HCG Questions – My Experience with Protocol, Exercise, Stabilizing and Food.

Message sent to me;

-Hey. I’ve been thinking about doing the hCg program, but I am a little skeptical based on all the controversy that seems to surround it. It makes it hard to make a decision. Anyway, after searching on you tube, your videos have been the most beneficial and interesting to watch. 🙂 Congratulations on all of your success. 🙂 I have a few questions I was hoping you could answer, if you have time.

Q – 1. Have you noticed any unhealthy side effects since (or even during) performing the hCg protocol? A lot of the information I have read through tries to claim that the hCg protocol will help you lose weight but in the long run you are playing a dangerous game with your life (i.e. heart problems, cancer, etc.). Should I worry about any of this? Are these claims potentially true?

My Answer – Before protocol my Dr had me on Advair for my breathing, Nexium for heartburn, and my cholesterol was lousy but not to the point of  medication yet. I also had been hospitalized with a blood clot the summer of 2008. I felt that I was too young to be suffering all those ailments.

After seeing family that summer I made the decision to be semi vegetarian. Felt a bit better but not any huge difference. Then I did a long master cleanse fast. Because I really push the envelope as far as how long I did the fast I did experience some scary hair loss. But my breathing and heartburn got better. In 2009 I did end up with another blood clot.

My brother was concerned about me fasting and mentioned I should look into “this 500 calories diet on youtube”. I started watching the vlogs and Dec.2009 ordered my HCG and started my journey Jan 17, 2010.

Before starting I read Pounds and inches over and over again so I wouldn’t miss a single thing. Based on what I read of Dr Simenon’s protocol it made a lot of sense and I was excited to think that this really could be what would work for me.

Q-2. Some of the research I have read through claims that hCg can create acne problems. Is this true? Did you have this come up when you were on the protocol? If you did, how did you get it to go away? Did it just disappear after completing the protocol (you seem to have beautiful skin)?

My Answer – Because hcg is what helps pregnant women nourish the baby even if they aren’t eating enough this is my thinking on the changes it might make to our bodies while on it. Example, I knew when I was pregnant my hair grew great and fast but when I was done being pregnant my hair stopped growing as fast and lots the extra thickness I gained while pregnant. So I figured I might possibly go through the same scenario once I was done with HCG but that has NOT been the case. Granted I have taken a good hair vitamin before, during and after hcg. The most recent vitamin I have been taking for my hair has definitely increased my hair growth more that the others I have been on. Things like acne etc. again I thing it depends on each individual and how hormonal changes effected a person in the past during child bearing years.

As a side note I should also mention my cholesterol levels are now ideal – YAY!

Q – 3. What is it like trying to maintain your weight loss now? I’m sure you don’t eat poorly to stay as trim/fit as you are. So, I was wondering what your diet and exercise was like to stay as fit as you do? Do you always cook at home? Do you go out to dinner? Do you exercise? If so, how much?

My Answer –

One “beef” I have about the show “The Biggest Loser” is this, the trainers have the participants working out so hard and so much how on earth could a person living an average life keep that kind of regimen up?

I don’t have a gym membership but I do have treadmill. If I didn’t have that I know I could still go outside and walk. Other than that I do light weights to firm my arms.

I like to walk on a daily basis to keep my circulation going. The light arm weights are approx 3x per week.

I was going to experiment with the peak 8 theory but got a cold and didn’t get back to doing it. But just writing this is reminding me that I should.

Even before HCG I understood but just didn’t put into practice the importance of the glycemic index. My Grandmother was a double amputee because of wounds not healing because of diabetes. That right there was a motivation to understand what sugar does to our bodies.

Yes I do eat out (approx 2x a week) but I don’t like to go to fast food places (too many chemicals). I love cobb salads but ask for no bacon (never have been a fan) and since 200 calories can be saved by just omitting that I’m all for it. I do love blue cheese dressing but just don’t have it a lot. When I’m at home I really enjoy the mustard dressing I vlogged about so that is the one I eat during the week. I also love roasted veggies with either shrimp or chicken mixed in.

If I do eat sugar foods that aren’t fruit like almond Joy or ice cream I plan it around knowing I will be active afterward. If I’m not for one I feel too antsy and second I don’t want the sugar to store as fat.

I still love Mexican food, burgers etc. I just do it all within reason. During the week between my 2 jobs and helping other dieters I figure I will save my spurges for the weekends. Plus during the week the “clean foods” I eat I really crave and look forward to.

Also I don’t like to “mindlessly eat” so that good too. But if I need to take something with me when I’m on the go I love raw almonds, grapes, that kind of thing.

Q – 4. Without hCg, they say that a 500 calorie diet is terrible for you and you will quickly put back on the weight once you go back to a normal intake of calories. In addition, your body will store more in fat than it did previously in case of another low calorie (starvation) mode. However, what I have read with the hCg protocol, is that it resets your metabolism and therefore if you do gain weight subsequent to the protocol, you are no worse off than when you started the protocol (i.e. there is no surge in weight gain due tot he lack of calories). Is this true?

My Answer – I heard the same theory you mentioned when people talk about extremely low calorie dieting. Yes HCG is what makes the 500 calories intake doable without starvation. As far as I’m concerned it isn’t just about resetting metabolism but also creating a new “set point”. As you stabilize your body is getting use to the new weight each and everyday so it will want to stay at the new set point. So the longer you are at the lower weight the easier it is for your body to expect that to be the norm.

The person who asked the questions – That is all for now. I apologize for the list of questions. I was never very good at condensing what I wanted to say! 😉 Even if you end up not being able to reply, I think you should know your videos are very beneficial and inspiring. Thanks for posting! 🙂

ME – Please remember I am not a doctor etc. My answers are simply my opinion based on what I have experienced before, during and after taking HCG.

My goal is to help people through what I have learned during my journey.