HCG - What I don't understand

I just finished my first complete round (3 days loading, 37 days low calorie, 6 weeks adding food variety and calories). I've maintained my average weight 1 pound below my total loss from the VLCD (days) eating a normal, healthy diet and exercising for the past 6 weeks. Yes, 6 weeks is just six weeks but I have changes my whole attitude about food and what satisfies me.

You can read my blog entry to understand what prompted my decision and my diary is open for viewing. I've not been tracking calories during most of the maintenance period since the point is to eat and exercise and watch the scale for clues about what you are doing right and wrong. VLCD started around 1 May and maintenenance around 6 June--I logged the first 10 days of maintenance to ensure I was getting up to the right number of calories and then I went on vacation...then I felt comfortable about making the right decisions.

A VLCD is acutally not all that uncommon in the treatment of obesity--it is usually combined with appetite suppressants to make it tolerable.

Here are the three potential side effects that I considered the most when making my decision:

Gall Bladder Problems: More common in those that were already heavy and likely already had undiagnosed GB disease. The GB needs a certain amount of fat to operate properly. The 37 days with very low fat intake can exacerbate existing stones or cause their formation. This is a COMMON problem in all heavy people who make drastic changes to their diet....not particular to HCG. I've suffered for years with biliary colic--thin and thick--so I wasn't surprised when I had a couple of attacks. I fully suspect that my GB will be removed at sometime in the future.

Pulmonary Arryhtmias: can be imbalance electrolytes; again, also a risk with any heavy person who makes drastic changes to their diet; I had and EKG before starting and have always had excellent blood pressure so this wasn't such an issue to me

Rhabdomyolysis: release of muscle fibers into the bloodstream and can cause muscle damage; main reason that strenuous exercise is not recommended during VLCD without compensating for the exertion with extra calories; this also can be caused during crush injuries

I lost a bit over 30 pounds and 4 inches off my waist. I am not so many pounds away from getting rid of my CPAP machine. My cholesteral (which I worked for a year to get in a healthy range) dropped another 22 points--57 points total in the last year. I am in the loading phase of Round 2....VLCD starts on Tuesday.

Elfie9863...like your response. No judging. I appreciate the passion of the argument in each direction. Has anyone used HCG and last weight rapidly then had a lot of sagging skin? In addition to all of the side effects, I am concerned with how your body will look after losing 30 -40 lbs in 30 days. Can anyone be honest and say if they had those issues?