What are the potential benefits and drawbacks of the HCG diet? What foods can you consume on this weight loss plan? Find out the answers to these questions and more.

The HCG Diet: An Overview

The HCG diet, which stands for human chorionic gonadotropin, is a controversial weight loss plan that combines the use of HCG supplements or hormone injections with an extremely low-calorie diet. While the HCG hormone is naturally produced during pregnancy, the HCG diet has very little to do with pregnancy itself. Instead, the premise of this diet is that the HCG hormone can help the body burn fat and promote rapid weight loss.

The History of the HCG Diet

The HCG diet first gained popularity in the 1950s when British endocrinologist Albert T.W. Simeons observed that undernourished pregnant women in India were able to deliver healthy babies. Simeons theorized that the HCG hormone channeled the women’s stored fat into energy for their children, and he proposed that the hormone could be used to promote weight loss in anyone.

Simeons’ original HCG diet protocol called for an intake of just 500 calories per day, along with daily injections of 125 IUs (International Units) of the HCG hormone. The modern HCG diet follows a similar approach, combining manufactured HCG supplements or injections with an extreme reduction in calories.

The Three Phases of the HCG Diet

The HCG diet is typically divided into three phases:

1. Loading phase: During this brief two-day period, individuals preparing to begin the HCG diet are encouraged to eat extremely high-fat, high-calorie foods and consume up to 250 grams of fat per day (equivalent to 2,250 calories). Daily HCG hormone supplements or injections also begin at this time.
2. Weight loss phase: Next, adherents continue their HCG supplements while consuming either 500 or 800 calories per day, spread over two meals. This phase may last from three to six weeks, depending on individual weight loss goals.
3. Maintenance phase: Once the desired weight loss is achieved, individuals gradually discontinue the HCG hormone while slowly increasing their calorie intake to maintain the weight loss.

The Pros and Cons of the HCG Diet

The HCG diet may promise rapid, extreme weight loss, which can be appealing to those looking to shed pounds quickly. However, health experts warn that the diet is highly unsafe, unhealthy, and illegal. The FDA has not approved any HCG supplements for weight loss, and there is no substantial evidence that the HCG hormone itself is effective for weight loss. Most experts agree that any weight loss achieved on the HCG diet is due to the extreme calorie restriction, not the HCG hormone.

What Can You Eat on the HCG Diet?

The HCG diet is not the only calorie restriction diet for weight loss. Other eating plans, such as Hydroxycut or Isagenix, also encourage limiting daily calories and rely on supplements to help people lose weight. However, the HCG diet is unique in its focus on altering the body’s hormones to turn fat into fuel.

During the weight loss phase of the HCG diet, adherents are typically allowed to consume either 500 or 800 calories per day, spread over two meals. The specific foods permitted on the HCG diet vary, but they often include lean protein, vegetables, and limited amounts of fruits and starches.

Is the HCG Diet Safe and Effective?

No, the HCG diet is not recognized as safe by health experts. The FDA has warned that there is “no substantial evidence” that the HCG diet is effective for weight loss. Most experts agree that any weight loss achieved on the HCG diet is due to the extreme calorie restriction, not the HCG hormone itself.

Furthermore, the HCG diet is considered highly unsafe and unhealthy. Over-the-counter HCG products are illegal in the United States, and the FDA has issued warnings about their safety and fraudulent weight-loss claims.

Exploring Alternative Weight Loss Options

While the HCG diet may promise rapid weight loss, health experts strongly discourage anyone from trying it. Instead, they recommend exploring safer and more sustainable weight loss options, such as:

• Adopting a balanced, calorie-controlled diet
• Incorporating regular physical activity into your routine
• Seeking the guidance of a healthcare provider or registered dietitian

Remember, successful weight loss requires a holistic approach that takes into account your individual needs and health goals. Before starting any new diet or weight loss plan, it’s always best to consult with a qualified healthcare professional.

Pros, Cons, and What You Can Eat

At Verywell, we believe there is no one-size-fits-all approach to a healthy lifestyle. Successful eating plans need to be individualized and take the whole person into consideration. Prior to starting a new diet plan, consult with your healthcare provider or a registered dietitian, especially if you have an underlying health condition.

HCG, which stands for human chorionic gonadotropin, is known as the pregnancy hormone since it is produced during pregnancy by the placenta. The HCG diet, however, has very little to do with pregnancy. It is a controversial weight loss plan that combines illegal HCG supplements or hormone injections with an extremely low-calorie diet.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has only approved prescriptions for HCG drugs for the treatment of female infertility. No HCG supplements may be legally sold in the United States for weight loss and the FDA has issued a warning about their safety and fraudulent weight-loss claims.

The HCG diet promises rapid, extreme weight loss, which may appeal to those who are looking to lose weight quickly. An early iteration of the diet began during the 1950s when British endocrinologist Albert T.W. Simeons became interested in using the HCG pregnancy hormone as a weight-loss aid.

After observing undernourished pregnant women in India deliver healthy babies, Simeons theorized that the HCG hormone channeled the womens’ stored fat into energy for their children. He proposed, therefore, that the hormone could be used to promote weight loss in anyone.

Simeons’ first HCG diet protocol was based on two principles. First, it called for an intake of just 500 calories per day, spread between lunch and dinner, with unlimited amounts of water, coffee, and tea any time. Second, the plan included a daily injection of 125 IUs (International Units) of the HCG hormone.

The modern HCG diet combines manufactured HCG supplements or injections of the HCG hormone with an extreme reduction in calories. Divided into three phases, the diet is a short-term eating plan intended to help people lose dramatic amounts of weight in three to six weeks. Many HCG proponents claim the diet can cause weight loss of up to two pounds per day.

While you may shed pounds quickly on the HCG diet, it is not recognized as safe by health experts. According to the FDA, there is “no substantial evidence” that it’s even effective. Most experts agree that weight loss achieved on the HCG diet is due to extreme calorie restriction, not necessarily the HGC hormone itself.

The HCG diet is highly unsafe, unhealthy, and illegal. This article should be used solely for informational purposes since health experts discourage anyone from trying it. There are many other weight loss options to consider that are much safer.

What Experts Say

“The HCG diet claims human chorionic gonadotropin (HCG) products and severely restricting calories will lead to rapid weight loss. Experts warn that you should steer clear of this diet. Not only is it extreme and unsustainable, but over-the-counter HCG products are illegal.”

—Chrissy Carroll, RD, MPH

What Can You Eat?

The HCG diet is not the only calorie restriction diet for weight loss. A number of other eating plans encourage limiting daily calories to a very small number at least some days of the week. Similar to the HCG diet, weight-loss strategies like Hydroxycut or Isagenix rely on supplements to help people drop pounds.

Some supplement-based diets claim to boost metabolism, but the HCG diet is based on the idea of altering the body’s hormones to turn fat into fuel. A typical HCG diet plan is divided into the following three phases:

1. Loading phase: The loading phase claims to prepare the body for the caloric restriction it will enter during the weight loss phase. During this brief two-day “primer,” people preparing to begin the HCG diet eat extremely high fat, high-calorie foods—up to 250 grams of fat per day—and are encouraged to eat as much fat and as many calories as possible. (For reference, this is 2,250 calories a day just from fat.) Daily HCG hormone supplements or injections also begin at this time. Theoretically, this phase “stocks” the normal fat cells you want to keep and prepares the body to burn “abnormal” fat.
2. Weight loss phase: Next, adherents continue their HCG supplements while consuming either 500 or 800 calories per day, spread over two meals. The weight loss phase may last from three to six weeks, depending on an individual’s weight loss goals. 
3. Maintenance phase: Once someone on HCG has shed their desired number of pounds, they gradually discontinue supplementation of the HCG hormone while slowly increasing calories. Though HCG diet resources do not specify the number of calories you’ll eventually reach to maintain weight loss, some state that 1,200 to 1,500 is an appropriate target.

During the brief “loading phase” of the HCG diet, there are no limitations on what or how much to eat. But once the weight loss phase begins, however, there are a number of foods the diet discourages–and only a few that are considered acceptable.

What You Need to Know

The HCG diet plan recommends eating either 500 or 800 calories spread over two meals per day. The timing of these meals isn’t critical, but in general, calories are divided fairly equally between lunch and dinner.

For breakfast, the diet recommends coffee or tea, which can be sweetened with stevia or saccharine. Since HCG also allows for one tablespoon of milk per day, many people elect to put it in their coffee at breakfast time.

The HCG diet requires no specific recipes, but many online resources offer suggestions for meal plans that stay within the 500-calorie-per-day target. With calories divided between two meals a day, people on the HCG diet can expect to take in about 250 calories at lunch and at dinner.

While the 500-calorie version of the HCG diet is the most well-known, there is an alternate 800-calorie plan, generally credited to Dr. Richard Lipman, MD. Dr. Lipman claims that his plan adheres to Dr. Simeons’ original concepts of eliminating sugar and most other carbohydrates, but offers a broader variety of food options. Proponents of the HCG diet have found the 800-calorie version more satisfying but have experienced less dramatic weight loss. 

Research indicates that the HCG hormone does not work the way Dr. Simeons originally theorized. No studies have confirmed that it fuels weight loss. In fact, studies conducted on the diet reveal that HCG injections make no difference in weight reduction when compared with a placebo.

What to Eat

• Lean protein

• Approved vegetables

• Approved fruits

• Herbs and spices

• Coffee, tea, and water

What to Eat

Lean Protein

The two daily meals on the HCG diet are based around a 3.5-ounce serving of lean protein. Approved choices include chicken, egg whites, white fish, crab, lobster, scallops, extra-lean beef, and bison.

Approved Vegetables

Certain vegetables are allowed on the plan. To accompany lean protein at lunch and dinner, one serving of spinach, chard, beet greens, cabbage, lettuce, celery, cauliflower, broccoli, asparagus, tomatoes, onion, shallots, or radishes is allowed.

Approved Fruits

As with vegetables, a limited number of fruits are approved for HCG meals. These include berries, citrus fruits, and apples, which can be consumed once at lunch and once at dinner. 

Herbs and Spices

Because herbs and spices are largely low- or no-calorie, they’re the primary means of flavoring food on the HCG diet. HCG-compliant recipes often use garlic, lemon juice, salt, pepper, rosemary, or thyme to season meats and vegetables.

Coffee, Tea, and Water

While many of the diet’s food categories are restrictive, a handful of beverages come with no limitations. People on the diet can drink as much coffee, tea, and water as they like. Coffee and tea may only be sweetened with stevia or saccharine, however, and the diet only allows for one tablespoon of milk per day to add richness to hot drinks.

What Not to Eat

Dairy

Aside from one tablespoon of milk per day, the HCG diet’s weight loss phase does not include dairy products such as cheese, yogurt, ice cream, or any additional milk. 

High-Carb Foods

The HCG diet limits not only calories but also carbohydrates. While a single piece of Melba toast or one breadstick may be permissible at dinner (depending on the level of calorie intake), grains, muffins, bread, pasta, and other high-carb foods are otherwise prohibited.

Fats and Oils

Fats and oils don’t make an appearance on the HCG diet. Because of the diet’s dramatic limitation of caloric intake, there’s no room for the nine calories per gram fats contain. (This goes for salad dressings as well.)

Sugary Beverages and Alcohol

The HCG diet steers clear of the empty calories that beverages like soda, beer, and wine might contribute. Coffee, tea, and water are the only acceptable beverages on this eating plan.

Sweets and Desserts

Sweets and desserts are not included in the HCG diet. High-calorie items like cookies, candies, or cakes could easily contain as many calories as a single HCG meal, so they’re omitted entirely.

Pros and Cons

Pros

• Rapid weight loss

• Plan is easy to follow

Pros

Rapid Weight Loss

Going on the HCG diet will probably lead to rapid weight loss, at least initially. But as the evidence shows, HCG hormone injections do not influence the amount of weight that people lose.

Easy to Follow

The HCG diet is not hard to follow in terms of structure. Its three phases and calorie targets are quite specific, and the number of calories or units of hormonal injections does not vary from person to person.

Cons

HCG Supplements Are Illegal

In the U.S., HCG injections and supplements may only be legally prescribed to treat female infertility. The FDA has banned all over-the-counter HCG products and, therefore, any HCG product sold as a weight loss aid is illegal. 

Program Is Expensive

While reducing your calories on the HCG diet may save you money on groceries, the required hormonal injections certainly aren’t cheap. According to U.S. News & World Report, an HCG injection kit costs anywhere from $225 to $400 for a four- to eight-week supply.

May Cause Extreme Hunger

Abstaining from food for short periods leads to serious hunger. But when calorie deprivation is extended, it may result in not just hunger, but also unpleasant side effects like headaches, brain fog, fatigue, and dizziness.

Going without entire categories of healthy food groups for weeks at a time is likely to result in nutrient deficiencies.

Is the HCG Diet a Healthy Choice for You?

The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s 2020–2025 Dietary Guidelines for Americans recommends consuming a variety of nutrient-dense foods including fruits and vegetables, legumes, whole grains, lean protein, low-fat dairy products, and healthy fats for a well-balanced diet. The HCG diet’s restrictive nature can easily create some major gaps in categories like dairy and whole grains. 

The USDA also advises that adult women need between 1,600 and 2,400 calories per day to maintain a healthy weight, while adult men need between 2,200 to 3,200 calories per day. While these recommendations may vary by age and activity level, the HCG diet’s offering of just 500 or 800 calories falls short of a healthy number of calories for adults. Use this calculator to find out the right number of calories to meet your goals in a healthy, sustainable way.

Federal nutrition guidelines state that the average adult needs around 2,000 calories per day for weight management and 1,500 a day for weight loss, but the HCG diet meets only a fraction of these requirements. Following a very low-calorie diet without medical supervision is dangerous and may cause nutrient deficiencies.

Health Benefits

There are no known health benefits associated with the HCG diet and any weight loss experienced on the plan is unsustainable. It is essentially a starvation diet.

Keep in mind that dramatic weight loss stems from limiting your calorie intake, in this case, to just 500 or 800 calories a day for weeks at a time. Remember that HCG supplements are also unsafe and illegal, and there are healthier approaches to both weight loss and weight maintenance.

Health Risks

Not getting enough daily calories for an extended period of time can lead to an intense state of hunger. This may cause some people to binge eat or get caught in a loop of disordered eating, cycling through periods of restriction followed by overindulgence. Not eating enough may cause some individuals to become underweight and develop deficiencies in essential vitamins and minerals, which can lead to malnutrition and other health problems.

Additionally, some medical experts have expressed concern that the “starvation mode” induced by the HCG diet causes the body to leech protein from the heart. This dangerous process irritates the heart muscle, causing dangerous irregular contractions called ventricular tachycardia. Men who take HCG supplements or receive injections also run the risk of developing extra breast tissue.

A Word From Verywell

Many people have found the HCG diet’s promises of rapid, dramatic weight loss appealing. But the lack of evidence supporting its effectiveness and the dangers of its extreme calorie restriction is not worth the risk. For most people, a realistic and balanced weight loss plan is a healthier, sustainable choice.

Remember, following a long-term or short-term diet may not be necessary for you and many diets out there simply don’t work, especially long-term. While we do not endorse fad diet trends or unsustainable weight loss methods, we present the facts so you can make an informed decision that works best for your nutritional needs, genetic blueprint, budget, and goals.

If your goal is weight loss, remember that losing weight isn’t necessarily the same as being your healthiest self, and there are many other ways to pursue health. Exercise, sleep, and other lifestyle factors also play a major role in your overall health. The best diet is always the one that is balanced and fits your lifestyle.

What Can You Eat With the HCG Diet?

When a healthy diet and regular exercise aren’t giving the results you want, the HCG diet could be the answer. With proven effectiveness and a host of extraordinary benefits, this method is more than a diet; it’s a metabolism-boosting solution for those who are struggling to lose weight. We proudly curate HCG treatment plans at Slimedica in San Antonio, Texas. Below we explore everything you need to know about HCG and disclose what you can eat when on the HCG diet.

What Is HCG?

HCG (human chorionic gonadotropin) is a protein-based hormone produced in women during pregnancy. The HCG hormone impacts ovulation and female fertility and increases the production of testosterone in men.

HCG also promotes weight loss in both men and women because it can help enhance metabolism. When introduced to the body, HCG increases metabolism, which makes it a powerful tool for quickly losing a substantial amount of weight. Metabolism is the process the body uses to turn food into energy. When the metabolism is sluggish or slow, people tend to gain weight or find it difficult to lose weight.

Slow Metabolism Woes

You’ve likely heard people say a slow metabolism causes their weight loss woes, but what causes a slow metabolism? Many factors contribute to a slowing of metabolism:

Age

Was there ever a time when you or someone you know could eat whatever they wanted without gaining weight? If so, this probably happened when you were well under 40, and especially in your early 20s. Metabolism slows as we age, especially when there is also a decrease in physical activity. Most people experience a slowing of metabolism as time passes.

Dehydration

Drinking water is vital for human survival, and at least half of the body is comprised of it. Dehydration is one of the top factors contributing to slow metabolism. Not drinking enough water throughout the day can have unintended consequences on metabolism and weight.

Eating Habits

Eating enormous amounts of carbohydrates slows the metabolism. Carbohydrates are broken down into sugar that is either burned quickly (in those with naturally-fast metabolisms) or stored as fat as our metabolism slows. The main culprits are refined white sugars and grains, but large amounts of any carbohydrate can make it harder to keep your metabolism running and reach your weight loss goals.

Genetics

Certain genetic factors play a role in the rate of metabolism. Although we can’t choose which genes are passed down to us, we can take action to support the metabolism in other ways. By acknowledging what we can and cannot change, we can combat a slow metabolism.

Hormones

Hormones influence the way the body processes food and fluids. Hormonal fluctuations or imbalances can impact the metabolism. Hormonal conditions like an overactive or underactive thyroid and diabetes dictate the rate the metabolism functions.

Inactivity

A sedentary lifestyle is often to blame for slowing metabolism. Exercise releases hormones in the body that promote the metabolic rate and encourage weight loss. A routine of aerobic exercise, combined with strength training, can put the body back into balance.

Medication

Certain medications are known to slow down the metabolism. Antidepressants, steroids, diabetes medication, hormone therapies, and medications that slow the heart rate can all contribute to weight gain. Not all medications in these classes impact the metabolism, but many do.

Sleep Deprivation

If you aren’t getting seven to nine hours of sleep every night, it could slow your metabolism. Sleep is the time when our body works overtime to heal and run all the processes necessary to keep the body healthy. A lack of sleep can spike blood sugar, which triggers an increase in insulin that the body converts to fat.

Stress

Most of us could admit that feeling stress doesn’t lead to the best eating habits, but stress is more than a mental inconvenience. When we feel stressed, the body produces the hormone cortisol. Ongoing stress creates an overexposure to cortisol, which could lead to a drop in testosterone production. Less testosterone can lead to a decrease in muscle mass, and fewer burned calories.

Vitamin Deficiencies

Not getting enough vital nutrients in the diet can cause the metabolism to slow. Research shows that deficiencies in calcium, vitamin D, magnesium, B vitamins, and iron play a role in metabolic functioning.

What Happens in HCG Treatment?

HCG treatment is a two-layered process designed to boost metabolism and help clients lose weight. This treatment involves HCG hormone therapy and caloric restriction through the use of the diet.

There are several methods for introducing the HCG hormone to the body to improve metabolism. Injecting HCG into the bloodstream is one way to receive this treatment. Injections of HCG are only performed by a trained medical professional. Other options include over-the-counter hormone tablets, sprays, and oral drops.

During HCG treatment, we introduce the hormone into your system, and you follow the diet until you reach your weight loss goals. The HCG works to eliminate fat while managing your food cravings and hunger pangs, and we work together to help you control the number of calories you eat.

What Is the HCG Diet?

The HCG diet is a very low-fat and low-calorie diet. It goes hand-in-hand with HCG Therapy. It is a restrictive diet, which means you must restrict how many calories you eat every day and monitor the food eaten. Most HCG dieters limit their caloric intake to 500 calories per day and only eat foods approved by the diet.

Because of the restrictive nature of the diet, losing weight with HCG requires commitment and dedication to your weight loss goals.

How Does It Work?

Calories in versus calories out; these days, we hear this thrown around everywhere for weight loss, and this is how the diet works. Many people eat more calories than they burn every day. When you want to lose weight, you must reduce the number of calories in the body every day. There are only two ways to cut calories: exercise and the restriction of food.

The Diet

By restricting your daily intake to 500 calories, you lose weight. For many people, sheer willpower isn’t enough to monitor calories. Using HCG therapy while restricting calories offers the support needed to make this change.

The Treatment

HCG hormone treatment curbs hunger during the diet, which makes it much easier to achieve the 500 calorie threshold without caving to cravings. Many clients report not feeling hungry when using HCG treatment.

Custom Planning

We tailor each treatment schedule to the individual needs of our clients. During your consultation, we will discuss your goals and come up with a treatment plan.

HCG treatment includes three phases, and we design your custom weight loss schedule by how much weight you want to lose. In general, your custom weight loss schedule will follow the guidelines below:

Phase One

The first phase of your HCG treatment is when you first take the hormones. You start by introducing the hormone to your body while continuing to eat high-calorie foods for two days. During this time, you can prepare for the next phase by learning about the approved foods for the diet and shopping accordingly. It also gives you time to prepare for all the significant changes on the way mentally.

Phase Two

After two days of eating high-calorie foods, you’ll begin the restrictive diet and supplement with HCG. On day three, reduce calories to 500 and only eat approved foods. This weight loss phase requires the most customization. In your consultation, we’ll discuss how much weight you want to lose. This amount of weight dictates the duration of phase two. Phase two usually lasts anywhere from three to six weeks.

During this phase, you learn that your body doesn’t need processed foods and excessive calories. This time is often both exciting and reflective when you learn more about your eating habits and beliefs about what is possible. Watching the weight melt away is often all the incentive clients need to continue.

Phase Three

During this period, you’ll stop taking HCG and gradually increase the number of calories you eat. The diet still places restrictions on what you can eat during this phase, but the limits aren’t as dramatic. You should avoid sugar and starch in phase three, but you may eat more calories.

We also call this the maintenance phase. At the end of this phase, you can start eating carbs and sugar again. At the end of phase three, you can implement everything you learned during other phases.

Although you won’t take HCG or have as many restrictions on your diet, you can make the most of the time by engaging in eating habits that will help you keep the weight off.

What Are the Benefits?

With all the diets and weight loss options on the market, many people want to know what makes HCG treatment different. If you are like most people, you also want to know that all your hard work will pay off. Below we look at some incredible benefits of using HCG:

Weight Loss

HCG treatment is proven to help users lose weight. Many clients see results in as little as one week. Results of the treatment vary, but many people lose 7 to 28 pounds per week during treatment.

Improved Health

With weight loss comes an array of desirable improvements to health, including lowered cholesterol, triglycerides, blood pressure, decreased risk of disease, increased energy, fewer aches and pains, and an improvement in insulin sensitivity.

Slimmer Appearance

Health is paramount, but looking good never hurts. Often people find that the way they look after HCG treatment is one of the biggest motivators for keeping weight off.

Performance Enhancement

Taking HCG can increase workout performance and prevent you from losing muscle mass while on the restrictive diet. Using this treatment can help you reach your ideal fitness level. HCG has even become the ideal testosterone enhancement option for bodybuilders who don’t want to risk the negative consequences that come with steroid use.

Libido Boost

The sexual hormones aren’t excluded from the equation when HCG balances the body’s hormones. Men and women alike sometimes find that desire increases during treatment.

Fertility Support

HCG supports fertility in women and men. For women, this treatment can trigger ovulation and help them prepare for pregnancy. HCG can increase sperm count in men and improve the chances of conception.

What Can I Eat With the HCG Diet?

The HCG diet is results-driven. By following the diet strictly, you can reap the most benefits. During the diet, you will eat lunch and dinner every day. During these two meals, you must consume protein, vegetables, fruit, and drinks from the approved diet list only.

Each food on the diet list is inspected for the amount of fat, sugar, carbohydrates, and protein found in each food type. Eating foods not found on the approved list impacts the results of the diet, so it’s crucial to follow the list. Remember that the diet requires restricting calories to only 500 per day, so you must count calories to follow the diet. Below we look at the approved foods for each category.

Protein

To follow the diet, you must eat 200 grams of protein twice daily. Protein sources are not created equally, so the diet requires that you eat from the following protein list. Vegans and vegetarians can also use the HCG diet by choosing the plant-based protein sources approved below.

• Approved protein shakes
• Buffalo
• Beef (extra lean and grass-fed only)
• Chicken
• Cottage cheese
• Crab
• Eggs (one whole and three whites per serving)
• Lobster
• Scallops
• Shrimp
• Tofu (in moderation because of estrogen production)
• Veggie or black bean burgers (non-breaded)
• Whitefish

Vegetables

The diet approves eating one cup of vegetables per meal for a total of two cups per day. Although vegetables are always healthier than snack foods, some are especially useful for losing weight with HCG. Approved vegetables are:

• Asparagus
• Beet greens
• Broccoli
• Cabbage
• Cauliflower
• Celery
• Chard
• Cucumber
• Fennel
• Greens
• Onions
• Radishes
• Shallots
• Spinach
• Tomatoes

Fruit

This diet isn’t entirely without sweets. It requires two servings of fruit every day. Eat one serving of the fruit options below with each meal:

• Apples
• Blueberries
• Grapefruit
• Lemon
• Oranges
• Raspberries
• Strawberries

Drinks

It’s always best to drink as much water as possible, but this is particularly useful when in the weight loss phase of the diet. Water doesn’t have any calories, so you are free to drink as much water as you want.

You may also drink coffee and tea as long as you do not add sugar, creamer, or milk. You may add a little stevia to sweeten your coffee or tea. Hydration is a vital part of the dieting process, so drink plenty of fluids every day.

What Can I Expect?

Although it might seem like a lot of work to plan for the diet, it gets more comfortable with time. Losing weight is a lifestyle, and by learning the foods that will help you achieve your weight-loss objectives, you can learn to create delicious meals from the approved list.

Just because the diet is restrictive doesn’t mean that you have to endure bland and boring meals. Instead of using unapproved condiments and flavorings, experiment with natural herbs to flavor food. You might find that after the diet is over that, you crave healthier alternatives.

Embarking on your HCG journey takes discipline and commitment; however, it delivers fast and rewarding results that make all your effort worth it.

Am I a Good Candidate?

When your diet and exercise routine still isn’t delivering the weight loss results you want, HCG could be a good option for you. Deciding to use HCG to lose weight is best discussed with our medical professionals at Slimedica. We can help you map out the weight loss method that is effective and safe.

Schedule Your Consultation

Are you interested in learning more about what the HCG diet could do for you? Our expert staff can help you find a solution that fits your needs best. Contact us today at Slimedica in San Antonio, Texas to schedule your consultation.

New Foods for HCG Diet 2021: Dr Lipman

Proteins:

eggs, egg beaters, beef (lean), chicken breast (skinless), white meat turkey, turkey burgers, sea bass, sole, flounder, halibut, grouper, snapper, tilapia, perch, oysters, lobster, crab, shrimp, scallops, clams

Lunch meats:

turkey, chicken, ham, and roast beef (baked or oven roasted, no honey, maple or sugar seasoning), Pre-packed in water: white albacore tuna, chicken in packs or cans, Tyson or Perdue Cooked Chicken Strips

Lunch:

4 oz of fish, chicken, turkey (white meat of both), or beef, low-calorie & low-carb wraps and pitas

Dinner:

in addition to lunch selections, there are numerous HCG friendly frozen entrees with low or no carbs like Atkins, etc.,  shirataki noodles, cauliflower rice, zucchini noodles, cauliflower mashed potato substitute

Bars:

Extend, Atkins, Quest, and Detour brands of high protein low sugar bars. Vegetarian– non dairy bars are also
available, just watch the carbs.  Newer brands include Budda Keto Bars using pea protein and Soon To Go Soft Keto bars with 2 net carbs/bar.

Shakes:

Extend, Pure Protein, EAS Light, Muscle Milk Light, Premier Protein brands of high protein, low sugar shakes (calories 160 or less, 2-3 g sugar or less 10g protein or more)

Fruits:

(3 per day) apples, peaches, all berries (1/2 cup), pear, orange, tangerines, grapefruit (1/2), cantaloupe, nectarine (lime and lemons are free)

Vegetables:

unlimited – spinach, lettuce, cucumbers, cabbage, tomatoes, asparagus, onions, celery, parsnip, broccoli, radishes, kale, brussel sprouts, green beans, mushrooms, peppers, zucchini, cauliflower, dill pickles, bean sprouts, beets, squash(summer squash has limited portions due to high carbs), eggplant, bok choy, pumpkin, leeks, collards, bamboo shoots, sprouts, snow peas

Teas and Beverages:

diet sodas, green tea, black tea, carbonated water, coffee, tea, crystal light, Diet V-8 Splash, PowerAde Zero (no sugar), Silk Brand light vanilla soymilk or unsweetened organic original (6 oz.), Silk Brand unsweetened Almond Milk (6 oz.), very limited low/no fat cow’s milk (less than ¼ cup), Coffee mate (original), Designer Whey Protein to Go packets

Salad Dressings:

Walden Farms No Calorie/No Fat/No sugar dressings, Light Italian dressing (Wishbone, Kens, or Newman’s Own brand ONLY), very limited olive oil

Condiments and Additives:

one tablespoon of fat free half and half, Equal, Splenda, Stevia, Heinz reduced sugar ketchup, soy, Tabasco, Picante, horseradish, PAM and other no calorie aerosol based cooking sprays, pickles (not sweet), olives (2-3), sugar free salsa, new Erythritol natural substitute sugar.  RAO makes great new marina sauce with only 5 net carbs per 1/2 cup.

Seasonings:

unlimited – lemon, garlic, thyme, parsley, plum vinegar, apple cider vinegar, sea salt, basil, pepper, balsamic vinegar, garlic salt

Noodles:

Miracle noodles, Shirataki noodles (usually found in produce section of supermarket – must be kept cold), Birdseye Vegetable pasta and Impastable Pasta

Crackers and Breads:

(3 a day) Melba toasts, grissini bread sticks, Wasa, Finn, Gilda toasts, new products that had their basis in Keto Diet include Zero Carb bagels, Just the Cheese, Zero Carb bread

Cereals: Catalina Crunch makes a new link of HCG and Keto friendly cereals.

Wraps:

(1 replaces 3 crackers) Flat-out Light wrap (a no sugar, no fat, high protein wrap), La Tortilla Factory Low Carb Tortillas, (80 calories)—recently added. Best, newest Lo-Carb wrap is OLE Extreme (50 cal- 4     net carbs).

Snacks:

(see food plan for choices, all zero or near zero sugar and low fat) 0 sugar Jell-O & chocolate pudding, no fat cheese, Soy Chips, Walden Farms Spreads, sugar free International Coffees, Murray sugar free cookies, sugar free popsicles, Philly Swirls, no sugar low fat carb control yogurt, Enlightened low sugar ice cream like bars, Halo Top ice cream.

Download the complete food list for the 800 Calorie HCG Diet:  800 Calorie HCG shopping list

What if I Can’t Find HCG Foods in My Area?

We would be surprised if you couldn’t find any HCG foods because most are readily available at any grocery store. This is by design to make it easy for you to stick with the diet. The shopping list gives the best brands, however some might not be available in all parts of the country. If some of these exact products are not available in your area or you have limited selections, don’t worry. You still have many choices!

Amazon.com carries a wide variety of HCG foods, especially the bars, beverages, condiments, and prepared varieties, at very reasonable prices. Check out my Amazon store, where I have found and listed all of the HCG foods for you. If you are an Amazon Prime member or you have signed up for Prime Pantry, you can get your food delivered right to your door in as little as 2 days.

At the supermarket, when you are looking for HCG foods that are not on the list, look at the calories first. The total fat and sugar should each be less than 2-3 grams. When either fat or sugar is slightly greater than 2 grams follow the 2 +2 rule: the sugar and fat added together should be less than 4 grams. If the sugar meets this test, the next test is “net carbs”. Net carbs are the carbs actually absorbed by the body and should be 10 grams or less per portion:

NET CARBS = Total Carbohydrate – Dietary Fiber – Sugar Alcohols – Artificial sweeteners (1 gram or less)

Also, many new HCG foods have come on the market in the last few years – with more arriving every week. These include vegetable-based substitutes for rice, pasta, and potatoes, no carb chips, no sugar cookies, and zero sugar ice cream. You may have to go to Whole Foods for a few of them, but you can find most of them at your local grocery store or on Amazon.

The “NO” Foods in the HCG Plan

Meat and Fish: No salmon, pork, lamb, salami (mixed meats)

Carbs: No bread, starches, sugar, rice, pasta, potatoes

Fruits: No banana, pineapple, grapes, watermelon, mangos, or avocado

Vegetables: No carrots, corn, peas or red or black beans

Oils: Limited olive & cooking oils other than 0 calorie spray oil okay, low fat-low sugar salad dressings

Drinks: No juices, regular sodas, glasses of milk (even low fat because of the high sugar)

Other: No NUTS, seeds, oils, or cheese (except no-fat cheese) No peanut butter or almond butter

HCG Diet Food List | HCG Diet Food Chart

This is a list of foods you can eat while doing Phase 2 of the HCG Diet.
Use this list as a quick reference when shopping and preparing meals.

VEGETABLES
– Any kind of lettuce, spinach, beet greens, chard, cabbage

– Any kind of onions

– Any kind of tomatoes

– Fennel

– Cucumber

– Radishes

– Celery

– Asparagus

PROTEINS

Your meats/poultry cannot be cooked on the bone. All meats should be
trimmed of all fat (and skin)
– White Fish

– Lobster
– Crab
– Shrimp

– Extra Lean Beef (steak, 96% premium lean ground beef, pot roast)

– Chicken

FRUIT

– Apples

– Blue Berries, Blackberries or Strawberries

– Lemons

DRINK & OTHERS

– Herbal Tea

– Bottled Water

– Melba Toast

– Sugarless Gum

– Steevia (natural sweetener, any flavor)

– Braggs Liquid Amino (this is a soy sauce type of product)

– Mustard

– Apple Cider Vinegar

– Any natural herb or spice, salt and pepper, garlic

Printable HCG Diet Food List

Referencing the chart can help manage portioning and educate you about the ingredients used in meals.

The HCG Diet Plan – What You Can Eat And What You Must Avoid

If you’re looking to start the HCG plan, you’ll wonder how to consume only 500 calories per day. You will have questions about what you need to eat and what you must avoid. Before commencing the HCG diet program, it is highly recommended to talk to your doctor/ physician. Once you’re aware of what type of supplements suit you better and how to consume them, you can use the following guide to plan your diet.

Phase 1 – The loading phase

Many people don’t pay much attention to this phase and jump right into the second phase. But this is an extremely important phase, even though it lasts for only 1 or 2 days. As the name suggests, in Phase 1 you ‘load’ your body with foods that are high in fats. This fat and the all the old fat stored in your arms, belly, thighs, and everywhere else will be used by your body in the second phase, so building up the calories is crucial. Since you need to rely on a high-calorie diet, you can eat whatever you want. Try to include all those food items you’ll develop a craving for when you’re on the second and the most important phase. So binge on ice-creams, cheese sandwiches, potato chips, and pizzas, but do not forget to take your supplements. This HCG Diet Drops Guide will give you an idea how to consume your drops effectively. If you prefer HCG injections or pellets, ensure that they’re administered safely.

Phase 2 – The weight loss phase

In this phase, you’re supposed to have a restricted diet of 500 calories per day, along with your HCG supplements. This is going to be a long phase (4 to 7 weeks), in which you will lose up to 2 pounds a day!

Take a look at some of the HCG approved foods you can have.

1. HCG approved seafood

• Fish
• Lobster
• Shrimp
• Scallops
• Crab meat

2. HCG approved meats

• Extra lean beef
• Buffalo meat
• Veal (sirloin, loin chops)
• Chicken breast

3. HCG approved vegetables

• Asparagus
• Fennel
• Green salads
• Broccoli
• Celery
• Spinach
• Beet greens
• Cabbage
• Cauliflower
• Onions
• Cucumber
• Lettuce
• Radishes
• Tomatoes
• Chard
• Shallots

4. HCG approved fruits

• Grapefruit
• Orange
• Apple
• Strawberries
• Lemons

5. Other food items approved by HCG

• Bread/ breadsticks
• Herbal Tea
• Coffee
• Natural spices
• Mustard powder
• Apple cider vinegar
• 1 tbsp of milk (This can be added to your morning coffee)
• Egg
• Fat-free cottage cheese
• 1 lemon
• Spices, herbs, and seasonings, provided they do not contain oil

If you’re confused how to plan your diet, you can have 200 calories of protein, 130 calories of fruit, 130 calories of vegetables, and 40 calories of miscellaneous food items. Or you could divide the diet into three meals – 200 cals for breakfast, 150 calories for lunch and 150 cals for dinner. Don’t forget to drink lots of water, as your body is going to need it to function better.

Foods to avoid

• Oils – Unlike other diets, you are not allowed to have any type of oils and fats in HCG diet. While preparing your meals, do not use cooking oil at all as they could increase the number of calories you’re consuming. You can use oil-free recipes and can change the way you prepare your meals. For instance, you can steam, boil or grill instead of frying. If at all you need to fry, you can use non-stick pans.
• Fatty meats – Since you’re not allowed to intake sugar or starch, you must not include fatty choices of seafood and meats. So, pork, lamb, beef ribs, salmon, tuna, herring, canned meats, and pickled fish are a strict no-no.
• Sugar – Needless to say, not just in the HCG-diet but in almost every diet you must avoid sugar intake. Avoid all types of sugary food including chocolates, cakes, candies, cookies, bakery items, ketchup and other sauces, fruit juices, granola bars, etc.
• Carbohydrates – Avoid carbohydrate-rich food items like rice and starchy vegetables such as yams, squash, pumpkin, beans, potatoes, and sweet potatoes.
• Alcoholic beverages – Though there is a school of thought that allows the intake of alcohol during your HCG weight loss program, it is highly recommended to stay away from alcoholic beverages. When you do not have enough carbohydrates in your system, the intake of alcohol could increase intoxication. Some alcoholic beverages also have a lot of sugar content and are high in calories. The intake of alcohol could affect your lifestyle – you could crave fried snacks as an accompaniment to your drink and you could develop poor sleeping habits.
• Other food items – Though you’re allowed to include HCG-approved vegetables in your diet, avoid eating canned vegetables. You should also avoid cream cheese, flavored sodas, and drinks with artificial sweeteners.

Phase 3 – The maintenance phase

The next phase is the maintenance or the stabilization phase. The duration of the phase is 3 weeks. During this phase, you must stop your HCG supplements, and slowly introduce new food items in your diet. You can increase your calorie intake to 700 calories per day in the first week, and to 1500 in the next two weeks. Your body is slowly getting used to the low-calorie diet without supplements in the third phase. As far as your diet is concerned, you can include all the HCG-approved foods from Phase 2 along with healthy carbohydrates such as oatmeal, fruits, brown rice, and quinoa. You must continue avoiding sugars and starches. You must slowly introduce good fats and omega fatty acids in your diet. Some of the good fats you can include are avocado oil, olive oil, coconut oil, oily fish, nut butter, and fatty cuts of meat. In Phase 3, it is recommended to stop eating when you feel full. Try to avoid foods that trigger the temptation to eat more. For instance, if you’re fond of cheese, don’t indulge in more than one slice. Since you won’t be on HCG supplements during this phase, you must carefully observe your weight on a daily basis. If you notice that you’re increasing weight (more than 2 pounds a day), you should slowly restrict your diet for a couple of days to normalize it.

Phase 4 – The lifestyle phase

The key to the final phase of the HCG diet is to maintain your ideal weight. You can still follow the food items included in the HCA-approved diet plan, with a higher calorie intake. In this phase, you can introduce low-fat milk, fresh fruits, and most vegetables. However, you must avoid the following:

• Fruits and vegetables – bananas, watermelon, and mangoes
• Vegetables – potatoes, sweet potatoes, yams, beets, carrots, and peas
• Processed meat
• Sweetened yogurt
• Ketchup and other sugary sauces
• Honey
• White bread
• All types of pasta that are not whole grain
• White flour
• White rice
• Fried snacks
• Other sugars and starches

When we say avoid, you don’t have to completely restrict yourself from an occasional indulgence. It is okay to have a donut once in a while.

Throughout all the phases, you do not have to exercise much, as you will need more food for energy. In the first three phases, you should be careful of working out too much. However, in the final phase, you are allowed to include more exercises. By the 4^th phase, your body will be used to the type of food you have been consuming. Sometimes you might notice weight gain after phase 4. You can restart the weight loss program after three weeks of completion of the previous one.

5 Must-Know HCG Meal Prep Hacks

Weight loss is seldom easy. If it were, no one would face dieting challenges! Fortunately, there are weight loss programs that work when adhered to, and that includes the HCG diet plan.

But first, what is HCG?

Human chorionic gonadotropin (HCG) is a therapeutically safe natural hormone produced by pregnant women.

HCG helps maintain the uterine lining and protect the fetus. While the HCG approved for therapeutic purposes is derived from pregnant women’s urine, it is perfectly normal for use in both men and women. Learn more about our female sexual health options.

That being said, a low-calorie HCG diet plan will help with weight loss because it causes the body to burn more fat. There are plenty of choices on the HCG diet food list, as it consists primarily of lean proteins such as fish and poultry, as well as fruits and vegetables.

In this article, we’ll dig into 5 mouth-watering HCG meal prep hacks for your ultimate HCG diet plan. Let’s get started!

1. Spice Up Your HCG Diet Plan

We get it. You’re eager to lose weight, but you don’t want to eat the same thing every day! Boring, tasteless meals cause people to fall off the diet bandwagon, but that’s not a problem when the permitted foods are prepared in tantalizing ways.

You guessed it… we’re talking about your spice cabinet!

With the right spices kept on hand, boring food can be transformed in a matter of minutes. Fresh herbs and spices that add zing to your HCG meals include:

• Basil
• Fennel
• Garlic
• Ginger
• Marjoram

• Mint
• Oregano
• Sage
• Tarragon
• Thyme

Beware: not all spices are HCG-friendly. Spice mixes sold in stores almost always include too much oil, sodium or other ingredients – such as sugar – which may affect your weight loss journey. Always choose fresh or plain spices if possible.

2. Prepare Food Ahead of Time

HCG diet plans are a fantastic way to get healthy. But there’s a catch:

It is virtually impossible to find a restaurant with an HCG-friendly menu.

When the temptation to grab a “healthy” meal at a restaurant might kick in, odds are the results will throw off your diet. Dining out is one of the major ways in which an HCG participant find themselves cheating on their diet, and for the HCG diet plan to work, strict compliance is necessary.

That is why HCG meal prep is a must! But who has time to daily meal prep?

The solution is simple: prep a week’s worth of food ahead of time, so you know suitable food is waiting for you once you get home.

If you’ve had a busy day at work, the last thing you may want to do is cut the fat off raw meat and ensure the serving is exactly 3.5 ounces. Making several meals at once is much more convenient.

For example, cook several chicken breasts at a time and consume them within three to four days. Choose a day when you have plenty of time and can enjoy the process. Freezing your meals is another option, as long as you remember to defrost them so they are ready when you are.

And that’s not all! There are other benefits to advanced meal preps.

When you first start out on a 500 calorie per day diet, your body needs to adjust. That means you’re likely to become very hungry. When your meals are waiting, there is less chance of your breaking your diet just to ease those hunger pangs.

3. HCG Meal Substitues in a Jiffy

Of course, there are times when your HCG meal isn’t pre-prepared, and you need to whip up something quickly.

While the HCG diet menu is designed so that most of your calories are consumed at lunch and dinner, and include 3.5 ounces of lean protein, occasional substitutes are fine.

Eggs are probably the best type of replacement for lean beef, fish, or chicken, but low-fat cottage cheese also fills the bill.

4. HCG Meal Tips For Parents

Many HCG dieters may end up having to prepare meals for themselves, as well as their kids. Since HCG meals are healthy, there is no reason kids can’t eat them.

First, the ultimate goal is to keep junk food out of the house permanently to avoid temptation. By kicking junk food to the curb, you and your children will be able to stick to a good, kid-friendly HCG diet.

Next, when you have children, you also have plenty of opportunities for teaching moments, so use them on your HCG diet journey. Discuss the effects of sugar, salt, dyes and other additives in foods, and why they are bad for them.

Lastly, if your kids are old enough, teach them how to read labels so they know how to determine what is in their food and how to make healthy eating choices.

5. Grill, Baby, Grill

Get more out of your HCG diet menu by grilling

If you don’t have a fat-reducing grill, get one. The George Foreman grill is perhaps the best-known, but there are others on the market.

All you have to do is plug in the grill for a few minutes so it heats up, and then add your HCG meat and vegetables. In just minutes, you have a meal so good you don’t feel like you’re dieting at all!

Make Meal Prep Easy With Our HCG Diet Recipes

At Tampa Rejuvenation, we are dedicated to your health. Since every patient’s dietary needs are unique, the HCG diet plan is customized for each individual. In fact, you will receive a HCG diet food list of what you can and can’t eat.

Along with the diet, patients may take HCG drops or injections daily. Most people prefer the former, but some may want to go the subcutaneous injection route. Such injections are given under the skin in areas with a great deal of fatty tissue.

Need some more inspiration for your HCG diet plan? Check out our free HCG diet recipes.

If would like to know more about the HCG diet and its benefits, call us today at 888-865-8370 to schedule a free consultation.

What Foods Can You Eat on the hCG Diet?

Lean protein like chicken provides most of the calories on the hCG diet.

Image Credit: istetiana/Moment/Getty Images

Diet fads come and go, but the hCG diet has been around for at least four decades, according to a study of the diet published in the Western Journal of Medicine in 1977. While the diet claims that the injection of human chorionic gonadotropin, or hCG, is responsible for helping people lose weight, it’s more likely the dangerously restrictive, 500-calorie diet you’re expected to follow that causes the loss. You should not follow any extremely low-calorie diet except under the close supervision of a doctor.

What is the hCG Diet

The hormone hCG is made by women’s bodies when they’re pregnant, and it’s also sometimes prescribed for women having difficulty becoming pregnant. While not approved by the Food and Drug Administration for weight loss, hCG is touted to help people lose weight quickly by suppressing appetite and spot-reducing areas of unwanted fat.

In addition to receiving the hormone, which can be given as a pill or an injection, it’s also recommended that you follow a 500-calorie diet when on the hCG weight-loss plan. Restricting your intake to such extremes severely limits your food choices and may make it hard for you to meet your essential nutrient needs. For reference, very low-calorie diets prescribed by doctors contain about 800 calories and usually include a liquid supplement to help you meet your vitamin and mineral needs.

Lean Protein on hCG

Most of the calories on the hCG diet come from very lean proteins, including white meat poultry, white fish, shellfish and very lean red meat such as veal. You are allowed 7 ounces of these proteins a day, which you should evenly divide between lunch and dinner. To make sure your portions aren’t too large, it’s recommended you measure your meats before they’re cooked. Then trim away any visible fat and either grill or broil the meat without fat.

Low-Cal Veggies, Some Fruit and Carbs

In addition to your very lean protein, you’re allowed one low-cal veggie at lunch and dinner. Options include spinach and other greens, cucumbers, onions, radishes, asparagus, tomatoes, celery, radishes and cabbage. Although just two servings of veggies a day won’t provide all the vitamins and minerals you need, they’ll provide add some nutrients and fiber to the restrictive diet.

At lunch and dinner, you also can have one piece of Melba toast or one bread stick and one serving of fruit — either an apple, an orange, a handful of strawberries or half a grapefruit.

Food Flavorings and Drinks

While you can’t use butter or oil on the hCG diet, you can add flavor to your food with a few allowed seasonings, including salt, pepper, marjoram, thyme, mustard powder and basil. Vinegar and garlic are also permitted.

Beverage choices are limited to water, coffee or tea. And you either have to drink your coffee or tea unsweetened or use a sugar substitute. One tablespoon of milk is allowed per day, which you can add to your hot beverage.

You can’t eat any solid food before lunch on the hCG diet. So, for breakfast, you can have a cup of coffee or tea, either black or with the allowed 1 tablespoon of milk and sugar substitute. At lunch, you may want to have 3.5 ounces of grilled chicken breast and sliced strawberries on top of raw spinach, drizzled with vinegar and served with a bread stick. Dinner might be 3.5 ounces of grilled garlic shrimp, grilled asparagus, Melba toast and a fresh orange.

Efficacy and Concerns About the Diet

No evidence supports the claims that hCG hormones help you lose weight, according to the Hormone Health Network. Nor does the hormone and diet plan help control your hunger, which may make the diet portion very difficult to follow for any length of time.

In addition to being nearly impossible for you to meet your daily nutrient needs on the restrictive diet, you may also experience a drop in metabolism, which means you’ll burn fewer calories. And, as you can imagine, eating so little can negatively affect your energy levels and mood. Rapid weight loss from a very low-calorie diet also increases your risk of developing gallstones.

Potential side effects from the injected form of the hormone include headaches, breast tenderness, breast enlargement in men or ovarian cysts in women. Blood clots, which can be serious and even fatal, are a possible complication of improperly administered injections. The injections may also cause ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome in women, which leads to swollen ovaries, leaking of fluid into your belly and possible weight gain. You should not take hCG if you’re nursing or have a history of heart disease, kidney disease, adrenal or thyroid gland disorder, or various types of cancer such as breast or prostate. The hCG diet isn’t a healthy way to lose weight; therefore, anyone who attempts it should have close medical supervision.

90,000 hCG diet. Why should it be avoided?

Experts believe that a healthy way to lose weight is through gradual lifestyle and nutritional changes: choose healthy foods, watch portion sizes, and exercise for 30 minutes every day. However, many people want to lose weight quickly by opting for fast, less healthy diets. So, has recently become a popular high-speed hCG diet. Is it really effective? How does it work? And most importantly – why the hCG diet is considered hazardous to health, we will tell you in this article.

Some interesting data

According to the WHO, 38% of people around the world suffer from excess weight, in Ukraine this number is close to 50%! As you know, being overweight negatively affects health, provoking diabetes, heart disease and other problems. Therefore, many seek to lose weight, spending time and resources on it.

So, according to statistics, about 114 million people spend more than $ 60 billion on weight loss products annually. At the same time, for the sake of their goal, they agree to adhere to various diets, which can even harm the body.It should be understood that not all methods are good for health, and the HCG diet is one of them.

Therefore, in today’s article we will reveal the whole truth about the HCG diet , answer exciting questions, and tell you why it should be “avoided”.

What is the HCG diet?

Human Chorionic Gonadotropin or HCG is a hormone produced during pregnancy to help a baby grow. It has been used for a variety of medicinal purposes for decades, but more recently it has become the centerpiece of the HCG diet.According to its creators, it can be used in drops, injections or tablets to curb appetite and reduce weight.

hCG diet is built on the principle of setting restrictions on the number of calories and controlling the level of the hCG hormone . During this diet, biologically active additives must be used, which create an imitation of the effects of the same hormone.

The main task of the hCG diet is to control metabolism. This is one of the features that forms the basis of the proposed diet.It is divided into 4 phases:

• 1.2 day a girl can eat whatever she wants;
• for the next 20 days, it is necessary to take supplements or hCG preparations and at the same time critically reduce the diet;
• for the next 20 days, you should stop hCG supplements and continue to eat 500 kcal per day;
• then you need to smoothly switch to the usual diet for 3 weeks. That is, a person should eat in limited quantities and at the same time use various hCG supplements.

The instructions for hCG preparations say that in 3 weeks of the diet can lose from 3 to 5 kg of weight . It also notes that the diet will lead to surprising results, which are quite controversial:

• increase in energy;
• healthy weight loss;
• improved metabolism;
• maintaining the integrity of the muscles;
• improves hormonal balance;
• hunger disappears;
• improves endurance;

90,029 people feel full of energy during the day.

Interestingly, in America, nutritionists have paid attention to this diet and have conducted many studies that have shown that hCG does not help people who are overweight or obese lose those extra pounds. So why do people lose weight on the hCG diet? Doctors say it’s not about hCG. People are losing weight as they only eat 500 calories a day.

What is on the HCG diet?

It turns out a little. It’s called the 500-calorie diet for good reason. The main principle of this diet is that needs to eat only 500 calories per day .(To give you an idea, the average active adult woman needs to eat 2,200 to 2,400 calories a day. And that’s the National Institutes of Health data!)

These 500 calories are limited to certain types of animal protein: chicken breast, beef, veal, fresh food. White fish, crabs, lobster or shrimp are also allowed, as well as some vegetables, fruits and cereals. Oils are strictly forbidden with this diet, even if they are good for the body, such as avocado oil.

Why don’t people on hCG diet feel hungry?

People on the HCG diet say they don’t feel hungry. If it doesn’t work, how can it be? It turns out that when it comes to hunger, people are highly suggestible. You probably weren’t hungry at all earlier this week, until someone started talking about your favorite food, or you lost your appetite at the sight of an ugly meal. This also occurs when you have just started to “sit” on this diet and still do not feel much hunger.When we want to believe that an injection, be it sea water or hormones, will relieve us of hunger, our hunger sometimes does go away (placebo effect).

Are HCG drops legal?

No. The hCG hormone has never been approved for use in products that are sold directly to consumers and are illegal.

Do the recommended supplements during this diet contain hCG?

Virtually none of the hCG diet supplements contain the hCG hormone.Even if the hCG hormone or the hCG diet really tames your appetite, you need a doctor and a prescription to get real hCG. In fact, the FDA (Food and Drug Administration) clearly states that “HCG is not approved for over-the-counter sale for any purpose,” and HCG products are illegal.

Most over-the-counter supplements are labeled “homeopathic,” which means they are substitutes or similar to the real product, but not the original.

Is the HCG diet effective?

This diet does not help you lose weight. Many studies have shown that if you eat only 500 calories per day, you will gain even more weight after it ends.

It turns out that these fast diets do not lead to long-term weight loss and after a year you will be back in shape, and if you moderately reduced the number of calories and increased physical activity, then the result in a year would pleasantly surprise you.It is the smooth weight loss that helps maintain the results in weight loss.

Why do doctors not recommend the hCG diet?

HCG diet is dangerous for the body. Common sense tells us that fasting is not a very good thing for our body. In fact, scientists have proven this too.

If you only consume 500 calories a day, there is a serious health risk. The Centers for Disease Control has already investigated more than a dozen deaths associated with these low-calorie diets back in the 1970s.Of course, death after a hCG diet is unlikely, but serious health problems can arise.

Does the HCG diet have side effects?

Definitely, YES. In addition to hunger, illegal injections and hCG pills can lead to headaches, fatigue and increased irritability . Hair loss, constipation, and gallstones can also occur – a rather painful condition that often requires surgery.

Has there been any research that can confirm the effectiveness of the HCG diet?

There are no clinical trials or rigorous studies to support an HCG diet.It’s just that nutritionists have not found any scientifically based evidence that the HCG diet works or that the hormone should be used as a weight loss tool.

In fact, it is more commonly used safely to treat fertility problems as it is produced by the placenta during pregnancy.

People believe that if they are losing weight, HCG should work. But all the studies just don’t support this – any weight loss is due to tight calorie restriction.But not because of hCG.

The story of an eyewitness

A few years ago, a Colorado resident was paid a hefty amount by a diet pill company to use his image in its advertisements. This person is involved in professional sports. At that time, he was preparing for the competition and the company paid him to take photos in good shape. It was a photo “after”. Then they asked him to gain weight and take a photo for the company that they would submit as “before” using the pills.And the men were seized by doubt and he decided to publicly tell about this story, remaining anonymous.

Cheating people like this has been a common practice in the supplement industry for a long time. Therefore, do not pay attention to the packaging and advertising of drugs. If, nevertheless, it attracted your attention, then first it is worthwhile to understand and study how beneficial it will be for the body. The same applies to the hCG diet, which we do not recommend following.

Better to choose a nutritious diet and exercise regularly.If you lose weight in the traditional way, you are much more likely to maintain the new weight permanently without losing your health. After that, your body will only say “Thank you” to you.

90,000 HCG Diet: Feel Hungry Pregnant

Health Risks of the HCG Diet

Hormones and Homeopathy

This diet is questionable in every way. Simeons injected the hormone, and his modern followers use homeopathic drops taken by mouth.In 2010-2011, a study was conducted, during which it turned out that in patients who took drops or granules with hCG (orally), there was no hormone in the blood, and if there was no hormone, there was no effect. Then the researchers came to the conclusion that it was necessary, like Simeons, to make injections.

But there is an important nuance here. HCG, as a hormone, can only be prescribed by a doctor. In the United States, for example, the FDA approves its use exclusively for the treatment of female infertility and hormone therapy in men.Therefore, hCG preparations can only be purchased in the form of homeopathic remedies, which are not controlled by the FDA.

In a homeopathic dilution, hCG is not dangerous. But at the same time, it shouldn’t have any effect. In general, the question of the presence of active amounts of the hormone in preparations for the Simeons diet today remains on the conscience of those who believe in the power of homeopathy.

However, suppose we are talking about sufficient doses of the hormone to force the body to respond to it.Given that hCG homeopathic remedies are somehow not registered in the US Homeopathic Pharmacopoeia, there is a chance that they are not really homeopathic dilutions. And in this case, as mentioned above, we are talking about the introduction of a hormone, which should not be in the body of a healthy and non-pregnant person.

For example, it is known that hCG can trigger the growth of malignant tumors, that is, cancer. In women, it also activates the ovaries and can disrupt the menstrual cycle, and as a result, lead to serious disruptions in the reproductive system.Adherents of the hCG diet argue that you can take not the hormone itself, but its substitutes, surrogates. But the spray on the market today is made from algae that is high in iodine, and it can interfere with the functioning of the thyroid gland.

Dangerous underfeeding

The second important question: deadly low calorie content. Even after making clever calculations and balancing the microscopic volumes of food by components, a person on a hCG diet will still catastrophically lack vitamins and minerals in amounts vital for his body.

Considering that the majority of obese people already have metabolic problems, such a diet can aggravate their condition, lead to the development of a deficiency of vitamins, macro- and microelements, and activate dormant chronic diseases. Severe restriction of the diet increases the risk of gallstones, the development of arrhythmias and even an imbalance of fluid and electrolytes, which threatens with a lot of unpleasant effects.

In addition, hCG is thought to suppress various side effects of being half-starved.But if this is homeopathy, then there will be no effect from it, and if it is not homeopathy, then the possible side effects in the form of cancer or problems “on the female side” will nullify all possible positive effects of the hormone. In fact, people who lose weight on the hCG diet usually complain of headaches, constant fatigue, increased irritability – in general, the symptoms that accompany any low-calorie diet.

Such diets very often cause the “yo-yo” effect, when a person, having completed a difficult period of the diet, quickly gains the lost pounds, unable to stop and keep the weight.

Conclusions

• There is no need to even talk about the safety of the hCG diet – this diet is unhealthy, no matter how you look at it. Its effectiveness is also in great doubt.
• If we are talking about the effective concentrations of the hormone, then it is simply dangerous to use them without a sufficient reason and a doctor’s prescription.
• And a diet of 500 kcal per day for a month can also adversely affect human health.

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hCG diet: expensive, but it helps! | HOCHU.UA

Diets are not scientifically credible
points of view not approved by the FDA
products and drugs, but nevertheless cost
fabulous money.It looks like some of them really
effective. The last “know-how” is the hCG diet (gonadotropic hormone
placenta). What do you need to know about this? Famous blogger Erin
Flaherty tells her weight loss story.

Life went on in a frantic rhythm,
as required by the position of creative director of a fashion magazine. I
tried her best to balance correctly between family and work, to
which was accompanied by constant long business trips, but about
I completely forgot my health …

The last straw was my flight from London to Los Angeles – after
landing, I suddenly felt terrible pain in my chest, and, without delay,
went to the doctors.I was not ready to die for fashion … Diagnosis
turned out to be not fatal: spit is something like pneumonia. In my
the medical history from childhood is asthma. But it’s all to blame, of course,
was my way of life. A year later, my family and I decided to move to
west coast and live, so to speak, in a quiet harbor. In a new life
I got a kind of space for self-esteem. After all, I am not
the only one who tried to eat only healthy food, but nothing
turned out, who worked from morning to night, and, returning home, barely
put the children to bed.My Coca-Cola addiction is growing and my weight
began to bother me every day more and more.

Once upon a time
I decided to see my old friend and was extremely surprised
how skinny and well-groomed she was. The secret of her slimness was
HCG diet. “The new diet completely changed my attitude to food, –
she told. “I only lost weight in problem areas.”
Indeed, she did not look exhausted and dry, which leads to
most diets. She had a wasp waist, exactly what
was with me before giving birth.She gave me the phone number of the miracle nutritionist.

I
started her own research and found that pregnant women
women have the highest hCG levels. It is extracted from urine tests and
created synthetically. The main goal of the diet is that
the hormone accelerates the mobilization of fat and uses it as a source of energy,
as it always happens in the body during pregnancy. This
“Focus” helps to forget about the feeling of hunger, eating little food.

V
In 2007, a book was published about the hCG diet, authored by Kevin
Trudeau.As a result, he spent two years behind bars on charges of
fraud because
Food and Drug Administration refused
validate his methods described in the book. I also found many
negative reviews from leading nutritionists who insisted that,
consuming so few calories, you can lose weight, regardless of hCG.
There have been cases when men had a decrease in testosterone levels after
course of diets. But to be honest, I didn’t care, no matter what
I wanted to lose those extra pounds.

I
turned to good specialists and started treatment. Duration
course – from 21 to 45 days. But that was not what frightened me at all: among others
procedures, three times a week I had to inject myself
vitamin B12 in the waist area. The doctor clearly explained and showed how
do it. I was insanely scared and painful, but still endure
worth it. We came up with a diet plan that cost me $ 750.

Diet
was strict: no dairy products, carbohydrates, alcohol and sugar;
meat, vegetables and fish only in small portions.The hardest part was
give up sugar – this is my favorite Coca-Cola. Soon I
felt significant changes: my energy
level, the skin became much cleaner, the eyes became clearer. I felt
just awesome!
See also: Rapid test from experienced nutritionists: what methods of losing weight are right for you?

Once a week I
visited the medical center, where I was weighed and updated the hCG nutrition.
I lost half a kilogram a day, however, from this B12 injections became
more painful.The diet worked so well that I decided to complete the full
45-day course, for which I paid another $ 500.

V
in total, I lost 12 kilograms, returned to that weight,
which was 10 years ago, and even the stomach left after giving birth. I finally
could afford skinny jeans and a crop top. When I was telling
to their friends and colleagues about their magic diet, they perceived it
pretty skeptical. Truth be told, there are a lot of people in Los Angeles
passed my way, but no one speaks about it openly, fearing to call
resentment and criticism of others.Yes, I exposed myself big
danger, undergoing such a difficult course of injections without proper
medical supervision. But he who does not take risks does not drink champagne! ”

based on instyle materials (translated by Anastasia Sukhenko)

Source: hochu.ua

90,000 First week on hCG diet in user’s diary Marina (iherb)

The first week on the diet is over.) I decided to make a report for the week. I will copy the entries from my diary here.

1 day.

So the first day of my normal diet has passed. A very convenient site, I planned out my diet in advance, counted and then followed my menu all day. For tomorrow, too, I have a plan. Since there is no need for any side dishes, nothing to clean, I coped with the cooking very quickly. In terms of calorie content, 880cl came out. Even at 9 am I will drink green tea and half an apple (from afternoon tea). For lunch I had proteins (minced beef with cabbage).Here’s a portion.

And for dinner, pollock fillet with parsley and tomatoes. Everything is very delicious. The only moment I noticed is that the feeling of satiety does not come immediately, but about half an hour after eating. And his stomach growls strangely.
Regarding the liquid. It remains to drink 2 glasses of 230 ml to 2 liters. I will finish. But I find it difficult to drink a lot. I have to control myself, I mark the water in the application on my phone.
So far, everything is fine.)

Day 2.

I was worried about how I would be on a diet at work, everything is fine.On the contrary, even on the one hand it is easier, I have adjusted my breaks for snack and lunch to the schedule and it is very convenient. Calories in my planner came out 750 today. In the morning, before the first break, I was already hungry. The strawberries seemed unrealistically tasty.) And it was hard from 12 to 13. Time until lunch. I really want to eat this hour. But at work you are distracted and tolerant. Plus, it’s convenient to drink, I had already drunk my 2 liters by 16.00. I probably have self-hypnosis, but today it seemed to me internally that my stomach tightened a little.) In general, the mood is excellent, there is no lethargy. On the contrary. After work, I prepared dinner for today (chicken breast), dinner for tomorrow (soup with beef, cabbage and tomatoes) and even had enough energy for a little cleaning.
I drip a little more drops, the instructions say 10 drops. I am depending on the feeling of hunger. From 12-15.
P. S. In the stomach after eating (after half an hour or an hour), it also grows strangely.

3 days.

Everything is going well, the calorie content of the diet is slightly reduced. Today the calculator came out 750.So I’m very well-fed.) The hardest time (still) is the time until lunch. I counted the calorie content for tomorrow, it comes out as much as 500 cl. I even counted and analyzed the recipe on another site. No, the difference is insignificant. Tomorrow I have shrimp. And from fruit grapefruit. I work normally, my brain understands well.) Energy even increased, it seems to me. But it is possible the effect of self-hypnosis. At the end of the week there will be measurements, then it will be possible to see the difference in a week.

4 day.

Today the ration was 500 liters.It happened not because I had planned so.))) I just bought 1 kg of shrimp, but after I peeled them, only 120 gr remained. And I had to drastically reduce the portion of dinner, so as not to be left without lunch tomorrow. What can I say, 500 kl is very straightforward, you can still stand it for 1-2 days, but I would definitely not last a week. Very difficult, I want to eat quite tangibly. And my stomach began to ache in the evening.
Weighed ourselves in the morning. 53.500. Last Wednesday it was 54 kg. Total for 4 days 500 gr. In general, very good.
Today I ate orange and grapefruit from fruits. I really don’t like grapefruits, but I have to eat them. Fruit selection is limited.

5 day.

Today I increased the calorie content, because yesterday I was very hungry and had a stomach ache. I decided that it was from a diet. But it turned out that my critical days began today. So now I don’t even know, maybe 500 cl. it would be normal. It’s just that I always want to eat in front of them. And my stomach hurts. Things went 3 days ahead of schedule, apparently due to the fact that the diet has changed.
I cooked chicken balls for dinner today, also with protein. Directly lethal dose of protein. This amount is only allowed once a day. Or lunch or dinner. I had a light lunch and a hearty dinner today. And tomorrow I will do the opposite.

6 day.

Today I took 190 grams of chicken balls (breast + egg) for lunch and realized that I could not eat such a volume. Lots of. She quickly began to gorge herself. Apparently the drops are acting and the stomach has shrunk. But now it has become much easier for me to endure the time until lunch.A snack with an apple is enough. I feel good and cheerful. The only downside to the diet is that I’m tied to the house. And with the active lifestyle that I led, it is very difficult to combine it. Everyone calls for different events, and they take place in a cafe. We have to refuse everyone. Today I met with a friend after work and steadfastly endured the sight of fries and shawarma. But this is too much a beloved friend.) For her sake, you should be patient.) Otherwise, I would probably feel uncomfortable to go somewhere in a cafe with a large company.Everyone eats delicious food, but I can’t. Therefore, it is worth protecting yourself from such temptations, I will hardly break, there is too much desire to go through everything to the end, but there will be mental anguish.
This is, of course, a minus of a strict diet.

Day 7

This is how the 1st week passed unnoticed, tomorrow I will measure all parameters to see the difference for the week. But purely visually, I can see the changes a little (although perhaps this is self-hypnosis). I noticed that the food now seems very tasty. I eat straight and enjoy it.Especially there is no craving for something forbidden. The only thing I wanted today was Nesquik chocolate balls with milk. She gave it to my daughter and caught myself thinking that she would have eaten with pleasure. In terms of calorie content, I have a stable 700 calories with a penny. I will continue to compose the menu so that no more than 800 calories per day.

My menu:

Measurements.

By weight: it was 54 kg, now 52.700 kg.

By fat% the calculator gives: 26.94% (was 28%).

Photo of the week Before – on the right side.

Photo After – on the left.

Photo without filters, but taken at different times of the day, so the lighting is natural on one side, and on the other side from the light bulb.

Of course, the difference is not so big, but this is only a week.

What I really like and I am really delighted that the breasts are unchanged. The volume under the breast has decreased, but the breast itself remains 90 cm. Basically, fat leaves the abdomen, as I wanted.And the hips tightened a little.

Another 2 weeks ahead and then 3 weeks of the consolidation phase, when it will be necessary to gradually return to a normal diet of 1800-2000 calories.

Dr. Simeons’s diet – lose weight by 8-15 kg in 40 days!

hCG diet – Estet-Portal

In 1950, the HCG diet was developed by British nutritionists. It is designed for both women and men. The diet is of particular importance for people suffering from obesity II – III century. By 2000, the principles of the HCG diet had reached tremendous popularity around the world: news in NBC, Fox News, even Oprah Winfrey on her show talked about a new way to lose weight.

The essence of the diet is the intake of homeopathic hCG (human chorionic gonadotropic hormone) inside in the form of drops. According to nutritionists, the hormone gives signals to the central nervous system and redirects the body to use its own energy reserves, stored in the form of “reserve” local fat deposits on the abdomen, thighs, buttocks in the form of visceral fat. The biological role of hCG is the adaptation of a pregnant woman’s body to bearing a fetus. The hormone stimulates the woman’s body to store fats and nutrients for the unborn child.

It has been experimentally confirmed that by introducing the hormone from outside to a non-pregnant woman or man, while adhering to a strict low-calorie diet, no more than 500 kcal per day, chorionic gonadotropin transfers the body to use its own fat reserves, solving the problem of excess weight.

Diet plan

Homeopathic HCG is taken daily 3 times a day before standard meals (15 minutes). Drops are taken under the tongue, they must be held in the mouth for 15 seconds, then swallowed.You can eat 15-20 minutes after taking hCG. Acting on the central nervous system, the hormone helps to overcome the feeling of hunger, and a person has the opportunity to develop a habit of proper nutrition, observing the qualitative and quantitative needs of his own body. The duration of the diet is 26 or 40 days, depending on how many extra pounds you need to lose.

DAY 1-2 Fat + HCG

The first two days of the diet are decisive, you should not skip them in any case! The first stage of the diet prepares the body for the transition to “internal reserves” and their rapid breakdown.The diet includes high-calorie foods containing a lot of fat: eggs, butter, yoghurts, dairy products, nuts and seeds, avocados.

DAY 3-23 or 3-37 500 Kcal + hCG

From the third day on, you follow a low-calorie diet, continue to take hCG three times a day and additionally take B vitamins (once in the morning or at lunch). Products allowed in the second stage: multivitamins, B vitamins, green tea, sea salt, apple cider vinegar, lemons, oranges, strawberries, apples, red grapefruit, lettuce, asparagus, cucumbers, tomatoes, celery, green onions, cabbage, spinach, chicken breast, lean beef, shrimp, lobster, crab, tilapia, cod, halibut, lean steak, lean roast, bran bread, sugar-free sauces.Products should be eaten without vegetable or animal oils and without dressing. Suitable seasonings are salt, pepper, mustard, parsley, thyme, garlic, marjoram, vinegar, lemon juice. From drinks it is allowed to drink tea, coffee, water and mineral water with gas. The liquid can be consumed at any time and in any quantity. Our body is prone to fluid retention when we drastically limit its intake, so you need to drink at least 2 liters per day.

DAY 24-26 or 38-40 500 kcal without HCG

For the last 3 days of the HCG diet, you continue to follow a low-calorie diet, but do not take chorionic gonadotropin hormone.During these three days, the hormone is completely removed from your body. The next step is consolidation, the most important final step in the diet.

The next 3 weeks are the stage of stabilization and consolidation of the result.

Over the next 3 weeks, your weight should not increase, despite the use of foods in the usual amount. During this stage, your body learns to maintain the same weight, consuming all proteins, fats and carbohydrates, while not saving extra calories “in reserve”.The calorie content of the eaten should not exceed 1500 Kcal per day. This should be enough, the body must learn how to properly use this energy. You shouldn’t feel hungry.

You should eat food in five meals: breakfast, lunch, dinner and two snacks. Observe meal times. During this stage, sugar and carbohydrates should not be retained in the body, since they are most quickly stored as excess weight. To do this, exclude complex carbohydrates: flour products, potatoes, rice, pasta, sweets.Eat healthy foods like meat, vegetables and fruits, combined with healthy fats – olive oil, nuts, eggs, natural butter. Small amounts of alcohol are allowed.

If at the end of the diet you gained 3-4 kg, enter a meat day: breakfast and lunch – fasting, and for dinner, eat a large steak and one apple, drink plenty of liquid. This will help you bring your weight back to normal in a few days.

Be attentive, listen to your body. At the end of 3 weeks, your body will rapidly try to gain weight.But this will not happen if you adhere to the previous diet. In addition, the best time has come to diversify your lifestyle with physical activity and exercise. Eat right, because each of us deserves to be beautiful and healthy.

Diet of Dr. Simeons for weight loss: an effective menu, reviews – minus 20 kg is easy

Getting rid of fat on the stomach and sides is the most difficult thing.But he will literally start to melt on the diet of Simeons, a British endocrinologist who discovered a revolutionary way to lose 20 kg in just 40 days!

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British-born endocrinologist Albert Simeons lived and worked in Italy. The heyday of his activities came in the middle of the twentieth century. The doctor developed his own method of losing weight, which was very popular among wealthy people of that time. For 10 years, overweight people, with the help of Simeons, have been fulfilling their dream of a slim and beautiful body.

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The essence of the system

According to Dr. Simeons, human fat is divided into three types:

1. Useful fat layer that protects organs from damage and allows them to function fully.
2. Fat serving as an energy reserve. It disappears perfectly with intense physical activity.
3. And finally, the so-called bad fat. It is located in the most problematic areas – the hips, waist and abdomen.It is almost impossible to get rid of it even with diet and exercise. The body does not want to part with this fat, as if it is saving it for a rainy day.

That is why, even torturing ourselves with diets and sports, we do not come to the desired result. And if we achieve it, then we observe unpleasant phenomena: weakness and apathy, sagging skin, bad mood and a desire to give up everything.

Dr. Simeons saw a way out of the situation in taking medications containing the hCG hormone.This hormone, human choriogonadotropin, burns problem fat stores. The body converts them into energy, thereby releasing approximately 1,500 calories. It turns out that there are only 500 calories left to the daily value, which must be brought in with food.

Thus, in the aggregate, the introduction into the body of injections with hCG and low-calorie nutrition led to an excellent effect: the loss of 400-500 g of excess weight per day.

The total diet is calculated for 40 days.During this time, the plumb line will be 15-20 kilograms.

hCG – human chorionic gonadotropin, a hormone secreted by the placenta during pregnancy, which begins to be produced from the moment the embryo is implanted to the uterus and increases exponentially every two days. Thanks to him, another, very important pregnancy hormone, progesterone, is also produced.

Even if the diet of the expectant mother leaves much to be desired, the child still receives all the nutrients necessary for development.And they are taken from the very “bad” fat. This is what the Simeons diet is based on.

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Positive and negative aspects of the method

The doctor himself considered his brainchild to be scientifically grounded and completely harmless to the body. However, more recent studies have outlined significant negative health effects.

Pros

1. The diet is effective from the first day.
2. A person does not experience the excruciating feeling of hunger, despite the fact that the daily menu contains only 500 energy units.
3. Due to the increase in the hormone testosterone, which is responsible for the anabolic state, muscle mass does not decrease.
4. Thanks to the use of the hormone, the metabolism is normalized. This means that in the future, excess weight will not return.
5. You don’t have to go in for sports. Opponents of the gym can rejoice.

Disadvantages

1. In this weight loss system, hormonal effects on the body occur. HCG can cause a lot of health disorders: the growth of various tumors, the occurrence of cystic drift, breast enlargement in men, regular headaches and a state of depression, adrenal glands malfunction.
2. Eating such an insignificant amount of calories per day leads to the fact that the body literally begins to devour itself. Protein is absorbed even from the heart muscle. This leads to gastric tachycardia and sudden cardiac arrest. Not to mention the lack of nutrients that a person experiences during extreme weight loss.
3. Dr. Simeons’s diet is contraindicated in people with any chronic illness.

hCG in therapy

In some foreign countries, preparations based on human chorionic gonadotropin are prohibited.In Russia, hCG is widely used in medicine for the treatment of gynecological diseases in women: infertility, recurrent miscarriage, delayed puberty, artificial insemination, etc. , decreased function of the gonads, cryptorchidism, etc.

Also, gonadotropin is used in sports for the growth of muscle mass. There is even such a regrettable fact that women athletes before the Olympics specifically became pregnant.When, according to their calculations, the level of hCG in the body reached the highest point, they had an abortion. And as a result, they achieved significant success in the competition.

HCG is available in the form of a white powder, from which injections are made for intramuscular injection. The dose and the number of injections are calculated only by the doctor, taking into account the patient’s condition. The most famous drugs containing gonadotropin: Pregnil, Horagon, Ovitrel, Perfinil.

Delivery of food with calculated calorie content, ready-made diets.No more cooking and counting calories!

Stages of the diet

1. Preparatory. Lasts two days. During this time, we cleanse the body of toxins, toxic substances and feces. Fasting days on water, vegetables, berries and fruits will help us with this.
2. Nutritious. For these, we thoroughly fatten with any high-calorie dishes in order to create a fat layer.
3. Intensive stage. We adhere to it until the 23rd day of the weight loss course. We consume 500 calories per day and take the hCG hormone.
4. Fixing. From 24 to 26 and from 41 to 43 days, we refuse the hormone, but also adhere to a low-calorie diet.
5. Recovery. Within three weeks, we return to our usual diet, each day gradually increasing the daily calorie intake. Any products are allowed, except for sugar and starch.

Menu for the week

According to the rules of the Simeons diet, you need to eat three to four times a day, and for breakfast there is always tea or coffee with skim milk.Each meal contains 100 g of protein and some carbohydrates in the form of fresh fruits and vegetables. Fats are not allowed.

Monday

• Lunch: 50 g of boiled veal, salad of lettuce leaves and 3 cherry tomatoes.
• Afternoon snack: green apple.

Tuesday

• Lunch: 50 g of boiled chicken breast, sliced ​​two cucumbers with herbs.
• Afternoon snack: orange.

Wednesday

• Lunch: 50 g of boiled pollock and lettuce.
• Afternoon snack: pear.

Thursday

• Lunch: 50 g of boiled cod, two white cabbage leaves with a bunch of greens.
• Afternoon snack: grapefruit.

Friday

• Lunch: 50 g of boiled seafood (shrimps or mussels), salad of two radishes.
• Afternoon snack: 6 strawberries.

Saturday

• Lunch: 50 g of boiled seafood, two leaves of red cabbage with a bunch of greens.
• Afternoon snack: 3 kiwi.

Sunday

• Lunch: 50 g cottage cheese and steamed asparagus.
• Afternoon snack: persimmon, 1 piece.

In the above menu, dinner is identical to lunch. It is not necessary to follow exactly this sequence of days, the main thing is that the daily calorie content does not exceed 500 units.

Lean meat is allowed from products: veal, chicken and seafood. From vegetables: red radish, asparagus, cabbage of all kinds, cucumbers, tomatoes, spinach, celery, onions. Everything else, including sugar and alcohol, is prohibited.

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Who is Anat Stern

This woman, a resident of Estonia, became a follower of Albert Simeons’ method and even wrote a book about him. According to Anat, for the last 10 years of her life, she was engaged in trying various diets on herself. But none of them brought the desired result. But thanks to the Simeons diet, Stern quickly got rid of 40 extra pounds. Now her goal is to advise people on this system and help them get a beautiful body.

Exit from the diet

Simeons and Anat Stern did not prescribe any particular completion of the diet. Therefore, it is simply necessary to increase the caloric content of the diet slightly (by 50-100 units) every day.

Exposure

At the time of Dr. Simeons, scientists had not yet learned to secrete a natural hormone. Therefore, the doctor has developed a herbal analogue of hCG – a spray based on seaweed. However, we know that algae can in no way replace human gonadotropin.And poisoning the body with real hormones is fraught with disruption of the reproductive system and the growth of tumors.

And then, if you consume only 500 calories every day, you will lose a lot of weight without any injections and sprays. But this is very harmful to the body, and not far from anorexia. After all, the usual rate is 1800-2000 kcal.

And most importantly, not a single clinical trial has proven the effectiveness of the Simeons diet. Although the followers of the technique do not mention this anywhere.

However, this method of losing weight is still popular in the USA and some other countries. But we strongly recommend that you turn your attention to less restrictive diets.

Reviews and results of those who have lost weight

Olga Aleksandrovna, 45 years old

At my age, it is very difficult to lose weight. Still, metabolism slows down, activity decreases, years make themselves felt. Yes, even in my youth I did not like sports. On the Internet I came across the book “Pounds and Inches” by Dr. Simeons.And the method described in it interested me. But, of course, I did not begin to inject myself with hormonal injections. Replaced them with RestorHCG homeopathic drops. I lost 10 kg in a month. I did not feel hunger, although I ate quite a bit, as it should be according to the rules of the Simeons diet. I’m glad.

Reviews of doctors and specialists

Oleg Ivanov, nutritionist-endocrinologist

I categorically do not recommend the diet of Dr.