HCG Diet – A Complete Guide For Beginners!
Many people in this world are trying to lose weight, while only a few can be successful with that for several reasons. Some people try to follow diet plans and exercises for many days but find little or no results.
On the other hand, some people will only follow their weight loss plans for a few days and quit. Everyone likes to have quick results with a little effort, especially for losing excess weight.
HCG Diet – How Do You Do The HCG Diet Successfully?
Have you ever thought of such a method where you can burn more fat quickly with only a little effort? HCG diet is one of the best diet plans for those who have failed to achieve their goal of weight loss naturally.
It is a unique method that uses hormones to burn fat and suppress appetite. If you look forward to losing weight quickly or failing with that plan, then you can choose the HCG diet plan. You can find a complete review of this diet plan here.
What Is HCG?
Human Chorionic Gonadotropin (HCG) diet plan is a weight-loss plan involving using hormones to burn fat quickly. The hormone HCG is released in large quantities at the time of pregnancy and will be present in pregnant women’s urine.
It is a hormone that supports pregnancy and plays an important role. But on the other hand, its presence in your blood makes you feel less hungry and reduces body fat.
The properties and uses of this hormone were found in the 1950s by a British physician but were tested and confirmed on patients in 1954. The physicians found that this hormone will help burn fat stored in the stomach, hips, and thighs at the beginning.
Functions Of HCG In Your Body
What Is The HCG Diet?
HCG Diet is an important method for weight loss where you have to take HCG injections daily for a few days along with a serious plan for calorie restriction. It is a serious diet plan with many restrictions, but you will get the results quickly. In this diet plan, you are only allowed to take 500 calories (or 1000 to 1400 calories) daily, making it the hardest weight loss diet.
On the other hand, the presence of HCG in your blood will reduce your hunger, and you will not feel weak or related troubles.
By enrolling with the HCG diet plan, your body will be in an anabolic state where your body builds muscles and burns fats. In general, it can be considered a diet plan for boosting metabolism without feeling any hunger. You can start the HCG diet program by consulting a doctor and with their supervision in using the injections.
Types Of HCG Contents
Currently, HCG hormone liquid and contents for weight loss are available in two types.
- HCG as powder and liquid
In this package, you will receive a powder along with a separate liquid (with HCG hormone content). You can mix them to form the solution and draw it into a syringe to inject them into the body. You will have to buy syringes separately for this HCG content and throw them away after each use.
- Single-dose prefilled HCG syringes
As its name suggests, the single-dose prefilled HCG syringes are prefilled, and you just have to use them at the proper time. Each of such syringes can only be used once, and there is no need for mixing.
From both these types of HCG, prefilled syringes are considered a convenient choice. In it, you do not have to mix the contents and do not have to worry about keeping it safe and drawing it in the syringe. On the other hand, the powder and liquid content allow you to mix it just before use.
How Is It Done?
The recommended period for following the HCG diet plan is 26 days, but people who have to reduce weight will have to follow this plan for a maximum of 43 days.
- HCG injection
For safety, you must consult a doctor to enroll in this weight loss plan. The medicine – the hormone is injected in a muscle, thigh, buttocks, or under the skin. The doctor will provide the necessary recommendations and directions for using this medicine. In most cases, people will take only a few HCG injections per day, but the doctor will prescribe the number and amount based on your requirement (20 to 23 injections per day).
- Restrictive diet plan
A severe calorie restriction is needed for the HCG diet, which involves taking only 500 to 1400 calories daily. The diet plan has to be followed for around 8 weeks to get the best results quickly.
The HCG Diet Plan Is Considered To Have Three Phases
- Loading phase
In this phase of 2 days, you will be taking HCG injections along with a diet plan of high-fat and calorie foods. It is the beginning stage of the HCG diet, where you must prepare the body for an extremely low-calorie diet.
As part of this preparation, it is suggested to take extremely high-fat, high-calorie food items for these two days (as much as possible). Taking HCG injections during this phase will start to burn abnormal or excess fat from the body. It will give the body an effect and prepares it for the next phase.
- Weight loss phase
In the next phase, you should take only around 500 (or a little more) calories daily for around 4 to 6 weeks by taking HCG injections. During this weight loss phase, you can only take two meals daily.
The total calorie of 500 should be maintained and distributed equally for the two meals. The calorie limit of 500 to 800 or more depends on different persons and the weight they want to lose. The number of days you must follow the second phase will also depend on the person’s weight.
Apart from that, the calorie limit will be based on how fast you have to lose weight (like losing weight in 20 days). To get quick results, you will have to go through extreme restrictions, which can cause certain problems in the body.
- Maintenance phase
In the last phase, you can stop taking HCG, but restrict a few calories and avoid sugar and starch in the diet. It is recommended to take around 1200 to 1500 calories of food during this phase.
You can gradually increase the food daily to a normal diet by the end of this phase. Most people who have achieved their goal weight can reduce or stop the HCG hormone injections. At the same time, others who have to meet a little more can continue taking the HCG injections until they reach the best weight. By the end of this phase, you can start to eat a normal diet.
How Does HCG Diet Affect Weight Loss?
All patients following an HCG diet program will undergo daily injections of HCG and a very low-calorie intake of around 500 to 1400 per day. While taking the HCG injections, your body will be in an anabolic state which builds muscles by burning fatter. The HCG diet plan puts your body into starvation, where fat will be converted into energy quickly. During that stage, the body will be able to burn more unwanted fat instead of burning muscles.
HCG hormone in your blood will reduce hunger and the tendency to intake more food. Thus, with a restricted calorie diet, less feeling of starvation, fast burning of fat, and increased metabolism, you will be able to lose weight. Studies have revealed that following an HCG diet plan can help you lose 1 to 2 pounds of weight per day.
What To Eat And Avoid When You Are Following HCG Diet?
HCG Diet plan is composed of a very low diet which results in extreme weight loss in a short period. Doctors and healthcare experts have already suggested that it is a powerful method for weight loss, which is not completely healthy and safe. The HCG diet is also considered illegal in some places because of its risks.
It is a diet plan wherein you are only supposed to take lunch and dinner daily (or take food twice daily) with a small amount of protein, vegetables, fruit, and drinks.
The calories of the food items consumed should not exceed the recommended level (usually 500 calories per day). You must count the calorie content of each approved food item to follow the HCG diet plan.
Food Items To Be Taken During The HCG Diet
In the HCG diet, you can take any amount of water; coffee and tea with little milk or without it are also recommended. During this weight loss diet plan, only a tablespoon of milk is allowed daily. The HCG diet plan allows you to take the following food items.
- Some fruits – like oranges, strawberries, apples, grapefruits, etc.
- Nonstarchy vegetables – like lettuce, celery, cucumbers, tomatoes, etc.
- Lean proteins – like chicken breast, lobster, white fish, etc.
- Herbs and spices.
- Approved dairy products.
Protein Intake During The HCG Diet
You can take around 200 grams of protein two times a day during the HCG diet, but you must make sure that you take the right amount. Some approved protein diets you can consume during the HCG program are the following.
- Protein shakes (approved)
- Extra-lean beef
- Chicken
- Cottage cheese
- Buffalo
- Crabs
- Eggs
- Veggie
- Whitefish
- Lobster
- Scallops
- Shrimp
Vegetables For HCG Diet
The amount of vegetables that you can take during the HCG diet is two cups (based on the amount of content of the cup) for a day. Some of the approved veggies for this diet plan are the following.
- Asparagus
- Beet greens
- Cabbage
- Fennel
- Broccoli
- Cauliflower
- Celery
- Chard
- Cucumber
- Onions
- Radish
- Spinach
- Tomato
- Shallots
- Fennel
- Greens
Fruits That Are Recommended For The HCG Diet Plan
It is advised to take two servings of fruit daily with the meal during this diet plan.
- Apple
- Blueberries
- Grapes
- Lemon
- Orange
- Raspberry
- Strawberry
Drinks
You can consume a large amount of water during the HCG diet.
Restricted Food Items
While following an HCG diet, you must not take food items like butter, oil, and sugar. Even though you can drink tea and coffee, you are not supposed to add sugar, cream, or large quantities of milk. The other food items that are off-limits for the HCG program are the following.
- Fatty Foods like fish, nuts, food made of oils
- Starchy vegetables like potatoes.
- Foods with sugar content
Apart from the ones mentioned above in approved food items, you can use most other items as restricted during the HCG diet.
What Should Be Included In An HCG Meal?
An HCG meal plan should contain one portion of lean protein, vegetables, a piece of bread, and a serving of fruit. You only have to remember that the recommended calorie per day is 500 (or sometimes 1000 per day) – 250 calories in one meal. Good fluid content is a must for losing weight, and you must drink plenty of water.
Benefits Of The HCG Diet
HCG diet programs offer many benefits, but the important one is weight loss.
Short And Long-term Effects Of The HCG Diet
While doing an HCG diet there are two types of effects depends on it; Short term and long-term:
Short-term Effects Of The HCG Diet
Most people with excess weight will consume a lot of food items in their daily life. But when starting the HCG diet plan, you just have to cut the calorie intake level to the lowest – 500 calories per day. An average weighted man takes around 2000 to 2500 calories per day, but for the case of fat guys, it will be more and even double. Reducing the calorie intake to the lowest within a day will surely make such people lousy. Your body will be tired and restless, making you cranky and irritable. But with HCG in your blood, you will only feel less hunger than in normal cases.
So, by following this diet plan, your body will not receive enough nutrients or minerals, and you will lose weight daily (.5 to 1 pound per day). Even though HCG will help your burn fat and not muscles, you may not have enough energy to do exercises. The sudden decrease in calorie intake will cause short-term effects on the body, like constipation, headache, muscle cramps, extreme tiredness, etc. You will also get certain other stomach problems due to the extreme diet plan.
Long-Term Effects Of HCG Diet
Following an HCG diet plan for around 26 days will reduce your weight and gradually decrease your appetite. HCG diet involves leading your body to a situation without nutrients, energy, etc. It will help you lose weight and get long-term results. The decreased appetite will lower your natural food intake after the HCG diet plan. So, if you continue with that, you will be able to maintain a good weight for a lifetime. On the other hand, some suggest that even if you lose weight quickly, you cannot guarantee long-term weight loss. Some studies have also reported long-term side effects after following this diet plan.
The recommended number of days to lose weight effectively with HCG Diet is 26. Some people who have to lose much more or excess weight will have to follow this dieting plan for a maximum of 43 days (mostly between 26 to 43). By daily weight loss of around .5 to 1 pound, you will be able to lose around 20 pounds or more after this diet plan (for 26 days HCG diet).
Safety And Side Effects Of The HCG Diet
The food and administration field of some countries has approved that the HCG hormone should only be used in fertility drugs. They have recommended that using HCG is not effective for losing weight and they are not safe.
Some people and medical researchers have also reported many side effects of HCG injections for weight loss. The FDA – Food and Drug Administration has not yet approved using HCG as a weight loss drug. They have concluded that you should avoid HCG injections that might contain unknown harmful ingredients.
On the other hand, many other studies have also shown the effectiveness of the HCG diet in losing weight. It is considered a quick weight loss method, surpassing all other weight loss diet plans and medications. HCG diet is also considered safe if the diet and injection are given to a person under the supervision and approval of a well-experienced professional medical specialist or doctor.
Such a professional specialist can check the patient’s health condition while practicing the HCG diet. Thus, they can quickly find all the issues like malnutrition and low calorie-related problems and solve them based on the requirements. By consulting a doctor, you can get the best diet plan that perfectly suits your body and the weight loss plan.
Side Effects Of The HCG Diet Program
Several studies have reported many side effects in using HCG drugs for weight loss, and it is also not considered an effective method in many places.
It is even considered breaking the law in many countries to sell HCG weight loss products. Some common and small issues you will face during the HCG diet are headaches, depression, and fatigue.
- HCG might increase the chances of cancer
Some research studies have reported that using an HCG diet for weight loss can increase the chances of cancer. The increase in HCG hormone in your body will improve or encourage the production of androgen, which can result in cancer. Androgens are normally produced in males and at lower levels in females. Excess or increased androgens in the blood can stimulate the growth of prostate cancer cells, resulting in breast cancer.
- Risks of extremely limited calories
HCG Diet involves following an extremely low-calorie diet which can cause many problems like gallstone formation, irregular heartbeat, and several other imbalances in the body.
- Gallstone formation and related infections
It is common to have gallstone formation during pregnancy triggered by the presence of HCG. During extreme weight loss plans – HCG, you will be taking very low calories. But during this process, your liver releases extra cholesterol into the bile, which increases the risk of gallstone formation. Your gallbladder will not get emptied during quick weight loss plans with extreme measures. It can cause infections, inflammation, abdominal pain, etc.
- Irregular heartbeats
An extremely low-calorie diet can significantly develop atrial fibrillation, a common heart disorder. The lack of vitamins and minerals is also responsible for abnormal heartbeats. Apart from that, a restricted calorie intake will lower your blood sugar levels and increase the chances of heart palpitations. Such problems can also be caused by a lack of necessary salts in the body.
- Electrolyte imbalance
The lack of necessary minerals in the body can lead to electrolyte imbalance. The imbalance can cause cardiovascular diseases, heart failure, seizures, vomiting, sweating, etc.
- Fatigue and irritability
Hormone levels play a major role in maintaining a person’s feelings. In HCG Diet, you will be using daily HCG injections, which can increase the HCG levels in your blood. Thus, it will make you feel fatigued and cause irritability, which can make you feel dizziness, lightheadedness, etc. On the other hand, the HCG hormone also improves or encourages the production of other hormones. So, your body will be sensitive to those sudden hormonal changes, which can cause extreme tiredness.
- Gynecomastia
HCG – Human Chorionic Gonadotrophin hormone is produced during pregnancy in women. So, the increased presence of HCG hormone in men will act analogously to LH, stimulating the Leydig cell LH receptor. It will finally result in producing estrogen out of proportion to testosterone. The increase in estrogen – responsible for the development of female reproductive organs, can cause gynecomastia (or swelling of breasts in men).
- HCG Diet can cause edema – swelling caused because of fluid build-up.
- Blood clotting – thromboembolism
The increased presence of HCH hormones in the body will hyper-stimulate the ovaries, leading to the surge of vasoactive substances and hormones. It will result in hemoconcentration (an increase in the number of particles in the blood), increasing the risk of blood clotting in veins.
- It can also cause mood changes, restlessness, and malnutrition in the body.
Safety Methods For HCG Diet
- Doctor consultation
The primary thing you have to do while enrolling in a safe HCG diet plan is to consult a well-experienced doctor. They will advise you about all its side effects and problems and check whether you can enroll in that diet plan. You can take the HCG injection with the supervision of doctors to make everything right and safe. During the HCG diet plan, you can face some problems, but you can immediately consult the doctor for an effective and quick solution.
- Avoid fake products
Nowadays, it is said that some people are trying to buy HCG Diet plan products (injections and hormones) online. Most of all, the HCG products available online or in the market are fake and ineffective for losing weight. Taking them will only worsen your body condition or increase the chance of other infections or problems. In most cases, you can only get a real HCG drug and injection with a doctor’s prescription.
- Try rotating the injections sites
Usually, you will have to take HCG injections daily for 26 days (more to a maximum of 43 days for losing more weight). So, there is a good chance for the injection to cause serious injuries or cause pain in your skin or body before you reach the last date. By rotating the injection sites, you can avoid such injuries easily, and it is also a convenient choice for everyone. It is recommended to inject HCG on the front or outer thigh, upper arm, outer arm, and upper outer buttocks. So, you can try rotating the places, like one thigh for the first day and the other for the next.
- Avoid areas with any kind of infection
It would be best not to take HCG injections in areas with infected or allergic skin. The doctor can advise you in such cases about taking the drug.
👍 Do not plan for an HCG diet if you have the following medical conditions.
👍 Hormone-related cancer
👍 Cancer or tumor in the breast, ovary, or uterus
👍 Ovarian cysts
👍 Cancer or tumor in the brain
👍 Thyroid problems
👍 Heart disease
👍 Kidney disease
👍 Asthma
👍 Migraines
Enrolling in an HCG diet plan during pregnancy, breastfeeding, or related cases is not recommended. If you have any cases mentioned above or are a breastfeeding mother, consult a doctor for recommendations. They might advise you to stop taking some medicines to start the HCG diet program or inform you of any risks.
- You should only use a disposable needle for one time and make sure to use mixed HCG quickly. If you haven’t used a mixed HCG for 30 days, you must not use it again.
- Avoid using the HCG if it changes its color during mixing or if you find any other particles. You can ask your doctor’s advice to get a new prescription.
- Always store the unmixed HCG medication at room temperature, away from moisture, sunlight, and heat. You can keep the mixed HCG hormone liquid in a refrigerator before use, if necessary.
Conclusion
Losing weight is a very hard thing to achieve for many people, and some of them are not able to find good results even after dieting and doing exercises. Many people are looking for an effective weight loss plan, but most fail to find the right method.
HCG Diet is considered to be an effective weight loss plan which involves taking hormonal injections.
It is a method that involves taking daily injections of Human Chorionic Gonadotropin with a severe diet plan
Studies and research have found that no weight loss plan surpasses the HCG diet. By enrolling in this diet plan, you will be able to lose a large amount of weight within 26 days.
If you are trying to find information regarding HCG, its benefits, side effects, and many others, you can use this article. Here you can find all the details of the HCG diet, including how HCG hormones work in the body and its side effects. From the details provided here, you can find some serious side effects while enrolling in the HCG diet plan. It involves certain risks and causes some medical conditions, indicating that it is unsafe. If you are planning on taking this diet plan, then consulting a doctor by following all the safety requirements will be the best choice. It will help you lose weight and ensure your body’s security.
Frequently Asked Questions
- What should I do to enroll in the HCG diet plan safely, and why?
The best way to enroll in an HCG diet plan to ensure your safety is by consulting a doctor. They will be well-experienced and knows all the effects of taking HCG injections. Thus, they will be able to guide you through all the processes and will instruct you to avoid them if you are facing any other serious troubles. Taking HCG injections under a medical specialist’s supervision will ensure your safety.
- What should I do if I took an overdose unknowingly?
You must seek emergency medical attention if you take an excessive dose of HCG drugs. You can contact your doctor immediately to know what you should do next. There is no need to worry much in such situations, as an overdose will not create any major issues.
- What food items should I avoid during an HCG diet program?
Avoid taking fatty foods like fish, nuts, food made of oils, starchy vegetables like potatoes, and foods with sugar content.
- Can I drink tea and coffee during the HCG diet plan?
You can drink tea and coffee during the HCG diet, but avoid sugar, cream, and other ingredients. Only take black coffee or tea or use just one tablespoon of milk (only allowed once daily). It is also recommended that you can use other sugar substitutes in coffee and tea.
- What are the important side effects of enrolling in an HCG diet program?
The important side effects of the HCG diet are chances of having cancer, gallstone formation, swelling of breasts in men, fatigue, irregular heartbeat, and increased chances of blood clotting in veins.
