Betty is five feet two inches tall and she had size twenty two in pants when she decided to go on the HCG diet.
During the first six months on the diet Betty lost 120 pounds. Now her size is three. She has never felt so healthy and good about herself. The HCG diet has changed her life drastically and she is ready to encourage anyone who is going to follow her example.
Vicky G
When Vicky came to the decision to start the HCG diet she was over size twelve. It took her forty days to lose more than 25 pounds. Soon she had to go shopping because all her small clothes had become too big for her.
She finds the HCG diet a very simple program to follow, because you just have to follow step by step without much effort. Now Vicky is slim and happy.
Shannon M
During the first stage of the HCG diet Shannon lost about fifty pounds and he is still making progress. The diet has helped him to lower the blood pressure and get rid of all the pains he had. Before it Shannon was not able to run a couple of miles, but after the second round of the HCG he managed to run a half marathon distance. Now he is planning to cope with the full marathon within the next year.
Krystal S
Krystal’s results on the diet were amazing. During the first week she was losing two pounds a day. The HCG program was hard for her sometimes, but she was able to manage it, because it was very encouraging to watch her scale go down. In fact, Krystal has never been hungry on the HCG diet because the drops helped her to control cravings. Now she is pleased with her shape and health. She knows that the diet is really helpful and recommends it strongly to everyone who wants to lose weight.
Lily
At first, Lily was afraid that she would never be able to follow the HCG diet. She was not sure that 500 cal would be enough for her. And the first week on the diet was really tough. She had cravings and was very hungry, but later it became pretty easy. Lily lost over 25 pounds in 43 days and she is proud of her achievement.
Encouraged by her results, her husband is also on the HCG diet and has already lost about ten pounds. Lily thinks this is an excellent diet for losing weight fast and for acquiring healthy eating habits.
- Gonadotropin is a hormone which is secreted by a pituitary gland and stimulates gonads’ activity.
- Fetus (or foetus) is an unborn offspring of a mammal, particularly, a human baby over eight weeks after the conception.
- Glycoprotein is a kind of protein that has carbohydrate groups which are fastened to a polypeptide chain.
- Hypothalamus is a control center in the brain, concerned with thirst, hunger, satiety, and some other functions.