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Human Chorionic Gonadotropin (hCG) Ultimate Fat Burning Diet
This diet involves using a natural hormone called hCG, or human
chorionic gonadotropin, to assist weight loss. It is the hormone that
increases significantly during pregnancy, and helps to support the
growing baby in its early stages. |
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One of the functions of this hormone is to stimulate the body to mobilize and burn extra fat cells for energy. In the weight loss program, a very small amount is used (compared to the surge in pregnancy) to stimulate the body to burn fat cells while the body is on a very low calorie diet (VLCD). Normally on a VLCD, the body goes into “starvation mode,” and in that mode our body stores fat. This is a protective mechanism by our bodies to prevent death during periods of starvation. When using hCG in conjunction with a VLCD for a short period of time, you stimulate your body to burn excess fat cells while on the low calorie diet. So, you are in fact losing the fat you want to lose instead of storing it.
The Dead-End Cycle of Dieting
Most people who have dieted have tried many different programs with
no successful results. Most diets deal with reducing calories, and this
causes the patient to spiral downward into the pit of obesity. When an
overweight/obese patient tries to reduce calories to lose weight, they
will first burn their normal reserve fat cells. Once these are all used
up, the body will move on to burning the structural fat cells (both of
these types of fat are necessary, and are not the kind of fat that
leads to obesity). The last fat cell on the list to be utilized is the
abnormal fat, or the fat that causes people to be overweight. By the
time the patient gets to this point they feel hungry, fatigued, and
generally give up on the diet. This type of dieting causes patients to
feel exhausted, to lose fat in the wrong places (from face leading to
sagging skin versus belly, hips or thighs). It also depletes them of
nutrients, which leads to further complications. This is where the hCG
diet comes in and is set apart from other diets. Yes, the calories are
restricted, but when this is done in combination with using the hormone
hCG, the body is able to successfully burn fat. Not only is the body
now burning fat, but also it is burning the abnormal fat, so people are
able to lose it in the areas that they are seeking, such as belly and
thighs.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is hCG safe?
Yes, it is very safe. Large amounts of hCG are released during
pregnancy without any harmful side effects. The amount of hCG used in
weight loss programs is only a fraction of what is naturally released
in pregnancy. The only contraindications for the use of hCG are any
hormone related cancer, an allergy to hCG, or precocious puberty in
teenagers.
Why don’t pregnant women lose weight if they have large amounts of
hCG circulating in their bodies?
The hormone hCG works to mobilize and burn fat for the body to use when
there is a significant decrease in calories and fat. The body must go
into a starvation state for the hCG to work. This is why it is a
protective mechanism in pregnancy, especially for women who do not know
they are pregnant, and live in poor economic status where they may not
have enough food available to them. Most pregnant women do not fall
into this category; therefore they do not lose weight, but instead gain
weight appropriate for the growth of the baby. For weight loss, we use
a very low calorie diet to stimulate hCG to help rid the body of fat.
Will the low calories diet cause my metabolism slow down?
The normal response to a low calorie diet (seen as starvation by the
body), is to store fat and slow metabolism to ensure survival. However,
when hCG is used in conjunction with a low calorie diet, the body’s
excess fat reserves are burned as energy to support its needs. This
prevents our bodies from storing fat and our metabolism from slowing
down during the short period of time while on the VLCD and hCG.
If I eat a very low calorie diet without hCG, will I lose the same amount of weight?
No, because on a VLCD without hCG, you body goes into “starvation
mode,” as mentioned above. In this mode your body is programmed to
store fat instead of burning it, in order to create reserves to make it
through the period of starvation. Then when the VLCD ends, the body
will store even more fat as normal calorie consumption begins, to
prepare for the next possible period of starvation. This is the common
cycle people tend to fall into when dieting, and this is the reason
they never keep the weight off. With hCG, you body is stimulated to
burn fat during the low calorie period, so it does not fall into the
cycle of storing fat as reserves. This will keep you from storing
unwanted fat during the diet, and from having a rebound weight gain
after the diet has ended.
Will I get hungry on the very low calorie hCG diet?
This will vary for each person. Some people get hungry, and some don’t.
The hCG is stimulating your body to burn fat as energy, so your body’s
energy needs are being met. This will help to reduce hunger in most
people, because the body has plenty of energy to use (hunger is a
reflex to let you know your body needs energy). Therefore, the body
does not need to stimulate the hunger reflex as a response to low
energy in the system.
Will I be depleted of vitamins and nutrients on hCG and the VLCD?
First, you must remember, the VLCD is only for a short period of time.
Second, every time you lose a pound of fatty tissue, which will happen
almost daily, only the actual fat is burned up. All the vitamins,
proteins, and minerals contained in the tissue are fed back into the
body. Fat cells contain an abundance of nutrients, and that is why the
body uses them as reserves.
Will hCG interfere with any medication I am currently taking, including birth control pills or Depo-Provera injections?
HCG does not interfere with any medications, including birth control.
There will be NO side effects as far as hCG and medications are
concerned.
Will there be any changes in my menstrual cycle while I am taking hCG?
Patients should not experience any changes in their menstrual cycle,
because the amount of hCG being used is very small. It also does not
increase the chances of becoming pregnant or affect your ability to
become pregnant while taking the hormone. It is not an acceptable
treatment for a woman who is already pregnant or trying to get
pregnant, due to the low calorie diet. Even though hCG is supposed to
be a protective mechanism during times of starvation for pregnant
women, we do not want to run the risk of a woman losing her pregnancy
due to the VLCD.
Why are some people calling hCG the “weight loss cure”?
HCG is also being called the "Weight Loss Cure," because after taking
it for weight loss, it reprograms your body to use stored fat for
energy when calories are reduced for a period of time. It helps you
maintain your weight and not regain the pounds you've lost. This is
generally the opposite of what most people have experience with
dieting, and this leads them to think of the hCG diet as the cure to
weight loss problems.
How much weight will I lose on the program?
The average amount of weight loss is between 10 to 25 pounds for the
three-week interval. This varies from individual to individual, and the
closer you are to your body’s ideal weight, the slower you will lose
weight. The slowest loser usually loses about 1/2 a pound a day.
Does weight loss slow down after the first month?
Most people will have a large amount of weight loss in the beginning,
and then they begin to level off or plateau. This does not mean they
stop losing weight, only that they are losing it at a slower rate (but
most importantly, they are still losing). Some patients opt to do a
second round of hCG, and during this time period, they can have another
large drop in weight, followed by a leveling off stage as well.
Can men use the hCG program?
Yes, men can safely use the program, as long as they do not have a
hormone dependant cancer (such as prostate cancer). Now, hCG is NOT a
sex hormone, and its actions are identical in men, women, and children.
Through an indirect path from the brain, hCG regulates menstruation and
facilitates conception, but it never virilizes a woman or feminizes a
man.
What blood work do I need before starting the program and why?
We run basic blood work, which includes a Complete Blood Count (CBC),
and Comprehensive Metabolic Panel (CMP), and Thyroid blood work (TSH
and total T4). The purpose of this is to ensure there are no underlying
medical issues before we begin the diet, such as a thyroid problem,
liver disease, or diabetes.
What does VLCD mean?
It is an abbreviation for “Very Low Calorie Diet.” You will see it throughout this diet plan to describe the 500 calorie diet. |
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