HCG Diet
If you have relentlessly tried losing weight by dieting or by spending long hours in the gym but in vain, you need to try the miracle weight loss solution. Known as an HCG diet across the globe, it helps you lose weight without having to exercise for long hours. The diet is scientifically proven and has helped many lose weight with ease. It is a form of the hormone that is injected into your body in the form of drops and they help you lose weight by controlling your appetite. HCG is supplemented with a low calorie diet that needs to be strictly followed. The low calorie diet limits the intake of calories to 500. The duration of the diet depends on the individual and their need to lose weight. Similarly, the dosage of HCG drops also varies according to the need of an individual.
Phases of HCG Diet:
There are three phases in the diet. The first one is about gaining calories. During this stage, you are required to consume high calorie food before the diet begins. You can consume high calorie foods like burgers and pizzas to gain calories. The second stage is the HCG stage where the diet is low calorie and is limited to 500 calories in a day. The diet is also supplemented with HCG drops that are consumed under the tongue in order to ensure that they reach the bloodstream.
The HCG drops will control your appetite and reduce your hunger. You will not feel starved or hungry even when you will be consuming less than 500 calories in a day. Finally, the third phase of the diet will require you to begin consuming calories. The phase will prepare you for a regular routine and it will broaden your food selection. It might be scary at the start but as the end of the diet approaches, you need to get back to the regular food and nutrition which is essential for a healthy body. During the three phases of the diet, you will be consuming food that is listed and approved with regard to HCG. The HCG Approved Phase 3 Food List includes low carb diet but not a low fat diet. Hence, during the third phase of the diet, if you go shopping you need to avoid items listed as low fat as it may contain more carbs.
Food items like popcorn, bread, pasta, alcohol, oatmeal and cereal are a total no-no during the Phase 3. During the final phase, it is important to get more than 150 grams of carbs every single day. You need not worry about gaining weight through this phase as it is possible to consume a low carb diet and not gain weight. You may choose to keep a track of the carb intake and restrict it to the limit set according to the HCG diet plan. In order to get back to a normal diet, you only need to add a couple of fruits and veggies every week. This way, you will be able to curb your hunger and slowly increase the calorie intake. Your calorie intake should ideally increase to 1000-1100 by the end of the second week of the third phase of HCG diet. You can also try to add turkey, pork and white cheese in your meal.
You will have to monitor your weight closely in order to understand what is going right and what is going wrong. You need to cut out the food items that lead to weight gain or you need to evaluate the total calorie intake and balance it out. In the third week, you can increase the calorie intake to 1200 -1300 calories and you can also broaden your meals by adding pepperoni or salmon. You could try consuming mayo or milk as well. During the fourth week of the diet, your calorie intake should reach 1300-1500 and you should be able to consume everything mentioned in the list without putting on any weight. The detailed list of food items will be provided to you by the physician and you are required to follow the same.
Phase Three Food List is Mentioned Below:
Proteins:
- Meat
- Chicken
- Eggs
- Salami
- Shrimp
- Pork
- Whitefish
- Pastrami
- Tuna
- Lobster
- Ham
- Crab
- Turkey
- Pepperoni
- Salmon
You need to avoid bacon that has brown sugar as an ingredient, processed sausage as well as processed hot dog and any type of glazed meat.
Vegetables are very important for a balanced diet and there is an extensive list of vegetables that should be consumed in the final phase of the diet. These include:
- Greens
- Herbs
- Sprouts
- Hearty Greens
- Bok Choy
- Sea Vegetables
- Jicama
- Mushrooms
- Cabbage
- Radicchio
- Celery
- Avocado
- Radishes
- Broccoli
- Endive
- Cucumber
- Peppers
- Asparagus
- Bell Peppers
- Cauliflower
- Leeks
- Bamboo shoots
- Tomatoes
- Summer Squash
- Green onions
- Fennel
- Eggplant
- Brussel sprouts
- Spaghetti squash
- Artichoke Hearts
- Onions
- Turnips
- Okra
- Celery Root
- Water Chestnut
It is advisable to avoid carrots, beets, parsnips, potatoes, peas, yams, beets, corn and plantains at this stage.
In addition to vegetables, there should be consistent consumption of fruits for a healthy body and it is best to avoid mango, watermelon, and bananas at this stage. Apart from them, the below mentioned fruits are advised for consumption:
- Cranberries
- Grapefruit
- Strawberries
- Apples
- Plums
- Blackberries
- Papaya
- Raspberries
- Apricots
- Peaches
- Guava
- Pears
- Blueberries
- Cherries
No meal is complete without the consumption of dairy products in the right amount. Sweetened yogurt and low fat yogurt should be avoided and cheese, milk, butter, plain Greek yogurt and sour cream should be consumed in limited quantities. Additionally, condiments like Mayo, Pico, Verde, Mustard, Sugar free salsa, hot sauce and peanut butter is advisable for consumption. Salad dressings with added sugar need to be avoided along with items like ketchup, honey, BBQ sauce, tomato sauce, agave, and ketchup.
There are many other things allowed in this phase apart from the ones listed above. However, it is best to avoid sugar foods and only focus on low carb diet.