Frequently asked questions about the HCG diet

Giving you a clear understanding of how the HCG diet works and answering as many questions as we can is one of our most important missions. Below we have gathered the most common questions about the HCG diet. Please add to the list by sending your HCG diet questions on our contact form and we will add your question to the list to help others.

What is HCG?

HCG stands for Human Chorionic Gonadotropin. This is a hormone that is present in all humans, both men and women. However, this hormone is produced in greater amounts during a woman's pregnancy and controls the woman's metabolic functions. The hormone is extracted, sterilized and processed for human consumption.

How does HCG really work?

Within our brains, there's a gland called the "hypothalamus". Along with regulating body temperature, appetite, digestion etc., It also helps us maintain healthy fluid levels, fat storage and your metabolic rate.

HCG stimulates the hypothalamus and helps reprogram the body to release stored fat as energy that your body will then use. This fat becomes a source of energy, which will help during your 500 calorie intake [after the first two days of loading] and will suppress food cravings.

It's a weight loss diet that's fast. Typically, healthy dieters can lose up to 1 to 2 pounds per day on the HCG diet program.

Is HCG safe?

Fortunately, HCG is a natural hormone that is present in both men and women. This hormone as well as many others function within the human body and is part of nature. Our bodies produce this hormone as part of its normal process. This process is elevated in pregnant women. With healthy dieters, there have been no reported side effects when using the Homeopathic version of the HCG diet. There have been comments about a slight "HCG headache" which occurs in the early stages of the diet due to the changing metabolism of the body, but this is never severe. It is recommended that pregnant women and unhealthy dieters avoid the diet. Please consult a Physician to ensure that your body is fit for dieting.

HCG injections definitely has obvious risks!  Firstly HCG injections just plain hurt!  Not to mention possible bruising from the injection itself.  This is why if you're looking for and HCG injection alternative, the HCG homeopathic version with sublingual drops is a perfect injection alternative. Not to mention safer.

What is the HCG Diet effect on men?

Wonderful news guys, HCG will not make you grow boobs! HCG is completely safe for men as well as women. There's no loss of muscle mass, but you get rid of that potbelly using the HCG diet.

Do I really have to eat so much for two days during the HCG DIet Protocol?

This is a very important part of the entire HCG diet process. It is important to load up on as many fatty foods as possible (but healthy fat). This will help curb the food cravings as you go through the first few days of the diet and your body begins to normalize. Lots of Dairy Products, meats [not pork], avocados and breads will help put on the pounds in the first couple of days. It's wonderful to gorge yourself in the beginning, but try to stay away from the heavy sugary foods. Try focusing on organic fatty foods [if there's such a thing ... lol]....

Is it really possible to do 500 calories on the HCG Diet?

It absolutely is, your motivation and focus should be on your goal weight... Breakfast lunch and dinner recipes are available with every HCG diet program purchased. You will receive one week of recipes that will help you stay within your 500 calories. These recipes can be repeated during the duration of the diet, and you can add variances to the meals for variety. These savory meals are easy to make in less than 20 minutes. The the general rule is as follows:

• Melba toast! We absolutely love Melba toast for the HCG diet for breakfast. Try adding your choice of fruit such as an apple, a few strawberries, a few blueberries, or an orange.
• For lunch, 100 g of tilapia is one of the favorites along with tomato and spinach salad with low fat dressing! Within the recipe book, you will find many other suggestions for chicken, fish and beef.
• For dinner, you may want to consider something light... A simple green salad with low fat dressing and a cup of organic chamomile tea. Drinking tea is a great way of soothing any possible cravings.

Remember, the stored fat will be utilized as energy, so 500 calories will keep the hunger cravings away.

What happens with exercising during the HCG diet?

This may be too good to be true for some, but Dr. Simeon [the inventor of the diet] suggests that strenuous exercise is strictly discouraged during the diet plan.  Due to the 500 calories per day, the body will not be able to sustain anything overtly strenuous.  A casual stroll during the diet however is not prohibited.  Exercising is a healthy habit that can continue once you have reached your weight loss goal.  Now that your body has normalized after the completion of the diet, you will notice that your cravings for food will change dramatically, because you have reprogrammed your eating habits.

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