HCG Weight Loss Program

I haven't heard of this diet, but I started the South Beach diet 3 weeks ago and have lost 9 lbs so far. The food is REALLY good if you don't mind cooking a bit. Even my husband decided to do it because the food was good enough.

I'm not a big fan of crazy diets -- I decided to just eat fruit and veggies for breakfast and lunch and a regular dinner (but no heaping servings or seconds) -- after six weeks I had lost 30 pounds

now I just try and eat less to maintain and if I see the scale going up, I go back to my fruit and veggies for a while

I agree with everyone else - 30 lbs in 30 days is way too fast and I think you'd gain it back. I did Weight Watchers prior to having my last baby and lost 25 lbs. I liked it because I could still eat what my family was eating - I didn't have to make separate dinners. Now that I have more baby weight to lose again, I still know what Weight Watchers taught me. To lose weight and keep it off, there is no getting around the fact that you have to change the way you eat and exercise.
Good Luck!!!

I did a study on weightloss, and have found that if you lose weight fast, you'll gain it back. 5 lbs is the most we're supposed to lose in a month. i recommend either the Mediterranean diet, or the diabetes diet. If you do it healthy, and it becomes your lifestyle, you will look and feel great for a very long time. :)

I'm sure a lot of other people have said this, but any weight loss program that says you can lose that much that fast is way unhealthy. Just ask the people who used Phen-phen before it was taken off the market because it was found to be harmful. I am wondering what sort of exercise program you have tried. In my experience you have to be consistent and it takes a lot of work to really see results from exercise. I have an eight month old too and I started a running program about six months ago. Since then I have lost about 15 pounds.Besides that I have lost a lot of inches, which is awesome. I haven't been on any crazy diets either. I try not to overeat, I do limit sweets a bit but the running has made the difference. I also had good results from spinning classes. You will sweat a ton and work hard, but I believe you have to do some work to lose weight. All the magic fad diets are unhealthy and harmful. And you gain back the weight once you stop. Good luck!

I don't know anything about the diet you are talking about but I have two little kids and I was exercising 4 days a week running for 45 minutes and didn't lose a pound so I was really frusterated. A couple of months later my grandma convinced me to try weight watchers. The first week I went I lost over 6 pounds and I lost 20 withint a two month period. This is all with no exercise which to me is very easy after trying to work my butt off with not results. If you are already exercising you will lose quicker if you keep it up and do the program. It's actually pretty easy compared to exercising. I would reccomend making sure you get weighed in and go to the meetings you seem to care more about what you eat when you actaully have to answer to someone, at least it did for me. The best part is you can eat whatever you want just stay within your points and it teaches you how to eat better the rest of your life this might sound lame but they say it's not a diet it's a way of life and I totally agree. I fyou follow the program the way you are supposed to you lose more the first week usually and then about two pounds every week!! Good Luck I know how frusterating it is to lose weight ;)

Check out this website:
www.slimbodycoach.com.

I was the Round 1 winner in 2007. It's an awesome program to become healthier, and not just skinnier.

Best wishes, D.

C.,

This is a touchy subject, for sure! I haven't tried that particular diet, but here is what I have learned about dieting...

If you want to change your body, you have to change your eating habits. Any fad diet might work, but eventually you have to go back to eating regular food. If you don't learn how to eat properly, you will just gain the weight back. My rule of thumb when I look at a diet is to ask myself, "Can I eat this way for the rest of my life?" If I can't, then there isn't any point.

First, do you have emotional issues surrounding eating that you need to address? I know I eat when I get bored, so when I'm bored, I try to do something that keeps my hands busy so I can't eat. (I knit a lot!) Many women eat for comfort. Foods can trigger a hormonal release in our brains, and so they do make us feel better, for a short while. We moms often starve ourselves all day, then wind up gorging on junk food because we are too hungry to prepare a proper meal. All of those "eating triggers" need to be addressed.

Second, I would try to figure out a reasonable eating plan. My understanding is that you should aim to lose no more than a pound a week if you want to keep the weight off. Don't cut out food groups, and don't make certain foods "off limits." If you learn to indulge in moderation, you are less likely to go on a binge of forbidden foods.

Finally, find some time to exercise. Many diets help you lose weight, but what you are losing is your muscle mass. Exercising will help you keep muscle mass. Muscle burns more calories than fat, so the higher your ratio of muscle:fat, the more calories you will use up just walking around doing normal daily stuff. Muscle is also sleek and firm, rather than jiggly and dimply! Places like Curves and Ladies Workout Express are great because they specially tailor their offerings for women.

The best indicator of whether a diet is working is the way you feel and your clothing. Don't obsessively weigh yourself. As I said, muscle weighs more than fat, so you may be slimming down and getting healthy but still keep the same numbers on the scale. Many women get discouraged because the numbers are the same, but if you feel healthier, and your clothes are getting looser, than your health plan is working!

Best of luck,
S.

I have not heard of the diet you're talking about, but wanted to let you know that I went back to Weight Watchers and lost over 40 lbs. on the Flex Plan and have kept it off for a year now. I have done SO many different things to try to lose weight during my life including WW many years ago. I find now that their program really works for me and the big bonus is that I was/am always eating my own food and not a packaged plan. You may lose 30 pounds in 30 days on the plan that you mentioned, but look into what their maintenance plan is if they have one because the trick is then keeping the weight off. Good luck!

It sounds like it could be safe. If you are going to try it, make sure whatever you do eat is very nutritious. Make as much of your own food as you can, which shouldn't be hard since you won't need to eat very much. Take the money that you don't spend on food and do something special with it.

Hi C.,

30lb in 30 days is too fast. You will just start to yo-yo. My husband and I both had success with nutrisystem. However, I dont think it is actually the brand nutrisystem that lent to our success, it was we did it together. My best friend and I had good luck with Weight watchers online too. Again, I had someone to hold me accountable or "compete" with. But dont go for a miracle. It leads to muscle loss, flabby skin and up and down frustrations. If you are "really" overweight I would consult a doctor or nutritionist. It is your health, take control. If you dont take care of you, who will take care of your family.

I haven't heard anything about this diet but I can tell you that 30 lbs in 30 days is way too fast to lose weight. 2 lbs. a week is a good average not 1 lb per day. People who go on this type of diet, where they lose a lot of weight quickly, tend to gain it back because they don't learn how to maintain a healthy weight. I would suggest you find a diet plan that will help you lose weight and change your lifestyle so you can keep the weight off for life. I lost 75 lbs on LA Weight Loss and I would definitely recommend this plan to anyone who is serious about losing weight and keeping it off. They teach you how to eat healthy using ALL of the food groups (proteins, starches (breads, pasta, cereal, rice), dairy, fruits, vegetables, fats). Any program that restricts ANY of these food groups is not healthy for you. The most important thing with a lifestyle change is watching your PORTION SIZES. Eat whole grains (wheat bread, wheat pasta, brown rice are some examples). Get lots of fiber. Read "You: On A Diet: The Owner's Manual for Waist Management" by Mehmet C. Oz and Michael F. Roizen. This book teaches you exactly what your body does with food during the digestion process and it teaches that a diet plan isn't just for now it is for life (plus lots more).

I joined LA Weight Loss in January 2007 and hit my goal weight in October 2007. I went from a tight size 18 (refused to buy a bigger size) to a size 6. I haven't had any problem keeping the weight off. I feel better than I ever have. I know that sounds like a commercial but it is true!!

When choosing a diet plan that works for you be sure to look for one that doesn't cut out any of the major food groups. I've rambled on long enough. Best of luck to you.

I agree with what most everyone has said...if it sounds too good to be true, it probably is. I don't even know what this diet is, but someone referred to injections, which would make me very nervous. Basically, the only real way to lose weight is to burn more calories than you take in...eat less, exercise more. It's easier said than done, though, which is why I also agree that Weight Watchers is really effective. I joined 3.5 months ago and have lost about 11 pounds. The program really helps give you structure and a clear sense of what you should and shouldn't eat. It's really less of a diet and more of a way to get back to eating the way we all should. They have two plans- One allows you to eat as much as you need of a limited variety of foods and to monitor when you are hungry and full. The other assigns a points value to every food and you can eat whatever foods you want as long as you stick to your daily amount of points. You also get allowance points for times when you want to splurge and you can earn more points by exercising more. I've met my weight loss goal, but I haven't changed how I've been eating, because it's less of a diet and more of a lifestyle change. Good luck and take care of yourself!

My dad is about 150 lbs over weight and tried this program. He did drop 30 lbs over a 2 month period and was pretty much starving himself (kind of what the program has you do). He wouldn't eat anything and then his weight would go back up. A friend of his recommended the program because she had a lot of success, but it worked differently with him. He has kept the 30 lbs off though. It doesn't seem like the healthiest way to go for me, but he is desperate. I have had tons of success with weight watchers (i don't go to the meetings, you can do it online). Anyway, good luck. It's so hard to know what to do and to lose weight. (it's also pretty expensive I think and my dad was sick - hcg makes your body think you're pregnant, so it was like morning sickness - )

I haven't heard a lot about this particular diet, but do know that statistically speaking, people don't typically keep off weight that is lost that quickly. There is simply no way to lose fat weight that fast, so it's mostly water weight, etc, which is gained back very quickly. However, if done under a doctor's supervision, he/she can make sure the weight loss will be healthy for you. Good luck!

Hi C.,

I am doing this diet and I have had incredible results. In the first round of the diet I have lost 27.6 lbs and several inches lost as well. This diet is not a scam. It actually works. I live in Aurora Co. My friend at church is also doing this diet. She has also had amazing results. I personally wouldn't call it a diet. I would call it a weight loss cure. If you want to find out more information. You can go to: * www.hcgtnt.com * to get more information. I do the diet through this group. I have met the doctor and all the nurses personally. They are a great group. They can answer any questions you may have. While doing the HCG diet I felt amazing. It was the healthiest that I probably have ever eaten in my life. I would recommend the diet. I know that it really works. THe manuscript called "Pounds and Inches" by Dr. Simeons who originally developed the diet is a wealth of information in helping one to understand how the diet really works. Just another note* I am a mom of 5 and before starting the diet I researched it for weeks before starting it. I have had a number of health problems since I was born. To name a few: I was born with 2 Vena Cava's and have a electrical conduction problem with my heart.I wear a pacemaker. Even with the pacemaker I have always been very short of breath. Since the diet my shortness of breath is gone. I also have a hypothyroid disorder and that is also much better now. I am taking less medicine now. I know it really works. I am thrilled with how my health is so much better now since the diet. I am in the maintanence phase of the diet right now and look forward in beginning another round of the diet soon! Oh I must say before the diet I was on my way out of a size 18. 18's were very tight and now I am in a size 16, which are kinda of loose. I look forward to being a 14 or 12 soon!

D.

July 2011---Just updating my progress: I am now a size 8, thanks to this diet. Never thought I would ever be able to say that. I have tried many weight loss things and this is the one and only diet that has helped me to lose the weight finally! I think maintaining can be hard after this diet but I have maintained now for over a year and feel great! Maintaining for me was trial and error after the diet. You just have to figure out what works. Everyone is different in the maintaining process, what might work for some might not necessarily work for everyone.

My doctor has actually suggested the HCG program to me. I need to wait until I am finished breastfeeding, but then I will seriously consider it. She has other patients that are doing it right now under her supervision, and it sounds like they are having success. I say look into it some more, find a doctor that knows about it and will support you through it. (Usually this means finding a good "alternative" doctor, or an M.D. that is knowledgeable about holistic practices.) If you do try it, I hope you will let us know about your experience! :)

I went to my doctor to ask him about dieting after my little girl. He said the only safe diet on the market right now is Weight watchers. They encourage healthy eating, water, exercise. You loose 2 lbs. which is more then safe loss. I have lost 10 lbs in about 3 weeks. Look into it.

C., I am a former personaly trainer, now stay at home mom. Any diet that says you will lose 30lbs in 30 days isn't true and isn't safe. You may lose the weight but that is weight that will be gained back. If you want to get back to your pre baby weight, losing 2lbs a week is safe, it is going to take a while. You need a great diet and exercise program that you will stick with, not sometimes, but all the time. If you cheat on the diet, you have to start again. Start slow by changing a pew eating habits and join a gym. Most gyms now a days has child care, it is a big finacial concern for most, but it is a good investment in your health and well being and therefore will be for your family. Remember, our children watch what we do and will mimic our habits. If you want them to have a healthy lifestyle, it has to start with you. If you need help please contact me.

M.

I don't have anything to say in support of this diet but I know exactly how you feel when diet and lifestyle changes haven't moved a pound. I have been there and thought nothing would ever change it but I finally found my solution. It's called "Body by God's design" and it really works. I wasn't that big on the religious aspect of it at first but now that I've lost nearly 8 pounds in only 2 weeks I love it. I also love how much energy I have. I go do physical therapy 3 days a week at my holistic chiropracter and I haven't felt this good since I was in my 20's.

The biggest thing is your attitude, love yourself as you are and decide that everyday in everyway you are better! Tell yourself that everyday.
The only long lasting way to lose weight is to consume fewer calories than you burn. However your body is designed to conserve calories and will keep resetting to be more efficient if you make it think there scarcity and starvation around the corner. Start educating yourself to eat several smaller nutrient dense meals a day, you'd be amazed what cutting down serving sizes and reducing "treats" can do. I used to eat maybe 10 Dove Promises a day and found that added 1000 calories a day to my intake! The other thing is to step up your activity level. At 48 I weighed 185lbs, looked in the mirror one day and said, "this won't do!" I started walking 45mins to a hour a day. I have never been a runner but gradually I started to jog part of the way - as much to do my distance in a shorter time as anything. Eventually I was running part of it, jogging part and power walking the rest, along with some very simple diet changes of more veggies and fruit,and less baking, I dropped over 40 lbs in less than a year and feel better that I did at 30! I'm over 50 now and a 20 something asked me out yesterday, told me there was just something really sexy and attractive about me.... I'm not dating anyone young enough to be my child but feeling strong, healthy and happy will have you glowing. Keep changing it up with exersize, again your body will go into an energy conservation mode if you do the same thing all the time. For example if you do what I did with running and walking, vary the lengths of the run and which areas along your routes you run, that way muscle memory won't take over. To really do the harder core work out you'll have to leave the kids behind a freind or sitter but when you can include them and get them active too. An added benefit: a good run or workout will do wonders for your mood!

Not familiar with the diet besides hearing the ads. But I do know that in general, 30 lbs in 30 days is not 'typical results' (meaning most people won't get that). It can also be dangerous to loose weight so quickly, and you are much more likely to gain it back after going off the diet. You really want to aim for no more than 3-5 lbs a week; much healthier and easier to maintain afterwards.
The best way to loose weight is not to 'diet' but to change your diet, meaning your overall eating habits. Eat lots more veggies (without butter or cheese, they really are yummy!) and cut down on fats, sugars, and starches. The most important thing is portion size. Eat slowly and drink water with your meal to help control portions.
Then increase your activity level. Accumulate 30 min a day of moderate level intensity. That can be 10 minutes in the mornng, 10 in the afternoon and 10 in the evening. Anything that gets your heartrate up, vacuuming, dancing, playing tag with the kids, etc. You can gradually increase the intensity as you get used to it. Drink lots of water between meals too (8 glasses a day is the minimum, 12 is better, especially in dry climates). Don't drink 'hydration drinks' as they have lots of sugar and you don't need the electrolytes unless you are excersising for an hour or more.
Good luck and you can do it!

It looks like everyone is in agreeance that 30lbs in 30 days is too fast and probably not even likely to be attained. If you lose that much weight it is mostly water weight and will be gained back.

You need to assess (or have a trainer/nutritionist assess) what the problem is with your inability to lose weight. Often it is just making small changes over the course of several months to year until you have made a full life change.

First, you must work out at least 3 times a week for 30+ minutes. Get a heart rate monitor and try to work in your target heart rate, not too high or too low. Also if you get in some strength training sessions too then you will build more muscle which burns fat faster.

Second, if your diet includes a lot of fats and processed carbos, you need to cut back on that. Having a salad for every meal isnt the answer becuase you need protein in your diet. Start by cutting back on the amount of butter or oils you use and cook with. Also, drop the bread from your meals.

Make small changes so that you are not finding yourself feeling restricted and likely to cheat.

Losing a lot of weight is a life choice and requires changes to your current routine (diet and exercise) and not a fad, too-good-to-be-true diet.

Good luck!

I haven't heard of the weight loss diet that you are talking about, but I have found that exercise (along with weightlifting), a good amount of sleep, and a balanced diet are way more productive than just one simple easy fix. Are you eating too many carbs.? I have found that my diet pretty much consists of that and not much else, so I am not surprised that I can't loose wight very fast. Plus, I have thyroid problems and have to make sure that it is balanced. Sorry, that probably isn't the answer you were looking for but I hope that it helps!

Hey there, you've gotten a lot of good advise. I agree that anything that promises quick weight loss will not work and is unhealthy. In all reality the best way to loss weight is to look at your eating habits and change them. I think alot of people see diets as a quick fix but there is no such thing. You have to make a lifestyle change. I had battled weight for years and finally this year I didnt go on a diet, but made a lifestyle change. My husband and I have both lost 55 pounds, with watching what we eat and exercising. If you can, join the recreation center or a gym. If not get exercise videos and walk every day. We found that it helped to let go of the rules once a week to indulge in the foods we crave (lots of cheese and ice cream is my weakness) The rest of the week we watch how many calories we eat, how much fat and sugar goes into our bodies. There is a great website at www.thedailyplate.com. It helps you track what you are eating and how much you are burning during the day. I found out I was a snacker and would take bites off my kidos unfinished meals and that would add up, but when I was paying attention I broke that habit. Also be careful of salads, some are worse than a big mac. It can be overwhelming at first but read all labels and check out portion sizes. I have also know several people that love the weight watchers because it helps you learn how to eat right. Good luck

I had a good friend who did the HCG diet and loved it! She lost about 35 pounds under the supervision of her doctor. She did have to follow a very strict eating regimen but she said that with the HCG you have plenty of energy and are not quite as hungry. Before she went on the HCG diet she tried EVERYTHING else to lose weight(exercise, dieting, etc.) and never lost a pound. With the HCG she saw results after the first couple of days. Good luck! Also, the HCG diet has been around LONG before Kevin Trudeau ever wrote about it.

Hi C.,
I currently have a friend on this program. He has lost 55 pounds in the last 2 months. Although the results sound great, I would be very cautious about injection something in your body. My friend has always been a yo-yo dieter, so I suspect that when he quits the injections, he'll be right back where he started. If you have some weight to lose, eat right-always in moderation, lower your sugar intake, exercise and take care of yourself emotionally. Our weight is a reflection of our lifestyle and our emotions. Good Luck!
T

Anything with Kevin Trudue's name is a scam! go to sparkpeople.com It has so much info and it encourages healthy weight loss, has recipes, a calorie counter and alot of helpful tips for certain areas! I lost 20 pounds in 2 months, without starving or a major amount of exercise ! Good Luck

Hi C.,
I am a certified personal trainer with a degree in Kinesiology. Before I had kids I owned a small Pilates studio. That said...the only weight loss program that has scientifically proven to work long term is Weight Watchers. It teaches you how to eat properly for life. It is all about making lifestyle changes.

Good Luck
K.

I have not heard of this diet per se, but it is never a good idea to try to drop weight that rapidly! It generally requires severe calorie reduction or the subtraction of an entire food group which is neither healthy or easy to keep up in the long run. And you will ultimately gain back anything you do lose. I know this is a tough thing to do, as I went through this myself awhile back. I did lose weight mainly by moving more (a lot more) and by watching how much I ate. I know some of the others mentioned Weight Watchers, and while I haven't personally tried it, I've heard many good things from others. I do know it is nutrtionally sound and sensible. But the bottom line is, it will not come off the way you want unless you really get moving! You mentioned that you exercisrd some, but I'm wondering if it was enough? Adding muscle can do a lot to increase your metabolism while aerobic type stuff helps you burn fat. If it is at all possible for you to hire a personal trainer, even for a couple of sessions, it can help you to see what it really takes. And PLEASE be patient! It took you five years to get where you are now, it will not reverse over night. You need to think in terms of the rest of your life. You are working to feel and look better for the rest of your life, NOT for next week! It's like a marathon, not a sprint. Believe me, I do feel your pain...but hang in there, it can be done!

I tried it, the problem with my sticking to program, is that living in a small town, I had to travel long distance to see the doctor and get the injections for home use. Too expensive with travel and all. I would do it in heartbeat if I could get a local doctor. I lost belly fat fast, only drawback was my DD breast were getting bigger. However for flat belly, it is a good trade. :)
If you live in a big city and MDs available, go for it!

Hi, C.,

I didn't read any of the other responses, however, I worked in Sports Medicine for 15 years and I can tell you without a doubt that 30# in 30 days is NOT SAFE weight loss. When you are trying to lose weight, you want to aim for 1-2 pounds a week, otherwise, your body goes into it's "panic mode" and will fight off your efforts, i.e. doing the diet for 6 weeks with no results. Plus, this 30lbs in 30 days thing totally sets you up to fail at keeping the weight off permanently. A much better approach would be to start off slowly. Losing weight is all about burning more calories than you're taking in and making sure that the calories you do take in are nutrient dense, i.e fruits & veggies, lean proteins and exercise.

If you are looking for a way to improve your health, lose weight and teach your kids by your example, I suggest you try StrollerFit, Restore the Core or Mommymuscle classes and/or DVDs. The instructors who teach the classes are very knowledgable about nutrition and can help you achieve your fitness and weight loss goals without going to extremes. You can visit www.strollerfit.com to find a class near you.

I wish you the best of luck. Let us know what you decide to do!!

I don't even know what this is. My husband has a hard time losing weight, so I would like to know what it is? We are trying to start eating healthier and walking every night, it's just hard with three little kids.

Hi C., I know how frustrating it is to have that baby weight. but please don't do this! Do you really want to do this the rest of your life, and alot of this is a gimmick or temporary! I really reccomend weight watchers! I had gained 20 lbs with my kids over 7 years and it just hung on!( And I know that doesn't sound like much but I am petite). I did weight watchers and lost the weight in about three months, and have kept it off for almost a year! I just really liked it, no special foods so I could manage it with the family( making special meals, what a pain!) and I also did not have to starve myself and could eat some of my favorites! It's all about portions, and planning. It is not easy at first and you might even go up and down but if you stick with it and follow their guidance like exersizing( I walk, it works!) you will succeed! And by the way, most nutritionists will say 1-2 lbs a week is a healthy amount to loose and maintain.