HCG Diet Protocol Specifics
The HCG diet protocol has been around for over five decades. It started in Italy under the supervision of Dr. Simeons. He spent many years researching this diet to ensure its safety and effectiveness. When the HCG diet protocol is followed properly, the average weight loss will be 1-2 lbs per day.
HCG Diet Protocol Phase 1: Loading
To start the HCG diet protocol, you will start taking the drops during your ‘load’ or ‘gorge’ days. During these 2 days, you will eat and drink anything that you’d like. We recommend eating foods that are high in saturated fat i.e. heavy whipping cream, fried meats, mayonnaise, ice cream, pastries, etc. This ensures that your normal fat reserves are reasonably well stocked. By loading up on fatty foods, this will help with any hunger you may have the first week, although the majority of clients experience little to no hunger.
HCG Diet Protocol: Phase 2: The Diet
On day 3 of the drops, you will then go down to the 500 calorie diet outlined by Dr. Simeons in his manuscript Pounds and Inches. The very low calorie diet VLCD will last anywhere from 21 to 45 days each round. During this time, your diet will consist of the approved lean proteins, fruits and vegetables. While eating 500 calories seems like an impossible task, it is very important to stick with the diet. Your body is not surviving solely on the 500 calories you are eating. Under the effect of hCG the obese body is always able to obtain all the calories it needs from the abnormal fat deposits, regardless of whether it uses up 1500 or 4000 calories per day. This delicate process allows your body to use your abnormal fat, rather than your muscle mass, as fuel. To get your most accurate weight, you will want to weigh yourself naked in the morning after you have gone to the bathroom. After you have completed the round lasting anywhere from the 23 – 45 days on the drops, you will stop taking the drops but continue the 500 calorie diet for 72 hours, while the remaining HCG exits your body.
HCG Diet Protocol: Phase 3: Maintenance
Once you have finished your round and the 72-hour period, you will move onto maintenance. The maintenance period during the HCG diet protocol allows you to expand your food choices while teaching your body to maintain your new lower weight. The only restrictions during maintenance, are you must avoid all sugars and starches. Be cautious of overly sweet fruits as well as they may cause you to gain. Maintenance can last anywhere from 6 weeks up to 6 months depending on what round you just completed. During maintenance, you will increase your calorie intake, however, don’t be too cautious about counting calories. You will weigh yourself every day, just like you did during the low-calorie diet part of the HCG Diet Protocol. You will want to focus on your protein consumption the first few days. Eat lean proteins every 3 – 4 hours so you do not become protein deficient. If you do not eat enough protein, this will cause you to gain during this period. During maintenance, you do not want to go over or under your last dose weight (LDW) more than 2 lbs. Your last dose weight is your weight the morning of your last dose. If you start to sneak up on being over 2.1lbs, you can do a lean protein day. During a lean protein day, you will eat lean proteins, with minimal fruit. You can still eat your regular veggies and drink water, coffee and tea. If you exceed the 2.1 lbs. from your LDW, you will want to do a steak day. You will eat nothing all day, then for dinner you will eat the largest, leanest steak possible seasoned with salt and pepper. You will also eat 1 apple or 1 tomato with this steak. If the steak day is done properly, you will now be within 2lbs of your LDW. If your weight starts to go under 2.1lbs from your LDW, you will want to increase your food servings. A great and easy way to do this is to add in healthy fats i.e. nuts, avocados, etc. The great thing about a steak day is that you can use it on maintenance to maintain your weight loss, but you can also do it forever. If 3 years down the road, you are 2.5lbs over your LDW, you may do a steak day to drop those extra pounds.
HCG Diet Protocol Importance
Following the HCG diet protocol is very important with the HCG Diet. It is what makes the diet unique. It’s a great way to maintain your weight loss, making the HCG Diet Protocol a healthy way to permanently lose weight.
