HCG DIET INFO

Dr. Simeons' HCG Diet Protocol

by

Sandy Huntsberger  

   Introduction

Medical professionals are hailing weight loss with hCG as a major breakthrough in losing weight and stubborn body fat. This advanced weight loss program has a 100% SUCCESS RESULT FOR PEOPLE WHO FOLLOW THE PLAN EXACTLY! It is a physician approved program that is completely safe and has been developed to help people lose weight and keep it off.

hCG stands for Human Chorionic Gonadotropin, a hormone present in both males and females. It is the hormone produced by pregnant women in the early stages of pregnancy.

During pregnancy, the substance almost completely controls the woman’s metabolic functions. In non-pregnant persons, research suggests hCG similarly increases the metabolism and promotes lipolytic (fat burning) activity.

The use of hCG as a diet aid was first discussed in a report that Dr. A.T.W. Simeons published in 1954. The report did gain some attention at that time, but it took several years before the use of hCG with dieting really started to catch on. Today, an increasing number of dieters are turning to hCG to help them lose those unwanted pounds.

Dr. Simeons noticed that his patients could drastically reduce their caloric intake without experiencing irritability, hunger pains, headaches, or weakness while also taking hCG. As Dr. Simeons continued his research, he found that an hCG injection did more than just help his patients lose weight. In fact, he found that the injections also helped to naturally reshape his patient’s bodies even if they did not engage in exercise while on the diet.

In a non-pregnant state, hCG as a weight-loss aid helps reduce the craving for food by making stored fat available for metabolism, thus aiding in the ability to adhere to a rigid diet program. hCG accesses unnecessary fat stored in the body just as it does in early pregnancy. Abnormal fat deposits disappear; the double chin, potbelly and fat around hips and thighs are the first to go. hCG does not deplete subcutaneous or other essential fat.

Most hCG Weight-loss participants see a loss in girth (inches) before they see any substantive drop in the scales. When properly followed, the result is rapid weight loss and improved body shape during and after treatment. Reshaping of body contour is quickly noticeable in those patients who struggle with fat located in buttocks and hips area. As the hCG metabolizes stored body fat, about 2000 calories are released into the bloodstream, thus allowing for a low calorie per day diet without experiencing fatigue, weakness or hunger.

What are the benefits?

Dr. Simeons wrote a book called “Pounds and Inches” for other doctors, and he states that hCG causes a change in metabolism, which allows your body mobilize fat out of the fat storage locations without stripping the body of vitamins and minerals. And if you follow the diet and maintenance program, you can keep that weight off!

The hCG weight loss plan:

* Assists patients in shedding up to 30+ pounds over a six week period.

* Assists in the reduction of cholesterol and blood sugar levels.

* Dramatically reduces the appearance of cellulite.

* Results in the disappearance of food cravings.

* Increases energy levels.

* Decreases blood pressure.

* Improves skin elasticity

* Is safe and healthy.

How does it work?

The hCG diet consists of daily injections or oral drops of hCG. It is similar to what a diabetic person does when they inject insulin daily. The oral form of pellets is simply put under your tongue. In addition to this, you will need to reduce your caloric intake to just 500 calories per day. Generally you eat a meal of lean meat, chicken, fish, shrimp or lobster, one fruit and one vegetable, two times a day. (There are a few exceptions.)

Obviously, you would be able to lose weight with a 500-calorie diet even if you weren’t getting hCG hormone treatments. If you cut back to this many calories without the help of hCG, however, you will likely be very hungry and lose muscle as well as fat. Obviously, this isn’t healthy and will not result in a toned body.

Lose 26 lbs in 26 days if you follow the diet as directed. Note that this is the average weight loss we have recorded from clients. Some people lose more, some people lose less. But the fact is, you will definitely lose weight on this regimen without heavy exercise or without frozen or prepared foods to buy.

The HCG Diet is based off Dr. Simeons “Pounds & Inches – A New Approach to Obesity” and was previously only available in spas and weight loss clinics which made access to the diet unaffordable for most. As the diet proved wildly successful and something that could easily be done at home with the proper instructions.  HCG = Human Chorio Gonadotropin
HCG works directly with the Hypothalamus gland. This gland actually controls body fat, emotions, and helps to develop the reproductive organs during puberty. Each and every person is given their life time supply of HCG at birth. Unfortunately most American food has been overloaded with chemicals. These chemicals are designed to remove HCG from your body.
Candida yeast overgrowth can be another common reason people lose HCG. This overgrowth is a result of an imbalance in the digestive system. If you have ever, in your life, taken antibiotics there is a high chance you have an imbalance.                                                  The weight registered by the scale… is determined by two processes not necessarily synchronized. Under the influence of HCG, fat is being extracted from the cells, in which it is stored in the fatty tissue. When these cells are empty and therefore serve no purpose, the body breaks down the cellular structure and absorbs it. But the breaking up of useless cells, connective tissue,  and blood vessels, at times follow the fat-extraction process. When this happens the body replaces some of the extracted fat with water which is retained for this purpose. Because water is heavier than fat, the weight scale may show no loss of weight even though fat has actually been consumed to make up for the deficit in the 500- calorie diet. When such tissue is finally broken down and the water liberated, there is a sudden flood of urine and a marked loss of weight. This is the reason for the appearance of no weight loss on the scale while following the instructions of the diet.

What can I expect?

There are no age or sex limits, and tolerance to the diet is excellent. Weight loss is safe and comfortable for patients, provided that they meticulously follow the prescribed diet. Any deviation from the protocol is likely to not yield the desired results. Even minor deviations may cause unwanted setbacks. At the conclusion of the diet patients should have lost an average of 0.5 - 1.0lb per day.

At first, you will lose fat mostly in the waist and stomach. You’ll reduce any fat pads like a double chin, love handles, plus the inner knee and thigh fat. The diet actually helps you do body contouring without exercise. hCG makes it easier for you to cut back calories because it acts as an appetite suppressant. During the first few days of the program, you might experience mild hunger after reducing your food consumption. By the second week, however, most people find small servings of food to be quite satisfying. This is partially because the hCG helps to release calories from your stored fat and these calories then circulate throughout your body. In addition, your hypothalamus makes adjustments to your metabolic rate, which helps you feel full faster.

Some may feel that even so little food is too much for them and they are unable to finish their meals. Anything may be eliminated if desired, as your body will be getting significant nutrients from the fat being released by the hCG. There is no objection to staggering your food. There is no specific time of the day you need to eat. Work or family schedules can determine when you eat. You can’t save calories; an item saved from the previous day cannot be added on the following day. Chicken breast does not mean the breast of any other fowl, nor does it mean a wing or drumstick.

It is important to know that what works for one person does NOT mean it will work for everyone; to prevent stalls / gains simply do not make changes to this protocol just because someone else is losing with that modification. This is especially important when researching recipes, always check ingredients against the diet plan provided for you.

Preparing for the diet

Recommended Supplies:

 Scale to measure your weight. You need to weigh yourself every morning. This allows you to see your progress and identify any problems when there is no weight loss.

 Digital food scale that measures in ounces. Digital is preferred, because it is more accurate. Varying food weight, even if it is just an ounce, can affect your weight loss.

 Use a food and weight diary, or take advantage of websites like www.fitday.com, which allows you to track your foods, weights, body measurements and more. . .for free!

 Stevia as a sweetener. Sugar has calories, and non-natural sweeteners like Sweet-N-Low and Equal still impact blood sugar levels, even though they have no sugar.  They also increase carbohydrate cravings. I prefer NuNaturals NUSTEVIA or Sweet Leaf Stevia (available at health food stores)

 Oil-free body and hair care products. These include shampoo and conditioner, body wash, lotion, cosmetics and deodorant.  The only thing I personally changed was my body lotion.  Baby lotion and baby oil is ok, and so is Jergens Cold Cream-because they are mineral oil based ( I used this as lotion.)  Cornhuskers glycerin is also within protocol. The forbidden lotions will list some type of edible oil as an ingredient. Such as safflower, grapeseed, olive, sunflower, etc.  I also already used BeautiControl skincare and makeup which was all oil free.  

 There are 4 phases to the Hcg weight loss diet protocol.  

Phase 1 -  2 days of Gorging                                                                                        

Phase 2 - 21 to 40 days of 500 calorie diet

Phase 3 - 21 days of maintenance to keep the weight off

Phase 4 - Lifestyle change 

HCG Phase 1 Protocol

Phase 1 (P1) of the HCG diet protocol is a two day gorge period, you would start taking your hcg pellets (4pellets, 30 minutes before meals three times a day). Make sure pellets dissolve under your tongue and don't drink anything for 15 minutes before or after taking them..

For the next two days of phase one, you may eat anything you like, focus on fats instead of sugars. The purpose of this is to build a healthy level of structural fat in your body and to keep you from getting hungry during phase two of the diet. Eating foods high in sugar during the gorge days may also increases cravings and makes the HCG diet more difficult to stay on, Avoid those foods that are high in sugar.

People who skip this phase often will experience hunger pangs during phase two of the diet. This is important, don't skip this part of the protocol. Eat everything you would not eat normally. You will gain a few pounds for these two days, but it will come off fast in the next few days. Don't forget the cheesecake!

This part of the HCG diet is commonly refereed to as Phase 2 (VLCD - Very Low Calorie Diet)

The goal of Phase 2 of the HCG diet is to lose weight. it is very important to follow the HCG protocol to the tee or you will experience lower weight loss results. HCG by itself does not produce any weight loss results, only by following the diet along with usage of the HCG weight loss pellets, you will be able to obtain your goals.

Starting with Day 3, continue taking the HCG three times a day, for up to 40 days. Follow the diet protocol outlined below. If you lose more than 34 pounds, you may want to stop  phase 2 and move on the phase 3. If you are experiencing no losses.

Drinks and Seasonings

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 (2 liters of water per day is recommended) are the only drinks allowed, but they may be taken in any quantity and at all times. We recommend a healthy brand of coffee that taste good black .

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

 Most people do just as good while taking medications for high blood pressure, diabetes, high cholesterol, thyroid and many others, however if you are taking diabetes or blood pressure medications, you should be monitored by your doctor, One of the positive side effects of the HCG diet is that blood pressure and sugar levels have a tendency to drop. Vitamins are permitted and it is recommended that you at least take Vitamin B-12 daily.

Portions and specially prepared unsweetened, low calorie foods

"In many countries specially prepared unsweetened and low Calorie foods are freely available, and some of these can be tentatively used. the total daily intake must not exceed 500 Calories if the best possible results are to be obtained, that the daily ration should contain 200 grams of fat-free protein and a very small amount of starch."  From Dr Simeons' "Pounds and Inches." 

Important Highlights:

• The 500 calorie limit must always be maintained.
• 2 small apples are not an acceptable exchange for "1 apple."
• Very occasionally we allow egg - boiled, poached or raw - to patients who develop an aversion to meat, but in this case they must add the white of three eggs to the one they eat whole.
• Cottage cheese made from skimmed milk is available 100 grams may occasionally be used instead of the meat 

Personal Care and Beauty Products on the hCG Diet:

• We do permit the use of lotions unless they are entirely free of fatty substances.  Obviously sun-tan oil is prohibited.
• Aspirin and birth control are allowed on the Simeons hCG Diet. 
• No massage of any kind is permitted.

Phase 3 - P3 The Maintenance Phase

The purpose of phase 3 of the HCG diet is to maintain the weight loss achieved by resetting a new weight set point in your body. Once you stop taking HCG drops, you will need to stay on the 500 calorie diet for three days.   After the three days the HCG will have exited your body. For the following three week period, you are to avoid eating sugar or starches. You will eat around a 2000 calorie diet, more if you work out or play sports hard. The object is to stay within 2 pounds above or below the last weight you recorded while still taking HCG. If you exceed the two pound window, you should do a *steak day to take it back off. if you lose more than two pounds from your last HCG weight, then you need to eat more.

For people who gain all their  weight back, they usually failed at this part of the diet. It is vital that you stay on this for three weeks or you will return to the prior weight you were before the diet. We have to retrain your body to accept and maintenance this new weight by being constant for 3 weeks. Remember you can eat anything on this stage except sugar and starches.

*Steak Day - Dr. Simeons says "Skip breakfast and lunch but take plenty to drink. In the evening, eat a huge steak with only an apple or a raw tomato."

Phase 4 - Keeping Healthy

Phase 4 is really what you will do for the rest of your life. You will slowly introduce sugar and starches back into your diet in small amount while keeping an eye on the scale. The bigger focus is on optimal health at this stage.. Again in the HCG Weight LOss Cure GUide Book, there is a list of things that you will want to do to remain healthy

List of Foods on the Simeons Protocol

Tips and Hints that helped me for enduring the 500-calorie diet:

Print this entire manual out and keep it all together in a folder/3 ring binder.

Others helps:

• This is a protocol of not just food, but mental preparation as well. This also involves planning of how you are going to handle the day-to-day situations that will derail you, the roadblocks you may come across, and how you are going to handle them. People will ask you questions, be prepared to plan your meals…etc
• Take the time to memorize the protocol and make sure your schedule is ready to take on your new diet. Spend time planning your meals and shopping for the foods allowed on the protocol.
• In the beginning it is best not to totally rely on your memory and check every meal against the diet list before starting to eat. Keep a food diary with everything you eat and the times it was consumed. Include your morning weight and how much was lost from the day before.
• Track your liquids (variety and amount). Try to keep a running account of calories so you ensure your remain within the 500 calories. An easy way to keep up with water intake is to purchase a 1 L bottle, put 4 rubber bands on it, and each time you refill/drink move a band down to the bottom.  
• Since you will be eating many of the same things, it is great to buy and cook your meat portions in advance. It saves time in the long run and helps you stick to the diet.
• It’s great idea to keep a few “snacks” readily available for when a craving hits:

 Slice up an apple and mix Stevia with cinnamon and dip the apple slices or add a little water and bake in microwave.

 Create a strawberry smoothie: ice water, strawberries, stevia (optional), lemon juice (optional).

 Crunchy snack: celery sticks OR cucumbers-Cucumbers sliced in vinegar, water, stevia is great too.

 For the fast meal: precook some chicken (weigh your portions first) and wash and dry full heads of lettuce, store these in the refrigerator. These preparations ahead of time allow you to prepare a quick dinner of chicken salad. Make a dressing out of lemon, apple cider vinegar and fresh pepper. This is great when you want an enormous portion, it's difficult to eat too much lettuce (low calories).

•  Don’t be afraid of hunger because hunger is a feeling (physical sensation) not a fact.

•  Remember that the hCG is providing more than enough fat and nutrients to meet your needs.

When hunger strikes:

 Drink 2 big glasses of water

 Space your meals throughout the day so you are constantly eating

•  You can have coffee/tea in the morning when you wake-up (8:00am)
•  Eat an apple at mid-morning (10:00am)
•  Eat your lunch mid afternoon (2:00)
•  Eat dinner in the evening (6:00)
•  Your second fruit in the late evening (8:00)

 Coffee and teas tend to curb your appetite.

The Diet   Low Calorie Diet Breakdown 

.Sample Meal Plan

.

Weight Fluctuations, Stalls and Gains

After the fourth or fifth day of dieting the daily loss of weight begins to decrease and there is a smaller urinary output. Men often continue to lose regularly at that rate, but women are more irregular in spite of faultless dieting. There may be no drop at all for two or three days and then a sudden loss, which reestablishes the normal average. These fluctuations are entirely due to variations in the retention and elimination of water, which are more common in women than in men.

This protocol must be followed exactly as described. The slightest deviation from our recommendations could affect your ability to lose weight and is immediately detectable at the daily weighing. Pay attention to weight gains; they usually signify an error in the protocol.

Keep a detailed food journal and look for patterns of foods that cause you not to lose, or to lose fantastically. Some people have had problems losing with tomatoes and oranges (but some people have no problem at all). Since everyone is different, you need to monitor your own body and see what works or doesn’t work for you.

Eating too many calories or foods not on your list can cause problems. Weight gains/stalls may take a few days to kick in. For example, you could mix your veggies for a few days and assume there is no problem based on what the scale reads, but then a stall or gain can suddenly reflect the breaking of the rules. Many people believe a stall comes out of nowhere, but it is usually caused by something.

If more salt is eaten in the food you prepare and your body isn’t used to that sodium level, your blood volume will increase to handle the extra, which will translate into a gain because your body is retaining water to boost that blood volume. Watch your salt intake.

Sensitivity / allergies to foods may cause weight stalls. Listen to your body.

Not drinking enough water: Must drink 1-2 gallons daily. Also be aware that many things contain sugar or fats that we may not realize as: chewing gum, mints, vitamins, cough syrups, etc………

Plateau: This can occur with anyone and can last 4‐6 days. If you lose more than the average you may plateau sooner. The plateau always corrects itself and should not cause you to worry. If however you wish to break up the plateau after three days it is permissible to do an apple day or mini-steak day.

Below is helpful information I’ve gathered from different sources.  I’ve attempted to alphabetize to make it easier to find something.

Apple Day: If you have had a 0 loss for 4 days in a row. You can do an apple day-here is how to do it: The apple day begins at lunch and continues until just before lunch the following day. You eat six apples through the course of the time. You shouldn't eat or drink anything else except for plain water, if you feel thirsty. For breakfast you can have what you normally would. For example, an orange and coffee or 1/2 a grapefruit. If you wanted to start with an apple that would be fine as well.

Cheating: TIPS ON MANAGING:

 Do not be afraid of cheating. You always have complete control whether you give into temptation or not. Just because someone else has cheated does not mean you will cheat as well. Many, many people have followed this plan without cheating, and you can too. Prepare yourself for the fact that you will *want* to cheat, but *acting* on the thought is solely your decision.

 Expect to have cravings, be hungry, and moody and expect to want to cheat. These expectations will let you be prepared to control the cravings, hunger, moods and cheats. Prepare yourself for these feelings, but know that the decision to deviate is yours……….stay strong and remember that only you are accountable for everything you put into your mouth.

 If you go forward and cheat, you will have to take responsibility for that cheat. It may leave you feeling guilty and unsatisfied. Cheating (even what may be perceived as just a small slip-up) is a mistake you will pay for up to 3-5 days. This can be 3 -5 days of the scale going up, or staying the same, potentially you could even gain more than if you were not on hCG. This makes cheating on this plan a waste of time and money…. NOT WORTH IT!

 If you use food as an emotional crutch, you will find it difficult to cope without that crutch while on the 500 calories. You need to fill the empty spot with something healthy that you can enjoy both on and off the protocol. This will not only reduce cravings, but also help you maintain your healthy weight into the future. Some possibilities include crafting, painting, walking, gardening, reading, visiting with friends (encourage friends to be creative and find activities to enjoy together that do not revolve around food)

 Create a cabinet in your kitchen and a designated shelf in your fridge which supports your diet.

 To get your mind off of wanting to cheat, focus your attention on something else. You can take a walk, go to the library, go to a movie, visit with friends, brush your teeth, clean a closet, read a book, etc….

 It is also nice to find a support system, whether it is through an online group, a buddy who is following the diet with you, family member(s), etc. Just make sure you have someone to stop you from cheating.

Constipation

Your bowel movements will slow down due to the decreased intake of food. If you drink the proper amount of water you can avoid constipation. If constipation does become an issue, then using “Smooth Move Tea” will “eliminate” the problem (pun intended). I personally used Sugar free orange Metamucil a couple of times with no stall in wt loss.  

Decrease in wt loss:  After the fourth or fifth day of dieting… the daily loss of weight begins to decrease to less than a pound or somewhat less per day, and there is a smaller urinary output. Men often continue to lose regularly at that rate, but women are more irregular in spite of faultless dieting. There may be no drop at all for two or three days and then a sudden loss which re-establishes the normal average. These fluctuations are entirely due to variations in the retention and elimination of water, which are more marked in women than in men.  

Duration of diet:  If you are using HHCG (homeopathic)  then you will not hit immunity as when using the presc. form. 92 days is a long haul and your losses will be very slow with such a small amount to go after so long, the closer we get to goal the longer it takes. I think this is why it is so important to go into P3/4 as our bodies need the good fats we are depriving them. There is a reason why Dr Simeons stated anyone needing to lose 35 lbs or more would need to complete 2 rounds.

Things others have shared with me through my many inquiries:

 “I pushed the envelope at 63 days my first round and wasted 2 weeks and 2 weeks worth of HCG for 1 lb.  I would rather have been eating and maintaining. I did end up stablizing with great success and have been stable for an entire year.”  If you plan to go this long, keep this in mind.
“I dont discriminate as both RX and HHCG (Homeopathic) both worked for me, I just felt so much better on the HHCG than the RX. The added aminos in the HHCG really helped with adrenal fatigue and kept energy levels up. I never felt good on RX but my losses were the same as HHCG, both work so use what you want. The best thing is to keep your self informed and ask questions. Follow the Original Protocol and not someone elses version with substitutions for the foods list. The program is written the way it is because it works.  Change it and it doesn’t, you may lose the pounds but 99% of the time you don’t keep it off and it is not just about losing it about maintaining your lowest HCG weight for the rest of your life.”

EXERCISE: Light Exercise recommended :  It is recommended that you do only light exercise while doing the hCG Diet. Walking, Yoga ,Pilates, lighter weight lifting (resistance) is great to keep up your strength. Stay away from high calorie burning exercises (ex. Running, aerobics). Over exercising will cause the body to go into starvation mode and hold on to the fat, fighting against the hCG.  I did learn that on a couple of occasions (I wore a heart rate monitor to determine my calories expended which were 1700cals/day) when I worked hard, all day long in my yard that I needed to add about 100 cals of equal amounts of PROTOCOL protein and veggies to keep from having a wt loss stall for the day.  This will also keep you energized during your extra working/expending hours.

Favorite Things: These made my P2 journey more pleasant (I’ll add more as I try different things)

Braggs Liquid Aminos- you can use this to sauté anything from shrimp to cabbage.  It’s a natural soy sauce and it is something I could not have done without on this diet!!! You can also mix with vinegar to make a salad dressing.  It is wonderful!. I purchased mine at the Granery Health Food Store on New Boston Rd in TXK. It only takes 1 tsp or so and is very salty like reg soy sauce, so a small 8 oz. bottle should be sufficient for the entire diet.  

Hunger: Is it normal to feel hunger? Yes, especially in the first few days. It should go away after that. Drinking liquids should help the grumbling.  Oolong Tea can also help.  Oh, and this works great for combating hunger:

California Kickers! When you get really, really hungry, and you think you’re gonna cave……this works>> like in the mornings, after having been up for several hours, finished with coffee, and hunger sets in: Try this………

Juice of half a lemon, 1/4 tsp. of cayenne (buy at Wmart in capsule form, open cap and pour in) , stevia to taste to make it sweet as you want, heat up water as if for tea. Put all in a mug and stir and enjoy! I find I really, really, really like this and it’s like a sweet and sour and hot brothy lemony goodness! I don’t know if it’s the few calories you get from the lemon juice, or the cayenne, or the combination, but it does take away that little nag of hunger!

Menstruation: Should I do the hCG Diet if I am about to begin a menstruation cycle?It is best to start the hCG Diet five days before or after that cycle if you are beginning or ending a menstruation cycle Continue the diet normally if you start the hCG diet and during the weight loss phase begin to menstruate. Do not stop taking the drops. Continue with the 500 calorie day. During these days consume high volumes of water, and take ibuprofin for cramp pains

                 What happens during my menstrual period?

HCG has two components, one of which is identical to another hormone called luteinizing hormone (LH). Women produce massive amounts of LH during ovulation, which swamps out the low levels of HCG during the diet. So the simple advice that Dr. Simeons offered to women is just to quit taking the HCG for 3-4 days during their menstrual periods. Stay on the 500 calorie per day diet, then restart the hormone after this short layoff.  However, most do not have to do this.

Protein Shakes: Some wonder if they can have protein shakes in place of their protein while on the HCG Diet.  Many have been successful in using protein shakes but you need to be aware of a few things first.  You need to make sure they are sugar, oil and starch free.  Also, the best way is to get the nutrition information on a piece of protein and try to mimic that in a protein shake.  Be sure you are monitoring your caloric intake so that you do not go above the 500 calorie mark.  
Here are a couple of brands that many have found to work and taste the best:   Sun Warrior Brand, Jay Robb Brand.  I personally, never used a protein shake.

Salt Intake

There is no restriction in the use of salt, but dieters need to drink large quantities of water throughout the treatment. Your daily amount taken should be roughly the same or less, as a sudden increase in salt will of course be followed by a corresponding increase in water weight as shown by the scale. An increase in the intake of salt is one of the most common causes for an increase in weight from one day to the next.

Skin sagging-if it’s a problem (normally it’s not with this diet unless you need to lose in excess of 100 lbs) Take MSM (can get at WMart or any retail. Drug store)

If it is flab/loose skin it will tighten up even in P3-4. You can take some
suppliments to help with that (MSM, L-Cystine, Alpha lipoic acid, and biotin.... these help with skin and hair and have helped many of us although the HCG allows the skin the time it needs to heal as well unlike other rapid weight loss programs where you are a big bag of empty skin when you are done. Remember that our skin is the largest organ of our body and it is healing too, this protocol heals our body and reteaches us that our body needs food to heal itself not garbage. That is why good healthy fats are so important in P3/4 as we have been starving ourselves of these for so long. Not just in VLCD but media and drs keep telling us low fat low carb is the way to go instead of telling us that unrefined real foods are what we really need

-----get the Gluten free, no sugar, no starch   Take 7000mg daily.

SUPPLEMENTS/Vitamins : What supplements should I be taking on this weight loss program?

Note:  Every time you lose a pound of fatty tissue, only the actual fat is burned up. All the vitamins, the proteins, the blood, and the minerals that this tissue contains in abundance are fed back into the body.

 Taking Vitamin B-12 is an essential part of the hCG diet. This supplement helps with producing and maintaining energy levels. Our hCG Diet includes the Vitamin B-12 supplement. Remember, to stay away from fat soluble vitamins such as vitamin A, D and E as they can impede the fat burning process

When do I take the B12?  You can take the B12 with food, that's completely fine ;) As long as you are not eating or drinking 15 minutes before and after taking the hCG you should be fine to eat whenever after that.

Potassium:  99mg 3-5x a day Many find that they need extra potassium because of the low calorie and high water intake.  It is a good idea to have some potassium (99mg tablets) on hand for when you feel dragged out. Magnesium:  500mg daily for BM's and leg cramps.  
L-Glutamine:  500mg 3x a day up to 3-3x a day between meals: For cravings L-Glutamine is excellent.  You can take it daily or you can open a capsule and put the powder directly under your tongue, this will provide immediate help.

Hair Loss Supplements: While hair loss is common on most very low calorie diets, it isn't normally a problem with those taking HCG.  If you are experiencing hair loss there are some supplements that you can use to help you combat that.  Take the following daily:
2 -500mg L-Cysteine Capsules
2 -1500mg MSM
2 -500mg Thymus Gland
2 -5000mcg Biotin

Teeth  Patients whose teeth are in poor repair sometimes get more trouble under prolonged treatment, just as may occur in pregnancy. In such cases we do allow calcium and vitamin D, though not in an oily solution. The only other vitamin we permit is vitamin C, which we use in large doses combined with an antihistaminic at the onset of a common cold. There is no objection to the use of an antibiotic if this is required, for instance by the dentist.

In cases of broncial asthma and hay fever we have occasionally resorted to cortisone during treatment and find that triamcinolone is the least likely to interfere with the loss of weight, but many asthmatics improve with HCG alone

Make sure you are drinking plenty of water as well. You would do an apple day if you have not lost weight for 5-6 days. Are you having any bowel movement problems? It is important to stay regular to allow all the toxins and fat stores to flush out of your system. You can take 1-2 Tbsp of apple cider vinegar everyday either in a warm glass of water or on your veggies or salad. This should help too. Let us know how things go. Feel free to call us to get more personalized information on how to lose more weight. You are doing great so far!Tracking Your Weight  It is important to weigh yourself and keep track of your success. You will want to weigh yourself when you first get up in the morning (the same clothing attire every time) after you have emptied your bladder.

Vegetables: How do you figure out how many vegetables you should eat?  The best way is to add up all your calories for the proteins, fruits and Melba/grissini and whatever is left over in your 500 calories you fill with vegetables.  

Water

The amount of water you retain has nothing to do with the amount of water you drink. When the body is forced to retain water, it will do this at all costs. If water intake is insufficient, excessive water will be withdrawn from the intestinal tract, with the result of possible constipation. On the other hand if a patient drinks more than his body requires, the surplus is promptly and easily eliminated. Trying to prevent the body from retaining water by drinking less does not work. A one gallon minimum should be consumed each day.

Will I gain all my weight back after the hCG diet protocol?  YES.  IF you go back to old habits, eating junk food, over eating, not watching what you eat, eating unhealthy foods, leading a sedentary lifestyle and in general just thinking “I’ve lost weight so I can eat now,” than you will gain back weight no matter what diet you decided on even the hCG diet protocol.  That’s a fact.  Obesity is a disease and it’s not about what diet you treat the disease with; it is about how you treat the disease long term to be really cured.

Consider the hCG diet protocol as a giant step toward a healthier you, resting your metabolism, cleansing your body of impurities and gaining control over the disease process caused by junk and processed food, inactivity and unhealthy lifestyle.