What is hCG and how does it work?
hCG
stands for Human Chorionic Gonadotropin and has been called "a hormone"
for a number of years, however hCG is actually made up of 244 amino
acids and works as a precursor when administered in specific doses to
increase the sex hormones estrogen and testosterone. In 1926, it was
discovered that it is made in the placenta of a pregnant woman and can
be extracted from her urine. This is the main reason it has been called
"the pregnancy hormone",
however as mentioned before, it is not really an actual hormone. During
pregnancy the levels double every two days and is responsible for
mobilizing fat that is used as energy for both mother and fetus. This
acts as a “fail-safe” mechanism when energy is needed immediately. hCG
has many functions and is used medically to treat a variety of
conditions today since the original diet and weight loss research
conducted and reported by ATW Simeons, MD in 1954. He used hCG for
weight loss and reduction of abnormal fat. In this type of weight loss,
better known as The HCG Diet, a very small amount of hCG is used via
prescription injections (or other prescription methods) or via hCG
homeopathic formulas to help capitalize on this same process. Using hCG
in this way, along with a specific low fat, low calorie food plan, it
seems to help the body utilize the stored, abnormal fat for energy and
rapidly reduce this abnormal fat. In our experience with the HCG Diet
since 2007, we personally have seen that is extremely effective for both
men and women.
Is hCG Safe?
hCG
is extremely safe. Pregnant women experience very high levels during
the nine months of pregnancy with no adverse effects. The small amount
used in the HCG Diet for weight loss has the positive side effect of
people being able to successfully lose weight and excess abnormal fat
when most all other diets have failed.
If hCG works so well for weight loss, why don’t pregnant women lose weight?
While
there is absolutely no scientific evidence, millions of people are
believed to have successfully done Dr. Simeons' hCG Diet by now. The
theory is that hCG works to mobilize fat for utilization by the body and
seems to work only when there is a significant decrease in calories and
fat. The restriction of food seems to allow the body to utilize the
stored fat that is normally only used when someone is in a starvation
mode. A pregnant woman's body will naturally take care of her and her
baby for optimal health.
Will my metabolism slow down if I am on a very low calorie diet?
Yes,
normally when dieters reduce calories and fat, the body begins to store
fat and metabolism slows down. Not only that, but every time a dieter
loses weight through very low calorie consumption and gains back any
weight, the gained weight will mostly be abnormal fat. This is nature's
way to make up for the 'starvation' mode it thought the body was in and
needs to further prepare to store fat for another famine because fat is
really a life-saving source of stored energy. However, when a very low
calorie diet is used in conjunction with
the hCG, it appears to signal the body to use stored fat for energy, and
tap into these excess fat reserves. It’s seems to be a a natural
process and HCG Dieters report no ill effects on their metabolism.
The hCG Diet is very low calorie, will I be hungry?
Gosh,
let's HOPE you are hungry. I'd be leery of a 'diet' claiming that you
are never hungry. You're supposed to be hungry when it's time to eat,
but in this particular sense of "will I be Hungry" on the HCG Diet, let
me explain. People who have dieted usually ARE hungry so they are often
times afraid they will be 'starving' on yet another diet. However, the
opposite seems to happen when doing this low fat, low calorie diet WITH
hCG. HCG Dieters are usually amazed that they aren't 'hungry' like
they experienced on all other diets WITHOUT hCG! What we think happens
is that hCG helps mobilize fat and makes it available to the body as an
energy source, which naturally reduces appetite. hCG works on the
hypothalamus, which also is responsible for hunger. So even though you
are taking in fewer fat and fewer calories, the hCG seems to help
people access the energy one has stored in fat cells. After about 2
days,
many HCG Dieters notice a significant decrease in their appetite.
Overall, most people have plenty of energy and feel great. Remember,
it's OK to be hungry at times! That means it's time to EAT!
Wouldn’t I lose the same amount of weight eating a very low calorie diet without the hCG?
You
can lose weight by simply eating fewer calories and fat, but because
the body stores fat during times of deprivation, you will most likely
lose muscle and bone before fat. This causes cellular metabolism to
slow down, so in the long run, it would
make gaining weight easier, as well as decrease bone density and muscle
mass. By using HCG with the Simeons' low fat diet, extra fat is used more readily for energy and people appear to benefit by preferentially reducing excess fat
without affecting as much bone and muscle compared to the same diet without hCG.