HCG DIET -Fact or Fiction?!?!

People will tell you it works, and that it's worked for them... but the truth is that there are not enough studies to prove the long term effects of using the HCG and following the protocol... Not a risk I would want to take.

I have two friends who did it and both said it works like a charm. What makes me nervous about is that it's based on hormones and I've had blood clots in the past so I feel I need to be careful with stuff like that. I would consult my doctor before trying it.

I eat 2,000+ calories a day, feel no hunger pains, sleep well at night, and eat things I enjoy. I've lost 40lbs (wasn't very big to begin with) and am currently working on the last few vanity pounds, while toning.

If you can lose 40lbs eating 2000 calories a day (netting anywhere from 1500-1700) eat things you enjoy, and look & feel years younger, WHY would you take an injection & subject yourself to only eating 500 calories per day to achieve the same result.

You tell me which sounds more reasonable.

I may take 1 year to get my weight off as opposed to someone doing HCG and losing the same amount in 3 months, HOWEVER, 5 years from now, I'll still be slim & trim, and chances are the HCG follower has packed on the lost pounds ...then some.

There are no quick fixes. If it is a quick fix, it's temporary.

Do it the right way.

My sister-in-law did this diet. The only problem is, its a fad, and a quick fix, and you should stay away from things like that. It doesn't teach you to eat healthier, so once you are off the diet, usually the weight piles right back on, and that's hard on your body. I always tell people not to do anything that they aren't willing to do for the rest of their lives- because that is the only way that you are going to keep the weight off. You can do this yourself, it just takes perseverance

Absolutely perfect response!

Here's a few things to consider: Yes, you'll lose the weight fast, but...There are the drops which are about $60 a month or you take the injections which are several hundred dollars a month...so consider the monetary cost....How much do you like food? Because the plans are either an 800 calorie or 500 calorie a day plan...What you mostly need to consider is are you really going to continue eating less than 500-800 calories a day once you're finished taking the drops or injections? If not, you've just wasted a whole lot of time and money. I think it's the dumbest thing someone can do to themselves. You need to educate yourself in proper nutrition because this HCG is just another fad diet and as surely as you'll lose the weight, I can guarantee you you'll put it right back on. Whatever your decision may be, I wish you the best of luck!

HCG is essentially social acceptable anorexia. You can only consume 500 calories per day and you use the "HCG" to make you not feel hungry. I had a roommate that did it and she was irritable, depressed, and tired the whole time she was on it. It was awful! That's what starving yourself does. You'll lose weight fast, but only to a certain point when your body can't handle the starvation anymore. A good rule of thumb is however fast it goes off it will usually come back on. I implore you NOT to do this diet! It wasn't even on the top 20 successful diets in US News (http://health.usnews.com/best-diet/best-overall-diets)

Don't starve yourself. If you're willing to limit yourself to 500 calories (which is ridiculous, it's the calories of 1 meal for the whole day) then a safe limit from MFP should be no problem, and if you follow it strictly you will lose weight. Plus it's FREE!

My Fitness Pal will give you lasting results the right way. Besides, they get the hormone by extracting it from pregnant women's pee. Yep, you're essentially putting the bi-product of urine in your body. My friend and I nick-named it the HCPee diet. (http://articles.latimes.com/2009/nov/02/health/he-nutrition2)

It IS too good to be true. It sucks.

HCG is essentially social acceptable anorexia.

Finally, someone said it.

I don't care how many hormones it messes with...when you are eating next to nothing, you are starving yourself. Anorexia is a mental disorder...and I seriously HONESTLY wonder if people on long term HCG diets are pushing themselves towards this kind of mental disorder? Give it 5-10 years and there's sure to be at least one study that says so.

Hi. I just started HCG shots and diet 9 days ago. I have lost six pounds so far. I'm only eating 500 calories a day and it isn't easy. I also joined gym and hired a trainer. Im working out five days a week for three weeks now. The shots are painless and I can see a small increase in energy level but I will tell you that the first three days will make you feel awful. I thought I was starving. It is very important not to stray from diet meals or you won't lose weight as fast. Good luck if you decide to try. I'm gonna hang in there as ling as possible!!

I'm not trying to argue, but I feel very passionate about this....How does that not freak the hell out of you? SIX pounds in NINE days??? A healthy weight loss is that of 2 lbs a week! I hope you're educating and living healthy eating practices because unless you plan on doing this HCG forever, you're going to fail. You're losing weight all for the sake of vanity, not health. Sure, a certain part of weight loss is vain, but health should be your number one concern. Best of luck.

HCG is essentially social acceptable anorexia.

Finally, someone said it.

I don't care how many hormones it messes with...when you are eating next to nothing, you are starving yourself. Anorexia is a mental disorder...and I seriously HONESTLY wonder if people on long term HCG diets are pushing themselves towards this kind of mental disorder? Give it 5-10 years and there's sure to be at least one study that says so.

Exaclty, it will be one of those things Nutritionalists and Doctors implore people not to do, that it causes irreversable damage.... class action suits etc will follow.

My roommate, who is a nutritionist, actually did a presentation on this diet and how ridiculous it is. First of all, anyone could lose weight eating 500 calories a day, but it's not safe and it's not healthy. She actually took diet approved food from our apartment to visually demonstrate how much food you could actually eat per day. All of it fit into one small Tupperware container. According to the diet, you can only have tea or coffee for breakfast, 100g of meat, one vegetable, one fruit, and one piece of Melba toast per day. Even then the types of vegetables and fruits you are allowed are limited.

Second, there is no real evidence that the hcg hormone actually does anything to "help" you lose weight. The purpose of hcg is to nourish the fertilized egg during pregnancy and help the body start secreting a hormone called progesterone, which makes the lining of the uterus thick enough for the egg. It also can be used as a fertility treatment. The claims made by Simeons about it helping lose fat vs. lean muscle were only based on one experience, with no real clinical testing done to confirm his findings.

I'm not saying you won't lose weight on this diet. You most likely will. What I am saying is it's dangerous to eat so little. Your body needs fuel to function and you would be depriving your body of that. Not to mention the cost of the shots. There are so many healthier (and less expensive!) ways to diet, that will stay off once you resume eating a normal, healthy amount of calories.

Just wondering what would happen if you ate more than the 500 calories? Would you get sick? I personally would be worried about using hormones. But then I had to quit BC pills because of migraines from the tiny amount of hormones in those (I was on the lowest dose possible).

I think in the long run, learning correct amounts of food to eat and exercise are the only foolproof, real deal ways to lose weight and keep it off.

Has anyone here heard or done this HCG Diet? It kinda sounds too good to be true. I want to try it, Im willing to do anything to help lose this weight, but Im skeptical. I saw all the youtube videos and watch Dr. Oz's Review but I would like to hear from "REAL" people.

It is REAL I have done it, and lost an everage of 1.5 pounds A DAY. yes, a day. I gained it all back when I went off of it because I am a full time student and it was finals week, and well, I'm a stress eater, BIG TIME. It really does work and it is amazing, you just have to be disciplined. Unlike I was. If I would have stuck with it for as long as I should have, I would have lost at least 25+ pounds. It is the coolest thing since sliced bread I would say lol

But clearly you couldn't sustain it, so wasn't the money wasted? If you had lost that weight over a slower period of time, learned how to eat healthily for the rest of your life, you'd still be enjoying the benefits of that loss instead of having gained it all back. You can eat normal amounts of foods and exercise reasonable (read: not excessive) and lose weight gradually over time that will STAY off. For life. And it won't cost you a dime.

I too was skeptical and freaked out about the 500 calories. However, if you've researched the health benefits of fasting (which is NOT the same as starvation), it allows time for your body to heal itself from toxins. Typically in a fast, the first three days you feel like crap because you're detoxing--jitters, headaches, queasiness. After those three days, you actually don't feel hungry because that is when your body is starting to burn energy from your fat stores. This is temporary and the length of time of feeling this "euphoria" varies by person, but it's averaged to be about 28 to 40 days (right around the length of the first phase of hCG). When your body has naturally finished "detoxing", your hunger will return. When you ignore your hunger at this point, that's when it's considered starvation/anorexia because you're no longer burning your fat stores; you're burning nutrients for your vital organs. (source: Fast Your Way To Health - Bueno)

I've been on this program for six days and I've lost four pounds. I thought I was hurting myself during that detox period, but I'm so glad I made it through. By the fourth day, I felt lighter, my mind is clearer, my sleep has been very restful and I feel much calmer. It has surprised me. Even the amount of food I eat has been satisfying and delicious. Who knew broccoli could taste good with just a little salt and NO BUTTER? When I come off of this phase, I don't intend to go back and eat crap. As with any diet, if you think you can go back to your previous eating habits, of course you'll gain your weight back. The health and fitness industry depend on it! This is for lifestyle change so don't waste your efforts. If you're interested in doing hCG drops, then do your research. Even the research states that 60% of the participants in their studies were successful--not 100%. Human behavior is still a factor so you have to decide for yourself if this is a path you want to explore. I don't feel like I'm putting myself in any danger. I think I have enough fat stores to keep myself from starving to death. My disclaimer is that I have never had an eating disorder so I feel I've made a healthy choice. Just like anything else, it's not for everyone, but until you really look at the research, you won't understand the health benefits.

Good luck to everyone on your weight loss journey!

You can't just go back to the "old" foods. It's a 6 week process after that of slowly re-introducing certain foods.

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