Aimed at reducing stubborn, abnormal fat stores, the HCG Diet was developed by Dr. Simeons who discovered the weight loss benefits of HCG supplementation when combined with strict dietary guidelines.
Please continue reading on for more on this fat-burning diet.
What Is The HCG Diet?
Human Chorionic Gonadotrophin (HCG) is found in both men and women, but appears in highest levels in pregnant women. Produced primarily in a woman’s placenta, this hormone was found to decrease abnormal belly fat, especially when paired with the appropriate diet and exercise.
Dr. Simeons made this discovery and created a method by which unwanted fat stores could be reduced through strict lifestyle changes with HCG supplementation.
The main component in HCG has been shown to use excess fat stores and reduce the amount of fat cells. The hormone has additional effects on the hypothalamus, where appetite and appetites are controlled.
Simeons points to the problematic eating culture of consuming three large meals per day when the human digestive tract is better suited to consistent, small snacks throughout the day. Changing to a three-meal structure meant the body had to store food and nutrients that it could not use or process at the time of eating.
Three distinct types of fat are recognized by the HCG Diet: structural fat is that cushioning bones and organs, normal fat contributes to temperature regulation and provides energy, and abnormal fat is the result of an over consumption of starches and sugar that cannot be used by the body for energy.
Other diets that focus on indiscriminately losing general fat often caused the body to reduce the wrong type of fat, leaving the abnormal stores.
The Simeons theory for the storage of body fat rejects notions of underperforming organs or glands, instead looking at the body’s fat storage capacities as finite. When excess calories are consumed, the body has no way to deal with them other than storing them. Highly refined foods in particular, such as flour, sugar, and oil, do not allow the body proper digestion time.
Experimentation with HCG in prepubescent boys showed decreases in appetite, leading Dr. Simeons to theorize that HCG freed up fat stores, which the body could then use as energy rather than requiring additional food.
As well as decreased body fat, HCG has also been linked to lowered blood sugar, decreased blood pressure, and the alleviation of gout pain.
How Does the HCG Diet Work?
Dieters are instructed to consume only 500 calories per day with the supplementation of 125 units of HCG in order to reduce weight by one pound per day. With multiple pathways possible, the diet lasts either 26 or 40 days.
HCG is synthesized and then suspended into a sublingual blend for simple administration. The drops are applied under the tongue and rapidly absorbed into the body. Each kit includes an oral syringe for precise dosing.
Dieters must measure 8-10 drops of the solution to be dispensed three times daily, allowing absorption to occur for approximately five minutes. Do not eat or drink in the 10-15 minute window before and after consumption.
Side effects of most low calorie diets include restlessness, fatigue, headache, and irritability. People on the first few days of the diet will likely experience more of these effects, as well as hunger while the body adjusts to the new intake levels.
Consumers are instructed to stop taking HCG drops after 40 days maximum due to the potential for developing HCG immunity. This state, in which the body acclimatizes to the hormone and thereby reduces its effects, can be remedied by taking at least 6 weeks off from HCG supplementation.
Every kit includes a liquid B12 supplement to help maintain energy, a tape measure and a syringe. Furthermore, orders include a book of useful tips, a guide for following the protocol, low calorie recipes, and a weight tracker.
The HCG Diet Plan
Loading Phase:
Depending on the patient’s starting condition, he or she will force feed at maximum capacity from anywhere between two to seven days. Patients must eat fattening foods until the fourth administration of drops, as the first three doses do not effectually release abnormal fat stores.
This feeding is intended to restore normal fat deposits for a healthy body composition once abnormal stores are eliminated.
Diet Phase:
As the longest phase of the regimen, patients drop their caloric intake to 500 per day and continue taking daily doses of HCG drops. Each meal includes 3.5 ounces of vegetables, 100 grams of meat, a slice of bread, and a fruit.
Depending on which treatment is followed, this phase lasts either 26 or 40 days. Patients who consumed more during the loading phase often feel significant improvement, while those who ate less might feel mild discomfort for up to a week.
The optimal time for women to begin HCG drops is immediately following a period.
Studies indicate that men lose an average of one pound per day while women tend to lose half a pound per day. Men tend to lose weight consistently, while women’s progress fluctuates.
Maintenance Phase:
Once drops run out, patients will continue the 500-calorie diet for three additional days. Patients are instructed to slowly and incrementally replenish calories, focusing on high-protein foods and avoiding starches, sugar, and dairy.
Results are skewed with even subtle changes to the protocol, including excess calories to doses of more than 8-10 HCG drops. The part of the brain acted upon by HCG is very sensitive to extreme changes, so this particular amount must be consistently administered.
Pricing
Prices vary depending on which method consumers choose to follow. The 26 day kit is available for $99, while the 40 day kit is offered for $155.25.
Should You Use the HCG Diet?
This might be a useful diet for those who are struggling to lose stubborn fat deposits.
Due to the extreme nature of this diet, including severe calorie restriction and rapid weight loss, interested consumers might want to continue their own research or consult a healthcare practitioner before deciding if this might be an effective route for them.
More information can be found at: http://hcgdiet.com/.
