life after HCG = weight loss disaster, help!

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atlaw26
atlaw26 Posts: 7
in Health and Weight Loss
Hi all, just joined so I could write this post in your message boards. It seems like whenever i google "hcg" everyone only has positive things to say. I did four rounds of HCG over the course of 2 years. I started with about 15 lbs to lose, and then lost it on HCG, and gained back 20.... lost the 20 on round 2, but gained back 30! etc. etc. now i'm about 35 lbs over weight and even though I havent touched hcg in over a year, i am unable to lose weight!

I run, i do crossfit, I even paid 60/hr to go to a nutritionist to teach me how to eat properly -- which i do! I am low carb, high protein, multiple small meals a day.... but no matter what i do, i cant seem to lose weight. it is the most frustrating and defeating thing that i've ever gone through. especially because all of my friends and family have seen me lose and gain and lose and gain again and again. and not to mention how incredibly unhealthy this must be for my poor body to go through such weight fluctuations!

bottom line -- i need help. has anyone gone through this?? and what have you done to start losing again?

any help would be greatly appreciated!!
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Replies

  • bawalker11
    bawalker11 Posts: 78
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    Have you had your thyroid levels tested? I went through something similar only to find out I had a slightly underactive thyroid, which I was medicated for and I began to lose weight again- it wasn't rapid but within a few months and after building muscle to help my metabolism I got back to normal
  • AleciaG724
    AleciaG724 Posts: 705 Member
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    "bump"

    No advice, sorry, but my brother & SIL are currently on round two of HCG after gaining more back than they lost. I'm curious if many people have these results. Sounded crazy to me to mess with hormones...
  • atlaw26
    atlaw26 Posts: 7
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    I had them tested while i was doing the HCG and nothing was wrong.. might want to look into checking them now after the fact. thanks!
  • whierd
    whierd Posts: 14,026 Member
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    No advice. Please consult a physician and dietician.
  • atlaw26
    atlaw26 Posts: 7
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    Everyone i know that has done it has gained back more than they lost. it's really really bad for you. the people who post the comments about how great it is, are the people who are still on it and seeing the amazing results. give them a few months and they'll be in the exact same positon as i am :/
  • mattschwartz01
    mattschwartz01 Posts: 566 Member
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    Did you go to a nutritionist or a dietitian? There is often a big difference between the two. Nutritionists are by and large not regulated whereas a dietitian is an expert in food and nutrition and is nationally certified via examination.
  • atlaw26
    atlaw26 Posts: 7
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    I went to a nutritionist.. i didn't know there was a difference. i'm going to look into going to a dietitian, thanks!
  • Flora_k
    Flora_k Posts: 72 Member
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    Oh my goodness, yes! I totally relate. I have been going through such an awful time because of the Omnitrition hCG drops. I ended up having terrible side effects and had to stop. Despite watching my diet and eating an amount of calories that would have had me losing before, I gained it all back. Worse, my body changed. Now the clothes that fit at this weight before are too tight. I know I lost muscle.

    Here is my story: http://www.squidoo.com/unsafe_hcg_diet

    I created that page because, like you, I noticed that everything was a warm fuzzy about this diet. Well, I realized it is because they delete most of the negative posts on hCG forums. For that reason, I am trying to get 'real' stories. If you want to leave a comment on my page about your side effects, you would greatly help others. You don't have to sign up. Just leave a comment. You don't even have to leave a real name.

    If you need to chat to somebody going through this, send me a message!

    The hCG diet is just plain dangerous. It can do terrible things to your body and I am convinced it makes people fat.
  • cfriend71
    cfriend71 Posts: 207 Member
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    Let's put it this way, if you don't eat healthy and exercise after "stopping" ANY diet, you will gain your weight back. I've been on every diet in the book and this is what happens to all of us. It's a lifestyle change, not a diet.
  • herblackwings39
    herblackwings39 Posts: 3,930 Member
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    Since you've signed up on MFP use the tools it offers. Fill out your information, get your calorie goal and try it. Weigh and measure your food and track everything.
  • mountaingirl2207
    mountaingirl2207 Posts: 181
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    I have nothing to add, I just want to say that this is so sad. I wish you luck on figuring things out.....Just remember that whatever you choose, you HAVE to eat enough calories that you will be able to maintain!
  • jennifershoo
    jennifershoo Posts: 3,198 Member
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    You f*cked up your metabolism with that hcg crap-eating 500 cals a day diet.
  • tarayatesgosse
    tarayatesgosse Posts: 26
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    Haven't done it but a friend of a friend did and gained all plus more back. I Hadn't lost more then a pound in years and years and I started walking 3 miles a day and after about 7 months of that I had only lost about 6 pounds but they were staying off. Then I got on MFP and have been on it 135 days and lost 30lbs! I know some of it may be my metabolism FINALLY sped up after months of walking but counting calories helped tons!

    SO the only advice I can give is start working out and stick with it so you give it time to speed up your metabolism and hopefully get you to the point you can start losing and keeping it off. I took metabolife in the early 2000's and lost 29lbs but gained it all back and then some. In the first 3 years I only gained about 20 back but gained 70 by the time I started walking last year. So it was not HCG but I did have a metabolism "drug" experience.
  • Flora_k
    Flora_k Posts: 72 Member
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    Let's put it this way, if you don't eat healthy and exercise after "stopping" ANY diet, you will gain your weight back. I've been on every diet in the book and this is what happens to all of us. It's a lifestyle change, not a diet.

    I think you missed most of her message. She is watching what she eats and sounds like she's got the exercise thing down pat!

    No, it's what has happened to so many of us. This stupid diet slows our metabolism so far down that we gain even when we are being careful. Before the hCG Diet, I would easily be losing with the calories I eat. Not so after the diet. I gained and gained quickly. Plus it totally changed my shape (in a not good way). My clothes that fit before at this weight are too tight now. I have been watching what I eat and am exercising now.

    The hCG diet is bad news all around!
  • savithny
    savithny Posts: 1,200 Member
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    Some people's metabolisms get absolutely slaughtered by that kind of treatment, especially doing it repeatedly. Have you continued to cut calories to try to re-lose the weight since the last time?

    Very low calorie diets, followed too long, can cause your metabolism to drop by so much that your "maintenance" after you stop is lower than some people's dieting goals. Look into having your BMR or RMR tested. You may need to figure out what "maintenance" is and eat close to that for awhile to convince your body you don't live in a famine zone, since doing HCG repeatedly sent it the message that you live someplace with frequent and severe famines.
  • run4yourlifegirl
    run4yourlifegirl Posts: 4 Member
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    This is my first EVER post on the forums but I decided I HAD to share my story.

    I was 16 years old and 137 pounds and this is EXACTLY what happened to me!!!

    Looking back I should have been happy with my weight and just did weight training to firm up, but instead I fell for it and did my first round of HCG.

    I lost about 7 pounds the first round (they said I could lose 20!) but it came back RIGHT away. I'm talking, within the first month or two. Soon I was in the 140s and I could NOT get the weight off, even with eating healthy and running!

    So (STUPIDEST decision ever) I decided to do ANOTHER round! AAAh!!! I lost even LESS this time, and it came back even FASTER.

    I am now 18 and a super flabby 150 pounds. I've been trying for a year and half now to lose the weight (I feel good at about 125) and I've tried basically everything under the sun, but NOTHING. SEEMS. TO. WORK.

    I don't know if my metabolism is ruined forever but I do know one thing...I AM NEVER DOING THE HCG DIET AGAIN! If you are considering the get-thin-quick HCG scheme, DON'T DO IT!!!!! Learn from my mistake!!

    (anyone else have any ideas on how I can lose after this HCG diasaster?!!!)
  • Flora_k
    Flora_k Posts: 72 Member
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    (anyone else have any ideas on how I can lose after this HCG diasaster?!!!)

    Maybe we need to start an hCG Recovery group!
  • atlaw26
    atlaw26 Posts: 7
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    HAHA I think we do all need a recovery group!! thank you all so much for the kind words of support.

    I have been talking to a lot of people about my situation and am trying to come up with a solution. The problem (i have come to believe) lies in the fact that once we start restricting calories (as is the case in most any "diet"), our bodies remember the HCG 500 calorie a day, and automatically enter into starvation mode -- which prevents us from losing weight.

    I am going to try to stick with the MFP plan, and even if i dont lose, i'll have an exact diary of what i've been eating and my exercise routine to take to a doctor in the event that after a month or so of this i have still not seen a change.

    please feel free to add/message me if you are having a similar problem and i can let you know what i've done and what (hopefully) works for me!
  • neanderthin
    neanderthin Posts: 9,957 Member
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    You originally only had 15lbs to lose and did HCG.......
  • bevtyndall
    bevtyndall Posts: 72 Member
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    bump
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