Myths and Facts of hCG diet

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Raul P. Rodriguez, M.D.Cosmetic SurgeryAesthetic Medicine

Dallas & Houston Texas

hCG Diet


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Should you have any health care-related questions, please call or see your physician or other health care provider promptly. You should never disregard medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have read here.


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Myth #1: A 500 calories a day diet is detrimental to your health.

This myth is actually true and false. The reality is that such a low calorie diet can indeed potentially cause some problems, if not prescribed and monitored appropriately. Serious electrolyte disturbances can occur when other medical conditions are present or certain medications are ingested. You may not get the sufficient quantity or quality of nutrients to maintain a healthy immune system, maintain optimal cardiac function, and avoid loss of muscle tissue. If you are not using real hCG from an FDA-regulated source, you may not get sufficient quality hormone to avoid complications, if you are getting any hormone at all.

However, if you do the diet through a trained hCG diet physician, he or she should monitor you for symptoms of potential electrolyte disturbances, mental or mood disturbances, or impaired bodily functions that may occur. Although rare, these problems can cause some very serious side effects, especially if associated with cardiac arrhythmias that could be fatal for certain individuals, if underlying heart disease is present. A trained physician should be knowledgeable about potential side effects of this diet program and other medications that you take and be able to guide you safely toward very rapid, safe weight loss.

Remember, the 500 calories hCG diet is not the same as a 500 calorie a day fast!


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Myth #2: This diet is contrary to medical advice.

There are those who believe that the proper medical advice is to ingest your minimum calorie needs for proper health. These are also called your resting calorie needs, or your basal metabolic rate (BMR). If you were merely fasting, your body would need not be getting your minimum daily requirements necessary to keep you healthy.

However, with a physician-supervised hCG diet program you will be given an

appropriate dose of daily hormone that will pull nutrients from your existing excess fatty deposits, instead of externally putting them into your body through your mouth by eating them. That way, your body does get all the calorie requirements that it needs. The difference is that you use your own excess calories that you have been storing away all this time, without shutting down your metabolism as fasting would do. In this regard, the hCG diet may be better for your body and metabolism than stomach stapling, banding or bypass procedures.

So you do indeed get your needed BMR calories, yet you lose weight in the process. Most physicians feel this is actually very good medical advice because it results in better health since you lose the weight.


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Myth #3: Not enough protein on a low calorie diet

The body indeed has certain “needs”, including calories for energy and protein as building blocks for muscles (that help to burn fat), immunoglobulins (blood proteins that fight infection), neurotransmitters (chemicals that allow nerves to communicate with each other), and the formation of new cells required in the ongoing repair and maintenance of a healthy body.

The recommended amount of protein required by the human body is around 0.8 gm to 1 gm/kg of body weight, or around .4-.5 gm/pound. For most people, this is from 50 gm to 100 grams of protein per day. The medical hCG diet requires you to ingest around 200 gm of a protein food a day, which is an adequate amount of protein to fulfill your daily needs..

In addition, most dietary authorities recommend a diet that contains varied protein foods. The medical hCG diet program recommends that all meals should vary in the protein ingested, i.e., you should pick a different protein food and vary your protein foods per meal. Adequate variation of the proteins ingested with the program can indeed provide the essential protein and amino acids profiles needed for sustaining adequate health.

Therefore, not only is adequate protein intake is provided by this diet, but this diet program fulfills another dietary recommendation of having variety in the type of protein you ingest.


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Myth #4: The low calorie diet is a muscle wasting diet.

Most people do not experience muscle wasting while on this diet if done properly. When you are getting the proper dose of quality hCG hormone and strictly adhering to the very low calorie diet protocol recommended by your physician, your body “thinks” it is pregnant due to the hCG flowing in your body and it will search for nutrients to make sure that the baby (which you don’t have) is not malnourished. It searches for protein and amino acids, as well as fats. Since you are ingesting adequate amounts of protein, it finds these nutrients in your blood, and therefore, doesn’t need to pull these nutrients from your muscles.

More than adequate amounts of high quality, varied protein are required when doing the hCG diet, preserving the muscle mass. Many people even gain muscle as they exercise during the diet program.

There is no need to pull proteins from your muscles for your body’s needs since you

must ingest adequate amounts of protein while on the 500-calorie a day hCG diet. Thus, the program is more muscle sparing, rather than muscle wasting, contradicting the critics of the program.


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Myth #5: You don’t eat enough fiber on the diet.

Your body requires adequate fiber for proper colon function and for better health. Some critics of the 500 calories diet say you won’t get enough fiber on 500 calories a day. Four servings of specific fruits and vegetables are required per day on the medical hCG diet program. Most fruits and vegetables can contain around 4 or more grams of fiber per serving. You would get about 16 grams of fiber a day.

The American Dietetic Association recommends that a healthy diet include 20 to 35 grams of fiber a day from plant foods, including both soluble and insoluble fiber. However, most Americans normally only consume about half that amount. The medical hCG diet requires that you ingest at least the same as what most Americans normally eat every day. Sometimes this can be even more than the minimum recommended healthy diet amounts.

Many people actually eat much healthier meals than what they are accustomed to while on the medically supervised hCG diet. Moreover, if you need more fiber, supplements can also be prescribed by your doctor.


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Myth #6: Not eating a good breakfast is just not healthy.

No breakfast whatsoever, except for coffee, or tea is consumed during the medical hCG diet. Many nutritional authorities state that “breakfast is the most important meal of the day.” The reason for this is that a hearty breakfast, consisting of protein, complex (unrefined) carbohydrates, and low fats can provide you with fuel for many hours throughout the day without getting the munchies.

When you are taking the correct amount of quality hCG hormone, your body will be pulling the fuel you need from your fat stores when your do not eat that hearty breakfast. Protein is introduced into your day’s consumption before your body feels the need to use the protein from your muscles (See Myth #4).

In addition, the hCG diet requires that you divide your 500 calories throughout the day, rather than consuming them at one meal. This proper timing, combined with the hormone circulating in your bloodstream, helps to not only provide you with the fuel you need at all times, but it helps to curb hunger cravings that might otherwise occur.


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Myth #7: The HCG Diet is just another “fad” diet that won’t work long term.

Some critics of the hCG diet call it a “fad” diet because the diet is just a “quick fix” and does not encourage long-term healthy dietary lifestyles. On the contrary, eating healthier is a paramount goal of the medical hCG diet program. You are required to eat healthy to do the program. This includes learning about portion size, about calories in foods, about exercising, and about choosing more nutritious foods than you normally would eat. The only “quick” part is that the hormone helps you makes those changes right away and the fat starts coming off you right away!

Critics contend that any quick weight loss programs don’t work in the long run because

people who make small changes over time are much more successful at permanently changing the way they eat. They also agree that doing small changes won’t result in you seeing major changes in your weight quickly.

Indeed, there are some hCG diets on the market that are simply short term. Our medical hCG diet differs from those other types in that will have you taking he medication and adhering to the specified food protocol for 47 days. Many behavioral psychologists say that it takes 21 days to form a habit. For a large majority of people, seeing big changes, such as quick weight loss, is highly motivational to encourage and support drastic lifestyle changes. We believe that these changes in lifestyle must be made in order to keep the weight off long term.


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Myth #8: The medical establishment is against using this diet.

There have been many medical weight loss clinics that have misused the Simeon protocol and many protocols have not been monitored adequately. Shortly after coming to the United States in the 60’s, hCG was the most widespread medication given in the United States to lose weight. Unfortunately, it was misused and abused by many, resulting in an unfavorable impression.

Shortly after this early abuse of hCG diets, the medical establishment started to become suspicious of the drug. In 1962, the Journal of the American Medical Association warned against the Simeons diet, saying "continued adherence to such a drastic regimen is potentially more hazardous to the patient's health than continued obesity." The Food and Drug Administration (FDA), in the 1970s, concluded that the diet did not show good results during earlier trials. These conclusions have continued today, despite many other more recent studies that have shown very successful results from properly administered, medically supervised hCG diet programs.

We now are more aware of the dangers of obesity– not just increasing the risks of heart disease, diabetes, and arthritis, but also potentially increasing the risk of certain cancers, impotence, and certain mental decline. There are In fact, many physicians are now using the hCG diet for their own weight loss, knowing the health benefits of maintaining a normal, healthy weight.


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Myth #9: You should not exercise while on the hCG Diet

Whether you should exercise or not is based on your fitness level. A thorough evaluation that includes an EKG (electrocardiogram) are certain blood tests will help your doctor determine that.

The questions to discuss with your physician: – Have you been told you have a heart condition and should only participate in

physical activity recommended by a doctor? – Do you feel pain (or discomfort) in your chest when you do physical activity?

When you are not participating in physical activity? While at rest, do you frequently experience fast, irregular heartbeats or very slow beats?

– Do you ever become dizzy and lose your balance, or lose consciousness? Have you fallen more than twice in the past year (no matter what the reason)?

– Do you have a bone or joint problem that could worsen as a result of physical activity? Do you have pain in your legs or buttocks when you walk?

– Do you take blood pressure or heart medications? – Do you have any cuts or wounds on your feet that don't seem to heal? – Have you experienced unexplained weight loss in the past six months? – Are you aware of any reason why you should not participate in physical activity?– What are ALL of the medications that you are taking or have been prescribed for

you in the last 3 years?


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Myth # 10: I’ve tried all of the diet plans and nothing works for me

The human body has the remarkable ability to respond to the stresses we place on it– favorable (like exercising causing increased strength and endurance) or unfavorable (like calluses forming in areas of repeated trauma). A properly supervised hCG diet stresses your body favorably in a way that will force you to release those unhealthy pounds that may have been resistant to just dieting and exercising on your own.

The key is having the proper medication, administered in the appropriate dosages, combined with proper supervision and support. If you have the discipline and the motivation to succeed, this medically supervised diet will work for you!


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Dr. Raul Rodriguez’ Tips for Breaking the Plateau

When the weight plateau…

• Check all condiments for any form of sugar.• Increase water intake.• Eat 6 apples for only 1 day.• Cut out beef.• Increase protein by one-half ounce.• Women’s cycles may effect water weight.• Have you changed medication?• Have you changed cosmetics (contain oils)?• Have you reached your ideal body weight? Are you at your “regular weight”?• Consider adding brisk 30-minute walks or some yoga.• Are you getting enough sleep? (Less than 8 hours promotes weight gain.)


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Dr. Raul Rodriguez’ Tips for Your Success

Secrets to your hCG success – Weigh yourself daily! – Measure/weigh every food.– Keep a food journal.– Learn portion sizes.– Know food calories.– Enroll nurture and support .– Exercise to burn fat.– Be accountable.– Persistence is key.– Envision your goals. – Have a positive mindset.– Make better choices.– Maintain motivation.– Exercise for better health.– Be passionate to lose.– Think thin.– Practice better habits.


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Dr. Raul Rodriguez’ Patients Speak

“I've been stalled in the 140s (pounds) for 7 months following the Induction Phase of Atkins. I absolutely love the Atkins Diet, but for some reason my body didn’t want to break away from the 140s. I even implemented a 12-week strenuous workout plan and my weight didn't budge! I started doing some research to see if there was something I could do to lose weight again. That's when I came across the HCG Diet.

I’ve lost 29 pounds in 39 days!!! My starting weight with the hCG Diet was 156 pounds and now I weigh 127 pounds!!!

I have 9 more days left of the low cal/moderate carb phase and then I start the Low Carb Phase! I would love to weigh 120lbs, so hopefully I will be able to accomplish my goal soon! I know a lot of people think this diet is crazy, and to be honest, I did too, but I’m so happy to finally be able to lose weight again!”

---Lindsey---


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To schedule your personal consultation with Dr. Raul Rodriguez:Houston area: Call 713-523-2500

Dallas/ Fort Worth area: Call 214-234-0413

www.LipoBodySculpture-Dallas-Houston.com

Do Your Homework:

1) Read Pounds & Inches by Dr. A. T. W. Simeons

2) Annual check up with your family physician

3) Make your decision after one on one medical consultation with an hCG physician

Myths and Facts of hCG diet

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