Anyone trying the HCG Diet?

[Graciesmom77]

I am trying the homepathic hcg diet right now. It worked before but I was only able to do it for about a week before I caught a bad cold that messed everything up. Last time I lost 11 pounds in 8 days. I am very overweight and need something to help get off the majority of my weight without taking years. I know some people don't agree, and thats fin, but for me its definitely worth a try.

Anyone else doing this?

 

[anniemck]

It is nothing but a quick loss drug. Once it is stopped the weight will come back. It takes a lifestyle change to take the weight off and keep it off.

 

[Baliezer]

I heard that it is dangerous. You are only allowed to consume 500 calories a day, for two weeks!!

Why not instead see a nutrition doctor that can give you advice on how to change you diet and exercise routine?

 

[Zoesmama03]

I know of people that lost and kept off but probably because they had good habits to change. But the main concern is having low calories can destroy your gallbladder leading to gall stones. I had a rough time in 2009 dropped about 30 lbs in a month or so because I was hardly eating. By Jan of 2010 I had 5 large gall stones. Never had an issue before then.

 

[Desiree]

Um, aren't they illegal?

http://www.fda.gov/forconsumers/consumerupdates/ucm281333.htm

 

[Graciesmom77]

Nope not illegal, just misunderstood.

I have already had my gallbladder removed.

The HCG diet does teach overall healthy habits. You only eat the 500 calories for 28- 40 days and then go on to phase 3 and 4 where you eat a more normal amount of calories.

The reason you can live off of 500 calories is that the hcg causes you to use your abnormal fat that you have stored.

I have known quite a few people that have used this and kept the weight off for years, including a doctor. Yeah if you use this and then go back to eating unhealthy, but this plan helps reset your metabolism and teaches you to eat healthy.

I wish more people were open minded to it. The people I know who have used it LOVE it.

 

[Desiree]

This comes from the Food and Drug Administration. I'd tend to think they are fairly knowledgeable.

HCG Makes Big Claims
HCG is a hormone that is produced by the human placenta during pregnancy.

Products that claim to contain HCG are typically marketed in connection with a very low calorie diet, usually one that limits calories to 500 per day. Many of these popular HCG products claim to “reset your metabolism,” change “abnormal eating patterns,” and shave 20-30 pounds in 30-40 days.

“These products are marketed with incredible claims and people think that if they're losing weight, HCG must be working,” says Elizabeth Miller, acting director of FDA’s Division of Non-Prescription Drugs and Health Fraud. “But the data simply does not support this; any loss is from severe calorie restriction. Not from the HCG.”
HCG is approved by FDA as a prescription drug for the treatment of female infertility, and other medical conditions. It is not approved for weight loss. In fact, the prescription drug label notes 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.”
HCG is not approved for OTC sale for any purpose.

 

[Desiree]

And this.. from the Mayo Clinic..


http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/hcg-diet/an02091

 

[Graciesmom77]

Some people agree though many don't including Dr. Oz and many others.

Its not for everyone and no one should do it without a lot of study and thought.

Remember the FDA are also the people who have put weight loss drugs out on the market that had to be recalled to killing people.

People are quick to go cray over a 500 calorie a day diet for a small amount of time, but are content to stuff themselves full of dyes and perservatives that many many other countries have banned. The US has a very scewed way of looking at health, food and nutrition.

That being said, I am happy with my decision to try the HCG.

 

[Tricia's mom]

I have done this diet. I lost 40 lbs.

The key is to do it right...and complete it properly.

My dh is a chiropractor.. He has also done this diet ( he was curious and only need to loose about 15 pounds)

I did research for almost a year before I tried this diet. I did 3 rounds.
How does one function on a 500 calorie diet.....? Read the research.
It's not an easy diet to do... But it does work.
And it won't work unless you take the tools and learn this is a life style change. Eating portion control and exercise are the key no doubt !!!

Good luck with your journey... Pm me Gracie's mom if you have questions.

 

[Tricia's mom]

We know that hcg doesn't. Help you loose weight... It ables you to eat a 500 calorie diet... By switching your body to burning on stored fat.

 

[C_leen]

Dr. Oz had an update in Feb on this diet. There is a MD who does the shots with her patients (so real HCG) and uses exercise and I think a higher calorie limit. He tentatively approved this version. I recommend you watch this if you can find it and seek to use the real stuff.

Secondly I think if you do not cheat, it can point out for you all of the times and places that you are using food as a crutch or actually feeding an emotional issue. This was my primary focus on trying hHCG (homeopathic) with a naturopath this winter. I wanted to tackle my sugary evening snacks. I lost 12 pounds in 30 days. This is an average weight loss of .4 lbs per day. The average is .5 for women. I was very pleased. I am now working on holding steady for a bit before deciding if I will do a second round or just focus on the way of eating I have been researching. Although it was tough for me, I am now not snacking at night. I am content to wrap things up with dinner and just have water or herbal tea. I think you need to go into this sort of diet with a plan to learn about yourself.

 

[NuJoy]

For Hcg veterans, have you ever been to Disney during the vlcd phase? If so, how was your stamina walking the parks all day? Prorocol dictates low levels of exercise, if at all, during this time.

 

[twinmom]

I am trying the homepathic hcg diet right now. It worked before but I was only able to do it for about a week before I caught a bad cold that messed everything up. Last time I lost 11 pounds in 8 days. I am very overweight and need something to help get off the majority of my weight without taking years. I know some people don't agree, and thats fin, but for me its definitely worth a try.

Anyone else doing this?

I did HCG prescribed by a dr about 2 years ago. I did two rounds. Lost about 60 lbs. My dr said the problem with the hcg drops is you are just starving yourself. I had a friend on the drops and felt terrible. She went to my dr and got the cream (yes, there is a cream, you do not need to do shots) and did it and felt great.

While I was on the diet I felt great. Never better. I kept the weight off for a while, was doing very well with it then my son tried to commit suicide. Being a stress eater I gained it back over the next year. It was a very stressful time and it never ends the worry for a depressed child.

Anyway, he is doing better and I was not trying at all to lose weight again. I have twin boys that are about to start their senior year. I started thinking about their graduation and how I am going to want to have pictures of me with them. Right now I refuse to have my picture taken. I am about 100 lbs overweight and miserable. My feet hurt and my knees. I know I need to get the weight off not only to look better but to feel better.

So to make a long story short (I know, too late) I started again with the HCG cream last Friday. Finally over the sugar withdrawals and feeling much better. I am going to WDW right when I am done with maintenance. Hopefully I won't go crazy there. Then I will do another round after school starts that gets me to Thanksgiving. I will do another round after the New Year. Hopefully I will be near my goal by then. I know I will be better than I am now.

Good luck to you. Think about going to the Dr. I am almost never hungry when I am on the cream. I think it is better than the drops. I am going out of town next week for 4 days to a baseball tournament. I know it will be hard but I am determined to stick with it.

BTW I never had gall bladder problems. Only problem was losing a lot of hair. I have a friend that lost about 80 lbs on it and never had any gall bladder problems either. Feel free to msg me if you need moral support.

***Just noticed how old the OP was. Sorry for the long rant. Hope you did well on it!!