The Benefits and Drawbacks of the HCG Diet

     There are some women who are thrilled to see they have HCG in their systems, and then there are those who dread it. That's because these women don't want to see any signs that they are pregnant. HCG, or human chorionic gonadotropin, is the hormone that is found in a woman's body when she is pregnant. Now, it's starting to turn up in men's bodies, too, but don't think they're having a baby any time soon. These men and women are part of a new diet trend that is sweeping the country, much like the Atkins and South Beach diets did not too long ago.

How it works is that you receive an HCG injection daily for a minimum of 26 days, although you could get a treatment for 40 days depending on how much weight you want to lose. You won't get an injection for the last three days of the treatment so that it can be cleaned completely out of your system before a normal diet is started. The diet is strict. You are limited to 500 calories a day after the third shot. The reason behind this is that the HCG will release the stored fat to give extra calories that the dieter's body needs to get through the day. Once the dieter gets rid of that extra weight, the treatment must stop since HCG can only get rid of excess fat.

Dieters who choose this diet generally lose weight quickly. Some have seen an immediate weight loss, calling this a "miracle" diet. Besides the rapid weight loss, people seem to like the HCG diet because they don't often have any hunger pains. The diet doesn't go after the fat in joints or other parts of the body which might need the fat. It actually goes after the unnecessary fat stored in places like your legs, buttocks, abdomen, and all the other normal "problem" areas. You will go back to eating normally once the diet has been completed because your metabolism is reset. That doesn't mean you can go back to eating fast food every night but you won't have to stick to 500 calories. You actually learn a healthier way to eat while you're on the diet so you can maintain your weight. Lastly, the time frame for the diet makes reaching your goals easier. Instead of hoping to lose weight in the next few months, you can see a difference almost right away.

Every diet comes with some drawbacks. The HCG diet is no different. Let's face it; 500 calories isn't a lot, so you are very restricted in what you can eat. You must follow this strict diet in order to see the types of results you desire. You won't be able to eat at any restaurant you want and meal preparation will take time and planning. Getting injections of the hormone isn't all that much fun either because it involves a big needle. And you have to drink water all day. Some people don't mind that, but others who aren't big water drinkers won't necessarily be keen on that part because it will cause them to go to the bathroom a lot. Plus, you may have an increased chance of blood clots, restlessness, headaches, and depression.

The HCG diet is controversial. Some in the medical community think it's too risky while others praise its effectiveness. It's up to you and your doctor to decide whether the pros outweigh the con's on this one.

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