The HCG diet is one of the most popular diets nowadays among many people who want to lose weight. Formulated in the ’50s by Dr ATW Simeons, it was only recently when the HCG diet became widely popular. The most essential elements of the HCG diet are low calorie intake and consumption of HCG or human chorionic gonadotropin hormone in order for overweight and obese people to lose weight. Even in the absence of a rigorous exercise regimen, people who follow the HCG diet can lose weight fast and safely.
The HCG diet consists of a number of stages. The first stage is called the cleansing and “loading” stage where you are allowed to eat anything and as much as you want. During this time, you can eat a lot of food that are high in calories and fat content. The reason behind this stage is to provide the body with the nutrients it needs and the additional fat to burn.
The second stage of the HCG diet is the intake of the HCG hormone, either through injection or throughHCG drops that are consumed orally.
Depending on how much weight you want to lose, this phase can last up to 40 days. You are expected to go on a low calorie diet or a diet of not more than 500 calories a day during this phase. To achieve success with the HCG diet, you need to be disciplined on what you eat and how much calories you consume. It would help to stick with the low calorie diet if you have a menu plan and a food list of what you should eat during this phase.
The third stage is also called as the maintenance stage, a period that usually lasts for three weeks before going through another “loading” period. During this stage, you should avoid sugar, all starch, and high carbohydrate foods even though the calorie limit is lifted. you can eat nuts and cheeses during this time. You can also calibrate your body’s set point during this stage.
After the said phases is the relaxation phase or the time after you have achieved and maintain your desired body weight. During this time, you can eat the food that you want with control and moderation. By this time, your metabolism would have been reset and your lifestyle will adapt accordingly.