First week on the HCG diet!!!

Okay - it says there is a risk but gives absolutely no substantiation or details about the risk . . I mean I could write anything on a website an not back it up - that doesn't make it accurate. Where are the facts?

I concede that it is POSSIBLE that there MAY be a risk - but until evidence arises, don't believe that it is any more dangerous than hormone contraceptives or smoking. I would like to see some case studies where otherwise healthy individuals suffered ill health from the use of HCG.

I am an intelligent adult and as such feel competent researching and forming my own opinion.

I agree that just because something is written on a website doesn't make it accurate, and I agree that we should each do research and form our own opinions. I think we need to read as much as we can, run it through our own filters as to whether we think what we read sounds reasonable or not and, using that (along with our own experiences, beliefs and observations), come to a conclusion about what we think makes sense. My philosophy remains that the safest and most prudent way to lose fat (not just weight) is to feed our bodies the proper amount of nutrients to fuel them without overfeeding them, not to introduce substances or procedures that disrupt the normal functioning of our bodies or to follow what I consider to be extreme diets. I truly hope you're right that you're not endangering your health. I don't personally know anyone who has tried HCG, so I don't have any firsthand anecdotal evidence, but I know several people who have had weight-loss surgery, most with pretty detrimental results. That doesn't mean I don't still support my friends if I don't support their methods. If they ask me what I think, I tell them honestly, but I'll always be there for them whatever they choose to do.

I have read nothing and can find nothing about HCG related embolism and have read nothing indicating that blood clots are a risk with HCG.

http://www.ehow.com/facts_5008933_hcg-shot-side-effects.html

Okay - it says there is a risk but gives absolutely no substantiation or details about the risk . . I mean I could write anything on a website an not back it up - that doesn't make it accurate. Where are the facts?

I concede that it is POSSIBLE that there MAY be a risk - but until evidence arises, don't believe that it is any more dangerous than hormone contraceptives or smoking. I would like to see some case studies where otherwise healthy individuals suffered ill health from the use of HCG.

I am an intelligent adult and as such feel competent researching and forming my own opinion.

Death is not evidence enough???????

Please be careful of this diet, I know it gives you fast results and that is good, but in the long run you may gain it back plus some!, I am proud of you for trying it and give you applause for finishing it, however when you are done with the drops then remember to eat correctly, don't go back to your old habbits, and that is what happens so often becuase nothing is learned as to how to change your lifestyle.. So please be successfull in your journey to get you jump started, but then learn to change your life style! Good Luck!

Just a note. There is the risk of blood clotting using birth control as well.

Everything has it's risks. Research, consult your doctor, be aware of your own body, and make your own educated decisions.

I was going to say that as well I know someone who had a stroke at 20 years old from taking birh control pills. She did not smoke or drink perfectly healthy. There are risks to just about everything.

Wow, I just can't be more shocked at those that wrote how this couldn't have happened. Seems it DID happen! ALL extreme diets have risks that's simply how they work, it's how ppl are able to drop weight so quickly by taking those extreme risks.

Someone brand new to the site shares she just lost a close friend and all you are focusing on is defending your diet. Not even any respect given.:noway: Why so much defense over a diet? Seems if someone truly believes what they are doing is right for them, there would be no reason in the world to be defensive about it. Why would it need to be defended???????

Please, can you simply let her be, she only buried her friend such a short time ago why even PM her asking for details, that just seems so wrong on so many levels:noway:

We all have our thoughts on eating healthy and seems some prefer dieting, there seem to be two camps on MFP, dieters and non-dieters, I don't know that either camp will ever agree. We all find our way at some point...hopefully sooner than later. I stopped dieting when I came here. Some still diet on the site, so be it, but get someone back to 'dieting' when they finally gave it up? It makes no sense at all.....:frown:

Becca - I respect your firm stand against the diet. Please understand that I am not asking for details to cause her distress, but if there is proof of a danger I want to be made aware of it from a source I feel is accurate. If she doesn't respond, I have no information on which to conduct any additional research.

I don't endorse the diet any more strongly than you oppose it. Why do you so strongly oppose it? I will not manipulate the decisions of intelligent adults, only share my PERSONAL EXPERIENCE with the method so that they may make their own decisions.

I started the diet 2 weeks ago and am down 12 lbs, my skin looks and feels better, I am not starving as most people thing you would be on a VLCD. I hit the gym 3 days a week for 30 mins with a trainer and the results are amazing. I understand people are skeptic they need to do the research before putting something down that others truly believe in. For some this diet is life changing and is saving peoples lives. Being obese is the number one leader in heart disease and has killed more people then this diet could.

Its a personal choice to make and I made it and am thankful for it. Not all MD's know the details or have done the research so just because one says its bad doesnt mean they are right they may just be misinformed.

Good luck to all on there weight loss journey. I know I am happy and thats what matters.

Great job!

I can't think of a way to put this more delicately, but if no additional information about this 'possibly HCG related death" is not available, then the only option is to disregard it as heresay.

HCG is the same hormone our bodies increase during pregnancy. HCG is also used in fertility treatments (invitro, etc) and the amount given on the HCG diet is far less than the amounts used for other HGC uses. The FDA will not ban HCG, but it also won't approve its use for dieting. It's been used for years for fertility with minimal side effects.

Also HCG is not in birth control. Birth control is made up of Progeterone and estrogen. So there is no correlation between deaths of those on hormonal birth control and those using HCG.

Some people take Phen and other diet pills while on the HCG diet. It might be that these other aides increase the risks of using HCG. That's why it's important to talk to a physican.

Hello. I wanted to say that i am also on the HCG Diet. I am on round 2. I love this diet, but this is my last round, I should be reaching my goal weight with this diet. When i got done with the diet the first time, i didnt follow protocal. I ended the diet at 138.2. for the first week i did follow it pretty much like i should have, But then i started losing control. My own fault. The most i was up from my end weight was 2-4 lbs which IMO, for a fast paced diet, thats pretty darn good! i was off the diet for 10 weeks. I didnt eat completely healthy, i still ate out at resturants and ate that nice big juicy cheeseburger and some fries, i was having fried foods(but not fastfood) So 2-4 lbs and not eating exactly healthy, seems great in my book. 2 days before I started my gorge for round 2, i was at 144. again, my own fault, i was eating terrible. i was also drinking pop, eating pizza, large helpings of spagetti, perhaps maybe those 2 end pounds were just undigested food in my stomach. Anyway. When i started Round 2, i started at 150.4(because of the 2 gorge days, i gained 6.4 lbs) but i lost that with in 2 days.
Today i am on day 9 of round 2 and i am down 11.6 lbs. I have 13.8 lbs to go til my goal wieght. Bash people on this diet and say they will gain it all back. And i agree, if they dont follow the diet correctly at the end and arent leading a healthy eating and active lifestyle then yes, i could see them gaining it back...But for those who want to follow the diet as planned, good for you! It is my plan this time around