Losing weight is no easy task for most people and following a diet seems to be an even greater task. But the HCG diet has been kindling hope among overweight people with its effectiveness. This diet has enabled countless people to bring down their weight within a short duration of time. However, jumping on to the HCG diet without having an understanding of it may not be the best idea of embarking on your weight loss journey. Once you have better knowledge about the HCG diet and how you should proceed with it, you can enhance your chances of being successful on the diet. So, here’s all that you need to know about the HCG diet:
What is HCG?
HCG or human chorionic gonadotropin is a natural hormone that is produced by women during the early stages of pregnancy. It is a protein-based hormone that enables to break down the fat in a pregnant lady’s body to provide nutrition to the baby developing in her womb. One of the main roles played by HCG during pregnancy is to ensure that the growing fetus does not lack in nutrients needed for proper development even when the mother may not be consuming an adequate amount of nutrients. HCG achieves this objective by releasing the fat stored in particular areas within the mother’s body and using the resources to sustain the fetus. This same principle is put to use when the hormone is incorporated in the HCG diet.
What is HCG Diet?
The HCG diet is a low-calorie, low-fat diet. During this diet, you are allowed to consume only 500 calories a day. The diet also involves taking the HCG hormone in a prescribed amount in the form of injections. The hormone works to reduce appetite, break the fat reserves within your body, and maintain your energy levels. It is also effective in bringing relief from the symptoms of a low-calorie diet, such as fatigue, mood swings, and headache. When administered to your body in proper doses, this hormone helps to cause fat loss and bring down your weight. On combining the hormone injections with a low-calorie diet, your body loses weight in a fast and effective manner.
What are the phases of the HCG Diet?
The HCG diet is divided into three phases, as outlined below:
Loading phase: This phase marks the beginning of the HCG diet and lasts for two days. During this phase, you are required to consume a lot of high-fat, high-calorie food. You also start taking doses of the HCG hormone in this phase.
Weight loss phase: This can be considered to be the main phase of the diet. The duration of this phase extends from three to six weeks, subject to the amount of weight you want to reduce. The daily dose of HCG hormone has to be taken throughout this phase. As this is the weight loss phase, you are allowed to eat only 500 calories per day.
Maintenance phase: This is the final phase of the HCG diet. You stop taking your hormone doses in this phase and begin to increase your calorie intake slowly. But you will need to follow certain restrictions as well. For instance, you have to avoid fat and sugar in your diet. This phase allows your body to return to eating normal healthy food.
How to begin the HCG Diet?
Before starting with the HCG diet, go through the protocol of the diet in a thorough manner. Make sure that you familiarise yourself with the details of the diet and understand what results you can expect from it and within what duration of time. Like most diets, this diet can also pose some challenges for anybody who is new to it. You will have to gain a proper mindset to overcome the challenges and continue with the diet to make a success of it. Once you are sure that you are ready to take up the diet, you can go ahead with it.
What food to eat on the HCG Diet?
The HCG diet not only tells you about the number of calories you can consume in a day, it also outlines what food to eat and what to avoid during the diet. There is a specific HCG Diet Food List that you have to follow strictly in order to derive maximum benefit from the diet. When you are on the diet, you need to eat only those food items that are on the list. Anything that is not given on the list must not be consumed. This also holds true for the beverages. For instance, the HCG diet allows only three beverages for you to drink: water, tea, and coffee. Anything other than these three beverages must not be consumed at any cost. Else, you may slow down the progress of your weight loss. Whether it is fruits, vegetables, meat, spices, or beverages, make sure that you consume nothing other than those specified in the list.
In what form can the HCG hormone be taken?
The HCG hormone can be taken in the form of injections. This is the most common way of taking the hormone. But there are also other means of introducing the hormone into your body. The HCG hormone can also be consumed in the form of drops and pellets. Injections are considered to be the most effective form of taking this hormone. This is because they directly reach your bloodstream and start their action.
How to take the HCG hormone injections?
It is quite simple to self-inject HCG hormone. You can easily do so with the help of an insulin needle. If you are not sure how to do it, you can take professional help for a few days and then learn to do it yourself. But make sure that you buy the hormone from a reputed store. This will minimize the chances of injecting fake HCG injections and increase the possibility of your weight loss success.
Who can follow the HCG diet?
The HCG diet is safe to be followed by both men and women. However, you need to consult your physician before starting the diet if you are suffering from any serious medical condition. Also, if you are a pregnant woman or a nursing mother, it is advisable to talk to your doctor before you begin the diet.
Though the HCG hormone is not known to interfere with most drugs, it is better to seek the advice of your medical practitioner if you are on any medications.
What skincare products to avoid when on the HCG diet?
The HCG diet protocol recommends that all oil-based skincare and cosmetic products must be avoided when you are on the diet. If you apply oil-based creams, lotions, ointments, etc. your body will absorb the oil which can then interfere with the HCG hormone and impact your weight loss progress. So, only those skincare and makeup items that are not oil-based are allowed to be used while you are on this diet.
What happens if you slip up on the diet?
In case you slip up on the diet, your weight loss goals can suffer. But that doesn’t mean you can’t try again. There’s always the next time. However, remember that you need to take a break of at least 6 weeks between two rounds of HCG diet. The same rule also holds true if you complete the diet successfully once and then want to do it again to lose some more body weight.