Origins of the HCG Diet
The HCG Diet protocol was developed by Dr. Simeons in Italy in the 1950s. Dr. Simeons studied obesity for 40 years, and worked on the HCG diet protocol for 20 years.
During his illustrious career, Dr. Simeons was awarded the Red Cross Order of Merit for the discovery of the use of injectable atebrin for malaria. He had several important posts under the government of India, where he built a model leper colony. Dr. Simeons is the author of several books and has contributed to many scientific publications.
Dr. Simeons’ Theory of Obesity
After 40 years of study, Dr. Simeons strongly believed that obesity was a metabolic disorder, like diabetes. He also believed that overeating was the result and not the cause of obesity.
Because obesity is a metabolic disorder, people suffering from obesity will get fat regardless of what or how they eat. People suffering from obesity can diet, exercise vigorously, take appetite reducing drugs, etc., but if the root cause of the disorder is not addressed the weight loss will only be temporary.
The Root Cause of Obesity
According to Dr. Simeons, there are three types of fat in the human body: structural fat, which fills the gaps between various organs; normal fat that the body draws on when nutritional needs are not met by food; and the third type of fat is the type that is abnormal, that obese people accumulate. The third type of fat is not available for an obese person’s body to draw on when it needs more nutrition; it is locked away.
When an obese person tries regular dieting, first their normal reserves are exhausted, then their structural reserves are drawn upon. Only as a last resort does an obese person’s body draw upon the abnormal reserves, though by that time, the person is so weak and hungry that they have already given up on the diet. The obese person loses the wrong fat when they are on a regular diet – they feel famished and tired but their belly, hips thighs and upper arms show little improvement.
What is HCG?
Human Chorionic Gonadotropin (HCG) is found in the human body only during pregnancy. However, HCG has no direct on the sex hormones, therefore, the HCG Diet can be used safely with no side effects by men and women of any age.
HCG Unlocks Fat Reserves
During some early experiments, Dr. Simeons discovered that when he injected obese patients with small daily doses of HCG, they were able to survive on a restricted 500 calorie daily diet without feeling hungry, and lost one pound per day. There were no signs of normal fat depletion or negative side effects.
How was this possible? Pregnancy (under the influence of HCG) is the only human condition where the body’s fat banking ability is unlimited. During pregnancy, all reserved fat (even abnormal fat) is at the disposal to meet the nutritional needs of the growing fetus. Thus, when an obese person takes HCG, their body is able to draw upon the abnormal “bad” fat reserves that would normally be locked away and unavailable for their body to draw on. Also, while taking HCG, the obese person has no hunger even though they are on a calorie restricted diet, because they are subsisting comfortably on the nutritional fat reserves that have been unlocked by the HCG.
About Homeopathic HCG Drops
Originally, only daily HCG injections were used during the HCG Diet protocol. However, starting in 2009, homeopathic diet drops were introduced as a cheap, easy alternative to the daily injections. After only a few short years, Your HCG (the company that founded the homeopathic diet drops) has grown into a multi-million dollar company because the homeopathic diet drops are so effective and successful. According to Your HGC, no difference in effectiveness has been found between the injections and the homeopathic drops.
Starting the HCG Diet
Women should start the HCG Diet protocol immediately after their period ends. HCG drops should never be taken during menstruation. Men can start the diet anytime.
Homeopathic HCG Diet Drops Protocol
Day 1 and 2 of the HCG diet:
Start taking your HCG drops on day 1, 6 drops 6 times per day. During these 2 days you need to everything and anything. The more fat, the better. The drops take 48 hours to kick in and this will help significantly with hunger during the next week. Eat foods saturated in fat i.e. whipping cream, butter soaked eggs, bacon, sausage, pizza, etc. Your normal fat reserves must be well-stocked in preparation for your upcoming 500 calorie diet.
Day 3 – 23+ (up to 40 days) of the HCG diet:
During this part of the HCG diet you will continue to take the drops a minimum of 23 days (2 loading days + 21 low calorie days) and a maximum of 40 days. During this time you must follow Dr. Simeons original diet protocol (see below). If during this time, you stray from the HCG diet, there is a risk of weight gain or a stall. These stalls can take anywhere from 3-6 days to break each time. Continue to take the HCG drops consistently each day. You’ll continue the 6 drops 6 times per day. Hold them under your tongue for approximately 15-20 seconds, then don’t eat or drink anything for up to 20 minutes. During this phase, you’ll want to weigh yourself every morning after you wake up and go to the bathroom. To get the most accurate weight, you’ll want to disrobe as well.
Maintenance Phase of the HCG Diet:
This portion of the HCG diet is equally as important as the weight loss period. For 72 hours after your last dose of HCG, you will continue the 500-calorie Very Low Calorie Diet, or VLCD diet. This is how long it will take for the HCG to be eliminated from your system. For 3-6 weeks after your last dose, follow the maintenance protocol. During this part of the HCG diet, you will avoid all sugars and starches. You can slowly reintroduce proteins, fruits and vegetables not allowed on the 500-calorie diet. Watch out for foods that contain too much sugar and starch. After the first 3-6 weeks of maintenance are over, you can start to slowly reintroduce sugars and starches. During this phase, you’ll want to continue to weigh yourself every morning to ensure you are still within 2.0lbs from your last dose weight.
Repeating the HCG Diet Protocol
For health and safety reasons, as well as to prevent tolerance to the HCG drops, a minimum of 6 weeks should elapse before repeating the protocol, if needed. If repeating the protocol for the 2nd time or more, an even longer time should elapse before repeating the protocol (8 weeks or more).
Dr. Simeons’ Original Diet Protocol: The Very Low Calorie Diet (VLCD)
Breakfast:
Tea or coffee in any quantity without sugar. Only one tablespoonful of milk allowed in 24 hours. Stevia may be used.
Lunch:
1. 100 grams of veal, beef, chicken breast, fresh white fish, lobster, crab, or shrimp. All visible fat must be carefully removed before cooking, and the meat must be
weighed raw. It must be boiled or grilled without additional fat. Salmon, eel, tuna, herring, dried or pickled fish are not allowed. The chicken breast must be removed from the bird.
2. One type of vegetable only to be chosen from the following: spinach, chard, chicory, beet-greens, green salad, tomatoes, celery, fennel, onions, red radishes, cucumbers, asparagus, cabbage.
3. One breadstick (grissino) or one Melba toast.
4. An apple or a handful of strawberries or one-half grapefruit or orange.
Dinner :
The same four choices as lunch.
The juice of one lemon daily is allowed for all purposes. Salt, pepper, vinegar, mustard powder, garlic, sweet basil, parsley, thyme, marjoram, etc., may be used for seasoning, but no oil, butter or dressing.
Tea, coffee, plain water, or mineral water are the only drinks allowed, but they may be taken in any quantity and at all times. In fact, you should be drinking about 2 liters of these fluids per day. Many people are afraid to drink so much because they are afraid that this may make them retain more water. This is wrong, as the body is more inclined to
store water when the intake falls below its normal requirements.
The fruit or the breadstick may be eaten between meals instead of with lunch or dinner, but not more than four items listed for lunch and dinner may be eaten at one meal.
No medicines or cosmetics other than lipstick, eyebrow pencil and powder may he used.
No variations other than those listed may be introduced.
The 100 grams of meat must he scrupulously weighed raw after all visible fat has been removed.
There is no objection to breaking up the two meals. For instance having a breadstick and an apple for breakfast or before going to bed, provided they are deducted from the regular meals. The whole daily ration of two breadsticks or two fruits may not be eaten at the same time, nor can any item saved from the previous day be added on the
following day.
In the beginning patients are advised to check every meal against their diet sheet before starting to eat and not to rely on their memory. Any attempt to observe this diet without HCG will lead to trouble in two to three days.
Two small apples weighing as much as one large one never the less have a higher
caloric value and are therefore not allowed though there is no restriction on the size of one apple. Chicken breast does not mean the breast of any other fowl, nor does it mean a wing or drumstick.
Please do not start counting calories and then come up with modifications to the diet. Dr. Simeons spent years of research trying to make the diet as attractive as possible without jeopardizing the loss of weight.
References
“Pounds and Inches: A New Approach to Obesity” by Dr. Simeons