What is the HCG Diet for Weight Loss?
HCG or human chorionic gonadotropin is a hormone that is produced by the body of pregnant women. Its purpose is to ensure proper growth of the fetus by mobilizing fat stores in the body. As part of an HCG diet, under the direction of a physician, very small doses of HCG are taken and a very strict, low-calorie diet is observed. What makes HCG dieting different than dieting alone, is that in theory your body never enters “starvation” mode. Reserved fat is released into your body at an estimated amount of 1500-3000 calories a day. This is why most clients report minimal hunger and increased energy. The pitfalls of traditional dieting are avoided. Fat is burned instead of muscle. Fat on your hips, thighs, and especially your mid-section seems to melt away, while the needed fat stores or “good” fat around your organs is left intact. Because of this, many clients report an image of their body being “re-sculpted”.
HCG also minimizes muscle wasting. There is no need for the body to use muscle as an energy source because the “bad” fat has been made readily available. At the end of this diet, your metabolism is reset to support its new body weight. Because your body will be having the extra fat stores in circulation, the consequences of cheating on this diet will be dramatic and seen on the scale most likely the very next morning. Cheating can also stall your weight loss for several days. I believe this is one of the reasons that most HCG dieters can keep their weight off. They have learned the relationship, as they never have before, between their disciplined eating habits and the direction they want the scale to move. I have known many HCG clients to be weaned at the direction of their physician during their HCG journey off their diabetes, blood pressure, and cholesterol medications. Many of these clients for years had hardly seen their lab values improve even with the use of these medications.
We understand that the first treatment round with HCG is generally the most successful. We want you to have all the information and resources in place, so you love your results! Please read through all the information closely that we have provided. We want to support you through this journey to a healthier you!
Meet Audrey Defferari, RN, BSN
Audrey, our Aesthetic Nurse Injector, oversees the HCG Diet program at Le Beau Visage Medical Spa. Audrey attended Texas A&M University and shortly after began pursuing her passion for aesthetics. She received her esthetician license in 2016 and began her career at Le Beau Visage Medical Spa shortly after. After working alongside Dr. Riehs for several years, Audrey obtained her Bachelor of Science in Nursing from Western Governors University, as well as her Registered Nurse license. She has continued her career as our Lead Aesthetic Nurse Injector at Le Beau Visage Medical Spa and her passion for the aesthetics industry and patient care shines through her work.
Getting Started
Our HCG Diet program at Le Beau Visage Medical Spa is medically supervised with exceptional education and support. Below are the steps to starting the HCG Diet:
- You will need to submit labs taken within the last 12 months to our office for Dr. Riehs to review. The labs must include a CBC Panel, Chem 20 Panel and Triglyceride Panel. Recent lab work is reviewed to ensure that you are in good health for the diet. You may submit your own lab results if they have been done within the last 12 months or you may obtain an order from our office to have your labs drawn at a lab of your choice.
- Once Dr. Riehs has reviewed your lab work and approved you for the diet, a member of our Front Office team will reach out to you to obtain payment and schedule a time for you to pick up your HCG Vial(s). HCG will be picked up in office and we will provide syringes and alcohol swabs for self-administering the daily injection.
- If you have never done the HCG diet before, you may schedule a 1 on 1 visit with our Registered Nurse, Audrey, who oversees the HCG Diet. At this appointment, Audrey will teach you how to self-inject, answer any questions that you may have and provide you with all of the resources needed to ensure your success.
How To Self-Inject HCG
HCG Diet Phase One: The Loading Phase
The Loading Phase is typically everyone’s FAVORITE phase of the diet. The first two days of dosing with HCG, you will eat unlimited quantities of everything you want and crave. These foods must be high in fat, such as pizza, hamburgers, gravies, sauces, desserts, etc. The idea is to bring in a high fat load, not necessarily a high carb load. Carbohydrates are completely acceptable, but foods in high fat are what will be the key to fuel your body for the next phase of the diet. You should expect to gain a few pounds these two days… that is normal, and it will quickly drop off. Please DO NOT fear these two days! There are two important reasons for this phase: 1) Our bodies work every day to burn off the excess calories we take in. By taking in this excess number of calories, you will be preparing your brain to maximize fat burning. 2) It will lessen the hunger you may experience during the first week of the low-calorie diet. These two days help you psychologically not feel so deprived because you know that you did have two full days to indulge in whatever you desired before beginning the protocol phase of the diet.
Please see the below resources for the Loading Phase:
HCG Diet Shopping List
HCG Diet Phase Two: The Protocol Phase
The Protocol Phase is the low calorie and strictest phase of the HCG Diet. During this phase, you will see a direct relationship with the food you consume and the results on the scale like you never have before. IT IS VERY IMPORTAN TO NOT CHEAT DURING THIS PHASE! Even the smallest treat can halt your weight loss for several days. The best weight loss typically happens with the first round of HCG, so it is important to be diligent with your diet. On average, women can expect to lose .5-1 pound per day and men average twice that during this phase.
You will be amazed at how your body will transform. Continue the protocol phase of the HCG diet for three days following your last dose day. This is to ensure that the HCG is out of your system before you increase your caloric intake. Stay strong!
Please note: IF you have a special event to attend or upcoming vacation that will prevent you from following the outlines protocol, we recommend delaying your start date until you can follow the diet protocol.
Please see the below resources for the Protocol Phase:
HCG Diet Daily Food Journal
HCG Diet RecipesHCG Diet Frequently Asked Questions
The Protocol Phase Serving Definitions
HCG Diet Frequently Asked Questions
HCG Diet Plateau
HCG Diet Apple Day
HCG Diet Phase Three: The Maintenance Phase
The Maintenance Phase is a three-week period of weight stabilization. During this phase, you will continue to eat the same types of foods: fruit, vegetables, and lean meats. However, you can now eat whatever quantities you need to feel satisfied, and you are no longer limited to the specific fruit and vegetable protocol list. Please Note: You WILL NOT increase your carb options at this time (no bread, rice, pasta, crackers, etc.). You can, however, add back in all nonfat dairy products. As you add back in new types of food, I recommend that you take note of how you feel afterward. Some clients may discover sensitivity or allergies to certain foods that they didn’t recognize before; because of this it is advised that you do not introduce too many new foods in one day.
Learn to listen to your body. Your previous skin and hair products may be resumed. Continue to weigh yourself daily, comparing to your last dose day weight. A steak day will be needed if your weight goes two pounds above your last dose day weight. Do not postpone it. Continue participating in a steak day as needed for 21 days. Once 21 days of maintenance has been completed, you will move onto the last phase of adding your carbs back in. At this point, carbs and starches will be slowly added in after the three weeks of basic maintenance have passed. Ketones and hunger are no longer tracked.
Please see the below resources for the Maintenance Phase:
Reintroduction of Carbohydrates and Starches
HCG Diet Steak Day
HCG Diet Phase Four: The Lifetime Phase
The Lifetime Phase is the final phase of the HCG Diet. The body’s weight set point is now “reset”. Your eating habits and tastes have changed as you have recognized the relationship between what discipline and good eating habits can do for your body. The HCG has helped with the mobilization of the fat stores from your body, but without being disciplined in the protocol you would not have achieved your desired results. You should be proud of yourself!!! Continue to weigh yourself every couple of days to ensure you are not returning to old habits. You should now be able to eat the calorie amount to support your new BMI and not gain weight. Congratulations, and welcome to the NEW YOU!!!