Does the HCG Diet Work?
The HCG diet is an extreme diet that’s purported to cause fast weight loss. This lesser-known diet is a great alternative to keto dieting and can be combined with intermittent fasting for faster results. Done properly, you can lose 0.5 to 1 pound per day with the HCG diet.
But does the HCG diet work, and is it safe?
HCG, which stands for human chorionic gonadotropin, is a hormone produced during early pregnancy. The hormone is responsible for the development of the embryo. Both men and non-pregnant women have HCG in small amounts, but it spikes in women during pregnancy.
In weight-loss, the hormone allows us to access the excess fat reserves to lose sufficient weight. It’s ideal for losing stubborn fat like lower belly fat.
An HCG diet is more than just HCG shots. It also entails calorie restriction, eating the right foods, and avoiding the wrong ones. So just like any weight loss plan, the HCG diet requires discipline, commitment, and resilience.
Does the HCG Diet Work to Reduce Weight?
The HCG diet is a multi-faceted diet that involves a couple of things. Surmised, the diet premises on calorie restriction and daily administration of the HCG hormone. Apart from these aspects, the HCG diet entails a strict meal plan, where you only eat once or twice a day to be within the calorie-restriction zone.
To maintain good health and avoid plateauing, meals during the HCG diet should consist of:-
- Lean protein like chicken breasts, fish or low-fat cheese
- A vegetable; any vegetable will do
- A few slices or a stick of bread
As usual, you also need to take tremendous amounts of water to keep your body running like a well-oiled machine. Plus, you can take as much coffee or tea as you want as long as you don’t put creamer or sugar in them.
With that out of the way, let’s look at some of the foods you shouldn’t eat during your HCG diet. Like any diet, you need to minimize or completely avoid empty calories like sugar plus Trans and saturated fats. The following foods are a no go zone during the diet:-
- Soda, candy and other sugary foods
- Fatty fish like salmon and tuna
- Starchy food like potato, rice, and cereal
Phases of an HCG Diet
You can break down the HCG diet into three distinct phases. These phases progressively get harder, then ease off in the final phase.
Phase one
The first phase lasts for about two to three days. During this phase, you can eat as much as you want. You also take HCG supplements, either HCG shots, oral drops or try the much-lauded HCG mixing kits.
Phase two
Phase two, which takes about four to six weeks, is where you have to restrict your calorie intake. It’s the hardest phase of the HCG diet that requires a lot of discipline. It’s also where you lose the most weight.
You still take regular doses of HCG supplements during the second phase. It’s in this phase where the HCG really works its magic.
Phase three
By the time you reach the final phase, you should have lost substantial weight. In the third phase, you ease off the supplements and slowly return to your normal routine. Remember to maintain your weight; you still need to watch what you eat.
You can couple an HCG diet with a bit of exercising, though it’s not needed. You can still see dramatic weight-loss with the HCG diet without exercising.
What Are Its Benefits?
There has been much debate surrounding the efficacy of the HCG site. While some folks avow the diet, other medical proponents discredit the diet’s effectiveness. So the million-dollar question becomes, does the HCG diet work?
Well, yes, the diet works, but only if you stay disciplined and committed to it. The HCG diet is an ideal weight-loss plan because you can lose a lot of weight without starvation.
The amount of calories you consume during the HCG diet is within the safe range that experts recommend for weight loss. However, restricting your calories to 500 or 800may not be a good idea if you’re very active during the day.
HCG Diet and Muscle Loss
One great advantage of the HCG diet is that you don’t lose any muscle while dieting. That’s because HCG makes the body burn excess fat for energy instead of muscle. So don’t worry about losing muscle while shedding fat with HCG dieting.
Benefits of HCG Diet
Apart from rapid weight-loss, the HCG diet also has a ton of other benefits. Here are some benefits of the HCG diet, if done properly.
Increase in Energy
Calorie restriction makes people feel fatigued, weak, and even dizzy. However, HCG taps into the adipose fat reserves and converts them into energy. You thus get the energy to carry out your usual activities without feeling drained.
No Muscle Loss
You don’t lose muscle while on an HCG diet. That’s because your body prioritizes fat over muscle loss to provide energy for your body. That’s why most hard gainers use the HCG diet during their cutting phases.
Great Look and Feel
Unlike other weight loss methods, the HCG diet doesn’t leave you feeling all groggy and listless. That’s because you aren’t starving, and you get energy from your excess fat reserves. Ultimately, you get your dream body and feel great all the while.
Lowers Your Cholesterol
Apart from burning fat, the HCG diet also lowers your cholesterol. Eating less food and the right foods significantly lower cholesterol. This dramatically reduces the odds of getting any heart conditions.
Better Endurance
Because of the extra energy from the fat, you can exercise better with more endurance. So not only do you lose weight, but you also get the energy to exercise better. This translates to faster weight loss.
Give the HCG Diet a Whirl Today
Does the HCG diet work? The answer is, the HCG diet is a safe and effective way to shed a couple of pounds off. However, remember the diet takes a lot of discipline and commitment. Don’t expect a single HCG shot will make you magically lose ten pounds.
Before starting HCG dieting, it’s always a great idea to consult your physician first. If you get the green light, then start your HCG diet as soon as you can to lose those pounds.
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