HCG Diet Dangers: Is Fast Weight Loss Worth the Risk?

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I am a 45 year old male and extremely skeptical of diet fads. A former athlete I accumulated weight over the years until I reached 310 lbs. (6' and graduated college at 180 lbs). I was doing cardio work regularly (45 minutes on eliptical machine and 15 minutes brisk walk every day) with no weight loss (admittedly I did not alter my diet). A friend (a former collegiate athlete) had reached 400 lbs and was down to 300 using hcg injections prescribed by a physician for weight loss. While very doubtful, I could not deny his dramatic weight loss. I am now starting my 3rd week on hcg injections. I have lost 20 lbs and feel great. I am not hungry, in fact I find that I must force myself to eat the prescribed meals at times. HCG does not eliminate cravings. I occasionally think a grilled burger with all the trimmings sounds fantastic. But whether it is the placebo that the established medical community claims or it actually works, I am a believer. I am hoping to lose 35 lbs by the time I am done with the treatment in about 4 weeks. My knees feel better, I can bend over to tie my shoes again, and climbing stairs has not been this easy in 10 years. I'm sure it won't work for everyone. As to the alarms raised by the established medical community - is it better for me to lose weight rapidly on a radical diet and do my best to keep it off? Or to keep fighting a losing battle and eventually die prematurely to a weight related illness? The answer is easy for me.

Jim of ID 5:59PM April 04, 2011

Here are my two cents on the HcG diet from someone who has tried it, more than once. I know this website is filled with those who are criticizing the diet without even having tried it. It is like writing a book review on a book you never read.
As far as health information goes from the mainstream look what it has brought us, a nation that is getting fatter and sicker. But I digress.
I stayed on the HcG protocol for four weeks. I did not follow Simeons protocol because it was written over 50 years ago and we have discovered a few things since that date about what is healthy. The protocol I followed was more modern and told you to not go counting calories on veggies and eat as many as you wanted and to eat about 4 ounces of protein with each meal. Now I am not trying to sell the program so I will not even mention what it is.
Bottom line is that I lost 30 lbs in 4 weeks. I never was hungry or felt deprived. The only side effect I had was that I was cold, but I am always cold. Oh yes there were a few other side effects. My blood pressure went down, my medications were reduced, I eat healthier foods and my underwear fell off after the four weeks
You don’t stay on this 500 calories stage any longer than 40 days but most people do it for much less. Then you move to a low starch phase where there is limited starches and sugar. You are encouraged at this state to eat more calories with the minimum being 1200. I personally have done up to 1500 and not gained back any weight and in fact lost 5 more lbs.
This is probably not for everybody, as nothing is including all the other ten million diets out there or the FDA regulations that make no sense and change with the wind. But for some of us it is working.

Janet of IL 5:50PM April 04, 2011

AS DIETS GO THIS MAY NOT BE THE BEST FOR EVERYONE. BUT I FOR ONE HAVE FAILED AT MANY OTHER DIETS AND STOMACH BANDING IS NOT IN MY PRICE RANGE. I'M RELATIVELY HEALTHY AND I'M WILLING TO TAKE THE RISKS. SIGN ME UP.

EMILY of AZ 5:05PM April 04, 2011

Somebody scream "SCAM" here. The effects of a diet like this are muscle loss and heart muscle loss. Please, FDA, do your job! When you cannot even apply creams w/oil base to your skin because it may affect your weight loss -- please, are you nuts? And, you cannot even exercise! This is a demented fairly tale. Limit portions, exercise, fluids, no easy way out! Hello, boomers, this is targeted at you and you are making them rich at the risk of not enjoying your golden years!

Carol of AR 7:00PM April 02, 2011

I lost 150 lbs and my Dad has lost 140 lbs so far. I have kept if off for 5 months and I have NEVER felt better. I never felt weak while dieting and only had to do a few "apple days" during the year that I followed the plan (including the 6 week breaks). Not every diet will work for everyone...but this was a life saver for me....and it meant NO SURGERY!! I do have issues with the reckless prescribing of HCG to uninformed patients who are invited to pay their money, read a pamphlet and then try to make the program work for them. This plan requires a lot of education and self-discipline. I was fortunate to work with a doctor who required that I come in once a week for a weigh-in and one-on-counseling/Q & A session, plus I had to email her my daily food diary.
I am also bothered by the claimed made by the “natural” homeopathic HGC sellers. They are deliberately misleading people into thinking that they are taking the same drug that I took. That is unethical!! On the other hand…people need to stop looking for a quick fix miracle drug. I had to stay focused on the diet, I passed on many meals out, traveled with my prepared meals so I wouldn’t cheat and followed my doctor’s advice to a “T.”

Cris of OK 11:59AM March 30, 2011

I was 45 lbs overweight, 54 years old, no energy, tried eating plans that worked to take weight off when I was younger and they didn't work. I addressed thyroid/adrenal issues and then was able to lose 10 lbs after 3 months of going totally vegan. A friend told me about HCG and I lost 24 more pounds. I felt great the entire time, and never felt compelled to 'cheat.' I gained about 5 lbs back and just started another round 2 weeks ago (nearly 2 years after the first round). I've always been active but activity alone doesn't take weight off.
This diet works and has been safe for me. The best part: I am CONFIDENT I can lose the weight - It has permanently changed my eating habits because I know how much better 'lighter' feels, and I am totally off processed foods, constant snacking, and gigantic portions. This has really changed my life. And regardless of whether you believe the HCG itself makes any difference, I can tell you that I am losing fat from the areas where it is most unhealthy to carry fat, and where it is hardest to lose post-menopause - my midsection. Without hunger, and with quick, encouraging results!
I have tried many diet 'scams' and this is not one of them.

nikki of MT 11:41PM March 28, 2011

Come on, the thing that is making you lose weight is the 500kcal a day! Which would never be sustainable, life long changes take time and they are effective because they become permanent habits. Our focus has to shift away from diets, it really really really needs to shift away from diets, since they have universally been unable to permanently keep weight off. The best recipe to lose weight and gain health is physical activity coupled with a balanced/nutritious diet. The idea is simple but it takes work and it has to be consistent, consistency is key! I know I would rather lose weight slowly, get healthier overtime, gain skills in the process, and actively practice healthy habits my entire life. That way I can carry that over to my family and children as well and I will feel even more accomplishment than just losing a few pounds on the scale. (Not to mention... those few fast pounds are, 99% of the time, just water loss!!)

Anna de H 12:58PM March 28, 2011

I know several people who have done this diet. One of them said that her doctor told her the HCG injection provides about 1200 calories. If this is true, then wouldn't THAT be the reason for the 500 calorie diet being enough to keep you going? And the doctor also told her that this is a way of resetting your body's metabolism and andrenals. (I'm totally paraphrasing that, haha) I'd love to know if anyone else who has tried it, has been told these things from their doctor.

Cheryl of TX 5:52PM March 26, 2011

I did the homeopathic HCG diet drops and followed Dr Simeon's diet plan from April through June last year (62 days) and lost 40 lbs, then followed the maintenance plan to set my new body weight. I have successfully kept it off since last July and firmly believe that this plan works. I have tried many diet plans over the years with no success. This is the only plan that has ever worked for me. I have never felt or looked so great since high school. You may say that it is a placebo effect but then why have I kept the weight off for all these months? Prior to the diet I had high cholesterol (220 total and 299 triglycerides) tested in January 2010. After the diet, I had my cholesterol checked and my total cholesterol was down to 151 and my triglycerides were at 66! My doctor couldn't believe the results. I am saddened that the drops have been pulled off the internet as they totally worked for me and for a lot of other people.

Jodi of MN 11:58PM March 22, 2011

Resets the hypothalamus gland? That's not in any of the medical books that I've read. Check out this blog post called "Dr. Oz' Epic Fail" that explains quite succinctly 'why you lose your appetite'. Disclosure: If you're an hCG fan, you won't like it.
http://eatmovethrive.com/2011/03/dr-oz-hcg-diet/

AWC of CO 2:10PM March 22, 2011