HCG
HCG, Human Chorionic Gonadotropin, is a hormone naturally produced by the body. It has many functions and is used medically to treat a variety of conditions. This hormone is also produced by women in the early stages of pregnancy. During pregnancy, this hormone almost completely controls the woman’s metabolic functions. In non-pregnant persons, research suggests when HCG is injected in small doses, it can aid in weight loss.
Although the HCG diet seems like the newest thing for weight-loss, and has been getting a lot of attention lately, it was actually started by Dr. Albert T Simeon in the 1950s. This diet has been developed to help people lose weight and to keep it off without use of appetite suppressants or stimulants of any kind. Dr. Simeon noticed that patients could drastically reduce their caloric intake without experiencing severe hunger while taking HCG. Dr. Simeon also concluded that patients were not only losing weight, but fat as well. There are actually three different kinds of fat in our bodies. There is structural fat, which our bodies need and use to cushion our organs. Then we have fat that is used as an energy reserve, fueling our bodies. Finally there’s the unwanted, unneeded fat that is unhealthy and bad for our appearances. This is abnormal fat and can seem almost impossible to lose. It can only be mobilized in times of starvation and pregnancy.
When HCG is used as a weight-loss aid, it can reduce food cravings by mobilizing the unwanted stored fat and making it available for metabolism, keeping you from feeling hungry. Therefore, when HCG is combined with a very low calorie diet, abnormal fat deposits are released and the fat becomes available for consumption by the body. This enables the person to be able to stick to the diet and lose on average about one pound of fat per day. The weight-loss comes from abnormal fat tissue, not muscle and does not strip the body of vitamins and minerals.
Frequently Asked Questions about HCG
q Is HCG safe to use for weight-loss?
HCG is extremely safe. Both men and women naturally produce HCG in our bodies. All women experience high levels during pregnancy with no adverse affects. The small amount we use for injections for weight-loss have absolutely no side effects.
q Wouldn’t I lose the same amount of weight if I only ate 500 calories a day without HCG?
You can lose weight by drastically cutting calories, but the body will most likely take the weight from muscle and even bone, and then to your fat last. This will cause your metabolism to slow down, so in the long run, it would make gaining weight back much easier, as well as lose bone density and muscle mass. By using HCG and the low calorie diet, excess fat is mobilized and used for energy. The low calorie diet is vital in preventing immediate refilling of emptied fat cells. Essentially you burn excess fat without decreasing bone or muscle.
q Because the diet is very low calorie, will I be hungry?
Because the HCG mobilizes fat and makes it available to the body as energy, it naturally reduces appetite. So while you are taking in fewer calories, your body has the energy it needs from the fat cells. Overall, many people feel good and have plenty of energy while on the HCG diet.
q Will HCG interfere with any medications I am taking?
HCG does not interact with any medications, including birth control pills or Depo-Provera, so there are no side effects.
q How much weight can I lose on the HCG program?
On average, patients lose 20 to 30 pounds per month. People often lose 10 to 12 pounds the first week.
q If I only want to lose 5 to 10 pounds, can I still participate in the program?
Yes. If you only need to lose a small amount of weight, there isn’t as much abnormal fat available in your body so you may experience more hunger. However, patients have completed the program who only needed to eliminate a small amount of weight and have had great success.
q Can both man and women take HCG?
Yes. It has been used safely with both male and female patients with great results in both.