HCG DIET IS DANGEROUS!!!
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Oh for goodness sake, to each their own, just try to be informed for your own safety and then make your choices. And to be really perfectly hontest, I did think it was irresponsible of OP to make this post with that title (whether it was the article title or not) when very quicky cruise through the boards would show that we have several people here who are on the diet.....minding their own business and supporting each other. It's common sense. A change of title and we could have avoided half of these posts.0
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Oh for goodness sake, to each their own, just try to be informed for your own safety and then make your choices. And to be really perfectly hontest, I did think it was irresponsible of OP to make this post with that title (whether it was the article title or not) when very quicky cruise through the boards would show that we have several people here who are on the diet.....minding their own business and supporting each other. It's common sense. A change of title and we could have avoided half of these posts.
It's no more irresponsible than other topics that are posted extolling the "benefits" of this and encouraging others to try it.0 -
Day 25 on HCG 18.5 pounds gone!! I feel great!! This is by far more healthy then all the diet pills I have been taking for years, filled with chemicals and lord knows what all, and rapid heart rates. Everything diet pill and thermogenic on the market I have tried with no success. It took 3 minths to lose 14 pound doing 1200 calories and working out everyday and it only took 10 days to gain that back plus 2 pounds. You will also find on the internet pages warning you about ANYTHING. These come from people who do not know how the diet works and have never tried themselves or have tried it but did not follow protocol. Everyone has an opinion. If everyone had access to HCG america would not be the fattest country in the world. It makes you aware of what your eating and how your body reacts to certain foods. This is an amazing product and I recommend it to everyone!!!
People are entitled to their own opinions-they aren't entitled to their own facts.0 -
What many of you are forgetting to mention is that real, licensed and practicing doctors are prescribing this diet to people who need to lose abnormal stores of fat. MY doctor prescribed this diet for me after years of me trying to lose weight "the old fashioned way."
I can't say that I won't gain the weight back years from now due to stress, bad eating habits which have been ingrained in me since birth, and poor exercise, but I can say that "facts" can be altered on the internet. Do not believe everything you read, no. And I would never follow Trudeau's plan.
However, there ARE proven cases of people using HCG to change their lifestyles and lose the weight/fat that they need to shed.
Just like there are proven cases of people who lost weight slowly the old fashioned way and oops, gained it back.
Every "diet" should end in a lifestyle change. If it doesn't, it doens't matter if you're taking HCG or just restricting calories, you will gain the weight back if you don't learn how to eat right, eat healthy, and get up and exercise.
Please stop using logical fallicy scare tactics on this site which is meant to support. I have known more success on HCG than I ever have, in a shorter amount of time. I am being carefully monitored by both the weight loss clinic I go to every week and my personal physician. I agree that in uneducated hands, the HCG diet could be dangerous, but with proper education, literature (NOT Trudeau), and physician care, it is NOT dangerous.
For someone who has had a life long struggle with weight, not just gained after high school weight or baby weight, but has been morbidly obese since she was eight years old, HCG is the extra help I need to get my hormones and appetite under control after years of abusing them.0 -
I have done this diet in the early 80s with little results except It made me nervous and mean. I for one will never do that low a calorie diet again. I had the daily shots and b12 3x weekly and still I only held out about 3 months. Of course the weight came back. I know we are all desperate to lose our excess weight but please be kind to yourself and your body. :flowerforyou:0
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Ok, so lets assume that you're going to be burning fat stores while you're on this diet (due to the low calories) and not being hungry (due to the HCG). My question is:
HOW ARE YOU GETTING THE NUTRITION YOUR BODY REQUIRES IN ORDER TO FUNCTION??? How are you ensuring you do not become malnurished?
It doesn't come from fat, it doesn't come from hcg drops and it most certainly doesn't come from 500 calories a day. So where is the nutrition - the protein, the complex carbs, the vitamins, the minerals, the fiber??? We do eat food for a reason, not just to satisfy our gluttony, it is what keeps our bodies going.
I know that a few days isn't going to seriously harm anyone, but these people are talking about 80 days!! (2 40 day supplies). That is nearly three months!
Food is not the enemy. It is fuel. The problem isn't with eating food, it is in our heads as far as making nutritious choices and limiting ourselves to what we need instead of what we want. How on earth are you supposed to learn to do that on 500 calories a day?0 -
People are entitled to their own opinions-they aren't entitled to their own facts.
I agree wholeheartedly with you, and it makes me sad to think how angry and defensive people get about their 'diet' choices.
I do not believe anyone should run around recommending this diet to their friends.
If your doctor recommends it, hey, use your own discretion...but there are a lot of people who willingly trust others because they are looking for a quick fix. No matter what anyone can say, THERE IS NO QUICK FIX. You must make the LIFESTYLE CHANGE to lose and keep your weight off for good.
This is about as crazy as the Phen-Fen phase used to be. Seems everyone I know these days is telling me they are on the HCG diet.
In my CrossFit class, there are several girls/moms in there who started at the beginning of the year obese (250+ pounds) who are in better shape than me now! It is called hard work, healthy diet, and persistence. That's all!0 -
nursegirljay,
Would you mind, for those of us that are not familiar with the diet, explaining how the hypothalamus and chemicals in your body play a part in this diet? Also, is is suggested that you work out during those periods of 500 cal days? I haven't read the article, and I am certainly not bashing the diet, although it is something that I would not do, but it seems to me if you are working out as well as eating so few calories, you essentially have nothing to provide your body with the energy needed to get through the day. Again, I am not bashing or degrading anyone using this method of weight loss, but simply curious about the details that may not make sense to a lot of people.
Thank you.
They don't. It is a lot of conjecture and "it makes sense" type of thinking. When the "theories" have been researched, it has been shown that virtually all of the "weight loss" effect is due to the VLCD and has nothing to do with HCG.
People need to realize where this stuff comes from. This is not some new plan--the HCG plan started 50-60 years ago. It was researched and dismissed in the early 1960s. That's the way these things go. They lie low for a few years until they slip away from public consciousness and a new generation of marks is born. Then they are resurrected and, like all fads in the US, are embraced by the desperate and the gullible.
In this case, from what I understand, the reality is even worse. The HCG plan was resurrected by one of the all-time scam artists--Kevin Trudeau. This is a guy who did time for larceny and credit card fraud, has been sued numerous times by various states and the FTC for deceptive trade practices,
Taking any "health" advice from this guy would be like asking a pedophile to baby sit your kids.
Here are four references-5 minutes with teh Google will yield many more.
ttp://articles.latimes.com/2009/nov/02/health/he-nutrition2
http://www.dietsinreview.com/diet_column/07/hcg-diet-look-elsewhere-for-weight-loss/
http://health.howstuffworks.com/wellness/diet-fitness/weight-loss/hcg-diet.htm
http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/hcg-diet/AN02091
The plan was not dismissed. I talked to my dad and my aunt about this and it was very popular in the 1970's..............
My aunt knows people that lost the weight back then and have kept it off to this date............0 -
People are entitled to their own opinions-they aren't entitled to their own facts.
I agree wholeheartedly with you, and it makes me sad to think how angry and defensive people get about their 'diet' choices.
I do not believe anyone should run around recommending this diet to their friends.
If your doctor recommends it, hey, use your own discretion...but there are a lot of people who willingly trust others because they are looking for a quick fix. No matter what anyone can say, THERE IS NO QUICK FIX. You must make the LIFESTYLE CHANGE to lose and keep your weight off for good.
This is about as crazy as the Phen-Fen phase used to be. Seems everyone I know these days is telling me they are on the HCG diet.
In my CrossFit class, there are several girls/moms in there who started at the beginning of the year obese (250+ pounds) who are in better shape than me now! It is called hard work, healthy diet, and persistence. That's all!
Obviously you have not read the original protocol. It is not a quick fix and it is not an easy way out................
For people that have over eating issues it forces them to look at food in a whole different light and your appetite becomes very, very different..............
I am on this plan for another reason. We are treating my hormone and Endocrine related issues with this plan and so far, so good.0 -
Ok, so lets assume that you're going to be burning fat stores while you're on this diet (due to the low calories) and not being hungry (due to the HCG). My question is:
HOW ARE YOU GETTING THE NUTRITION YOUR BODY REQUIRES IN ORDER TO FUNCTION??? How are you ensuring you do not become malnurished?
It doesn't come from fat, it doesn't come from hcg drops and it most certainly doesn't come from 500 calories a day. So where is the nutrition - the protein, the complex carbs, the vitamins, the minerals, the fiber??? We do eat food for a reason, not just to satisfy our gluttony, it is what keeps our bodies going.
I know that a few days isn't going to seriously harm anyone, but these people are talking about 80 days!! (2 40 day supplies). That is nearly three months!
Food is not the enemy. It is fuel. The problem isn't with eating food, it is in our heads as far as making nutritious choices and limiting ourselves to what we need instead of what we want. How on earth are you supposed to learn to do that on 500 calories a day?
When you start burning your own body fat, vitamins and minerals that have been stored away are being released for absorption and use.
I have more energy now that I am doing this than I have had in a long time.
The 500 calories a day is only while you are dosing with the HCG, which is Phase 2. In Phase 3, you increase your caloric intake slowly and eat upwards of 2,000 calories a day. The rule in Phase 3 is no sugar, no starches...........
In Phase 4, sugar and starches are slowly added to the eating plan . Phase 3 and 4 are for stabilizing the loss and maintaining.0 -
Only A, D, K, and E are able to be stored.
Water soluble vitamins are NOT stored in the body and those are necessary too -
These are all water-soluble vitamins:
•vitamin B6
•vitamin B12
•vitamin C
•biotin
•folic acid
•niacin
•pantothenic acid
•riboflavin
•thiamin
Minerals are essential nutrients that your body needs in small amounts to work properly. We need them in the form they are found in food.
Minerals can be found in varying amounts in a variety of foods such as meat, cereals (including cereal products such as bread), fish, milk and dairy foods, vegetables, fruit (especially dried fruit) and nuts.
Minerals are necessary for three main reasons:
•building strong bones and teeth
•controlling body fluids inside and outside cells
•turning the food we eat into energy
These are all essential minerals:
•calcium
•iron
•magnesium
•phosphorus
•potassium
•sodium
•sulphur0 -
As before, I will let my results in my signature speak for themselves, but this time add that yesterday was the first day of 2nd round and I lost 3.3 lbs in one day.0
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Only A, D, K, and E are able to be stored.
Water soluble vitamins are NOT stored in the body and those are necessary too -
These are all water-soluble vitamins:
•vitamin B6
•vitamin B12
•vitamin C
•biotin
•folic acid
•niacin
•pantothenic acid
•riboflavin
•thiamin
Minerals are essential nutrients that your body needs in small amounts to work properly. We need them in the form they are found in food.
Minerals can be found in varying amounts in a variety of foods such as meat, cereals (including cereal products such as bread), fish, milk and dairy foods, vegetables, fruit (especially dried fruit) and nuts.
Minerals are necessary for three main reasons:
•building strong bones and teeth
•controlling body fluids inside and outside cells
•turning the food we eat into energy
These are all essential minerals:
•calcium
•iron
•magnesium
•phosphorus
•potassium
•sodium
•sulphur
You will never understand the plan or how you won't become malnourished or not starving yourself unless you Read the Original Pounds and Inches Protocol by Dr. Simeons...............Not that Kevin Trudeau B.S..........
I had my blood work done BEFORE I started this plan. Everything was fine except I was Vitamin D Deficient............
Just had blood work done AFTER I finished Phase 2. Again, everything is fine except the Vitamin D.
She told me I need to get more sun.
My first round was done using the homeopathic sublingual drops. My second round I will start over the weekend will be done with the injections..............
My first round I lost 16 pounds and dropped 1 clothing size. It is slow for me, but I no longer ache in my knees, ankles and hips due to the weight loss..............
You have to eat very, very, very clean on this plan..0 -
I think it's OK for people to do whatever they want, but I think it's important to be honest with ourselves, as well. Results are not the whole picture.
I went through a tough breakup years ago. I didn't eat for two weeks. I lost 25 pounds. I had great results, but was it healthy? Was it something one should do? Anorexics and bulemics have "great results" that "speak for themselves." They're not healthy, though.
Sorry, but to me, shooting up with hormones and living on 500 calories a day isn't to lose weight isn't worth it to me. I'd rather be healthy and give my body the fuel and nutrition it needs while still losing weight at a pretty decent clip. Even with "less to lose," I can drop almost 2 pounds a week just eating right and exercising. And it's not unusual to drop 1.5 inches in my waist in a week's time doing that, as well.
So, I guess what I'm saying is that if the HCG diet is the way you choose to go, then good for you. But why pretend it's good for you?0 -
Controversial! You cvan go on the web and find just as many sites praising it as condemning it. It's like that with anything.
Use common sense.0 -
The HCG Protocol has taught me how to eat properly and exactly how much food I really "need" to eat in order to maintain a healthy weight. HGC allows your body to use the fat that just won't go away. It woked when I was pregnant and it worked now when I completed Phase 2 recently. I have been able to maintain my loss and will do another round.
Anyone can make an argument for or against something. It's only when you've tried it that you can give an honest opinion from personal experience. Those who have done it know that it works.0 -
WOW!! I knew it didnt sound safe or healthy and I would never choose that route but this is really sad!My sister went on this diet in conjunction with the b12 shots and she dropped 75 lbs in 6 months (she couldn't stick to the 500 daily calories deal.) Expensive weekly doctor visits, etc. It has been one year and she has gained it all back and then some...One of the co-workers that went on the diet with her just passed away. She was 32 (had a 5 year old son) and was so obsessed with gaining her weight back, that she was starving herself! She died of an anurism that was most likely caused in part by her rapid weight loss and extremely low caloric intake.
Oh how awful. I heard about it being bad as well, but wow that's really terrible.0 -
I'm actually on day 1 of the 500 phase and using drops. You don't stay on the 500 calorie plan forever - just in phase 1!!!
My metabolism already is at a standstill and I've tried eating 1200 calories plus exercising and can only drop 10 pounds max. So I'm willing to try something new and different and just hoping for a jump-start.
So I can't vouche for how great it is just yet, but there are real people everywhere who have done this (shots or drops) with great success. To me, 500 calories of good, healthy and clean food is a lot better than 1500+ of not eating so healthy.0 -
Obtained from: http://spikediet.blogspot.com/2010/08/hcg-diet-is-dangerous.html
The HCG Diet is all over the web and I am starting to see it in stores now too, but what is it?
The HCG Diet is a diet based on extremely low calories, how low? 500 calories!!! Let me start with that; Only 500 calories a day of course you are going to lose weight, the average person will burn over 2,000 calories a day which means by diet alone there is a daily 1,500 calorie deficit which equals 3lb lost per week. The problem is you are starving yourself, and one meal away from flat out fasting. You will slip into "starvation mode" and your metabolism will slow down.
Good luck maintaining a 500 calorie a day diet for the rest of your life, because once you go back to "normal" you will indeed gain the weight back too.. In my opinion this is the definition of a crash diet that is impossible to maintain as a lifestyle.
HCG is short for human chorionic gonadotropin, it's a hormone produced during pregnancy, and the reason why people thinks this is good for weight loss is because of Dr. A.T.W Simeons HCG Weight Loss Protocol, or the Original 500 Calorie a Day Diet. Apparently this hormone keeps the hunger away but according to numerous studies there is no difference in weight-loss through placebo or HCG and there is no difference in hunger either. Source LA Times
HCG is expensive, shots can run hundreds of dollars a month, and since the FDA ruled that is not safe for weight loss you need a prescription for another issue, like what it's really used for, fertility.
Sure you can buy it online from what may be a real source, but without a prescription you are breaking the law, and paying lots of money for nothing that really helps you lose weight.
I am normally not one to knock another person's diet because there are a lot different plans that work, but this plan is flat out dangerous! I hope by getting the word out, I can stop someone from going down this unsafe path. You need to find a safe plan that works for you and your lifestyle, I have learned that if you want to lose weight and keep it off, you need to find something you can follow the rest of your life. Otherwise once you go back to "normal" the weight will come back too.
To summarize, stay far away from anything related to HCG for weight-loss, here's why.
- Extremely low calories, only 500 a day.
- Injecting your body with a non-FDA approved drug for weight-loss
- It's expensive
- It's illegal without a prescription, which Doctor's are not supposed to prescribe for weight loss.
- You do not need to starve yourself to lose weight, nor pump your body full of illegal drugs.
Please share this with your friends and family, if they are trying to lose weight they will undoubtedly come across HCG. The marketers behind it are very smart and have websites everywhere keeping the real information about the dangers of HCG buried behind hundreds of Pro-HCG websites.
I'm going to have to agree with you. I would never do it but that's my own personal choice. If I'm going to diet (like I have been for real since April) I'm going to educate myself on everything that has to do with eating, diet and excersice and it's totally worked. 500 calories a day is a bit extreme if you ask me, but I could also see how someone trying to "kick start" their diet or someone who has hit a major platue could turn to something like this. Fortunatly for me I can do it the all natural way and not have to refer to drastic measures like this diet. I hope for those of you that have chose this diet, that it works for you. It's just not for me, Even though I'm dieting, I still enjoy food, just because your wanting to lose weight doesn't mean you can't enjoy food, I still do and I think I honestly enjoy it now more then ever. I need what energy I do have, If I was eating 500 calories a day I'd be a blob on the couch all day, lol.0 -
Congratulations. The "eat less move more" theory doesn't work for me or my wife. The HCG protocol does.I can drop almost 2 pounds a week just eating right and exercising.
Pretend? Who's pretending? Neither my wife or I have received any lab or physical screening results that have shown that it ISN'T good for us. In fact, the blood screenings and physicals with our doctor indicate the exact opposite. Both of us are healthier than we have been in years and our medical numbers support that statement.But why pretend it's good for you?
For the record, our doctor did NOT prescribe HCG for us. She hadn't even heard of it. We are going it alone, but doing so after over a year of painstaking research and interviews.0
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