Thursday, October 1, 2009

HCG Diet Update, Side Effects & Maintenance

I've maintained my weight now for three months. I'm completely addicted to working out. I'm also very conscientious of what I eat. I can't say that it's all due to the HCG Diet, but I believe it was the catalyst for my stupendous journey into the world of good health.

I want to discuss the maintenance phase of the HCG Diet. It's for a period of 6 weeks and the purpose is to allow your body to stabilize at your new weight. You'll increase your caloric intake from 500 to 800 calories per day and you can eat anything you please except sugar and starch.

One thing I did learn from the maintenance phase is that a two pound weight gain is very bad. The diet plan also encourages daily weighing. All other sources have always stated to only weigh once a week, but this plan commands a daily, early morning weigh in after emptying bladder and without wearing any clothes.

Here are some of the most common errors while on the HCG Diet:
1. Not loading enough fat during load days.
2. Mixing vegetables at the meal.
3. No gum, mints, etc...
4. No diet drinks including Crystal Light, diet soda or other diet drinks.
5. No American beef...it's too fat!
6. Weight of protein is to be based on raw meat.
7. Don't eat the same protein for lunch and dinner.
8. Not drinking enough water--drink at least 2 quarts daily.(or allowable liquids)
9. Try to weigh the same time each morning (before eating and drinking), after emptying bladder and fully naked. (tee hee)
10. Avoid eating in restaurants because to a large degree the meats have been "juiced" or manipulated to be more flavorful, tender or juicy with a multitude of processes, which could slow down your weight loss.

8 comments:

Anonymous said...

Hi--just started the HCG diet--so glad I found your blog! Please keep the recipes comining as I'm desperate!!

Cheap Tricks and Costly Truths said...

Dear Anonymous,
Hang in there! It's well worth the effort. I'm surprised your doc didn't give you a whole book of recipes. Send me an email to:

joelyatrujillo@sbcglobal.net

I can copy the cook book and then mail it to you.

wilddunz said...

Nope--doc didn't give me anything but the basic rules (and I'm really peeved he took the breadsticks off!!! Arg! But I've got them now and that 10 calorie sliver of carbs is heaven)

I take the drops--otherwise I'd have had to go into his office every morning and that wasn't going to work. I do have to go once a week for vitamin/anti-craving injections and weigh-ins.

Plus--his program is 2 months of the diet and then 2 weeks of stabilization--so a little more radical, I think. I'm excited though--I can already see and feel some differences! 2&3 day of the 500 cal was the worst. Learning all kinds of new ways to look at food now, though--so I can see this working long term.

Will be emailing!! Thank you so much!!

~Cindy (aka--anon)

wilddunz said...

Doc didn't give me anything the basic rules. AND he failed to mention the breadstick--and as I'
ms ure you know, that little sliver of happiness is heaven.

Plus--his program is 8 weeks of the VLC diet and then 2 weeks of Stabilization. SO a long road ahead, but I've got 40+ to lose, so it's got to happen.

Thanks so much for the email offer--that is awesome!! I ordered one of Amazon, but it won't get here until next week.

I'm really impressed with your results--you look awesome--keep it up!

~Cindy (aka Anon)

Cheap Tricks and Costly Truths said...

Cindy,
I sure hope that you had two days of stacking with lots of fats and lots of sweet foods before starting the restrictive 500 calorie diet. Curious if you know about the apple trick to give over plateaus. The stabilization process takes up to three weeks...it's extremely important to stay on the maintenance phase for three weeks.

wilddunz said...

yep--I did the stacking days. But nope nothing on the apple days, he has a different plan for if you gain more than 2lbs during the maintenance phase and that is to fast and then at dinner eat a tomato and a steak. (I might have that wrong--sounds silly, doesn't it). Anyway--went in today for my official week 1 results--lost 6 lbs! Very exciting.

~Cindy

Cheap Tricks and Costly Truths said...

That's great, Cindy! Love it that you're so pleased with the results. The steak sounds right for during the maintenance phase, but the tomato wasn't part of my doc's plan. My doc is from Poland and was trained in Europe on the Diet. The best article is the one Dr. Simeons wrote...he invented the diet years ago. I haven't rec'd an email, maybe it went to spam by mistake. Please send another one so I can get that cookbook to ya.

Anonymous said...

I have been searching for a good book to help me get through my diet. In the end I googled it and found this site http://www.hungryforweightloss.com.

They are giving away a free ebook called "365 tips for healthy living". I didn't expect it to be any good because it's free but it's actually brilliant so I thought i'd share it here :)