Is The HCG Diet Right For You?


The HCG diet may very well be the most controversial diets in history.   While many folks dismiss the diet as quackery, many have sung its praises.

What exactly is HCG?

HCG stands for Human Chorionic Gonadotropin and according to wikipedia  this is a hormone that is produced by the syncytiotrophoblast, a component of the fertilized egg, after conception.  

Both men and women have traces of this hormone, however, during pregnancy a woman's HCG level will double every forty eight to seventy two hours.

What role does HCG play in diet and weight loss?

One of the roles of HCG is to nourish the baby.   If a pregnant woman goes into pregnancy at a relatively healthy weight, but for some reason doesn't get the proper nutrition during their pregnancy term, the baby will still receive its needed nourishment.   This is due to the Human Chorionic Gonadotropin, it enables the baby to feed off of the mother's fat stores.

Now do you see the connection with dieting?  Dr. Albert Simeons certainly did, in the fifties he dedicated a great deal of research to HCGs effect on obesity. He claims that injecting this hormone into his patients caused rapid fat loss without hunger and this is inspite of being on a very low calorie diet.

Not your average extreme low calorie diet.  Losing your body's fat is ideal in that you maintain your muscle. 

Being on a very low calorie diet will cause weight loss, no doubt, but it's the HCG that prevents this from being a typical VLCD.  For starters the HCG allows your body to feed off of its own fat.  So then the weight you lose will be fat.  Those on the diet claimed to lose mainly fat and very low muscle.

HCG is not FDA approved for weight loss, however, it is approved for other conditions such as infertility.

I attempted the HCG diet, I failed, however, I am not ready to write the diet off just yet.  There is a plastic surgery center near where I live that offered the diet package for a sale price of $900.00.  Out of desperation I set up a consultation.   Other than supplying the HCG, there was nothing they did that I felt warranted the price tag.  So I went home and googled.   I found quite a bit of information online along with HCG at a far better price.

When buying online make sure HCG is real and not a placebo or homeopathic

I found a place online that offered free HCG in exchange for an endorsement.  Unfortunately I cannot endorse this company because I wasn't satisfied.   They did a few things wrong that resulted in my early abandonment of the diet.   Their price was high and they cut way too many corners.

 I can say that what I injected was indeed real HCG, but because the company chose to cut corners I ended up injecting too high of a dose.  Thanks to many forums dedicated to this diet I was able to receive some good advice.   If I had to do it again, and I may as some point, I would go directly to a reputable online pharmacy as opposed to sites dedicated to selling only HCG and HCG products.

HCG diet should always be a last resort

There are many reasons why weight loss isn't possible.  See your doctor and exhaust probable causes. My reason, I'm certain, is estrogen dominance.  I intend to see an endocrinologist.  I cut soy out of my diet and I was able to lose ten pounds.   I still gain weight and bloat before my cycle to an abnormal degree.  I've come to terms with the fact that I won't really be able to get down to my ideal size until my hormones are balanced.

No scientific proof

I noticed there is not a lot of research or clinical studies done on the HCG diet.  I think I read one viable study, however, there wasn't any support based on this study that HCG causes any more fat loss than any other low calorie diet.   I personally felt this was very limiting since there does appear to be enough personal testimonials in favor of the diet.


Since I didn't really go through with the diet and can not offer any personal feedback.  My only advice would be to see your doctor.  My doctor would not prescribe HCG, however, your doctor may do so if you are significantly overweight.

Please let me know if you've tried the diet or if you have any thoughts concerning this diet.




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17 comments:

mystylespot said...

,ove this post! i've heard of this diet but never knew much about it! Thank you so much for sharing!

Lexie Lane said...

Anything that might potentially have an effect on any normal function of my body is something I don't touch. I don't like artificial of any sort being inserted in me. Plus, if there is no scientific proof just yet, I especially would be anti whatever it is. Thanks for this and hopefully it helps those who are thinking about it.

Anonymous said...

Great information, thanks so much for sharing. My hubby is thinking of going on this diet.

Donna Martin said...

If weight loss is your goal, there are safer ways to lose weight.

kath g. said...

i've tried a lot of diets and lost weight only to regain it. it finally sank into my head that if i didn't make a lifestyle change and just start eating healthy foods and control portions, i would just re-gain whatever weight i lost. by doing that and not dieting, the weight just fell off over time in a healthy way and it's stayed off.

it was hard at first to give up some things, but i found good substitutions and when i really want something i eat it. i don't feel deprived at all and now i really prefer a lot of the substitutions.

i look at my body as a chemical factory and i'm not a chemist, so i wouldn't add foreign chemicals like hcg because i don't know the short-term or long-term effects. i had a friend who did hcg, she lost weight on it and after stopping immediately gained the lost weight back and more.

sorry my comment is long, but i wanted to share what worked for me.

Unknown said...

I'm not sure about the long term safety of this diet. Wouldn't try it myself.

ann said...

Well after reading this information on HCG I dont think I would ever try this . Sounds to risky to me. When I did lose weight before I just wrote down everything I ate each day and tried not to eat things over a certain calorie. Exercise also and I did average about 5-10 lb. weight loss over each month - total lost was 50 lbs. but that was when I was younger now Im older and not as active so its harder to lose weight I wont take any weight loss products I will try to do it on my own - much safer I think

Jayne said...

I never knew HCG could be used for a diet!

MichelleS said...

I wish I had the willpower to do this! It's not that I have an eating problem/am overweight, but I love food (in moderation). I have looked into this, but I think I will look further into it after this post.

Unknown said...

I have tried this diet and it really does work. This is the only diet that works for me.

Unknown said...

I never understood what the hcg diet was about until now. It is a very interesting idea that the hcg hormone helps with dieting due to its role in pregnancy.

rjcqh said...

Thank you for the information on this diet.

Unknown said...

Had no idea about this diet..thanks for the info

lisagee1234 said...

I wanted to comment on this post because Oprah is fat again LOL !!!! Apparently she went off this diet :o)

Unknown said...

Interesting, never heard of this before, good to hear it's safe!

Claire D said...

Had never heard of this before now. I wouldn't try it without seeing more scientific studies, but interesting to know.

lgothard said...

I have heard people talking about this, but I don't think there has been enough research done to say for sure that it wouldnt do more harm then good. There are safer and healthier ways to go!!

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