Human chorionic gonadotropin, or HCG, is a hormone secreted during the early stages of pregnancy. The primary role of this hormone is to keep the corpus luteum alive, which is responsible for the production of progesterone.
The detection of beta-HCG is one of the main ways to confirm a pregnancy.
The injection of HCG stimulates the hypothalamus – a gland located in your brain that controls many physiological functions (e.g., metabolic rate, core temperature, appetite, energy expenditure).
As a result, the hypothalamus signals the liver and skeletal muscles to start burning more calories. Once your stores of glycogen become depleted, hepatocytes (i.e., liver cells) will turn to fatty acids for energy.
Besides metabolism, you will also experience a reduced appetite, which further promotes weight loss.
As a general rule of thumb, taking a daily dose of 150 international units (IU) six times a week is appropriate for burning fat. Some people opt for a weekly dose of 1,000 IU.
The HCG diet is a low-fat, low-calorie diet.
In general, you can divide this diet into three phases:
Loading phase – this is when you start getting HCG injections. During this phase, you need to consume a lot of high-fat foods for 2 days.
Weight loss phase – continue getting the injections, but lower your food intake to 600 calories per day for 3–6 weeks.
Maintenance phase – stop getting the injections and gradually increase your caloric intake. However, avoid sugars for 3 weeks.
While you are on the HCG diet, expect to lose approximately 1 pound per day. Therefore, this will add up to about 7 pounds a week.
Be careful not to exceed the recommended rate of weight loss, as it would lead to adverse effects.
Many people complain that they gain the weight back once they stop the HCG diet.
Here are some tips to prevent this from happening:
Stay hydrated – when you don’t drink enough water, your hunger hormones are more likely to get secreted.
Supplementation – adding vitamins and minerals to your diet is essential to prevent nutritional deficiencies and weight gain.
Exercise more often – while exercise is only responsible for 15–20% of weight loss, it is still a helpful way to prevent weight gain, especially when you are consistent.
Here are the potential side effects of taking hCG injections:
- Headaches
- Fatigue
- Restlessness
- Pain and redness at the site of the injection
In general, these side effects are only temporary. However, if you develop any serious symptoms, make sure to speak with your doctor or pharmacist.
The best way to speed up weight loss on HCG is by consuming healthy, nutritious meals that are low in sugar.
Examples include meats, poultry, fruits, vegetables, eggs, cheeses, and low-carb dairy.
