i don't want to offend anyone BUT....

sarah307

I am 100% against the HCG diet.

The reason i am posting this is because my friend recently told me she has lost 11 lbs in 8 days on HCG. but she feels like ****. We had an "ice cream party" today for the new people coming to our school and she couldn't have any.

*like i said, I don't want to upset anyone who has had great success with this or whatever - i just think this information should be put out there for those thinking about doing it. I have never done it, so i can't COMPLETELY say I know what is going on. But i have two friends who have tried it and done lots of research...

http://rebeccascritchfield.wordpress.com/2009/09/16/thinking-about-hcg-diet-look-elsewhere-for-weight-loss/

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Things that should alert you .... (in the above website)

"500-calories per day is severely restrictive! In fact, it is not enough calories to support normal brain function."

[Personally, I'd like to keep my brain functioning throughout the day with lots of healthy proteins/carbs/fats.]

"Before you can lose true weight, you will be so irritable, lightheaded, and cranky that you’ll reach for whatever food you can get your hands on and have a field day."

[Personally, I don't want to lose all my friends because I 'snap' at them from not eating breakfast...]

"There is no scientific evidence supporting HCG injections as a weight loss strategy. In addition, these injections have not been approved by the FDA for use in weight loss."

[Personally, I like having proof something is going to work... like healthy eating and exercising... and I usually don't like taking things that aren't FDA approved for their 'success'...]

"The common side effects include headaches, mood swings, depression, blood clots, confusion, and dizziness."

[Personally, I would rather have a clear, focused mind, a positive attitude, and lots of energy! ... also no blood clots, please.]

HMMMM? if you are mad about this post, you are probably not really mad about the post - It is actually the fact that you are so irritable/angry/crazy from only eating 500 calories a day and would rather: A. punch me in the face.. B. eat like five cheeseburgers... and/or C. cry yourself to sleep every night from the hunger pangs.

yoghurtand

I hate very low calorie diets and always have. They REALLY irritate me. But I think you will find that there are quite a few people on here who do not care about any of the reasons why the diet is seen as being bad and to be fair, jt does seem to be working for them with few (perceived) side effects so I just shrug when people (online) say they're on it.

Michelle9939

I agree! I could not live on just 500 calories a day.

feenie

I agree.. a friend of mine did it too and her first day off the diet she ate a truffle and had cold sweats and tremors and was light headed.. eventually she vomited and went home. She lost 76 pounds on that diet a year ago and has since gained back close to 90.

kcrojas630

I did it and had none of these side effects! Just saying. But you are definitely entitled to your opinions.

ETA: I never felt hungry on the diet. It is really restrictive and takes lots of self control, but the results have been great. I think that there are pros and cons to every diet/ lifestyle, etc. Some people do well with low fat, high carb... some do well with high fat low carb. Everyone just needs to find what works for them and what they can stick with. HCG is a tool. If you do your rounds of hcg, lose the weight, then go back to eating how you did before hcg to gain all the weight in the first place, of course you are going to gain all that weight back. It's no different than exercising, eating sensibly until you get to your desired weight, then once you hit that desired weight you go back to sitting on the couch and eating krispy kreme's all day, you're going to gain all that weight again. Common sense is what's needed in controlling our own weight loss/ maintenance! HCG helped me kick my carb addiction. Carbs and my body do not go well together. I lost 35 lbs and have kept it off for the past 6 months.

Nanadena

I, personally, could and would not do this. My Dad did it years ago and gained everything back over and over again. But, to each their own.

rmartin72

Thank you Sarah for sharing this information, I had no idea this was going on. This is really good information you have found. Your a great friend. I hope they apprieciate your friendship and that you honestly care for them.

soknurdy

That diet sounds like anorexia in the making.. Or a yo-yo diet.

peanut613

Yeah..... everything I've read about HCG makes it sound like a terrible idea. (And I did some looking into it, since I didn't know what it was...)

Your closing made me chuckle though

sarah307

not saying it doesn't work, I just don't think it's the HEALTHIEST thing to do.

sarah307

Yeah..... everything I've read about HCG makes it sound like a terrible idea. (And I did some looking into it, since I didn't know what it was...)

Your closing made me chuckle though

haha

sarah307

Thank you Sarah for sharing this information, I had no idea this was going on. This is really good information you have found. Your a great friend. I hope they apprieciate your friendship and that you honestly care for them.

yeah! i just don't want people to think it's a 'quick fix' and be miserable... and thinking being miserable is the only way to lose weight/be healthy - and then just give up

chevy88grl

I'll tell you what sets off a red flag in my brain more than severely restricting your calories or the weight you'll likely gain back (like any restrictive diet) when you stop.

Is the hormones I'm injecting into my body. I'm not comfortable injecting something into me that is going to convince my body that we are pregnant when we aren't. I just don't think I like the idea of doing that to my body just to see if I can lose weight. Why not do it in a healthy and safe manner? Eat less, eat healthier and workout?

dmpizza

Don't worry about offending people.
HCG is a scam.
Telling the truth protects people.

koosdel

"500-calories per day is severely restrictive! In fact, it is not enough calories to support normal brain function."


Suddenly.. I understand HCG users.

sarah307

Don't worry about offending people.
HCG is a scam.
Telling the truth protects people.

YES

sarah307

"500-calories per day is severely restrictive! In fact, it is not enough calories to support normal brain function."


Suddenly.. I understand HCG users.

PAHAHAA

SusanneWhittington

I would guess there are not that many people here who would try that, because what I like on this MFP is that it flags you when you are too low in calories and explains the starvation mode etc. I don't want to just loose weight, I want to loose weight and maintain a healthy life style afterwards and a life without ice cream... not in my life!!! Loved the end of your post, made my day!

california_peach

I don't understand this diet, because the last time I had HCG in my body I blew up like balllon and 9 months later tiny humans forced their way out of my vagina...It happened twice and it smarted just a bit. I am so not doing that AGAIN.

ninerbuff

This is tame compared to the thread I started about questioning the support thread of it.

Magic_Girl

I hated the HCG diet! I tried it and only lost 5 pounds and it cost me $80!!! I didn't lose more because I couldn't follow the diet at ALL!!!

I actually felt MORE hungry because I couldn't eat the foods I really wanted to eat! I lose way more weight on MFP just by eating what I want and making sure I burn any extra calories!

Totally a scam!