HCG Diet

[SadieKate]

A co-worker just told me she's on this diet. I'd never heard of it so I asked The Google. WTH?

http://health.usnews.com/health-news...worth-the-risk

21 days of starvation and no exercise. I can't imagine she is losing fat only.

[bmccasland]

At 500 cal/day you'll lose muscle and bone mass as well. But starving yourself hasn't taught you better eating habits. Wonder how fast folks who tried this gain all weight back - article quotes one lady who tried it, and gained all the weight back plus 15 lbs more.

Seems to me that starving yourself for a month would do really whacky things to your body, then it's even more confused if you start feeding it again. Hasn't anyone learned from the anorexics who have died?

[SadieKate]

Human Chorionic Gonadatropin. Memories of High School biology class tells me this is the fluid given off by the placenta. Oh, I want some. Not!

This horrified me. Even before she told me the 500 calorie per day and no exercise part.

And she's only a few pounds over. She just wants fast results to get the holiday cookies off.

[marni]

Typical ad here in Houston, where HGB runs rampant.

marni

[Wahine]

I often wonder how it is even legal to market a diet like this. I really don't know anything about HCG, but if a person is limiting themselves to 500 Cal per day, that's not good.

[7rider]

I think I just had 500 calories for breakfast.

[limewave]

I think I just had 500 calories for breakfast.

I think I had 600.

[PamNY]

I know someone who's on this diet and she's done surprisingly well. I don't think it's a good idea, but I can see why it appeals to some people.

In her case, there was no prohibition of exercise. They told her to continue going to the gym because she was used to it, but that she shouldn't add new exercise during the 500-calorie phase.

She does get regular medical testing (I don't know details), and appears strong and reasonably active. From what I've seen, she's better off than people who do the low-carb thing.

I suspect what's really going on is power of suggestion, and some people need that. I'm less inclined to judge this kind of thing as I get older (unless it's truly dangerous).

[SadieKate]

I dunnoh, all the risks listed in that article and others, including pulmonary emboli, leg cramps, hair thining, depression, male breast enlargement, is more than enough for me. And the FDA has not approved it for use in weight loss.

As one article said, "Not every substance that keeps hunger under control is a good thing. Cigarettes for example – a known cause of lung cancer and other diseases, yet many claim that it helps keep their hunger in check."

http://health.howstuffworks.com/well.../hcg-diet3.htm

HCG can also cause a potentially life-threatening condition called ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome (OHSS), in which ovaries over-stimulated by hormones can swell and leak fluid into the abdomen. This can cause abdominal pain and weight gain but can lead to blood clots, kidney failure, fluid build-up in the abdomen or chest, and electrolyte imbalances.

The injectable form apparently is even higher risk yet my co-worker is using them -- all for a few pounds of Christmas cookies. We're not talking a jump start for someone with severe obesity.

[PamNY]

Oh, I don't think this diet is a great idea. I'm just reporting that my friend seems, so far, okay with it.

[Biciclista]

I recommend the rotavirus diet! fast, cheap! easy purging!
guaranteed weight loss in 24 hours!

[7rider]

I recommend the rotavirus diet! fast, cheap! easy purging!
guaranteed weight loss in 24 hours!

Where's a good tapeworm when you need one?

[SadieKate]

I recommend the rotavirus diet! fast, cheap! easy purging!
guaranteed weight loss in 24 hours!

Yeah, that it would.

[OakLeaf]

I thought the flu was going to do that for me last year, until the day my fever broke, and I called up the guy who sells grass-finished beef at the farmers' market, and calmly informed my husband that I would have to eat his left arm unless he drove out to the guy's farm and got me a steak to replenish all my white blood cells.

[zoom-zoom]

I recommend the rotavirus diet! fast, cheap! easy purging!
guaranteed weight loss in 24 hours!

I dropped 8#s in 24 hours when I had it...wanted to die, though.