Taking HCG Weight Loss Drops

Lose up to three pounds a day. You won't even feel hungry. Best of all, you will be permanently changing your metabolism, so you won't have to worry about your weight for the rest of your life.

That's an exciting thought for many of us. It is the promise of HCG (Human Chorionic Gonadropin), now found in diet drops. The HCG weight loss program sounds like it is too good to be true.

Claims

HCG supposedly works for weight loss because it affects the hypothalamus, the portion of the brain that regulates many of the body's autonomic functions such as breathing and also is connected to metabolism. The HCG diet hawkers claim that taking HCG drops together with the low-calorie diet, the body releases stored fat, resulting in weight loss. The HCG resets the metabolism, reducing hunger and allowing dieters to return to their regular routines afterward without fearing the weight's return.

Using

Taking the drops is relatively easy. You take the drops three times a day, somewhere between 10 and 15 drops at a time depending upon your current weight. You do need to be careful when you take them; you need to avoid eating, drinking or even putting anything in your mouth for at least 30 minutes both before and after taking the drops. Hold the drops under your tongue for 30-60 seconds.

Food

The tricky part is the food. For the first two days, you can eat as much as you want of anything you want. After that, however, you must limit your calorie intake to 500 calories maximum. The types of foods are also restricted. You need to avoid sugar and starches, so your diet is made up of lean protein, vegetables and fruits. You can have up to two servings of each per day.

Protein choices include chicken, fish, other seafood, veal and venison. Non-starchy vegetables on the diet include salads with no dressing, celery, tomatoes, broccoli, cauliflower, spinach, cucumbers and onions. Fruits are even more limited. Dieters may have apples, grapefruit, strawberries and oranges.

Stabilizing

For the last three days of the diet, stop taking the HCG drops but stay on the restricted diet. Don't stay on the diet for any longer than 44 days at a time, and wait at least six weeks before starting again if you have more weight to lose.

After the 44-day period, the next six weeks also require a restrictive diet, although it is less restrictive. You can add fats and more calories but should avoid starches and sugars.

Concerns

HCG is a homeopathic product that has not been approved by the FDA. That means it is not guaranteed to be effective or safe. Many experts say any weight loss associated with HCG is due to the very low-calorie diet rather than the HCG drops. Always discuss any weight loss plan with your doctor before starting. A diet may even be dangerous for people with chronic medical conditions or taking certain prescriptions.

References

"Dr. Larry's Advanced HCG Weight Loss Program." Hcgdetails.com.

"The Truth about hCG for Weight Loss." Webmd. Webmd.com.