Doing the HCG Diet -- Need Some Encouragement

While I've not done it, I do know a woman who did, and it really worked for her! She did however, have a lot to lose. I know she struggled too with eating the 250 calories of veggies, but she looks great.

Try taking Coenzyme Q10 and liquid B12 supplements. Costco has a liquid Coenzyme Q10 that works well.

When you are done with the VLC part of the diet be sure to follow through with the low carb portion. The weight can return as fast as it was loss if you do not follow the plan. I know from experience, that all of the suffering can be for naught if cave and eat carbs (and fat) too soon.

good luck

Hi,

I hate to tell you this when you are looking for encouragement, but my mom just about got admitted to the hospital last week because of complications from the HCG diet after about 6 days or a week I think it was. She got her blood drawn and everything was really out of whack. Her amylase, which has something to do with the kidneys, indicated she was on her way to kidney failure. Her doctor told her to go home and throw the rest of the shots away and never take another one! I was just grateful she is a nurse and works in a hospital and her coworkers saw what was happening and got the ball rolling...otherwise I wonder what would have happened if she would have just lain in bed at home thinking it would pass?

Although a lot of people have success with this diet, I just don't think they know enough about the long term side effects. What if you are seriously damaging your organs? I know not everyone reacts to it like my mom did or no one would be doing it still, but just be careful.

Another doctor (her coworker) told her to realize that any diet that is labeled "only under the supervision of a physician" should be a big red flag-- it tells you there are some big risks involved and he also said you shouldn't need to be under the supervision of a doctor to lose weight the healthy way. If you haven't tried Weight Watchers, check into it. I lost all my baby weight that way and loved it. My friend who got me to do it lost 60 lbs that way and kept it off.

Good luck, I hope it all works out for you, I know how challenging weight loss can be, just be careful with your health.

Here is an info and support site for HCG diet. http://hcgdietinfo.com/

I've seen Grisini breadsticks at Fred Meyer as well as New Seasons, Whole Foods and Safeway. I think Grisini bread sticks, based on my experience in Italy, are just thin, crunchy sticks. I'm not sure but I think Grisini may be a brand name.

I think the fatigue is normal. You body is having to get it's energy by burning it's own fat. I'm not familiar with the HCG diet and don't know anyone who has reduced their calories so drastically. If you're not eating the full amount of vegetables allowed you are not getting enough calories for this plan. I wonder if you cold puree the vegetables with seasonings and drink them.

I do know that it takes our bodies awhile to adjust to changes in our diet. Hang on for another few days and see if you feel better.

Here is a recipe for Grissini breadsticks and a picture. I don't expect that you'll want to make them but the list if ingredients will give you an idea on what to look for on the ingredients list on packages of bread sticks. Another site described Grissini breadsticks as being imported from Italy and being thin and crispy.

http://www.latimes.com/features/la-fo-homemaderec10b-2008...

I'm not familiar with the HCG diet, which seems pretty drastic. I will say that the fatigue is pretty common with big diet changes. It's part of the withdrawal from simple carbs and a symptom of detoxification. Your doctor is right though, you should balance out in about a week. Best of luck to you!

PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE don't drop to 500 calories!

Registered dieticians recommend that no one (other than those bedridden) be below 1500 calories/day to remain healthy.

I can't find any credible medical resources that support the use of this diet despite it's popularity. The only sites that come-up in google are those trying to make money from it - that a huge RED FLAG....even if your doctor has recommended it. Any physician should know that your metabolism will shut down at that caloric level, which you won't be able to sustain, and you will gain ALL of the weight and more back after you resume more calories/day.

I've been involved in the world of weight loss/diabetes for many years, and there's nothing fundamentally scientific or medically sound about this diet.
Please be careful - the long-term risks are not worth the short-term benefits of losing weight.

I don't know this diet but it doesn't sound healthy to me. I do want to encourage you to reach your goals, but I do not believe you have to suffer to do it. If I can offer info on another program that IS healthy and you will feel good while doing, let me know.

Otherwise, I wish you the best at what you have chosen to do. Good Luck!

500 calories is extremely low, how long do you have to be that low? (I'm not familiar with the ins and outs of this diet but have a friend that is doing it)

My advice comes from dieting in general (or at least changing eating habits)
You say you are only in the 2nd day of the diet. It's normal to feel fatigue, headaches, etc when making a drastic eating change. Your body is basically saying "WTH?!?!?!" and it should go away in a couple of days.

If you're having trouble getting to the 500 calories, can you have nuts? Almonds, walnuts, and pistachios are pretty high in protein and low in carbs. Calorie wise they will bring you up without you having to eat so much.

I am really not a fan of this diet. I have heard mulitple accounts of people (primarily women) who have severely wacked their hormones out of balance because of the HCG injections. As an alternative health professional, I do not agree with the low calorie methods and injections of hormones that are not normally in our bodies except during pregnancy. I would suggest you look at getting your thyroid and basic organ functions checked asap... you simply may not have a strong enough system to handle the rigorous taxing that this diet has on your body.

However, all of that said, I lost this argument with my husband who is currently almost completed with his diet. He has not had any fatigue, no migraines, no side affects at all... not even really hunger. He is VERY good about drinking water all day long, and he is eating his veggies (due to not liking veggies himself, he is eating pickles, cauliflower raw, asparagus, and lots and lots of salads with squeezed lemon juice.). But he has followed this diet to the letter.

Did you have your Thyroid checked before you started on the diet? I know that if you have some underlying issues with blood chemistries the HCG diet won't work for you. My mom did this twice with success. But her Dr. did a 1 month balance to get her thyroid functioning correctly before she started the HCG part.

If you feel fatigued, you need to see your doctor because if the diet is working correctly you should not feel any of those symptoms (fatigue, headache, or feel hungry). I know my mom didn't.

Good Luck