HCG: Anyone Tried It?

[Hostile]

A buddy of mine who is a country music DJ is wanting me to join him in trying this stuff. I'm losing weight, (30 pounds in the last 9 months) but he seems to think this stuff will perform some kind of miracle weight loss. I confess, I don't know much about it.

I'd appreciate any info or insight you might have.

 

[WoodysGirl]

I had a friend who did the HCG diet. She lost a ton of weight in three weeks, by basically starving herself. 500 calories a day along the pill or shot or something.

After going off the diet, you have to maintain a relatively low calorie in order not to re-gain the weight you just lost.

It was a pretty extreme way to lose weight, IMO, and not healthy for your body.

 

[Dallas]

My buddy is on a medical diet. The one your doctor has to perscribe to you. Anyways its a 750cal/day plan. You eat/drink 5-6 things throughout your day. Chris has done amazing on it.

He's lost 105 lbs in the past 4-5months.

 

[Duane]

Two ladies in the office have lost a ton of weight on it. But I don't think going from 150 to 120 in two months is very healthy.

 

[yimyammer]

I don't know anything about HCG, but I lost about 10 pounds in 3-1/2 weeks and it was almost all fat by doing The Rapid Fat Loss Diet.

Fat is all you really care about losing anyway, amirite?

Here's the book, I highly recommend it:

http://www.bodyrecomposition.com/the-rapid-fat-loss-handbook

You eat a lot of protein, but not many calories. I was eating around 1000 calories per day, 230 grams from protein, around 10-15 grams from fat and the rest from fibrous carbs that you can eat unlimited amounts of. I was stuffed. Protein fills you up and spares muscle loss.

He's also got more moderate plans that take longer and are better for developing a lifestyle long term, see http://www.bodyrecomposition.com/a-guide-to-flexible-dieting

He's also got a forum where you can get a lot of info but be sure to use the search button before you ask questions or you'll be ignored or chewed out if the issue has already been addressed.

Forum: http://forums.lylemcdonald.com/

You might also be interested in a site called www.leangains.com, I'm going to try this as its more suited to my lifestyle

You'll learn a lot from both sites, especially how much BS exists in the world of dieting.

Both of these guys are no nonsense, scientifically based guys and not out to make a quick buck off a gimmick, quick fix scheme.

Let us know if you try it and how it works out and G/L!

 

[Hostile]

I know losing weight that fast isn't healthy, but neither is walking around with that weight.

I am far more active but still not where I want to be and I am wondering if the weight loss would help me get where I want to be.

My blood pressure is 120 over 75 and my heart rate is under 70 when I got them checked just a couple of months ago after yet another knee injury. I'm not unhealthy, I'm just too heavy. I need to lose the weight to help my knees more than anything.

I enjoyed throwing away several pairs of shorts last week because they are too big now. I've lost 4 inches on my waist, but still have a ways to go.

Just wondering if this is a good step to take. The 500 calories doesn't bother me too much. I love fruits and vegetables.

I doubt I'd be super strict with it anyway. I like to eat out now and then. But I honestly don't mind eating right either.

Once the weight is off, I will keep it off. I am sure of that. I will undoubtedly be more active if my knees aren't hurting.

 

[CowboyMcCoy]

Juice fast. People don't like the sound of "fasting", but you can just do raw veggies and still put nuts and fish, poultry in there. Ever since I did that, my health is A-OK.

 

[Don Corleone]

I transformed myself using the lean gains concept. Basically you eat in a time window of 6 to 8 hours per day. It is good if you like big meals.

I dropped 35 lbs, 10 inches on my waist, and added a lot of muscle. I work out 6 days a week. I started it 4 years ago and have never looked back. I just maintain now, and I got used to the lifestyle. I do cycle off and eat whenever and however much I want one day every 2 weeks.

I've studied a lot of diets. The trick is to find one that suits you. HCG is dangerous IMO. No one can live forever on 500 cal per day, but you can eat in time windows for the long term.

 

[yimyammer]

I transformed myself using the lean gains concept. Basically you eat in a time window of 6 to 8 hours per day. It is good if you like big meals.

I dropped 35 lbs, 10 inches on my waist, and added a lot of muscle. I work out 6 days a week. I started it 4 years ago and have never looked back. I just maintain now, and I got used to the lifestyle. I do cycle off and eat whenever and however much I want one day every 2 weeks.

I've studied a lot of diets. The trick is to find one that suits you. HCG is dangerous IMO. No one can live forever on 500 cal per day, but you can eat in time windows for the long term.

Who's lean gains plan did you follow?

I tried to hire Martin at www.leangains.com but he won't respond. I'm trying to put a plan together based on reading his articles, but it would be nice if I could find something laid out so I could just follow a good plan.

 

[Kevinicus]

I transformed myself using the lean gains concept. Basically you eat in a time window of 6 to 8 hours per day. It is good if you like big meals.

I dropped 35 lbs, 10 inches on my waist, and added a lot of muscle. I work out 6 days a week. I started it 4 years ago and have never looked back. I just maintain now, and I got used to the lifestyle. I do cycle off and eat whenever and however much I want one day every 2 weeks.

I've studied a lot of diets. The trick is to find one that suits you. HCG is dangerous IMO. No one can live forever on 500 cal per day, but you can eat in time windows for the long term.

I'm not a fan of HCG, and certainly wouldn't' do it, but you don't do 500 calories forever, it's for 26 days.

 

[notherbob]

Last year my wife decided she wasn't eating right and Googled for some nutritional information and would up at Dr. Mercola's website and learned that there are different nutritional types. She took their free test to find out what nurtitional type she is and what those kinds of people can eat that are good for them and quit eating foods that were not good for her nutritional type.

It worked quite well when combined with an exercise program and she felt better, got into the best condition she has ever been in and lost 50 pounds in the first six months. That was a year ago and she still eats all she wants of the foods that are good for her and she feels better than ever and has more energy and enthusiasm.

It was not her intention to lose weight, it just happened when she quit eating foods that were not good for her. She likes her new food and has completely quit eating many foods she grew up on. Change is necessary but it is a lot easier when you want to do it and like the foods. If she gets hungry, she eats.

Mercola.com if anyone is interested.

 

[diehard2294]

I am a big believer in taking the weight off slowly. It is better for you in the long run.

Times of day you eat and what you eat are critical.

I have lost 30 lbs this year and have taken my BF from 21 % to 9.5 currently
by just following a few basic concepts

I have never heard much of HCG but I always prefer the common approach

good luck and stay focused

 

[Hostile]

My friend works for a radio station. A guy at their station has lost 162 pounds on this HCG stuff and has kept it off.

I admit it intrigues me. He wants me to do it in competition with him so we are both motivated.

 

[Don Corleone]

Who's lean gains plan did you follow?

I tried to hire Martin at www.leangains.com but he won't respond. I'm trying to put a plan together based on reading his articles, but it would be nice if I could find something laid out so I could just follow a good plan.

I followed Martin's plan, but never thought of contacting him. I found out what others are doing on bodybuilding.com. There is tons of information on that site about leangains (Martin's guidance has a lot of gaps that are open for interpretation). I dropped my bodyfat to 8% using that diet and have maintained it. Read up on it at bodybuilding.com. Many of the regulars there call it intermittent fasting, or IF diet.

I'm not a fan of HCG, and certainly wouldn't' do it, but you don't do 500 calories forever, it's for 26 days.

The issue is that your body will return to its normal state, or worse than before once you up your calories. Dieting is all about calories in vs. calories out. That's it.

My friend works for a radio station. A guy at their station has lost 162 pounds on this HCG stuff and has kept it off.

I admit it intrigues me. He wants me to do it in competition with him so we are both motivated.

I never considered it because on that low of a calorie intake, you will lose muscle and fat. I only want to lose fat and build muscle at the same time. If you want to recompose your body (i.e drop your bodyfat %) then HCG is not the diet of choice. If you just want to lose weight, regardless of muscle or fat, then HCG may work. I like to maintain my muscle, so I've never considered it.

Another option is the CKD diet (cyclical ketogenic diet). This is where you go through 5 days of low carb eating, like Atkins, followed by a 2 day carb up period, where you replenish your body's glycogen. This is a good option if you want to retain muscle and lose some fat. You also get to maintain a social life and eat like normal on weekends.

 

[Hostile]

I never considered it because on that low of a calorie intake, you will lose muscle and fat. I only want to lose fat and build muscle at the same time. If you want to recompose your body (i.e drop your bodyfat %) then HCG is not the diet of choice. If you just want to lose weight, regardless of muscle or fat, then HCG may work. I like to maintain my muscle, so I've never considered it.

Another option is the CKD diet (cyclical ketogenic diet). This is where you go through 5 days of low carb eating, like Atkins, followed by a 2 day carb up period, where you replenish your body's glycogen. This is a good option if you want to retain muscle and lose some fat. You also get to maintain a social life and eat like normal on weekends.

I have been lifting lately. I doubt I will lose much muscle. A lot of my weight is muscle, but too much isn't.

Most people guess my weight at around 265 to 275 pounds. They are shocked when I tell them how much more than that I do weigh and I have even won bets from people who don't believe it.

I want to get below 265. My playing weight was 225, but I could have easily got up to 245.

At 265 most people think I weigh around 205. I carry it well.

The thing is, I'd like to get it off so that as I am increasing my activity with cardio, weights, and walking my dog I get rid of the fat. That is why I will not just do this diet. I will continue what I have been doing to this point that I lost 30 pounds so far.

I am just thinking of this as a boost to that goal.

 

[bbgun]

Some guys I know have had success with something called Cellan, but the pills alone will not do the trick. You might have to give up something delicious on top of it.

 

[Bigdog]

I lost 23 pounds in 3 months. I exercised and watched with what I ate. That was 3 mos ago in a competition that I had at work. I still work out but not as much and I have gained about 13 pounds back. The thing is my blood pressure is 127/78 my heart rate was 56. My doctor told me that was very good. He said you are healthy and could lose to lose some weight but for the most part you are doing fine. It is whatever you feel the most comfortable with.

 

[Kevinicus]

I have been lifting lately. I doubt I will lose much muscle. A lot of my weight is muscle, but too much isn't.

Most people guess my weight at around 265 to 275 pounds. They are shocked when I tell them how much more than that I do weigh and I have even won bets from people who don't believe it.

I want to get below 265. My playing weight was 225, but I could have easily got up to 245.

At 265 most people think I weigh around 205. I carry it well.

The thing is, I'd like to get it off so that as I am increasing my activity with cardio, weights, and walking my dog I get rid of the fat. That is why I will not just do this diet. I will continue what I have been doing to this point that I lost 30 pounds so far.

I am just thinking of this as a boost to that goal.

From what I read when researching it a few months ago, you're not supposed to do much exercise (maybe a quick walk) while on the HCG diet. The theory behind it is that the HCG that you take combined with the extremely strict diet (it's not just 500 calories, but very limited in the specific foods you can eat) tells your body to use your fat stores and avoid eating up your muscles.

 

[Hostile]

From what I read when researching it a few months ago, you're not supposed to do much exercise (maybe a quick walk) while on the HCG diet. The theory behind it is that the HCG that you take combined with the extremely strict diet (it's not just 500 calories, but very limited in the specific foods you can eat) tells your body to use your fat stores and avoid eating up your muscles.

Thanks. I have not decided one way or the other whether I will try it or not. I am losing on my own. I just would like to get a jump start.

 

[CowboysRule]

I did the HCG diet, used the drops. I did it for 21 days and lost 21 pounds. You are supposed to avoid all carbs and starches while on the drops(or pills, or shots, or whatever form you choose) and eat around 500 calories a day. After the drops run out you are supposed to still avoid carbs and starches for another 2 weeks or so. After that you can slowly start introducing them back in.

I did it a few months back and since then have maybe regained 2-3 pounds. I eat like a normal person now. The 500 calories wasn't that bad, I think the HCG helps with hunger pangs as I wasn't really hungry. I may do it again after football season ends as I could still stand to lose another 20 pounds or so.