How Does the HCG Diet Work?

What's the only diet known to boast losing up to a pound per day? The HCG diet plan combines calorie restriction with injections of the human chorionic gonadotropin (HCG) hormone to do just that.

Sound scary? Is doesn't have to be. This diet plan has been used for decades and is still used today. In this article, we'll break down everything you need to know to familiarize yourself with HCG.

What is the HCG Diet Plan?

Dr. Albert T.W. Simeons came up with the HCG diet in the 1950s. He encouraged the diet as a way to target fat loss. An added benefit? You could do it without feeling hungry, as you might with other low-calorie diets. The HCG plan involves repeating several phases in a cyclical pattern.

The Four Phases of HCG

The first phase is either your starting point or a return to eating regularly. So, if you're just starting out, this phase is already completed. If you're ready to try the diet again, then you spend 2-3 days eating regularly to increase your fat reserves.

After that, you start the calorie-restriction phase. Here you eat around 500 calories per day and take your HCG injections. You have to follow the food restrictions during this phase. You should start to see dramatic changes in your weight and body composition.

Then, you enter a stabilizing phase. This is where you slowly add foods back into your diet without consuming starches and sugars. And finally, you reintroduce all your old foods (with moderation, of course!).

Why 'HCG'?

Human chorionic gonadotropin is a hormone found in the placenta of pregnant women. It assists in the development of the embryo and fetus. It is suggested that it helps keep a new mom's energy levels at an even high, no matter what she has consumed.

Using HCG injections for weight loss instead of other HCG products can help the hormone enter your system and get to work faster. HCG can keep you from feeling hungry, even with the calorie restrictions associated with the diet.

What Can I Eat?

Calories are restricted on the HCG diet plan. However, by pinning an HCG diet food list to your fridge, you can focus on what you can eat instead of what's restricted. Here are some HCG-approved foods to get that list started:

Proteins

• Whitefish, shrimp, scallops
• Lobster and crab
• Chicken
• Lean beef
• Egg whites

Vegetables and Fruits

• Leafy greens like spinach
• Asparagus, broccoli, cauliflower
• Celery and onions
• Tomatoes, cucumbers, cabbage
• Grapefruit, oranges, lemons
• Strawberries, blueberries, raspberries
• Apples

It may seem like a small list, but remember that the restriction phase of the HCG diet doesn't last forever. Once you see the results you're looking for, you can reintroduce more foods.

Ready to Get Started?

The HCG diet plan is a favorite among many who are looking to drop weight quickly and burn through fat. Its cyclical nature helps balance the diet's more restrictive rules. It also helps dieters learn how different foods affect their bodies.

If you're ready to get started, but still have some questions, check out this blog where we answer more questions about the HCG diet.