User:Knightking1/HCG Diet

The HCG Diet is a diet created by British endocrinologist Dr. A.T.W. Simeons. Dr. Simeons believed that obesity was a disease or disorder that could be treated with a strict protocol that would solve the obese person condition. He believed this disorder was caused by a breakdown of a regulating mechanism located in the diencephalon, or hypothalamus which he refers to as the fat-regulating center. The method of treatment he defines in his publication called "Pounds & Inches - A New Approach to Obesity" requires the patient to adhere to, without alteration, a strict very low calorie diet with daily injections of Human Chorionic Gonadotropin (hCG).

The Protocol (Summarized)
Dr. Simeons refers to obesity as a disorder and points out in his "Pounds and Inches" publication that persons suffering from this particular disorder will get fat regardless of whether they eat excessively, normally or less than normal. A person who is free of the disorder will never get fat, even if he frequently overeats. He further indicates that there are great variations in the severity of obesity and indicates that the protocol outlined here will effectively treat the disorder. What's more, once the patient is cured of the disorder the patient will be able to eat normally of any food without regaining abnormal fat after treatment.

Dr. Simeons outlines the following protocol that must be adhered to without substitution or alteration to effectively treat obesity:

Phase 1: Days 1 and 2
The patient will force feed for two days. TWO DAYS ONLY. Each day begin with the patient recording his weight. He must also supplement with HCG (125 IU daily injection). He must “eat frequently of highly concentrated foods such as milk chocolate, pastries with whipped cream sugar, fried meats (particularly pork), eggs and bacon, mayonnaise, bread with thick butter and jam, etc.” as much as he want with no restrictions.

Phase 2: Day 3 until paitient reaches goal weight (40 days max)
The patient begins each day by taking and recording his weight. He must also supplement with HCG (125 IU daily injection). Also, the patient must a minimum of 50% of body weight (in ounces) of water each day (Example: 200 lb person would consume a minimum of 100 ozs of water per day). Limit food intake to 500 daily calories from the following:

Breakfast:
Tea or coffee in any quantity without sugar. Only one tablespoonful of milk allowed in 24 hours. Saccharin or Stevia may be used.

Lunch:

 * 3.5 ounces or 100 grams (1 Ounce = 28.3495231 Grams) of veal, beef, chicken breast, fresh white fish, lobster, crab, or shrimp. All visible fat must be carefully removed before cooking, and the meat must be weighed raw. It must be boiled or grilled without additional fat. Salmon, eel, tuna, herring, dried or pickled fish are not allowed. The chicken breast must be removed from the bird.
 * One type of vegetable only to be chosen from the following: spinach, chard, chicory, beet-greens, green salad, tomatoes, celery, fennel, onions, red radishes, cucumbers, asparagus, cabbage.
 * One breadstick (grissino) or one Melba toast.
 * An apple or a handful of strawberries or one-half grapefruit.

Dinner:
The same four choices as lunch.

What else is allowed?
The juice of one lemon daily is allowed for all purposes. Salt, pepper, vinegar, mustard powder, garlic, sweet basil, parsley, thyme, marjoram, etc., may be used for seasoning, but no oil, butter or dressing.

Tea, coffee, plain water, or mineral water are the only drinks allowed, but they may be taken in any quantity and at all times.

The fruit or the breadstick may be eaten between meals instead of with lunch or dinner, but not more than four items listed for lunch and dinner may be eaten at one meal.

No medicines or cosmetics other than lipstick, eyebrow pencil and powder may he used without special permission from the patient physician.

Important note:
Dr. Simeons said it was important to continually stress
 * "...no variations other than those listed above may be introduced. All things not listed are forbidden, and the patient is assured that nothing permissible has been left out. The 100 grams of meat must he scrupulously weighed raw after all visible fat has been removed. To do this accurately the patient must have a letter-scale, as kitchen scales are not sufficiently accurate and the butcher should certainly not be relied upon. Those not uncommon patients who feel that even so little food is too much for them, can omit anything they wish.


 * There is no objection to breaking up the two meals. For instance having a breadstick and an apple for breakfast or before going to bed, provided these items are deducted from the regular meals. The whole daily ration of two breadsticks or two fruits may not be eaten at the same time, nor can any item saved from the previous day be added on the following day. In the beginning patients are advised to check every meal against their diet sheet before starting to eat and not to rely on their memory. It is also worth pointing out that any attempt to observe this diet without HCG will lead to trouble in two to three days."

Phase 2 Duration:
If the patiet needs to lose 15 pounds (7 kg.) or less the patient will require 26 days of treatment with 23 days of HCG supplementation. The extra three days are needed because the patient must continue the 500-calorie diet for three days after the last day of supplementing HCG. Dr Simeon warns, “if they start eating normally as long as there is even a trace of HCG in their body they put on weight alarmingly at the end of the treatment. After three days when all the HCG has been eliminated this does not happen, because the blood is then no longer saturated with food and can thus accommodate an extra influx from the intestines without increasing its volume by retaining water.” The treatment is stopped when either 34 lbs. have been lost or 40 days of HCG supplementation has been reached. The reason for the 40 day limit is to avoid becoming immune to the effects of HCG supplementation. The protocol can be repeated after six weeks, though the pause can be more than six weeks.

Phase 3: Three to Six weeks Maintenance Period
The patient must continue dieting for three days without using HCG supplementation. Once those three days are over then the patient will begin the maintenance phase of the diet. During this phase of the protocol, sugar and strachy carbohydrates are forbidden. The bread-stick the patient was eating is no longer permitted. The patient is free to consume fish/meats, veggies, and drinks that do not contain carbohydrates. The patient should eat meats and veggies and drink plenty of water (see the Ketogenic Diet). The patient must without fail weight himself every morning, having first emptied the bladder and before breakfast. It takes about 3 weeks before the weight reached at the end of the treatment becomes stable, i.e. does not show violent fluctuations after an occasional excess. During this period carbohydrates, that is sugar, rice, bread, potatoes, pastries etc, should not be eaten. On the first day the patient weight surpasses two pounds of the weight recorded on the last day of HCG supplementation, even if this is only a few ounces, and the patient must entirely skip breakfast and lunch and drink plenty of water. In the evening the patient must eat a huge steak and a raw tomato (or apple). Of course this rule applies only to the morning weight.

Once Phase 3 is Complete
Now that phase three is complete the patient can begin another cycle starting with Phase 1 if the patient still have weight to lose. However the patient has reached his goal weight, he can now begin eating a normal diet without any restrictions.

What Do the Studies Say?
From testimonies, HCG appears effective in assisting some individuals in losing weight. It may be considered to be nothing more than a placebo effect along with a very low calorie diet that makes it a successful protocol for some. Scientifically there appears to be contradictions or at least reservations in saying that Simeons HCG protocol is an effective and safe method for weight loss. See conflicting studies listed by the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition:


 * a. Effect of human chorionic gonadotrophin on weight loss, hunger and feeling of well-being.


 * b. The use of chorionic gonadotrophin hormone in the treatment of obesity.


 * c. Chorionic gonadotrophin in the treatment of obese women.


 * d. Ineffectiveness of human chorionic gonadotrophin in weight reduction: a double-blind study.