Has Anyone Tried the hCG Diet Protocol?

I have a very good friend who did this. She lost weight but she also started losing her hair. She had a minor thyroid problem (that she was being treated for during the diet) and now she has more serious damage to her thyroid. I am talking about handfuls of hair loss daily for several weeks after she stopped the injections/diet. It was very scary. She also gained ALL the weight back and more. I know of at least 2 others who lost weight, gained it right back. Don't know if they had any hair loss problems though. Please be careful!!!

My best friend did it but has started to gain it all back as she stopped the injections. She is mad about spending the money and we have both agreed that ANYONE will lose a lot of weight when only taking in 500 calories a day. She is going to go back to Weight watchers. It does work IF YOU DO IT!!!!! When people say it doesn't work to diet, they don't diet. It is simple science. Eat less, work out more. Was there ever a holocaust survivor overweight?

My husband lost 40 pounds in 40 days with hCG. He didn't feel hungry, and had plenty of energy. He had less success with subsequent rounds. Definitely get your hormones regulated first. Good luck!

Just like any diet HCG does still take time and effort to make it work. I had been going to the gym 4-5 days a week for 11 months, and lost 30 pounds. I did a 21 day round of HCG in June, and lost 20 lbs. I did a 2nd 27 day round in Sept, and lost 22 lbs. I am now at 139 lbs, wear a size 6, and feel great. There is a protocol in the diet set to help you maintain your weight (steak days). When you stop the injections you have to adhere to the 3 weeks of no sugar and starches. This time is meant to reset your weight thermostat so you will stay at your new weight. If you fail to do this, you have a high chance of putting all the weight back that you just lost. Like others have mentioned, you need to change your eating habits so you can stay healthy. I do eat between 1800-2000 calories a day, and stayed at 139 for 4 weeks now. I have not had personal long term success because I have not been off that long, but the friend who turned me on to HCG, has lost over 100 lbs, and kept it off for over a year now. It does work, but you do need a Dr's OK to get started.

With diets like this they are not ever good ideas, because as soon as it stops you can easily put back on the weight.

I had gotten up to 250 lbs when my oldest was hospitalized. I am one who gains weight under stressful situations. I lost all my weight by sheer diet and exercise. With saying that, because I know you don't want to hear this and you say you have "tried that and you don't lose a thing." My questions are-how long have you tried it and what were you doing.

I was keeping a strict food journal. I was a little excessive on the working out, but I wanted fast results. I worked out 2-3 hours a day. I know most don't have time for this, but it required getting up early and working out before my kids got up and then doing it again after they went to bed.

If you want it bad enough and you are willing to change your lifestyle-it will work. Look at all those people on the biggest loser who say they couldn't do it at home. I would honestly be interested in what you have done in the past to lose weight and how long you did stick with it. Because trust me-magic pills may work, but they only work for so long!!

My husband did it. It worked pretty well while he was on it, averaging about a 1/2 pound a day, but it is VERY difficult. The diet restrictions are intense and it takes a lot of work to prepare the food so that it will taste ok but not cheat on the rules. Maybe it would be easier for a woman, I don't know. Unfortunately, my husband gained most of what he lost back after it was over because he felt too deprived, so unless you have iron will power, I'm not sure its the best thing...just our opinion.

My girlfriend has done it a couple times, although she did the hcg from Canada (some sort of stuff you put in your drink? not injectible, but much, much cheaper). She lost 15-20 lbs each time (over about a month I think?). She followed their 'plan'. She has suggested I try it several times, but somehow starving myself doesn't appeal to me. ;) She swears though that you don't feel like you're starving. I've never heard anything BAD about it - yet...

I did it for one round- the drops not the shots- It's a little rough for the first few days, and rough feeding your family things you can't eat. I recomend a fiber mix with your morning drink (I used my carbs for a sugar free fiber drink mix- store brand of the citricel stuff) The HGC keeps the hunger away, after a few days it gets easier, for me it was a habbit to eat (like going out for a cigarett, but food) - I lost 20lbs in three weeks, gained back 5 when i started eating more again, but i didn't ease into it like you are supposed to. But it did help with the food addiction, and the blood sugar spikes and crashes. My sister lost like 60lbs. Good luck to you!

I know someone who does this protocol. She has lost a lot of weight on it. (went from a size 28 to a size 10) If you follow it to a T then you will loose 40lbs each cycle...the cycles are 40 days. You have to eat only 500 calories a day. If you eat more, you will not loose weight. If you eat less, you will not loose weight. You cannot have any form of oil contact, that means eating, lotions for your skin, lip gloss, etc.

I was going to do this, but it is a hormone and I cannot have any form of hormones due to tumors.

My mom did it and lost a lot of weight. Remember that the goal here is to change your eating habits. They told my mom that it resets your metabolism so afterwards you can go back to eating like normal. The problem is that my mom's normal is: eat whatever you want when you want it. so needless to say she gained some weight back. but she has kept a lot of it off. My mom also had a thyroid issue and she totally had to take thyroid medication for the hcg to work as effectively as it was with others in her group. If you have problems losing weight and thyroid issues I think this is a good kick start, but have a plan for afterwards to maintain your new lifestyle and weight.
My mom has tried almost every diet and this is the one that worked most effectively for her. But again, use this opportunity to create good healthy habits so you don't just go right back (they say you won't, but it's not a miracle pill, you have to change your eating habits and lifestyle, at least that is what my mom's experience has been). Good luck.

My neighbor just did this. She was very cranky the whole time and had zero energy. 500 calories a day is NOT healthy for your body.

Getting help for your thyroid issues will help more than starving yourself.

Then, find an online food diary for support - like www.sparks.com

Start by increasing your water intake to 10-12 cups per day. Next, whatever your activity level bump it up a notch. Walk around more, lift more things. etc.

Have you read Why Do I still Have Thyroid Symptoms When my Lab Tests are Normal? by Datis Kharrazian. I have been doing his protocol and when I eat protein, vegetables, high quality fats, (butter, lard & coconut oil) nuts, seeds and a little fruit I am not hungry and I am not looking for sweets. I have kept off the 50 pounds that I lost last year, and I eat A LOT of fat. Get his book on Amazon and find a doc who uses Dr. Kharrazian's protocols. Thyroid and PCOS may be part of an autoimmune disease which Dr. Kharrazian addresses.

I have heard a little about the diet. My husband worked with a man whose wife was on the diet, but to be honest I don't know a whole lot about it. But what I do know is that it sounds very unhealthy and unnatural, even with monitoring from a doctor. That is just my opinion. You have to make the decision for yourself, but be sure to study the diet inside and out before making any decisions. Good luck to you and your journey to weight loss. I know it is hard, and when you have other factors affecting the outcome it just makes it that much harder.

Be extremely leery with anything that messes with hormones. Hormones are extremely delicate and cause SERIOUS health problems when out of wak. Just because it is a natural process our bodies go through while pregnant doesn't mean its safe. A diet that says it can "safely" put your body in starvation mode. ?! Seriously what sounds safe about starvation? The diet IS NOT a low calorie diet....it is you can't eat more then like 200 calories. It is starvation. Everyone thought phen pehn and those others were safe, but now we all know how hazardous they were. If you aren't losing weight with diet and exercise you may have something else wrong with your health and should ask the doctors to look into it. I know celaic can cause weight and other issues, but it is just one of many things to look into. Good luck and be careful.

My husband and his brother both lost 50 pounds. It took my bro in law 3 months of hcg diet (including 40 days on 500 calories a day). It took my husband 5 months. He didn't do the hcg, he only counted calories. He allowed himself 1500 calories a day for the first 2 months, then moved to 1800 and then 2000 and he keeps losing. I wouldn't starve yourself needlessly or pay a lot of money for treatments unless you are in a super hurry. If you have to count your calories anyway, give yourself more than 500 and you'll still lose without any horse-pee on your tongue.