Background
The Hcg Diet is a proof that weight problems was already a major concern even during the 1950’s. The HCG diet is actually one of the pioneers of weight loss programs having been developed decades ago when getting into a weight loss program was not as popular as it is today, but there were already concerns about weight problems and its effect on our bodies and health. Just think about it, dieting and losing weight is a concern not only in the highly developed countries but in almost all countries in the world. The fast food craze and the lifestyle we are all getting used to, makes us susceptible to weight problems. Today, most people have a sedentary lifestyle. Just think about it, what do we love to after a week of working, we usually stay at home, buy some junk food and watch TV!
Hcg stands for Human Chorionic Gonadotropin and the entire Hcg diet program was created by Dr. A.T.W. Simeons sixty years ago. Dr. Simeons specialized in Endocrinology and spent most of his time in India where he studied two major issues regarding weight, which are malnutrition and obesity. Dr. Simeons during the course of his studies, realized that obesity is caused by abnormal functions found in some parts of the body which makes people who suffer from these irregularities become fat even if they do not eat as much. In addition, Dr Simeons believed that people who are free of these irregularities will never get fat even if he eats frequently or more than the usual. He believed that obesity is a metabolic disorder just like diabetes.
Dr. Simeons established his first clinic dealing with obesity in the Salvator Mundi International Hospital in Rome, where patients and doctors flocked to, to find answers to problems on obesity. Dr. Simeons is the author of the book “Pounds and Inches – A New Approach to Obesity”. The book was written for both patients and medical practitioners who wish to understand his approach and what his weight loss program wants to achieve. Aside from this book, he is also the author of several other medical books and has published his finding and studies in various scientific publications. Dr. Simeons died in 1970 but his weight loss program that has helped millions of people lose weight, lives on.
What is the HCG Diet
To understand what the Diet is all about, let us first delve on what is obesity, which is the main reason why people go on a diet. Most often than not, when we hear the word obese or obesity, we immediately come into conclusion that the person who is suffering from it is obsessed with food, cannot control his appetite, lack willpower and does not have any discipline when it comes to eating. We do not realize that obesity can be a result of a major malfunction in the body. There are three causes of obesity which everyone is susceptible of. The three major causes of obesity are the inherited factor, the diencephalic disorders and the exhaustion of the fat bank. The Hcg diet was formulated to combat the cause and treat patients suffering from weight problems especially those who are obese. The Hcg or Human Chorionic Gonadotropin component of the diet is a natural hormone found in the body. This hormone is a protein hormone that develops in the placenta during pregnancy. The hcg sends signals to the hypothalamus glands to begin breaking down and use our fats as fuel source. This also means that it will send signals for the body to conserve its lean mass, thus muscles are not depleted. Hcg helps in tricking your own body system in believing that it is getting the much needed calories it needs as it replaces the ingested calories with stored fat calories. Hcg is your partner in transforming into a much healthier and thinner you. Researches also proved that Hcg normalizes the thyroid glands, helps in lowering cholesterol levels an stabilizes hormonal levels.
The HCG Diet
Hcg must be taken together with a diet to ensure its effectiveness and to achieve results. Hcg comes in four different forms such as intramuscular injections, subcutaneous injections, sublingual drops, nasal spray and transdermal ointment. The intramuscular injection is the most effective and most popular among all the different forms but the oral or sublingual drops has also become popular in recent years because it is easier to use and is readily available. Any form of hcg must be used together with the recommended diet. The Hcg diet is divided into 4 phases, each one is intended to help you achieve your ultimate golad which is to lose that weight, keep it off and transform into a new you.
The First Phase is of the diet is when you have to detoxify your body and do some cleansing. Although there are people who often skip this phase, this phase is very crucial as it prepares your body for the changes that will take place. This phase will prepare you for the rapid weight loss and will accelerate fat loss that usually happens in the second phase. The first phase involves drinking a lot of water, walking for at least one hour, detoxifying which can also be achieved by drinking a lot of water, cleansing of the vital organs, eating apples and grapefruit, drinking green tea, taking probiotics, eating a large organic based breakfast, eating at least six times a day, eating salad for lunch and dinner, eating protein before you sleep, consuming chili and pepper, eating organic meat and poultry, limiting cold drinks and carbonated drinks, add fibers to your diet, take vitamin supplements and use natural sweeteners. You are not allowed to take anything with high fructose corn syrup, no trans fat, no MSG or monosodium glutamate, no artificial sweetener, no nitrites, no microwaving, no fast foods and do not use any lotions and creams during this phase.
Although the first phase is only a preparation for phase 2, there were people who lost considerable amount of weight in this phase. You must also remember that in this phase your food intake is not restricted and you can even take some sweets just as long as they are 100% organic and its ingredients are not allowed in this phase. This phase was not in the original diet of Dr. Simeons but was added to fit the lifestyle and the conditions that are present in most people today. After 30 days, you are now physically ready to go to the second phase.
The Second Phase is actually the first phase of the original diet of Dr. Simeons. As I have explained earlier, A phase was added for the weight loss program to fit into the present day lifestyle. The second phase must be supervised by your personal physician or a doctor who specializes in the hcg diet. This phase lasts for a minimum of 21 days and a maximum of 45 days. The purpose of this phase is for the hypothalamus to react on the site and the hcg into releasing the stored fats which would result into rapid weight loss without affecting the muscle tissues. This phase does not only involve a stringent diet but also the treatment with your choice of hcg form such as injection or oral drops. You are expected to lose a pound a day in this phase. In the first three days of the diet, you must strictly follow the diet plan and this is when your daily dosage of hcg commences. In the phase two of the diet you are allowed coffee and tea as much as you want. Lunch can consist of four choices from four different food groups which are weighed. For the meat choice, you have the option to either consume 100 grams of lean beef, veal, fresh white fish, chicken breast, shell fish and an occasional egg. For vegetables, you are allowed to consume a handful of the following vegetables but make sure you do not mix them together: cabbage, asparagus, cucumber, red radishes, spinach, chard, chicory, green beets, lettuce, tomatoes, onions, celery and fennel. The fruit group is composed of one handful of strawberries or an apple, an orange and half a grapefruit. Your last choice would be a grissini breadstick or a melba toast which you can either take together with the other food groups or for a snack. For dinner, you are allowed the same food choices for lunch. You are advised to drink a lot of water and you may also season your food to make it more palatable. Do remember that you must not take over the counter drugs during this time unless it is imperative and a doctor has been consulted. You may not use any make-up, lotions or consume cold drinks, and having a massage is not recommended. You are encouraged to walk for at least an hour a day, take up yoga as it relaxes the body, sweat in a sauna and expose yourself to the sun for at least 20 minutes. It is also important to weigh yourself daily and take your body measurements. This will be your guide in achieving your objective and will reprogram your mind with the changes in your physically. When you are down to your ideal weight, you may now proceed to phase 3.
The Third Phase is very crucial as this is phase that resets your metabolism, eliminates cravings and hunger pangs, and prevents the accumulation of stored fats. Immediately after phase two, you must commence phase 3. This phase lasts for twenty one days and you are now allowed to eat any type of food as much as you want to, and must not consume any of the following: sugar or any other forms of sugar, starches like bread and pasta, artificial sweeteners, any food with nitrites and no food coming from any fast food restaurant. You must also limit your intake of ice cold drinks, prescription and over the counter drugs, air-conditioning and exposure to florescent lights. You are encouraged to drinks lots of water, eat two organic apples daily, walk an hour a day, drink as much tea as you desire, eat a large breakfast, take probiotics, take supplements and get at least seven to eight hours of sleep.
The third phase also requires you to check your weight daily and if you do notice an increase, you must not eat until 6:00 PM and just drink as much water as you can. This will ensure that the noted increase in body weight will not convert into stored fats. A gain of two pounds must not occur during this phase and any weight gain must be corrected immediately. You will also notice that you will be feeling full and satisfied with your meals even if you want to eat more. This is also the effect of the phases you underwent. This phase changes your eating behavior which will assist you in maintaining your weight for a lifetime. After twenty one days, you are now thin, healthier and ready to face the world with your new figure and mindset, and you are now ready for phase four.
The Fourth Phase is the phase that will last for a lifetime. You have achieved desirable results and is now in control of what you eat and not the other way around! Because you have strictly followed the first three phases, your body system has stabilized, you will not gain weight anymore, you are healthier, food is not an obsession, your energy level is higher and most importantly, all these changes will reflect on the new you!
In phase four, you can eat anything, as much as you want and when you want to, but all your food must be 100% organic. Processed and other foods may have harmful chemicals and preservatives that is unhealthy for the body. Organic food will not affect your hypothalamus or metabolism. It might be impossible for you to purely eat organic food, just try to avoid and minimize everyday food which are laden with chemicals and additives. Remember that weight gain or obesity is not caused by the food itself, it is caused by add-ons during the process that starts from growing until manufacturing.
It is also recommended that you avoid “brand name” food and avoid eating in fast food chains. Clean your cupboard and fridge, and throw out foods that have high sugar content food with preservatives, genetically modified food, tans-fats, artificial sweeteners and monosodium glutamate. Empty your bathroom or room of lotions, soaps, conditioners, moisturizers and creams that contain propylene glycol or sodium laureth sulfate which contain poisonous chemicals and might affect your system.
There are other do’s and don’ts that are listed and most of them have already been mentioned in the three phases of the diet. These will help you maintain a healthy lifestyle. Remember that nowadays, almost everything we eat can cause obesity and weight gain due to the chemicals, preservatives and additives that can be found in the food. The hcg diet has proven that it can produce amazing results without sacrificing your well-being.
Review of the Hcg Diet
This diet has been quite controversial due to its numerous pros and cons. There have been thousands of people who have done this diet and studies were done to find out if the diet really works. A perspective of what people say about the diet, and for you to decide if this diet is well-suited for you, it will be best for you to weigh its pros and cons. The strength of this diet is that, if you do follow the diet diligently, you will definitely lose a lot of weight rapidly, and a doctor is required to medically supervise you in this diet which means that your health and reaction to the diet is monitored regularly. The diet helps in improving your metabolic rate which means fats are burned rapidly and restricts further loading of fats. The diet also promulgates a healthy and clean lifestyle, and encourages dieters to eat foods that are organic and chemical free. It makes the dieters aware of the harmful effects of eating anything without taking time out to check on its main ingredients and its fat contents. Another good point of the diet lies on its ability to shape your body as you lose inches in the parts where you need it most like the waist, arms, thighs, buttocks and hips. In fact, it has been called the “natural liposuction”. It also tricks your body not to go into a starvation mode and use your stored fats to produce the necessary fuel that the body needs. One of the primary requirements of the hcg diet is that you detoxify your body which is what the phase 1 is all about. This will cleanse your body and minimize the loading of fats.
On the other hand, the diet is very tedious to do and might just initially turn people off. There are so many restrictions and rules to follow which will require will-power and discipline. Although hcg is not harmful to our bodies, there are side effects like headache, weakness, fatigue and nausea that were reported. There are no findings that prove that this diet is 100% effective and is not FDA approved. Skeptics say that the diet works because you are restricted to eating only 500 calories a day which means that you will lose weight even without hcg. Diet that results in rapid weight loss can be a cause for certain people to develop gallstones. The diet can also be quite expensive in the long run due to the supplements required and the diet in itself which requires you to shop for certain foods that cannot be easily found in ordinary supermarkets or groceries.
Conclusion
Unlike other diets that do not require medical supervision, the hcg must be done with a doctor’s supervision. It is best that you consult a doctor if you do decide to try this diet. The doctor can give you an in-depth report on what to expect and the effect of the hcg diet in your body. If you are hesitant to take any form of additional medication or injectables even if it is a natural hormone, then this diet is not for you. If you are really determined and want to succeed in this diet, you definitely need a lot of diligence, will-power and discipline. It is safe to say that this diet is for those who are really serious in losing the weight and keeping it off, and has envisioned a lifestyle free of chemicals, preservatives and additives.
Sources:
http://www.officialhcgdietplan.com/pages/History.html,
http://health.yahoo.net/goldcontent/human-chorionic-gonadotropin?brand=HCG,
http://hcgdietjourney.com/dr-simeons,
http://www.hcgfatloss.com/dr-simeons-hcg-protocol.htm,
http://www.myfamilydoctor.net/HCG_DIET_PROGRAM.html,
http://hcgdietdrnj.us/how-hcg-is-taken.html,
http://www.hcgfatloss.com/hcg-diet-phase-1.htm
http://www.slideshare.net/lowcarblindsey/hcg-phase2,
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