The (organic) Former HCG Diet Guide

Please note, I initially lost weight doing the hCG Diet.  While I am glad it helped me lose weight, I don’t recommend it anymore as I believe you (nor I) need to take such drastic actions.  There is another way that actually isn’t as expensive and is much better for your body.

How to Lose Weight:  Part 1

How to Lose Weight:  Part 2

Weight Loss Challenge

In Case You Want to Know About the Organic hCG Diet Guide

My journey is told in past tense, because herein lies the archives of my HCG Diet experience.  While I initially discounted the hCG Diet as a fad and too good to be true, it has been  both one of the best decisions of my life and hardest internal battles of my 36 years on this earth.

Thankfully, God had already led me to I Quit Sugar book by Sarah Wilson, which has made the HCG Diet much easier.  And while I think you can lose weight and find success with I Quit Sugar, some of us need a little bit more accountability.

Surprising Information about Fat People (me)

In my preparation for the hCG Diet, I also learned that weight loss for the overweight person isn’t necessarily a matter of moderation, will power, and exercise.  There are several other factors that often sabotage the overweight person’s ability to lose weight, now matter how hard they try.

Even for the organic, whole foods, yoga loving Granola Mom.

Over a series of blog posts I will share my daily experiences with you, educate you about obesity, and offer tips and tricks along your HCG Diet journey.

What is the HCG?

HCG stand for Human Chorionic Gonadotropin, a hormone released in pregnant woman, and one that my body is VERY familiar with.  It is produced throughout pregnancy.

It was explained to me initially as the hormone that allows babies to thrive and grow – to get enough food even when a woman is not eating properly or lives in an area of the world where adequate nutrition is not available.

It is the hormone that determines if you see one line or two on that pregnancy stick you peed on.

hCG affects your hypothalamus.  That little “thing” in your brain.

And what does the hypothalamus do, you ask?

What does it not do, is my reply.  Located above the spinal cord in your brain, this small area of the brain attempts to regulate your body.  As it relates to weight loss, the hypothalamus basically is the command center telling our brains

  • when we are hungry
  • how hungry we are
  • and when we are full

What is the HCG Diet?

The hCG Diet uses Human Chorionic Gonadotropin extracted from the urine of a pregnant woman to facilitate and encourage weight loss in overweight patients.  Coupled with a reduced calorie diet, people often experience a 1 – 3 pound weight loss per day.

Note:  I lost .75 to 1 lb per day on average.

BIG NOTE:  The HCG is sterile.  More on this later.

How does HCG work?

Our bodies manufacture three types of fat:

  • Structural fat – which creates a soft pillow between those vital organs and acts as a cushion
  • Normal reserve – this fat provides fuel that the body can draw upon for strenuous activity and allows you to maintain a stable body temperature
  • Abnormal fat – this if that fat you most likely call your “problem area” that you can’t seem to get rid of; this fat is basically a prisoner in your body and will only be used in the most extreme and unusual circumstances, such as starvation

When individuals take HCG, this hormone begets a response in the hypothalamus to release the abnormal fat in the body to be used as fuel.  Without HCG, a normal dieter will lose normal fat, structural fat, and lastly abnormal fat.

I don’t know about you, but I would rather lose the love handles, the bootie, and the belly that looks “5 month pregnant even though your child is 5-years old” fat.

Can I get a witness?

Because this fat is released as fuel or energy, an individual can eat a restricted calorie diet and still have energy, lose weight not muscle, and the body is not depleted of vital minerals and nutrients to function.

What Do I Mean by a Restricted Calorie Diet?

I’m talking about 500 calories per day.  Go ahead, gasp.

It’s really not that bad.  I had more energy doing the HCG Diet than living as a 50 pound overweight, middle aged woman.

What Can You Eat on the HCG Diet?

Please note that I am showing you the below food recommendations with some license.  There are certain foods that I do not eat because I subscribe God’s outline in the Bible for healthy eating.

The Book that Explains the hCG Diet

Always refer to Dr. A.T.W. Simeons’ book, Pounds and Inches:  The Original HCG Diet Protocol.

Breakfast

  • HCG shot (in the belly — it’s not that bad)
  • tea or coffee with (optional) 1 tbls of milk and stevia. You may drink as much tea and coffee as you like. However, you will soon read how I had to refrain from coffee.
  • Begin drinking your gallon of water

Lunch

DSC_0093

  • 100 grams of veal, beef, or chicken breast
  • a serving of spinach, chard, chicory, beet greens, green salad, tomatoes, celery, fennel, onions, red radishes, cucumbers, asparagus, cabbage (I read this as fermented kimchee or sauerkraut.)
  • 1 Grissino (so worth purchasing) or one Melba toast (bleech!)
  • choice of one apple (I add cinnamon), a handful of strawberries, or one-half grapefruit or orange

Dinner

Same as lunch menu . . . just vary the elements

Is the HCG Diet Safe?

I drilled my doctor with this very question.  And she knows how crunchy I am.  She said yes.  I even brought myself to watch Dr. Oz.  While there were two women who had complications from doing the HCG Diet, the account of their experience on the diet actually made me question that they followed the HCG protocol correctly.

Dr. Oz vouched for it being a valid form of weight loss, seemingly innocuous, and showing surprisingly good results for reasons he didn’t totally understand.

Hair Loss

I did have a friend experience hair loss.

Because my skin had become excessively dry and I began experiencing more headaches, my doctor put me on Biotin in order to maintain sufficient levels so as to avoid hair loss that could occur several weeks AFTER the hCG diet was completed.

Dry Skin

While on the hCG diet all fat is avoided.  While I do not normally agree with this philosophy, I saw this as a season of abstinence in my life.

A fast from fat.

When on the hCG protocol, any fat is immediately absorbed into the body/skin and can impair weight loss.  Therefore it is recommended that you avoid lotions, shampoos, conditioners, etc. that have a fat in them.

So . . . I initially used my essential oils sparingly.  However, my mood was affected enough that I added my essential oil regime back into my daily life and did not experience weight loss issues.

To combat my dry skin I used Aragan Oil, which is plant based.

Is it Natural?

Yes.

Well, that depends on the definition of natural.

Gouging yourself with a needle.  No that is not normal behavior.  But as far as the ingredients within my particular dosage?

Yes.  I spent a long time on the phone discussing the ingredients and their effects on the body.

The HCG in my prescription is taken from the urine of a pregnant woman.  It is then collected and extracted.  When it arrives at the apothecary’s office, it is in the form of a crystal powder.  They informed me the remaining ingredients in the solution, of which I do not remember off the top of my head; but I KNEW what they were by name.

They were not harmful.

What Supplies do I need?

The Necessities:

  • scale (this is the one I purchased – and it came with a nice tape measure) or Wii
  • food grade scale
  • cutting board
  • good knife (I use Cutco Knives)
  • tape measurer
  • gallon jug (for water)
  • HCG, syringes, refrigerator, alcohol swabs
  • Stevia (I like Trader Joes brand)
  • Celtic sea salt, pepper, garlic powder, Thai Seasoning, Braggs Seasoning, cinnamon
  • booklet for record keeping  or hCG app for your phone
  • melba toast or Grissino
  • (organic) meats, veggies, and fruit listed in diet protocol
  • good liver cleanse product

Optional

How Can I prepare?

Pray.  Are you at your wits end?  Are you willing to commit to a program and follow through?  I would almost recommend you read I Quit Sugar first before you jump on board with the HCG Diet.

Do I have to See a Doctor?

That is your choice.  But initially I wouldn’t do this on my own.

I met with my doctor.  She ordered lab work.  I met with the nurse practitioner who oversees the program to discuss my history, my understanding of the HCG Diet.

In this visit, I picked up my Cleanse kit.  You must not skip this step!

I came back one week later, took measurements, and learned how to use a needle.  After leaving the office, I went and picked up my HCG prescription and promptly went home.  the hCG must be kept refrigerated.

I also spoke with my nurse practitioner every two weeks to chat about what I was experiencing and feeling and to make any necessary adjustments.

I have heard of individuals who have done the HCG Diet using sublinguals, meaning they take the HCG orally.  I have never met anyone who has done this.  I have not studied this thoroughly, but I do know that not supplements are created equally.

Why do you need to take measurements?

Well, its rewarding.

You also want to make sure that you aren’t losing the wrong type of weight.  Your measurements are taken around those “problem areas.”  If you are dropping pounds but not inches . . . something isn’t jiving then.

Day 16 HCG

I will post a diagram soon explaining what measurements you need to take.

How Long Does the HCG Diet last?

You can expect to be on the diet from 23 – 40 days.  It depends on how much weight you have to lose.  Additionally, you have to wait several weeks before you attempt the HCG Diet again.

How Much Does it Cost?

Email me if you want to know.

Know what you are getting into before you commit.  Don’t trust me.  Do your own research.  After all, I am not a doctor.  This is only MY experience.

[optin-cat id=22967]