What is HCG?

HCG, Human Chorionic Gonadotopin, is a hormone produced in women during pregnancy. As soon as the new embryo starts to develop, the mother's body begins releasing large amounts of HCG into the bloodstream. Current scientific philosophy believes that HCG helps maintain the pregnancy and the early growth of the fetus. By moving nutrients from the mother's stored fat supply into the bloodstream, HCG helps ensure that the developing fetus always has an adequate food supply, even when the mother is eating too little.

In the 1950's, Dr. A.T.W. Simeons discovered that HCG can safely be used as a weight-loss aid in people who are not pregnant. It works for both women and men. He found that HCG moves about 2000 to 3000 calories per day of stored fat into the bloodstream where it becomes available for metabolism. With these additional nutrients in the bloodstream, a person can successfully stay on a very low-calorie diet or VLCD without experiencing extreme fatigue, weakness, or hunger.

When the HCG diet program is properly followed, the result is rapid weight loss and improved body shape as the body rids itself of excess stored fat. People often lose in a stair-step fashion, that is, they will lose for a few days then stay for a day or two, then start losing again, and so on.


Results
Most participants report an average loss of about 0.5 to 1.5 pounds PER DAY. A small small percentage of participants have reported higher average weight loss of 2 or more pounds per day. Individual results and weight loss patterns vary.

You need to consider the full course of your plan. Do not get too concerned over the day-to-day fluctuations in your weight or what happens over a short time frame, especially if you have not made any recent changes to your eating pattern.

Low Calorie Diet + HCG = Results
You must follow the entire HCG diet protocol as described in the guide which is based entirely on Dr. Simeon's research. HCG unlocks your body's stored fat and makes it available to be burned for energy nutrition as soon as calories are properly restricted. Also, the 500 calories each day cannot come from just any foods, but must come from a combination of specifically allowed foods. 

For the HCG diet, Dr. Simeons deliberately restricted calories as part of a special diet, so HCG would take effect. If calories are too high, HCG will not take effect because the body doesn't need the extra nutrients.

On the other hand, if you follow the diet without HCG, you are simply starving yourself. You'll be burning the wrong kind of fat (structural), or there won't be enough fat in the bloodstream for energy. Simply put, both HCG and the diet are required.

Program Overview
The HCG diet program is divided into 4 phases of various lengths. Here they are in order:

1. Loading Phase (2 days). Some call these the "binge" or "gorge" days. You start taking HCG drops on Day 1. For these first 2 days, you must eat the most fattening foods you can until you are completely full. Concentrate foods high in fats and oils, rather than sugar.

2. Core Phase (13-43 days). On the morning of Day 3, you begin the 500-calorie-per-day-diet. You also continue taking the HCG drops at the specified dosage. The length of this phase depends on how much weight you want to lose.

3. Transition Phase (3 days). Stop taking the HCG drops at the end of the Core Phase. Continue on the 500-calorie-per-day-diet for the 3 days in this phase while you body transitions and eliminates the high level of HCG in your body.

4. Maintenance Phase (21 days). Slowly increase your food intake and begin eating any foods that you want, except sugars, starches or artificial sweeteners. Your metabolism is still trying to stabilize during this phase. Therefore, watch your weight closely, and slowly increase your calorie intake at a rate that allows you to maintain your new lower weight.