What is hCG?
Human Chorionic Gonadotropin (hCG), a hormone naturally produced by the placenta in pregnant women and almost completely controls the metabolic function through the hypothalamus during the pregnancy. Contrary to popular belief, the hCG used in diet protocols is a variation of the hCG form used for fertility treatments, except in a smaller dose. All hCG used for medical purposes is natural, but created in laboratories from sterile cells. It is NOT extracted from women or animal urine, and is not a sex hormone. All of which are common misconceptions.
How much weight can I lose on the hCG diet?
Most hCG dieters report a loss on average of 1 to 2 lbs per day. At the very least, a patient will lose 1/2 lb per day, and at the most, 3 lbs per day. Factors that guarantee faster weight loss include increasing vegetable intake and mixing salad with each meal. Fiber and water intake is extremely important. It’s also important to remember that one can only lose fat if overweight, and after reach your ideal weight, you can’t lose anymore weight with this diet.
The 800 calorie hCG diet?
The original hCG diet as proposed by Dr. Simeone almost 50 years ago is a 500 calorie diet. We, and others, have found that increasing the daily caloric intake to 800 calories does not diminish the amount of weight loss, but does decrease hunger and improves compliance. In addition we provide nutraceutical supplements to meet vitamin and mineral needs.
Will I be hungry on a 800/day calorie diet?
While it is common to experience mild hunger during the first few days, this will pass and by week 2 in the program, you will find tiny servings to be completely satisfying. This is due to your hypothalamus adjusting your metabolic rate. It is common that after the first week, hCG dieters feel they are stuffing themselves in order to reach the 500 calorie limit!
Why are injections necessary?
The hCG injections are natural and are safely self-administered. They are an essential phase, and without the injections, a patient would be hungry, irritable, and experience extreme fatigue while on such a low calorie diet. Further, without the hCG, one would also not experience the same body re-shaping.
The HCG Program includes the following:
- Physician Evaluation and Treatment Recommendations
- Nutritional Evaluation and 800 Calorie Diet Plan
- Resting Metabolic Rate Testing on completion of the program
- HCG in injectable form
- Weekly lipotropic injections
- Nutraceutical supplements
- Baseline metabolic profile including thyroid function testing
- Weekly office visits to provide close supervision of your program, to troubleshoot, and answer any questions regarding your diet program