HCG shots safe?

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Replies

  • celebrity328
    celebrity328 Posts: 377 Member
    Someone close to me has been doing this diet off and on for the last 6 months, I think they have dropped 30 or so pounds. They have had problems with breaking out in hives and energy issues. I have given up on trying to explain why this "diet" is not safe and I just let them do what they do. I understand wanting to lose weight but really 500 calories a day? Sometimes to boils down to letting people do what they want and when it doesnt work in the long run they might take your advise.
  • SanteMulberry
    SanteMulberry Posts: 3,202 Member
    Someone close to me has been doing this diet off and on for the last 6 months, I think they have dropped 30 or so pounds. They have had problems with breaking out in hives and energy issues. I have given up on trying to explain why this "diet" is not safe and I just let them do what they do. I understand wanting to lose weight but really 500 calories a day? Sometimes to boils down to letting people do what they want and when it doesnt work in the long run they might take your advise.

    Yes, fortunately, 500 calories are not sustainable for most people---they will quit before they get sick.
  • Beastette
    Beastette Posts: 1,497 Member
    no,



    and i am 41...doing it right is working for me

    Bam. This right here.
  • irisheyez718
    irisheyez718 Posts: 677 Member
    I'm 43. You don't need HCG shots to lose weight, no matter how old you are.
  • zoukeira
    zoukeira Posts: 313 Member
    No, they are not.

    The FDA has a warning about this "diet" plan.

    http://www.fda.gov/forconsumers/consumerupdates/ucm281333.htm

    ^^^^^Read this!!

    I have a friend who did HCG, very successfully lost weight far too quickly, is now larger than ever and she only did it about 4 months ago.
  • TrailRunner61
    TrailRunner61 Posts: 2,505 Member
    OMG NO NO NO NO! Talk her out of it. My niece got the shots and ended up in the hospital after she started peeing 'black' stuff. She was sick for a long time, could have kidney damage, and it could have killed her. The only reason you lose weight is because you are on a SUPER low calorie diet.
    Edited to add: I'm 51 years old and I've lost 40lbs and gained 8lbs of muscle, just by eating right and exercising. Yeah, it takes effort but it's the only way to do it, stay healthy and MAINTAIN your weight after you've lost it!
  • simplydelish2
    simplydelish2 Posts: 726 Member
    Most HCG protocols require a 500 calorie per day diet. Anyone will lose weight on that. IMO - it's a complete waste of money and health!
  • OspreyVista
    OspreyVista Posts: 464 Member
    No, it's not. Plus she will gain all her weight back plus more as well.
  • Helloitsdan
    Helloitsdan Posts: 5,564 Member
    Not again.
  • Lyadeia
    Lyadeia Posts: 4,603 Member
    Thanks for the responses. I think I will let let her know that she should research it very carefully before making a decision. My thought was- once you go off shots- will she have the skills to maintain any weight loss?

    Be careful in how your word your advice. In my experience, people who go for this stuff pretty much ignore the overwhelming evidence against it and tend to think anyone that disagrees is "out to get them."

    And if you disagree with them on MFP, chances are you are called a "hater" a "crabby pants" or whatever else they can come up with...after you get reported for disagreeing with someone...

    But back to the OP...please persuade this person to steer clear of this dangerous fad diet. It is most certainly NOT worth sacrificing your body's total health to lose a few pounds by taking a hormone that is NOT linked to weight loss and eating less than some people with horrible eating disorders do.
  • Lleldiranne
    Lleldiranne Posts: 5,516 Member
    She thinks because she is over 40 that her hormones are causing her to retain fat that hcg shots are the way to go

    My mom is 65 and has lost about 20 pounds on MFP. Is it harder as we get older? Yes. But really, people, stop making excuses and get to work.
  • MsJulielicious
    MsJulielicious Posts: 708 Member
    I had an HCG shot once when I was under going different fertility treatments... I don't understand why that would be given for weight reduction? I gained a *kitten* ton of weight during those treatment! Maybe I'm missing something here? I would say no..
  • mynameiscarrie
    mynameiscarrie Posts: 963 Member
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  • DesireeLovesOrganic
    DesireeLovesOrganic Posts: 456 Member
    It's a get quick scam, it works cause you are on like 500 cal a day but everyone I know that sang HCG praises are all now fatter than they were before.
  • 1Whitchick
    1Whitchick Posts: 14
    I have to say I'm not surprised that the overwhelming majority think this is a BAD idea! I'm 43, had two children back to back from 38-39, and am changing my eating and exercise habits. I've lost 12 pounds and 12 inches in 2 months. I believe that's the healthy way to lose it and KEEP it off! And when you've worked and controlled yourself and see changes happening in your body as the reward, it motivates you to continue. That's real!
  • skhaun
    skhaun Posts: 8
    Thank everyone for the responses. I do agree that I will have to approach her carefully so I don't upset her. She has had a lot of trauma recently and I would hate to see her jeopardize her health. Hopefully she will look at MFP and will see slow and steady wins the race in a healthy way. Also if I get more focused - maybe I can show her by example!
  • Health_Gal
    Health_Gal Posts: 715 Member
    Here's an article you can show her:

    http://www.webmd.com/diet/features/truth-about-hcg-for-weight-loss

    Any "doctor" or "medical weight loss clinic" that promotes ANY form of the HCG starvation diet scam is not to be trusted!
  • athodges777
    athodges777 Posts: 11 Member
    They are safe, but not worth it. I did it about 6 months ago, ate the lower calories and lost 30 lbs in a month. You are not supposed to exercise at all while on this b/c of the low calorie restriction. As soon as I got off of them and started upping my calories, I slowly started gaining the weight back...20 lbs of it to be exact. It's not worth the very expensive price either! I would take it day by day and do it the natural, safe way. I spent $375 just for the shots! It was crazy! Never again!
  • moonsforeyes
    moonsforeyes Posts: 228
    it is such a terrible way to go about losing weight. I really do help she does a little research and reconsiders!
  • csplatt
    csplatt Posts: 1,205 Member
    My mom did it and not only did she gain sll the weight back, she had major abdominal surgery because thehormone can cause natural cysts to grow abnormally
  • icmuse
    icmuse Posts: 263 Member
    No, thank you!

    HCG can totally mess with other hormonal levels.

    Why destroy a healthy body for a quick fix!?
  • verptwerp
    verptwerp Posts: 3,659 Member
    I'm 61 ..... eating reasonable portions of healthier food AND moving more each day helped me get rid of 45+ lbs :drinker:
  • Health_Gal
    Health_Gal Posts: 715 Member
    If your friend already invested the money but changes her mind, maybe she can make them give her a refund!

    Good luck!
  • karlajotj
    karlajotj Posts: 46 Member
    My sister took the HCG drops a yr and a half ago and lost 12 pounds in approx a month. She said it was really hard and almost got sick because of it. I know a personal trainer and he said that is not healthy at all. You're not getting all of your vitamins & minerals that you 're suppose to when you're only eating 500 calories a day. Not a good idea.
  • Health_Gal
    Health_Gal Posts: 715 Member
    Don't do it! HCG does NOTHING to make a 500 calorie a day diet safe. The HCG diet is a big rip-off, and the government should close down all the "medical weight loss" clinics and "doctors" that push it.

    http://www.webmd.com/diet/features/truth-about-hcg-for-weight-loss
  • KANGOOJUMPS
    KANGOOJUMPS Posts: 6,474 Member
    no.

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