HCG Diet FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions

• 1. What Is HCG?
• 2. What Does HCG Do?
• 3. Can Both Men And Women Take HCG?
• 4. How Does HCG Help Me Lose Weight?
• 5. How Will It Affect My Appearance
• 6. Can I Do The HCG Diet If I Am Exercising Or Doing Physical Labor
• 7. What Is The Guarantee I Will Lose Weight?
• 8. FDA Approval?
• 9. What If I Don't Lose Much Weight?
• 10. How Did The HCG Diet Come About?
• 11. What Happens When I Stop Taking HCG?
• 12. What Is The Diet Protocol?
• 13. How Should I Take HCG?
• 14. What Are The Side Effects Of HCG?
• 15. Is It Safe To Take An Appetite Suppressant To Help With HCG?
• 16. Is It Safe To Do This Program If I Am A Diabetic?
• 17. Can I Exercise On The HCG Diet?

What is HCG?

Human Chorionic Gondaotropin is a hormone produced in the pituitary gland of males and females of all ages. It is also produced naturally by the body during pregnancy (made by cells that form the placenta). HCG can also be produced synthetically. HCG helps the body burn fat stores, and can aid the body in the production of other hormones.

What Does HCG Do?

HCG tells the hypothalamus (a structure of the brain which regulates your thyroid function, fat storage, metabolic rate, as well as thirst and hunger) to increase your metabolic rate and release/burn calories that are stored as abnormal fat (which can be difficult to lose with diet and exercise). As a result, HCG specifically targets fat from the stomach, hips, thighs, buttocks, back, neck, and upper arms, and does not burn fat from beneficial or skeletal fat needed to support muscle.

Can Both Men & Women Take HCG?

Yes, HCG can be used for weight loss in men and women. It is naturally produced in the pituitary gland of men and women.

How does HCG Help Me Lose Weight?

A.T. Simeons research indicates HCG will help the body release/used stored fat for energy when combined with a calorie restricted diet.

How Will It Affect My Appearance

In our opinion, HCG targets body fat in the hips, abdomen, thighs, upper arms, buttocks, back and neck. HCG does not help the body burn subcutaneous or skin fat. Therefore, the skin retains its natural appearance. The chin, stomach and thigh fat are usually the first area where you notice a reduction. This is not the opinion of the American Medical Association (A Trade Organization).

Can I Do The HCG Diet If I Am Exercising Or Doing Physical Labor?

Yes You Can!

What Is The Guarantee I Will Lose Weight?

Everyone is different and it may not work for you. However, we have found it to be very successful for many of our patients especially those who were having difficulty getting rid of stubborn fat areas. When we combined HCG with velashape, it truly changed the landscape of weight loss (shape of your body).

FDA Approval?

HCG is FDA approved for various medical conditions but not for weight loss. A. T. Simeons, M.D., published studies in the Lancet that showed positive effects for weight loss. It has been used since the mid 1950's for weight loss and recently has gained attention on the Dr. Oz medical show.

What If I Don't Lose Much Weight?

Usually it is because of a poor metabolism or metabolic syndrome caused by YO-YO dieting and infrequent meals. We may recommend building muscle mass, further medical evaluation and more frequent smaller meals.

How Did The HCG Diet Come About?

The original HCG diet plan was originated in the 1950's when Dr. Albert Simeons, a British endocrinologist, after years of research, observed that patients using HCG rapidly lost a lot of weight without feeling hungry and were able to sustain the weight loss long term. As a result, people began using low calorie diet, is one of the top weight loss programs available. Soon after beginning your HCG protocol, your body will begin to burn abnormal fat inside the body thus providing adequate calories to help you get through the day without feeling the crazy hunger pangs one would normally experience on a 500-calorie diet. It was written about in the Lancet Medical journal in 1954.

What Happens When I Stop Taking HCG?

It is recommended that once your body loses the excess fat, you stop your HCG treatment and 500 calorie diet and begin a healthy eating plan. This is because HCG only affects stored fat and once these fat deposits are no longer being released for use, your normal appetite is expected to return and your body will not respond to a very low calorie diet.

What Is The Diet Protocol

The HCG diet is high in protein and fiber, and low in starches, carbohydrates, and high-fat foods. Alcohol, sugar, and dairy are not permitted on the diet. It is very important that you drink at least 2-3 quarts of water per day. We have created a specific diet plan to follow while you are taking HCG that you will discuss with your nutritional counselor.

How Should I Take HCG?

The different methods of HCG will be discussed with you with Robert Ford, MD, at your initial visit. You can choose to do the HCG injections (whereby we will educate you on how to administer your own subcutaneous injections) or you can take a sub-lingual lozenge. HCG is taken on a daily basis for either a twenty-day or forty-day cycle to be decided by Dr. Ford of when you reach a weight loss of 35 to 40 pounds before the allotted time has passed. This is because it has been noted that some subjects seemed to have developed immunity to HCG after 40 days and a six-week break from the diet is required to re-sensitize the body before starting another cycle of HCG.

What Are The Side Effects Of HCG?

In most cases, HCG does not last long enough for serious side effects to appear. Less serious side effects include: occasional weakness and fatigue, headaches, feeling restless or irritable, mild swelling or water weight gain. These side effects, should you experience any, usually go away after the first few days on the diet. However, we do advise you to come in for a weekly follow-up visit so that we can medically supervise your weight loss.

Is It Safe To Take An Appetite Suppressant To Help With HCG?

While HCG allows you to lose weight without feeling hungry, some patients may still feel hungry and want to supplement their diet with a prescription appetite suppressant. You can discuss this with Doctor Ford at any time during your diet. There will be an additional charge for the appetite suppressants.

Is It Safe To Do This Program If I Am A Diabetic?

While the diet is the same for diabetics each individual case is different and you will need to check with your doctor prior to starting the HCG diet. You may need to adjust your medication based upon your blood sugar levels throughout the diet, so it is very important that you regularly monitor your blood sugar and come in for your weekly follow-up visits.

Can I Exercise On The HCG Diet?

If you are already involved in a regular exercise program and your body is accustomed to this activity, you may continue your exercise routine as long as it is not too strenuous. We do not recommend that you start a new exercise program when starting this program and advise you to always check with your doctor prior to starting any exercise program.