Myth vs Fact

With growing interest in the hCG diet many blogs and social sites are overflowing with information on the diet.  With all of the available resources who are we to trust?  In this issue we are going to review some of the most frequently asked question regarding the hCG diet.

Some say it will help increase your weight loss results by working out on the program.  This is a MYTH!  Excessive exercise during your protocol can actually cause your weight loss to slow down.  Keep your workout routines to some light cardio, yoga, or palates style workouts.

The original Simeons protocol calls to skip every 7^th injection or to pause during the female menstrual cycle.  This is now being classified as a MYTH!  Over time studies have shown that skipping every 7^th injection will actually cause an increase in hunger during a patients’ program.  During the female menstrual cycle it was originally suggested to skip as not to waste hCG due to an unavoidable plateau from hormones.  Just like the skip day, stopping during your monthly will cause an unnecessary increase in hunger.

Some patients want to start on their next cycle immediately following the 21 day maintenance period.  This is a MYTH and will actual hinder your results for the next round.  Your body needs the 21 days to stabilize but you need an entire 40 day break between hCG cycles.  Your body needs 40 full days in-between cycles to prevent a tolerance to the hCG and to full replenish our abnormal fat reserves, this helps keep a good momentum during future cycles and is safer for the body.  Any time you complete a cycle of hCG you need to extend your off time 20 days.  For example, between your first and second round of hCG you take 40 days off, between your second and third round of hCG you take 60 days off, third and fourth round 80 days off, and so on.

Each round of hCG is treated just like the previous round.  Some patients are concerned to gorge on the second or third round of hCG but is it a FACT, you need to gorge every time to begin a 40 day treatment on the diet.  Gorging is not limited to the approved foods for your phase 2.  Gorging is to the literal definition, eat until you cannot eat another bite, and then take two more bites!  Gorging during those first two injections gives your body a reserve of calories to release during the first week, the more you gorge the easier and more comfortable your first week is on the 500 calories.

Some of us have specific taste buds and are quite particular about what they eat.  People are always asking about what substitutions are allowed for the 500 calorie phase of the diet.  This is a MYTH, there are no substitutions allowed.   The most commonly requested substitutions are turkey, carrots, bananas, buffalo, etc.  These foods were around when Dr Simeon developed this protocol over 40 years ago and he worked very hard to make the list as appealing as possible.  If it is not on the list, it is NOT allowed.

Most dieters will know that when adhering to a strict diet it is best to take multivitamins to help support the body.  During the hCG protocol this is considered a MYTH and should be avoided.  Multivitamins will interrupt most dieters progress, usually due to having hidden sugars in them.  Only take the suggested supplements: Coral Calcium, Digestive Enzymes, Vitamin E, and Potassium, unless otherwise suggested by a Patient Services’ diet coach.