HCG Diet

Hello Everyone,

I am starting the hcg diet next week, as soon as my period ends. I am nervous and excited! I really hope this works for me, I'd like to loose about 45 pounds before my wedding next september.

If anyone has a tips or suggestions I'm all ears!

Good luck with the HCG diet. It does work!!

Where can I get the drops? Is there a certain brand that should be used and about how much does it cost?

That's what was thinking, we will see how the first round goes, luckily I have 18 months until my wedding and should be able to reach my goals by then!

Started loading day 1 this morning- I guess I'm used to the 1200 calorie diet I've lived on for the past few years! I ate a large breakfast and I feel stuffed! The only confusing part about the protocol- it doesn't give any caloric recommendations for the loading days- I don't want to overdo/underdo it!

This is a very broad question. You can make the drops from the dry HCG powder (preferred method) or you can order homeopathic drops from the internet (next preferred) or you can buy drops from the drugstore like Walgreens or CVS (while people have logged success there is a serious question on wether any HCG is present in the over the counter HCG, most of what you will get is B12 with a super dilution of HCG if any HCG at all.

Where can I get the drops? Is there a certain brand that should be used and about how much does it cost?

Probably too late now...but there are NO caloric regulations for the loading days. Give in to your every craving. The loading days are basically your oppourtunity to get out every little craving you could possibly have. In fact the protocol mentions that the higher the fat and sugar the better...and do midnight snacks to. One of my loading days consisted of Pizza, moon pies, french toast, cookies, candy...all sorts of bad stuff, you will gain weight but it will drop off nearly immediately once you start R2. How is it going for you BTW?

That's what was thinking, we will see how the first round goes, luckily I have 18 months until my wedding and should be able to reach my goals by then!

Started loading day 1 this morning- I guess I'm used to the 1200 calorie diet I've lived on for the past few years! I ate a large breakfast and I feel stuffed! The only confusing part about the protocol- it doesn't give any caloric recommendations for the loading days- I don't want to overdo/underdo it!

Couldnt agree with you more...you MUST have a support network...one of the reasons I hang out on here...plus Im a stubborn mule of a person sometimes and arguing with people about HCG's effectiveness just makes me want to be more succesful to prove them wrong (regardless of the fact that their opinion really doesnt matter, nor does mine, and when it comes down to it is just fun bickering)....any how I think I would classify myself as a food addict as well, I simply love to it, and I had a strong attachment of my emotions to food. I wouldnt so much eat when I was mad, but I definately attributed food to good times and even family (Hell Im Italian, and thats just how I was raised...) so I actually have to get ALL!! of the bad food out of the house, and I have my wife do the grocery shopping, and she knows she cant bring stuff home I cant have because I will eat it. There are times when I simply have a craving for something and I will strip the cupboards bare looking for that "unknown" item that I think will cure my craving. If it simply is not there then the craving will pass (usually within minutes) I will drink a glass of water or tea or coffee...and go on my marry way...if it IS there I will eat it...no doubt about it....bottom line is I dont miss what isnt there...I think people will be more succesfull if they prepped their kitchens and homes for the next few weeks, and if you are married then you both need to commit to eating the same type of food at least through the protocol, you will be much more succesful...

Ya know I grew up in Upstate NY, TONS of dairy farms, and I did my fair share of farm work as a kid, I even delivered milk in glass bottles, we used to have to put blankets over the milk on the milk route in the summer in order to keep the milk cold throughout the route...the trucks were not even refrigerated; with that said, I have seen my fair share of very large and definately over weight farmers: bacon, eggs, milk, pancakes for breakfast...sandwiches with lots of meat and cheese on white bread...and more milk for lunch, and a nice hearty dinner consisting of pork or beef with potatoes, bread and all the goodies...that right there is a NORMAL day for a farmer. While I have seen plenty of fat farmers, I have not seen too many weak farmers...those guys and girls work their buts off...and if ya ask me earn the right to be fat and eat what ever the heck they want. I would venture to say that only maybe 2% of jobs in the United States are as demanding as the average farmer....have you ever stacked HAY!!!! HOLY S$#T!!!! Im not surprised she passed out from a 500 calorie diet, a farmer will have burned through 1000 calories by sun up....plus if there wasnt any real HCG then there body wasnt releasing the fat into the blood stream...bad business all around.

I agree with all you. You HAVE to read and re-read the entire protocol before starting the HCG diet. And you have to mentally be prepared to do it. Not to mention; watch the sources where you may purchase your drops because there are plenty of distributors (especially online) that are willing to sell you bull**** products. It should be purchased/prescribed by your physician.

With my mom's experience of doing it, yes, she was overweight and it was very hard for her to do the diet as she is a food addict. However, she was very dedicated doing it as her and her two friends did it all together so she had support. I think that's needed. She recieved a lot of flak for doing the diet from my dad! Anyway, she followed the diet strictly and lost 25 pounds. That's the upside. But because she didn't follow the protocol of all stages, and the drops were purchased online, she gave in when her friends did. (Her one friend dropped out after passing out one day due to physical exercise--she's a farmer and of course, physical exercise is required in farming!).

Now, a year later, my mom has gained 10 pounds back of the 25 and she is looking to go back on it. But it's important she has support if she starts again. So, any one on here having the desire to do it, just be prepared for what you're getting into and hopefully, get it through your doctor. And have some support backed up as well.

Good luck!

a friend of mine tried it, lost 15 pounds but as soon as she started eating normal again, she gained most of it back. I feel that you have to learn to eat normal and exercise normal if you want to lose weight the healthy way. Having a healthy relationship with food is a life long journey. I wish you luck.

I purchased a bunch of candy bars, muffins and other high calorie foods, since I do not keep these in my home... So this diet will end up being kid of pricey once it's all said and done...

I've read and re-read the protocol several times, It just seems so counterintuitive to force yourself to eat tons to "bad" foods I havent eaten for years... I hope all this sugar and starch doesn't make me feel sick come day 3 when it's time to start the vlcd...

Probably too late now...but there are NO caloric regulations for the loading days. Give in to your every craving. The loading days are basically your oppourtunity to get out every little craving you could possibly have. In fact the protocol mentions that the higher the fat and sugar the better...and do midnight snacks to. One of my loading days consisted of Pizza, moon pies, french toast, cookies, candy...all sorts of bad stuff, you will gain weight but it will drop off nearly immediately once you start R2. How is it going for you BTW?

That's what was thinking, we will see how the first round goes, luckily I have 18 months until my wedding and should be able to reach my goals by then!

Started loading day 1 this morning- I guess I'm used to the 1200 calorie diet I've lived on for the past few years! I ate a large breakfast and I feel stuffed! The only confusing part about the protocol- it doesn't give any caloric recommendations for the loading days- I don't want to overdo/underdo it!

If you follow the protocol appropriately you will learn healthy eating, actually even during the vlcd you are eating clean and healthy. The protocol is very strict on reintroducing foods, and the amount of the food in both of the follow on phases to the VLCD. I dont know your friend but if she gained it all back immediately, I would have to say she went back to her old habits, and even if she had been exercising and eating right for 8 months and then went back to her old ways she would still have gained the weight back. There is no magic powder that is going to keep someone from going back to their old habits...unfortunately, and those who may eat clean and healthy and also exercise consistently for several years, could easily find themselves unhealthy again then quickly regain the weight they had kept off for so many years.

a friend of mine tried it, lost 15 pounds but as soon as she started eating normal again, she gained most of it back. I feel that you have to learn to eat normal and exercise normal if you want to lose weight the healthy way. Having a healthy relationship with food is a life long journey. I wish you luck.

I know where you are coming from, but I think that is a very broad generalization. My first round was with homeopathic drops and was succesful, also those who mix their own drops from HCG receive the same benefits that would be received from injections. There are definately some scammers and false advertising in the drops market, which I would agree, unless you know someone very well and want to take their advice on which drops to buy...to simply stay away from them altogether and get HCG from the pharmacy to mix themselves for injection or sublingual application.

I know people may no want to hear this, but I posted a link about the HCG diet, and the drops don't work. They are expensive, and I see people saying that it will cost a lot. So...just trying to save you all some money. Take it or leave it...I'm not trying to sway you one way or the other, just trying to save you all money

Good luck!

No, I would not take it as being mean, if you browse throught the thread, a few pages back you will find where I pasted several links where Dr.s where in disagreement as to the benefits of using HCG. Additionally, I also provided links to two seperate double blind studies that were conducted which both proved a significant difference in weight loss between a placebo group and the HCG group. I urge you to check them out, there is alot of misinformation out there, and most of it is negative about HCG, the science is there, and the proof is in both the research conducted by Dr. Simean as well as modern research, such as what is provided in these double blind studies, not to mention the 1000's of people who have experienced dramatic success. If it was truly the 500 VLCD that caused the weight loss there should be severe muscle atrophy, but research has shown through the use of hydrostatic body fat testing that while most diets, the ones the nutritionist endorse, will lead to 10% of total weight loss from muscle mass, those on the HCG diet have only lost a corresponding 2-4%. This fact alone proves that their is an element at work here beyond caloric starvation.

There is nothing with providing your opinion or interrpretation of articles or studies conducted, it leads to healthy debate, but I would have to firmly disagree as the science and experiences have proven HCG's (as a prescribed hormone) effectiveness.

I know where you are coming from, but I think that is a very broad generalization. My first round was with homeopathic drops and was succesful, also those who mix their own drops from HCG receive the same benefits that would be received from injections. There are definately some scammers and false advertising in the drops market, which I would agree, unless you know someone very well and want to take their advice on which drops to buy...to simply stay away from them altogether and get HCG from the pharmacy to mix themselves for injection or sublingual application.

I know people may no want to hear this, but I posted a link about the HCG diet, and the drops don't work. They are expensive, and I see people saying that it will cost a lot. So...just trying to save you all some money. Take it or leave it...I'm not trying to sway you one way or the other, just trying to save you all money

Good luck!

I'm basing my info on science and studies that have been done. Like I said...not trying to sway people, but there is no scientific data that shows support for the HCG hormone. It's the 500 calories a day that makes people lose weight. And please don't take this as me being mean, or trying to start something. Like I said, I'm just trying to help people save money. If you still want to use the drops and all, it's your decision.

Take care

Directly from Dr. Simeons manuscrips

"we compromise by insisting that they eat frequently of highly concentrated foods such as milk chocolate, pastries with whipped cream sugar, fried meats (particularly pork), eggs and bacon, mayonnaise, bread with thick butter and jam, etc."

Seems like starchy and sugary junk foods in addition to high fatty foods. The whole purpose is to ensure your good fat stores are completely full and also give in to any cravings that you may have. Eat what ever you want...have fun with the two days. Mmm pastries with whipped cream sugar...starchy AND sugarry.

I purchased a bunch of candy bars, muffins and other high calorie foods, since I do not keep these in my home... So this diet will end up being kid of pricey once it's all said and done...

I've read and re-read the protocol several times, It just seems so counterintuitive to force yourself to eat tons to "bad" foods I havent eaten for years... I hope all this sugar and starch doesn't make me feel sick come day 3 when it's time to start the vlcd...

Probably too late now...but there are NO caloric regulations for the loading days. Give in to your every craving. The loading days are basically your oppourtunity to get out every little craving you could possibly have. In fact the protocol mentions that the higher the fat and sugar the better...and do midnight snacks to. One of my loading days consisted of Pizza, moon pies, french toast, cookies, candy...all sorts of bad stuff, you will gain weight but it will drop off nearly immediately once you start R2. How is it going for you BTW?

That's what was thinking, we will see how the first round goes, luckily I have 18 months until my wedding and should be able to reach my goals by then!

Started loading day 1 this morning- I guess I'm used to the 1200 calorie diet I've lived on for the past few years! I ate a large breakfast and I feel stuffed! The only confusing part about the protocol- it doesn't give any caloric recommendations for the loading days- I don't want to overdo/underdo it!

You should be eating FATTY foods, not sugary and starchy junk foods.

There are plenty of fat filled foods that are healthier than sugar filled junk foods.

Go get a quality, REAL milk shake...............make some chicken wings dripping in butter. Go buy a fat filled, Huge steak and eat the fat as well as the meat............

Stay away from the muffins, candy bars, etc......

It was not easy to find lol...I consider myself "THEE GOOGLE MASTER" lol, and it took some serious digging. Articles are easy to find, actual research studies are not so easy. One study I really like is the one with the before and after pics. One of the Dr's in one of those studies owns an HCG clinic, so I was told by the last person I was "debating" with , that it doesnt count because he is selling HCG, but that is a silly comment because oncologists conduct cancer research and they develop cancer drugs, you cant discount the research simply because they are selling those cancer drugs, that is why they call it a double blind study...any how just 2 more cents...

No, I would not take it as being mean, if you browse throught the thread, a few pages back you will find where I pasted several links where Dr.s where in disagreement as to the benefits of using HCG. Additionally, I also provided links to two seperate double blind studies that were conducted which both proved a significant difference in weight loss between a placebo group and the HCG group. I urge you to check them out, there is alot of misinformation out there, and most of it is negative about HCG, the science is there, and the proof is in both the research conducted by Dr. Simean as well as modern research, such as what is provided in these double blind studies, not to mention the 1000's of people who have experienced dramatic success. If it was truly the 500 VLCD that caused the weight loss there should be severe muscle atrophy, but research has shown through the use of hydrostatic body fat testing that while most diets, the ones the nutritionist endorse, will lead to 10% of total weight loss from muscle mass, those on the HCG diet have only lost a corresponding 2-4%. This fact alone proves that their is an element at work here beyond caloric starvation.

There is nothing with providing your opinion or interrpretation of articles or studies conducted, it leads to healthy debate, but I would have to firmly disagree as the science and experiences have proven HCG's (as a prescribed hormone) effectiveness.

I know where you are coming from, but I think that is a very broad generalization. My first round was with homeopathic drops and was succesful, also those who mix their own drops from HCG receive the same benefits that would be received from injections. There are definately some scammers and false advertising in the drops market, which I would agree, unless you know someone very well and want to take their advice on which drops to buy...to simply stay away from them altogether and get HCG from the pharmacy to mix themselves for injection or sublingual application.

I know people may no want to hear this, but I posted a link about the HCG diet, and the drops don't work. They are expensive, and I see people saying that it will cost a lot. So...just trying to save you all some money. Take it or leave it...I'm not trying to sway you one way or the other, just trying to save you all money

Good luck!

I'm basing my info on science and studies that have been done. Like I said...not trying to sway people, but there is no scientific data that shows support for the HCG hormone. It's the 500 calories a day that makes people lose weight. And please don't take this as me being mean, or trying to start something. Like I said, I'm just trying to help people save money. If you still want to use the drops and all, it's your decision.

Take care

Thanks for letting me know! I'll check them out! I have been doing searching and I couldn't find anything...maybe I just wasn't looking in the right places.
Thanks!

You should ask the other study the same questions. It is a little older, so maybe it would be hard to find a corresponding email. I believe their disclaimer at the end is required by the FDA, because, while FDA has not approved the use of HCG for obesity and weight loss, a medical doctor can use a drug for a use not specified by the manufacturer or FDA. I really hope you hear back from them. Most of the studies, both positive and negative or very out dated, and I have not seen in one study where they recorded the percentage of fat loss vs. muscle loss from the HCG to the control group. Most of the older studies simply identified that those on a VLCD and receiving the placebo experienced the same amount or marginally less weight loss than those on HCG. While this may be true, I am less interested in if HCG causes increased weight loss in comparison to a VLCD, but if HCG allows an individual to do VLCD without the muscle loss and nauseating hunger. My hypothesis would be that while a VLCD with a Placebo is not staticially significant in regards to the amount of weightloss in reference to those administered with HCG, those on HCG experience less muscle atrophy and a significantly reduced appetite.

Ok, I just wanted to chime in here. I don't want to offend anyone, but there were a few things said that kinda bothered me.

First, I've never heard of you fat cells storing vitamins along with the fat. I think that is a bit of misinfirmation being handed around. If anyone can find anything to substantiate this I'd be very interested.

Second, while the offer to produce peer reviewed studies supporting HGC's roll in the diet non have been. After looking for myself I found one that claimed a statistically significant difference in weight loss, body composition of weight loss, and fewer feelung of hunger when compaired to a placebo group. The base group was 600 or so people and they were split into 3 groups - 2 on different dosages of HGC and one on sugar pills. All groups followed the same diet. At the end of the 5 week study those on HGC lost a "statistically significant" .02 kilograms more than placebo, and a "statistically significant" .0005% more body fat. Personally I take from this study that "statistically significant" means "actually irrelevant." If anyone can offer a different study with better results, please do.

And lastly there may be no side effects from the HGC itself, but there are common and frequent side effects that are often severe, of a 500 calorie a day diet and lack of nutrition. Including hair loss, and organ failure, the later leading to death.

In severely obese people 500 calorie a day diets are sometimes prescribed because the risks of being so over weight out way the risks of the diet. These people are monitored closely and given vitamin, mineral, and proteib supplements to further decrease their risks. If you are not severely obese and under a doctors care, please consider a safer approach to your weight loss.

Statistically significant, by definition, means exactly that...it made a difference. Where did you get the study from? Where was it conducted? Was muscle mass loss determined as well? What were the results of that particular bit of information? This is the point that so many have a hard time comprehending: You are not reducing your body to 500 calories a day; the calories are being released into the blood stream through the metabolization of fat caused by the hormone. Thats why so many of these clinicals are nonsense, because while the results may of been comparable weight loss wise the amount of muscle atrophy in each study would have been significantly different.

The study can be found here: http://www.indexmedico.com/english/obesity/hcg.htm

The conclusion was:

"Discussion and conclusions

The hCG protocol for the treatment of obesity has been loved and hated for the last 40 years. In 1974, the FDA banned the use of hCG in the US based on a series of studies maintaining that weight loss was similar both in the Placebo and hCG-treated groups. Our study corroborates those previous findings."

They do go on to say that they have some curious results and further study needed to be done on a few issues. Bottom line is HCG beat the placebo group by such a small margin that it could be explained by someone sneezing before they got on the scale and losing an extra ounce of snot.

Oh and I was wrong about the size of the study group it was only 60 people, not 600, which makes the margin of error greater.

Hi! I just wanted to quote this, so that if I hear an answer back, I can let you know. But I read the study, and had some questions. So I emailed them...and this is what I emailed them:

Hi! I read your study "Utility of an oral presentatin of hCG Human Choriognadotropin)for obseity treatment: A double blind study" and I just have a few questions that maybe you could answer for me.
1. Is this study published somewhere? And if so, what journal is it in?
2. This study was conducted by doctors associated with hCG? If so, how was any bias controlled for?
3. What is the p value for statistical significance you used? I'm in the social sciences, and for us anything less than .05 is significant. I know the medical field, because it deals with people's health, requires a lower p value. I believe at .01. Why did you chose not to use .01 as your significance point?
4. What is with the disclaimer at the end: "hCG has not been demonstrated to be effective adjunctive therapy in the treatment of obesity. There is no substantial evidence that it increases weight loss beyond that resulting from caloric restriction, that it causes a more attractive or 'normal' distribution of fat, or that it decreases the hunger and discomfort associated with calorie-restricted diets" Is this just saying that the hCG hormone really doesn't work?
Thanks!

I'll keep you posted on what they answer. I think if they can answer these questions, and it is a published journal (which I couldn't find on the page) it will offer positive evidence to hCG. But that last quote on their site...my number 4, really threw me for a loop. I'm not trying to be for it, or against it, I just deal with quantitive data on a daily basis, and reading ALL studies makes me have some questions for the authors.
Thanks!