The HCG Diet allows for rapid fat loss – up to one pound a day. However the diet protocol must be followed exactly to obtain these types of results. The diet protocol limits caloric intake to 500 calories daily; consumed mostly at Lunch and Dinner. Breakfast is limited to a fruit portion, breadstick (optional) and non-calorie drink. The lunch and dinner meals consist of a 3.5 oz. serving of an allowed meat and approximately 3.5 oz. of an allowed veggie. A breadstick and allowed fruit can be consumed with lunch or dinner or both if the fruit and breadstick was not consumed at breakfast.

Typically extreme calorie restricted diet are hard to maintain however this diet is supplemented with a daily injection (or orals drops) of HCG which causes fat cells to release stored fat for energy consumption when the body is in a fasted state. Thus depending on the individual, up to a pound per day of weight can be loss with minimal hunger pains.

I have used the diet and can attest to the weight loss being achieved. What appeared to be difficult on the diet was the desire to crunch down on something and the ability to refrain from eating although you are not hungry. Thus determination is required to follow the diet protocol and not give in to these temptations.

Things to Consider

You may be asking yourself is there any side-effects or dangers associated with this diet or the use of HCG? Since 1975, the FDA has required labeling and advertising of HCG to state:

HCG has not been demonstrated to be effective adjunctive therapy in the treatment of obesity. There is no substantial evidence that it increases weight loss beyond that resulting from caloric restriction, that it causes a more attractive or “normal” distribution of fat, or that it decreases the hunger and discomfort associated with calorie-restricted diets.

There are literally thousands of testimonies from individuals that say the diet is safe and effective and using it provided the only effective means for them to obtain weight loss. Certainly the use of needles poses a danger, right? Yes, certainly there are risks with self dosing any injectable medication or drug; which I will not list here but certainly consult your physician before starting this or any diet. If you choose to use injections you may want to use a local clinic that administers injections for you.

What is HCG? HCG is made by the placenta during pregnancy. HCG is a natural protein hormone secreted by the human placenta and purified from the urine of pregnant women.

It is also used in certain boys (typically before puberty) to cause the normal dropping of the testicles into the scrotum and to help with normal sexual development. It works by causing the testes to release male sex hormones (e.g., testosterone).

It use to be quite popular among bodybuilders and still may be somewhat popular among athletes that use steroids. Its use has been banned in a number of collegiate and professional athletic circles because male athletes turned to this, among other “performance enhancing drugs”, because it mitigates the side effects associated with a cycle of anabolic-androgenic steroids (AAS); the side effects being testicular atrophy and the loss of natural testosterone production.

The side effects from HCG use include gynecomastia, water retention, and an increase in sex drive, mood alterations, headaches, and high blood pressure. HCG raises androgen levels in males by up to 400% but it also raises estrogen levels dramatically as well. This is why it can cause a real case of gynecomastia if dosages get too elevated for that person. Another side effect seen from HCG use is morning sickness (nausea and vomiting). These side effects are mostly evident in dosages exceeding the 125IU to 200 IU HCG used on Simeons Diet Protocol.

In conclusion:

From testimonies, HCG appears effective in assisting some individuals in losing weight. It may be considered to be nothing more than a placebo effect along with a very low calorie diet that makes it a successful protocol for some. Scientifically there appears to be contradictions or at least reservations in saying that Simeons HCG protocol is an effective and safe method for weight loss. See conflicting studies listed by the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition:

a. Asher WL, Harper HW.Effect of human chorionic gonadotrophin on weight loss, hunger and feeling of well-being. American Journal of Clinical Nutrition 26:211–218, 1973.

b. Frank BW. The use of chorionic gonadotrophin hormone in the treatment of obesity. A double-blind study. American Journal of Clinical Nutrition 14:133–136, 1964.

c. Craig LS and others. Chorionic gonadotrophin in the treatment of obese women. American Journal of Clinical Nutrition 12:230–234, 1963.

d. Stein MR and others. Ineffectiveness of human chorionic gonadotrophin in weight reduction: a double-blind study. American Journal of Clinical Nutrition 29:940–948, 1976.

Well controlled studies seems to indicate “that there is no scientific evidence that HCG is effective in the treatment of obesity; it does not bring about weight-loss of fat-redistribution, nor does it reduce hunger or induce a feeling of well-being.” See the following study:

Lijesen GK and others. The effect of human chorionic gonadotrophin (HCG) in the treatment of obesity by means of the Simeons therapy: a criteria-based meta-analysis. British Journal of Clinical Pharmacology 49:237–243, 1995.

To read more or obtain the free “Pounds and Inches” ebook click on the appropriate link above. A free “Track Your Progress” spreadsheet is available when you order oral HCG drops.

Other online references:

1. Drugs & Medications – HCG

2. NCAA Banned-Drug Classes 2008-09

3. NCAA Drug Testing Program

4.NFL Banned Substances List