HCG Protocol - January '09

[loveslifegal30]

Welcome to the HCG Protocol thread. We are here to support each other and answer questions we can. This post is a quick overview of the protocol. For more information see:
-Dr. Simeons’ manuscript, Pounds and Inches.
- Kevin Trudeau’s book, The Weight Loss Cure.


HCG Program Overview
(This information is not my own. It has been compiled from many sources including, but not limited to; Dr. Simeon’s manuscript, Pounds and Inches, Kevin Trudeau’s book, The Weight Loss Cure, Happily Thinner After forum and Biz’s brilliant mind. See resources above for more information.)

In the 1950's a British doctor, Dr. A.T.W. Simeons, discovered that the hypothalamus is the major cause of obesity. The hypothalamus controls the storage of fat in the body.

The first type of fat in our bodies is structural fat, the fat that cushions our organs and insides. The second type of fat is normal fat, the padding on our hands and feet, etc. The third type of fat is abnormal fat, our love handles, bellies, back fat, spare tires, saddle bags, etc.

When the hypothalamus is working properly, it stores the excess fuel we eat as structural or normal fat it can access at a later time for energy and nutrients. Dr. Simeons discovered that because of genetics, eating refined foods/sugar, hydrogenated oils, etc. the hypothalamus gets overloaded with more excess fuel than it can handle. Because the structural and normal fat reserves are at their maximum already this excess fuel that the hypothalamus cannot handle gets stored as abnormal fat - fat that cannot be easily accessed or used.

Today we know that the hypothalamus does much more than store fat in the body.

The Health Maintenance Organization of the Body

The hypothalamus is called the brain of the brain. It appears that almost everything the hypothalamus does is related in some way to the management of brain and body connection, linking the psyche (mind) to the body, weight management and controlled weight loss.

The hypothalamus is located immediately below the thalamus at the center of the brain, and controls many automatic functions of the body. This means it has the power to govern the autonomic (automatic or subconscious) nervous system. The hypothalamus also controls pituitary output by secreting specific chemicals to the pituitary's front lobe.

Very simply, the Hypothalamus organizes and controls many complex emotions, feelings and moods, as well as all motivational states including hunger, appetite and food intake, and everything to do with the concept of pleasure including satisfaction, comfort and creative activities. The neurons in the Hypothalamus produce neurotransmitters which relay information and instruction to all parts of the brain and body, directly influencing the pituitary gland, where growth hormone, thyroid hormone releasing factor and other neuropeptides.

Ultimately the hypothalamus can control every endocrine gland in the body. It controls the function of the pituitary and thyroid glands.

When the hypothalamus doesn’t work properly

When the Hypothalamus is not working correctly we are lead to faulty perceptions which are very subtle but nonetheless powerful, making us feel empty, deprived and emotionally "unsatisfied." Dysfunction of the hypothalamus often leads to depression, hyperactivity, abnormal responses to stress, or disturbances in brain and limbic functioning.

Some of the physical aspects of Hypothalamic dysfunction are: disordered sleep, multiple hormonal dysfunctions, immune dysfunction, autonomic dysfunction, and altered body temperatures.

What causes dysfunction in the hypothalamus?

The function of these vital systems can be altered by various causes ranging from food mishandling, dependency & substance withdrawal, stress or psychological responses to simple functional deficits, hyperactivity, hypoactivity or learning disabilities. Unfortunately, Hypothalamic function becomes impaired with age, so as we grow older the Hypothalamus needs support to maintain optimum performance.

The Missing Piece

HCG is found in trace amounts in men and women alike. A pregnant woman produces mass amounts of HCG. Dr. Simeons discovered that HCG allows the hypothalamus to function at a higher capacity thus allowing the fetus to have the nutrients and energy it needs to grow.

The premise behind the HCG protocol is that by taking HCG and doing a very low calorie diet, your hypothalamus is able to function at a higher capacity and access that abnormal fat it usually can't access. You eat 500 calories and take the HCG. 500 calories doesn't sound like much, but because your body is using the abnormal fat as its energy and nutrition you are actually metabolizing between 2500 and 4000 calories.

When people usually go on diets or exercise to lose weight, they are losing their normal fat or structural fat first because it is nearly impossible for the body to access that abnormal fat. The beauty of the HCG diet is that you burn the abnormal fat and you literally re-sculpt your body. Your skin doesn't get flabby; it actually tightens. Looking at before and after pictures you would think that someone had liposuction or plastic surgery.

Life after the HCG Protocol

The HCG Protocol is learning a whole new lifestyle, a new approach to the way you will eat for the rest of your life. You will have a new relationship with food and have new habits that will assist you in making the right food choices.

After successfully completing a round of HCG protocol you have reset your hypothalamus, increased your metabolism, and have a new weight set-point for your body to maintain.

If you go back to eating fast food, restaurant food and foods containing trans-fats, high fructose corn syrup, highly refined foods, artificial sweeteners, etc., etc., etc., you may in fact regain the weight. If you make healthy food choices you will maintain the weight you lost during the protocol and even continue to lose with careful observation.

Dr. Simeons did not specify phases, but generally people reference four different phase identified by Kevin Trudeau in his book The Weight Loss Cure.

Phase 1 – Cleansing and Preparation (optional)
Phase 2 – HCG and VLCD (very low calorie diet)
Phase 3 – Maintenance
Phase 4 – Transition and Lifetime Maintenance

Phase 1 (optional)
30 days

(Compiled from Kevin Trudeau’s book, The Weight Loss Cure)

This Phase wasn’t needed during Dr. Simeons’ time. They didn’t have pesticides, preservatives, hydrogenated oils, etc. Today, however, Phase 1 is essential for optimal weight loss. This is a period of 30 days of preparation and cleansing. The benefits of Phase 1 include increased energy and mental clarity, increasing metabolism, decreasing hunger, decreasing food cravings, alleviating depression and increasing overall health and vitality. These results are achieved by cleansing the liver and colon, reducing Candida yeast overgrowth, handling nutritional deficiencies, correcting the thyroid, pancreas and hormonal imbalances, cleansing the body of toxins, hydrating the cells, reducing heavy metals, reducing parasites, stimulating the lymphatic system, and reducing stress.

Doing Phase 1 will have tremendous long-term benefits. It will make your fat and weight loss during the protocol happen faster and you will lose more weight than if you do not do Phase 1. Ideally, do this phase for at least thirty days. You can do this phase for a shorter or longer period if you want. When you complete this phase you would immediately start Phase 2.

*Personal Note: You can purchase KT’s book. It does have some very good cleansing information.

Phase 2
26 days (minimum)

It is suggested that you read Dr. Simeons’ manuscript, Pounds and Inches, thoroughly before starting the protocol. Here is a quick breakdown of the Phase 2 but you will need to read P & I for more detailed information.

Day 1 and 2
Take the HCG as directed. These are your loading days. You can eat all you want and eat to capacity.

Day 3 - 23
Continue the HCG as directed. Begin the 500 calories diet; follow exactly for a minimum of 21 days for best results.

From P & I:

Breakfast: Tea or coffee in any quantity without sugar. Only one tablespoonful of milk allowed in 24 hours. Saccharin or Stevia may be used as a sweetener.

Lunch:
1. 100 grams (3.5 oz) of veal, beef, chicken breast, fresh white fish, lobster, crab, or shrimp. All visible fat must be carefully removed before cooking, and the meat must be weighed raw. It must be boiled or grilled without additional fat. Salmon, eel, tuna, herring, dried or pickled fish are not allowed. The chicken breast must be removed from the bird.
2. One type of vegetable only to be chosen from the following: spinach, chard, chicory, beet-greens, green salad, tomatoes, celery, fennel, onions, red radishes, cucumbers, asparagus, cabbage.
3. One breadstick (grissini) or one Melba toast.
4. An apple, orange, or a handful of strawberries or one-half grapefruit.

Dinner:

The same choices as lunch (above).


Day 24-26
Discontinue the HCG and continue eating 500 calories. It takes 72 hours for the HCG to leave your body.

Phase 3
(21 days)

Phase 3 is vital to the protocol. Phase 3 is the maintenance phase. The goal is to maintain the weight you were when you finished Phase 2, your last injection weight. This will allow the body to stabilize and set a new weight-set point for it to reference.

From P & I:

When the three days of dieting after the last injection are over, the patients are told that they may now eat anything they please, except sugar and starch provided they faithfully observe one simple rule. This rule is that they must have their own portable bathroom-scale always at hand, particularly while traveling. They must without fail weigh themselves every morning as they get out of bed, having first emptied their bladder. If they are in the habit of having breakfast in bed, they must weigh before breakfast.


As long as their weight stays within two pounds of the weight reached on the day of the last injection, patients should take no notice of any increase but the moment the scale goes beyond two pounds, even if this is only a few ounces, they must on that same day entirely skip breakfast and lunch but take plenty to drink. In the evening they must eat a huge steak with only an apple or a raw tomato. Of course this rule applies only to the morning weight.

*Personal Note: Dr. Simeons was pretty vague about the 21 days of maintenance. He says, “they may now eat anything they please, except sugar and starch”. While this works for a few, P3 is a little more complicated than that. Biz at Happily Thinner After has a P3 Boot Camp where you check in daily and she supports you throughout P3 and transitioning to P4. Through experience and trial and error she has come up with some great tools and formulas that make P3 successful. Go join today!

Again, welcome and feel free to ask any questions you may have. We will do our best to answer or direct you to someone that can!

[aquarius_ser]

Loves - THANKS for doing this!!!

[Dialee]

Tressa - Looks good. Lots of good info for the newbies. Thanks for all the hard work in getting this together.

[lindaokc]

We all appreciate it. Marking my spot. See ya tomorrow.

[hotbi40]

Tressa...[COLOR="Blue"]YOU ROCK GIRL[/COLOR]!
Thanks sooooo much for starting this for us OK..now I found you all and will be here for 2009!

[trombonegirl]

Great job, Tressa! Should help anyone who doesn't have a clue what we are all about.

Tracy

[Dedee62]

I'm baaaaaaaaack. Yesterday, for the first time since I started protocol DH's fried chicken actually tempted me. My sis says to watch things the next week because immunity might be setting in and it might be time for me to start P3. I don't wanna!! I wanted to lose at least 7 more lbs. and get into the 160s.

[lindaokc]

Originally Posted by Dedee62

I'm baaaaaaaaack. Yesterday, for the first time since I started protocol DH's fried chicken actually tempted me. My sis says to watch things the next week because immunity might be setting in and it might be time for me to start P3. I don't wanna!! I wanted to lose at least 7 more lbs. and get into the 160s.

Diana, your body is going to do what it wants. Just keep your eye open and see how it's responding. You might just be able to lose that 7 lbs. Wait & see, sugar.

[Dedee62]

Originally Posted by lindaokc

Diana, your body is going to do what it wants. Just keep your eye open and see how it's responding. You might just be able to lose that 7 lbs. Wait & see, sugar.

I also gained .6 last night. I've never gained since I started. No loss? Yes, but never a gain. Even when TOM came to visit LOL So I'm watching the numbers also. If I gain again tomorrow, which I've never done, it might look like it's getting to be time to call it quits for this round. I'm definately doing a 2nd round.

[loveslifegal30]

Diana, remind me how long you have been on P2? I know after about 30 days my body was done with P2.

[lindaokc]

Originally Posted by Dedee62

I also gained .6 last night. I've never gained since I started. No loss? Yes, but never a gain. Even when TOM came to visit LOL So I'm watching the numbers also. If I gain again tomorrow, which I've never done, it might look like it's getting to be time to call it quits for this round. I'm definately doing a 2nd round.

Good idea if you gain again. I've heard some gain. I don't think it's that unusual, the fat cells sometimes fill with water before releasing it...but you know your body better than anybody else does. You just gotta do what you gotta do, girlfriend. Keep an eye on it.

[Dedee62]

Originally Posted by loveslifegal30

Diana, remind me how long you have been on P2? I know after about 30 days my body was done with P2.

Today was inj. 33. My sis said she was only able to go 35 days. She said she knew it was time to quit when she woke with an INTENSE craving for tuna noodle casserole LOL. I'm going to watch closely the next day or two. I didn't have any intense craving, but I've never cared what my DH ate in front of me until I smelled the fried chicken yesterday. And believe me I've sat eating my meal while he sat right next to me eating pizza, barbeque, whatever with no care.

[lindaokc]

Originally Posted by Dedee62

Today was inj. 33. My sis said she was only able to go 35 days. She said she knew it was time to quit when she woke with an INTENSE craving for tuna noodle casserole LOL. I'm going to watch closely the next day or two. I didn't have any intense craving, but I've never cared what my DH ate in front of me until I smelled the fried chicken yesterday. And believe me I've sat eating my meal while he sat right next to me eating pizza, barbeque, whatever with no care.

Oh, you aren't doing the homeopathic. Have you been taking breaks, like one day a week? That is what Im thinking of doing and trying to go longer. Again, it's up to my body what I do.

[Dedee62]

Originally Posted by lindaokc

Oh, you aren't doing the homeopathic. Have you been taking breaks, like one day a week? That is what Im thinking of doing and trying to go longer. Again, it's up to my body what I do.

I skip injections every 10 days. Tomorrow will be my last skip day. My original plan was a 45 day round. Still hoping to make it.

[lindaokc]

Originally Posted by Dedee62

I skip injections every 10 days. Tomorrow will be my last skip day. My original plan was a 45 day round. Still hoping to make it.

i'm pullin for ya girlfriend. If you've been skipping, let's hope you make it.

[Dedee62]

Just 12 more injections to get into the 160s please?????

[lindaokc]

BTW, did you know you were posting in the '09 thread

[Dedee62]

Yep, I'm ready for tomorrow to come! (I'm just a rebel!)

[lindaokc]

Originally Posted by Dedee62

Yep, I'm ready for tomorrow to come! (I'm just a rebel!)

[asia12mb]

Happy New Year!!!

Marking my spot!

[asia12mb]

Originally Posted by Dedee62

I'm baaaaaaaaack. Yesterday, for the first time since I started protocol DH's fried chicken actually tempted me. My sis says to watch things the next week because immunity might be setting in and it might be time for me to start P3. I don't wanna!! I wanted to lose at least 7 more lbs. and get into the 160s.

Dee - I'm stopping early because additional time past 30 days is usually very rocky for me. My last P2, I didn't lose that much the last 10 days and I did 45 days of SL. I really agree with some of the others and think that most people lose the most up to the 30 days.

[metqa]

Excellent Thread Starter: Thanks, LOVE!
This evening I'm going to print off about 80 recipe cards to plan my meals around. I want to have all the portion and calorie information right in my face, I don't like to think when I cook, and I keep a calculator and a digital scale in my kitchen at all times

My cards will not only have recipes, but suggestions for dressings, and the weights and corresponding calorie counts for the veggies and fruits.

I have no idea when my hCG will arrive so I'm just biding time preparing. I've also gotten my two liter portable water jugs. I'm gonna start drinking water now, so it won't be such a shock. I hope drinking all that water doesn't bring my heartburn back.

Does catfish count as a white fish? I saw a suggestion for cajun catfish. I thought catfish was fatty?

Happy New Year Everybody!

[sissie35]

Metga, catfish is too fatty I think. My doctor was kinda specific about it only being things like talipia, shrimp, etc. To me catfish may be too fatty..or maybe its because I can't envision it prepared any way other then fried with hush puppies and french fries???

[loveslifegal30]

Here are the stats on catfish vs. tilapia (3oz):

Catfish, cooked
204 calories
12.4 g fat
7.3 g carbs
14.9 g protein

Fish, tilapia, cooked
109 calories
2.3 g fat
0.0 g carbs
22.2 g protein

So catfish has a TON of calories, fat, carbs and not very much protein. I don't think catfish would be a good choice.

[Sharis]

That catfish breakdown has to be for breaded and fried catfish. Catfish plain has no carbs in it and little fat. Maybe more than Tilapia and maybe still not workable for this plan but still not that much.

O.k. here's the catfish breakdown for 3 oz:
144 calories
8.1 g fat
0 g carbs
16.5 g protein

It does appear to be pretty high in fat relative to the Tilapia but no carbs.

[Sharis]

Just coming over here to mark my spot. My HCG has been ordered and I have watched youtube videos so I feel like I undertand all the mixing and stuff much better now. I will pick up the stuff I need in the next week or so. Hope the HCG gets here soon! In the meantime I will just read up and start coming up with meal plans, etc. I'm excited to give this a try!

[pmartin6618]

Hi Tressa.. thanks for starting the new thread.. I think the monthly new threads will work just fine.. can't wait until my hcg/supplies arrives so I can mix it and get started...

Hi everyone... hope 2009 is a Blessed Year for us all.

[Dialee]

Well, here we are at last - 2009 finally. Hoping & praying this will be a wonderfull year in every way for all of us.

Shari and pmartin and back Sissie. I'm looking forward to hearing about your (great) experiences/losses with hCG.

Weight today is 140, so that is 4.5 lbs down from beginning weight of 144.5 on Sat. 12/27. Looking forward to measuring and seeing the inch(es) lost.

Everyone - have a wonderful, happy and safe NY Day!

[aquarius_ser]

Happy New Year!! Hi to everyone one the new thread!

Unexpectedly, this morning TOM of arrived! This is several days, maybe even a week early, but i knew this could happen, dang it! However, i am down another .6 lbs, to 131.2, this morning so I won't complain.. I plan on injecting right thru, we'll see what happens... i hope i don't stall.

Great job eveyone and here's to a great New Year!

[belfrybat]

VLCD #3
Happy New Year, folks. Great new thread -- thanks to Love. I'm still up a half pound from my pre-load weight, but hopefully will be down to that tomorrow. With only 10-15 lbs. to lose I don't expect to see the weight losses some of you are experiencing, but I am hopefully to lose my fatty belly and hips!

Originally Posted by sissie35

Metga, catfish is too fatty I think. My doctor was kinda specific about it only being things like talipia, shrimp, etc. To me catfish may be too fatty..or maybe its because I can't envision it prepared any way other then fried with hush puppies and french fries???

I love blackened catfish, but looked it up before starting hcg, and it's way too fatty. I use cod or tilapia instead -- blackened helps booste the bland flavour.