Here is a breakdown of the approximate calories of each food allowed during the HCG diet. As a refresher, HCG, short for Human Chorionic Gonadotrophin is a hormone found in pregnant women that when taken allows a person to survive on a low calorie diet (500 calories a day) and in which case they are able to lose on average about a pound or two a day, all while maintaining a healthy physique and not experiencing the usual hunger pains that accompany many diets. Read “How I Lost 40 Pounds in 40 Days” for more information on this astounding diet.
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The actual food consumption consists of lunch and dinner (no breakfast) and the following items per meal:
- 3.5 ounces of selected lean meats (see below)
- 3.5 ounces of selected vegetables (see below)
- 1 Grissini Breadstick or Melba Toast
- Selected fruit (see below)
You are encouraged to drink lots of water (I averaged over 100 ounces a day) and you can drink all the coffee and tea you want as well as moderate levels of 0 calorie diet sodas.
And now for the calorie count of allowable foods.
Fish (avg 98 calories)
- Cod (3.5 oz) – 83 calories
- Crab Meat (3.5 oz) – 100 calories
- Flounder (3.5 oz) – 90 calories
- Haddock (3.5 oz) – 88 calories
- Halibut (3.5 oz) – 110 calories
- Lobster (3.5 oz) – 98 calories
- Red Snapper (3.5 oz) – 110 calories
- Shrimp (3.5 oz) – 110 calories
- Tilapia (3.5 oz) – 94 calories
Additional white fish are listed at the bottom of the page.
Very Lean Beef (avg 152 calories)
- 93/7 Lean Ground Beef (3.5 oz) – 150 calories
- Cube Steak (3.5 oz) – 160 calories
- Sirloin Tip Side Steaks (3.5 oz) – 130 calories
- Top Round Steak (3.5 oz) – 166 calories
- Tri-Tip Steak (3.5 oz) – 154 calories
Chicken
- Chicken Breast (3.5 oz) – 87 calories
Veal (avg 114 calories)
- Veal, sirloin (3.5 oz) – 110 calories
- Veal, loin chop (3.5 oz) – 117 calories
Vegetables (avg 18.8 cal)
- Asparagus (3.5 oz) – 20 calories
- Asparagus (2″ tip) – 1 calories
- Asparagus (small spear) – 2 calories
- Asparagus (medium spear) – 3 calories
- Asparagus (large spear) – 4 calories
- Broccoli (3.5 oz) – 34 calories
- Broccoli (1 cup – 88g) – 30 calories
- Broccoli (5″ spear – 31 g) – 11 calories
- Celery (3.5 oz) – 15 cal
- Celery (medium stalk) – 6 calories
- Cabbage (3.5 oz) – 24 calories
- Cabbage (1 cup shredded) – 17 calories
- Cauliflower (3.5 oz) – 22 calories
- Cauliflower (1 cup) – 28 calories
- Cauliflower (3 flowerets) – 12 calories
- Cucumber (3.5 oz) – 12 calories
- Cucumber (small) – 19 calories
- Cucumber (medium) – 24 calories
- Cucumber (large) – 34 calories
- Cucumber (English long) – 60 calories
- Lettuce, all varieties (3.5 oz) – 20 calories
- Lettuce, all varieties (1 cup) – 8 calories
- Lettuce, all varieties (small head) – 32 calories
- Red Radishes (3.5 oz) – 12 calories
- Red Radishes (one medium) – 1 calories
- Spinach, raw (3.5 oz) – 20 calories
- Spinach, raw (1 cup) – 7 calories
- Spinach, frozen (3.5 oz) – 23 calories
- Spinach, frozen (1 cup) – 41 calories
- Spinach, cooked (3.5 oz) – 31 calories
- Spinach, cooked (1 cup) – 48 calories
- Tomato (3.5 oz) – 20 calories
- Tomato (cherry) – 3 calories
- Tomato (plumb) – 11 calories
- Tomato (small) – 16 calories
- Tomato (medium) – 22 calories
- Tomato (large) – 33 calories
Fruit
- Apple (small) – 55 calories
- Apple (medium) – 72 calories
- Apple (large) – 110 calories
- Orange (navel) – 69 calories
- Orange (Florida) – 65 calories
- Orange (California) – 59 calories
- Strawberries, 12 large – 72 calories
- Strawberries, 20 medium – 80 calories
- Pink Grapefruit (California) – 92 calories
- Pink Grapefruit (Florida) – 74 calories
Bread
- Grissini Breadstick (3 g) – 12 calories
- Melba Toast (3 gram) – 12 calories
- Melba Toast (5 gram) – 20 calories
White Fish List
- Ayr
- Cat Fish
- Cod
- Coley
- Dover Sole
- Flounder
- Flying Fish
- Haddock
- Hake
- Halibut
- Hoki
- John Dory
- Kalabasu
- Lemon Sole
- Ling
- Monk Fish
- Parrot Fish
- Plaice
- Pollack
- Pomfret
- Red & Grey Mullet
- Red Fish
- Red Snapper
- Rock Salmon/Dogfish
- Rohu
- Sea Bass
- Sea Bream
- Shark
- Skate
- Tilapia Turbot
- Whiting
Keep in mind that all the above calorie counts on meats and vegetables do not include any sauces, salad dressing or butter. You are in fact encouraged not to us sauces such as barbecue sauce, A-1 Steak Sauce, etc., on meats nor any salad dressings on salads or butter on vegetables.
One trick I learned in phase two of my diet is that I could use Louisiana Hot Sauce on chicken as it has zero calories. That has helped immensely and because it is spicy, you feel fuller. I also use Balsamic Vinegar on Spinach salads which is quite tasty.
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Hi all,
I followed Dr.Simeon’s protocol for the 42 days and lost 27 pounds. I did gain back 4 🙁
Just started round 2 after 6 weeks off. Having a hard time getting back in the groove. Seems so boring. Can I add the mushrooms, zucchini etc? I also see many have oranges and broccoli. Will this affect my loss?
I have lost 11.5 so far and only on day 8 including load days. That amazes me because I’m not that far from my goal weight.
Let me know your thoughts.
Debbie
I dont know whats going on. Ive been on this 18 days and have only lost 11.4 lbs. whats up with that? im doing the 23 day injections and i thought i would have lost more then just 11.4 lbs. im doing everything to the T!!! has anyone else lost just this little in the 23 days?
Amanda – Everyone is different. For example, my friend seems to be averaging a loss of 1/2 pound per day, but I have been losing about 1 pound per day (9 pounds in 10 days). However, my results will probably slow down as I am on it longer. Even if it is only 1/2 pound a day, it is well worth it because you are losing the bad fat in the places where you don’t lose on all the other diets AND you are losing inches.
I have also read that eating organic food during the diet may have better success than non-organic (which may have hormones, antibiotics, additives, etc.) I have gone out of my way to buy organic (especially chicken since I have so much of it on this diet). I try to get wild caught fish as well (as opposed to farm raised which has been fed antibiotics, and I have a vegetable and herb garden. If you haven’t planted a garden, this time of year it’s easy to find a farm market that carries organic vegetables. Organic eating also more closely approximates the type of food available to the dieters in Dr. Simeons protocol. Hang in there, and good luck!
Dr. Simeons books says to do 3 days of VLCD after stopping the hcg and Kevin Trudeau’s book says to do 2 days. For those of you who have done it, which advice did you follow?
What does VLCD stand for?
Lynda –
This answer I know!!
VLCD stands for Very Low Calorie Diet…
Good luck!
Amy
Hi Judy! You asked about whether or not you need to do the VLCD 2 or 3 days after the last injection. Kevin T. says it more clearly than Dr. Simeon’s and that is: start with Phase 3 after 72 hours after the last injection. This means if your last injection was 8 AM Sunday, Monday is day 1, Tuesday is day 2 and as of 8 AM on Wednesday, you would start Phase 3 (basically eat until you’re full but no sugar or starches for 21 days and then you can slowly introduce starches, and some sugar if desired–but really document what you eat so you know what culprit it is that causes you to start gaining). I hope this helps you. I started Phase 3 as of 7/22/09. I am doing very well. My weight stays within the range allowed. I haven’t had to do a steak day yet and hope I don’t. I feel great! I start my second round of 40 days on the HCG on September 1st and actually look forward to it! I love this diet! Good luck on yours.
Thanks everyone!! This is a great site. I have been doing the drops now for 26 days and have lost 15.8 Could have done better I know, but there were some weekends that the beer was calling my name! LOL So I will take the loss and just move forward. Im hoping by the time my 43 days are up will lose another 10-12 pounds. Very excited!!!
it’s so encouraging to hear that people continue to lose weight throughout the 40 days and even on the other phases of the diet. I was so skeptical but in my first week I lost almost 7 lbs. I was happy and then in a split second a new fear set in. What if that’s it? What if I dont lose anymore after that? But I’m sticking to it and I’m not going to weigh myself again until Saturday. I am encouraged by all of your posts that the first week was not a fluke. I am excited at how quickly I could reach my goal weight on this diet.
Thanks everyone!
Dionne I know just what you mean I was skeptical at first also, but it really does work I got really discourage my second week because I was staying the same weight, then I gained two pounds, but Les told me that it is not about what you loose everyday, but what you loose overall and he is right because after the apple day I lost 3.4lbs and then it continues to come off. This is my 16th day and I am down 16.2 lbs so it does average out to be 1 lb a day. I am super impressed with this diet and I would recomend it to anyone ready to loose weight! I have struggled with weight all my life including an eating disorder in high school and college when I finally got help for my eating disorder I got really big, but this diet is a safe way for me to loose the weight an learn how to properly eat! 🙂 I am really glad I tried it.
Yes, these injections are the HCG, Human Chronic Gonadotrophin, which is found in the body during pregnancy. You can read all about them on the website under forms there is a lot of good info on that site, just click on the forms section and read all of the forms, question and Answers form, ect. 🙂 Good Luck.
I checked that web site it seems expensive,anyone else have any connections?
Jane, I did HCG homeopathic and did great as well as my family and many friends now have started a new life. Go to DIYHCG.COM and put in the comments that you heard about this from LES in Killeen, Texas and you will get the drops for $Z430.00 per bottle and my 40 days took 2 bottles but order 3 just in case. I started at .5 cc on the syringe and after day 10 dropped to .4 and made it just fine with a dose or 2 left. Total cost for me 80.00 plus shipping. Go by the food list on this blog and you cant go wrong. People I can tell you from experiance you can have Zucchinni, yellow squash sauteed in “I cant believe its not butter” or spray pam or generic, with onions and mushrooms, yes mixed veggies, bake the squash with cinnamon and splenda and yes I used splenda throughout, used low sugar heinz ketchup with horseradish for cocktail dip (only 5 cal per tablspoon) for you folks that think this is bland , it must mean you are not using Garlic and curry and pepper, sea salt, cilantro , shrimp boil and hot sauce, pico, peppers of all kinds, cabbage with meats and seasoning, wiltted greens with spray pam and onions, grilled fish and grilled chicken and grilled burgers seasoned with anything that doesnt have sugar in it. Get you romain hearts and use them for your taco shells your burger buns, use Mustard and eat pickles they are all VLCD foods, really there is no excuse not to have tasty food on phase 2, experiment with Braggs Amino Acid and other Braggs seasonings, Garlic, horseradish, mustard all kinds of things. Cinnamon on apples baked with splenda the squash the same things. Spagetti squash with marinara and 96/4 burger and mushrooms AWESOME !! all legal. Dont over kill on this diet, if you stay under your 500 and the reason you do that is because hcg is dumping 2000 calories into your blood stream from stored fat, it is awesome the way the fat is burned and folks just because you are not losing pounds some days doesnt mean you arnt losing inches, TRUST ME ,have lost 45 pounds and did it in the 45 days and 43 of it was by day 35. You will retain water and food in your system and your weight will fluctuate but dont get discouraged when you dont lose as much as me or someone else. Thjink about how just .5 per day is so Good. There is no other diet out there that does that for you. If you have lost 11.4 pounds in 18 days where else could you lose .6 over half a pound a day. Sometimes people expect a little to much out of this diet from what they have heard. Just do it for your self and be proud of the weight you have lost because no other diet will do this in my opinion only.
Overall at the end of the diet you will do well just look for tomorrow dont re-live yesterday or try to live tomorrow. LIVE TODAY and do it the best you can. When you feel like cheating, Take a big ole drink of water and a big bite of apple. Remember water weighs 8.33 pounds per gallon and if you drink close to that you will prob retain some of it like maybe 2 pounds of it so just keep on keepin on and drink your water at room temp. It is a lot easier to drink copious amounts of water at room temp and out of small glasses. Keep you a small glass by your work place and before long it is a habit to reach over and take a swig. This diet is really going crazy and its got the medical field jacked up. For those of you that are thinking of doing this diet and spending the average 800 – 1200 dollars and dont get any info or have been given any guidance or food ideas, Send me $200 and I will get you going with a manual, recipes and instruction and product. Get with me first it will save you at least 700 – 1000 dollars. All of you readers be BLESSED forgive the type o’s and remember ” GO THE DISTANCE” you will be glad you did. up to day 5 you could feel like you have the flue, detoxing and ridding your body of sugar, carbs, starches and cleansing. Your Lymph nodes could swell and your throat get sore, but keep on going because in 40 days you will need different clothes or fit in the ones you saved for when you got back to size. Have a Great evening.
WOW big type “O” $40.00 per bottle FORTY DOLLARS ONLY. HCG Homeopathic MEDIRAL company out of Colorado is the distributor to wholesalers. A well known Homeopathic company around the world. Les
Candace use all the zero zero zero stuff you want, it doesnt matter what it is if it has zero carbs, zero calories, zero fat or even zero fat zero carbs and just a few calories it is ok. Pickles and it juice. Use pickle juice mixed with chili powder and a little splenda for a great sause to put on your cabbage, squash beef or what ever you want. Lots of tomato stuff is legal. We found a local market brand spagetti sauce that was almost free of any thing and pourd over spegetti squash noodles with mushrooms and 96/4 ground burger WOW !!! Freezr you strawberries wnd then blend them with ice and a little splenda and water and wala you have a great smoothie. See ya
Hey Les, i am using the drops and I bought it from YourHcg website. I spent $199 for 2 2oz bottles. I will definately be ordering from the website you mentioned above. One or two recipes were provided but nothing as interesting as you have mentioned. Today I tried the baked apple cinnamon and it was the highlight of my day; thank you. I am still kindly asking whether you would send me a few recipes so that I can continue on this weightloss journey. Thank you. rosemariewarren@hotmail.com
Good Morning!
Just wanted to thank DAVID today, as I have totally enjoyed this site and it seems everyone is getting so much good information from one another, so I wanted to take a moment to thank David for setting this up, for allowing this interaction, and to plead with him, and everyone!, to stay connected to this place so you will all be here with your tremendous support when I begin my HCG journey in a few weeks…
Boy! Big run-on sentence…
Happy Tuesday,
Amy
I have stayed about the same over 4 days, 155.8, 156, 155.6, 155.4 so I am considering having an apple day today. Can anybody respond and let me know if they think this is a good idea??
It couldnt hurt and you would prob lose 2-3 pounds.
or Drink extra water and do something this evening or afternoon that will make you work out and sweat pretty good. You are not supposed to do straining excersises because it tears down muscle and rebuilds by retaing water and doubling up on muscle but the drinking and sweating thing seemed to work when i would be at a stand still. Or do a apple day. Just hang in there and be strong. Remember its the outcome at the end we are interested in !! LES
Tracy,
Don’t drink too much water on apple day. It says 6 apples and just enough water to quench thirst. I have done 2 apple days, and saw the results 2 days after apple day. Also I only ate 4 each day because I couldn’t do 6. After weighing the apples you only really need 4 to get to 500 calories-not that it is the protocol to reach 500 calories on an apple day.
Anyway they did help me get back on track.
Thanks, I did decide to have the apple day! I had a cup of green tea this morning and water but not a whole lot…I get thirsty pretty often though. Hopefully, the green tea was fine and I will limit my water intake a little more. I have had 2 1/2 apples and it’s 315pm, and I am pretty hunger but not starving so I’ll way till 430 or 5 to have another one!!
Thanks again for your comments and encouragement!
Tracy
Tracy, I hit a plateau for 3 days then gained 2lbs on phase 2 – i did a steak day and lost 4 lbs – I think you should be fine with the apple day – please let us know how it works out for you:)
Going to the doctor now for my next weigh-in. Good luck everyone…
Les,
thanks so much for all of the great info, I really would prefer the injectable type and are you serious about the info for $2oo? I live in San Antonio! I would like to do the 26 day diet first. My boyfriend will be doing it with me as well, so we will be sharing the products and hcg.
I know I seem wishy washy, I just started thinking and the injections would be faster.
Thanks again to everyone!!
I keep hearing about this apple day or steak day and am curious how it works. I am to day 17 and in the last 7 days have only lost 3 1/2 pounds and seem to be staying close to the same weight now. I had always heard that your body would know when to stop, and wondering if my “ideal” weight is still heavier than I want it to be. Can someone share the apple and steak day thing, and also whether that weight lost will just come back, like on a fad diet. At this point on day 17, I have lost 13 pounds, plus the 2 pounds I gained on the load. With the weight loss slowing down, I do not think I will hit even 15 pounds.
Linda, First of all there is no such thing as a steak day on phase 2. Only phase 3. Whoever did steak day on phase 2 was directed wrong and it may have worked for her ,but most of the time the outcome is not good 2-3 days down the line except on phase 3. On phase 2 though, there is an apple day if you have stayed the same for 4 days in a row without any weight loss. You eat 6 apples throught out the day and into late evening spaced out with just a normal amount of water, not copious amounts like you are used to drinking but just normal, maybe even a little hot tea. Apples are a great diuretic and are about 90% water. My friends have done it where they spaced there apple out about 3 hours apart each and it works. Most likely you will lose a couple of pounds and have seen as high as 3.5 Good Luck!! I do have to tell you though, what they forget to tell women is that they lose at a different pace than men on this diet and think almost every women I know on this diet which is a lot, lose an average of about .5 – .7 pounds each day averaged out some only .4 – .5 which might I add is very good. Dont be discouraged with your .76 per day weight loss. That is .7 pounds plus above average for a female. Dont even consider your gorge day weight its over and gone and not in the equation. I assume you are only going 23 days by your comment, you might consider going a little longer.
Also, this is what people need to realize that are in fear of gaining weight back. Phase 3 on this diet is the most important part of this diet, Phase 2 you are simply losing weight, phase 3 is where you are resetting your hypo-thalamus which in turn affects your thyroid, metabolism and weight stabilization. Phase 3 is where you maintain your 1500 calorie a day diet give or take and your weight loss or gain should stay within 2 pounds of your last weight on your last HCG dose. If you dont do this, YOU WILL GAIN YOUR WEIGHT BACK IN MOST CASES. Then you live phase 4. Now it is a little different for those who dont really have weight problem and a brain problem that is connected to there elbow problem. Some people gained 15 pounds over a 10 year period and its harder to get off at 50 than 30 and they want to lose 15-20 pounds and wont gain it back until they go into the nursing home. But for those of us that are more than 50 pounds over weight need to change life in its self and that begins with a different eating habit, because life as usual isnt or hasnt worked for us as far as weight goes. Thats why there are fat horses and skinny ones and they both eat the same thing. Or a fat dog or skinny dog and they eat out of the same bowl next to each other eating the same thing. THEY ARE EACH DIFFERENT, so are we. If you do this diet or change of life correctly, you will see positive results. 4 of things it does is awesome anyway, No peptic ulcers or heartburn, No gout, No skin itching and peeling and Rhumatoid athritis goes away, these are the side affects has anybody noticed there heartburn has gone away. If you have you have prob been eating wrong in the past. Also though you may see some hairloss only while on HCG and when you get off of it it grows back. Not a lot but some on a few people. But the other stuff is great. I have not had heartburn or knee and feet problems yet while on this. WOW! Oh well you didnt ask for all of that it was just on my mind. Have a great and awesome day and remember “where there is smoke, there is fire” LES
For those who dont what a steak day is! A steak day is when you are on phase 3 and you are maintaining your weight loss to a maximum of weight loss to 2 and or a maximum of weight gain to 2 pounds during the first 21 days off HCG. If when you get up in the morning and weigh and you have gained 2 pounds and even 1 oz. do not eat that very day, do not wait until tomorrow, that very day it is a must to not eat all day and for your evening meal eat the biggest steak you can with either 1 fresh apple or one raw tomato. Drinking water during the day of course and or tea, coffee, just zero food until steak time. Most people have seen a weight loss of 2 or more pounds the next morning. Protein is a diuretic and in lots of cases will cause a bowel movement. Have a great day. YALL !
Jane why injection, I think you said you believe it to be faster. WHy do you believe that, just curious. The people that I know that have done both injection and sublingual have stated they were less hungry and felt more control on sublingual because it is evened out throughout the day it seems a little better. Example you take the little syringe that comes with it, with no needle and pull .5cc into the syringe and place it under the tounge and hold for aproxx. 2 minutes then swallow. morning noon and then before bedtime. It is ieasy and I am a crave freak and food has always been a social thing and mind game for me and with these drops, I can honestly tell you that it stopped all of that mess and I have a complete different thinking pattern now about food. It has been GOD sent, thank you FATHER.
today i took my last injection. tomorrow was suppose to be my last injection but i got my period today and i read that your suppose to have 3 days after your period of injections and i only had one. so i hope this wont screw anything up. for the 22 days of injections im down 13.4 and hope to lose the last 3.4 pounds by the end of the 2 days of the VLCD. Any words of wisdom on skipping the last day?
I am so happy the apple day actually worked and I lost 2 lbs. I am now at 153.4 and yesterday was 155.4. I did not spread the apples out as I did not see that advice til today. I felt hungry and even had 2 at one time, & I did feel bloated most of the day (not sure if it was the apples or that my period is going to start soon.) Anyway, I feel good today and happy for all the progress 13.2 lbs lost after 12 VLCD days.
Special thanks to Les for all his contributions here and personally for responding to my questions.
Hope you all have a great day…keep up the good work!
I am starting today, big time eating that is. My question is after I finish all my injections, and am off for 72 hours, I will more than likely still need to lose another 25 to 30lbs, so do I just start them back up again? I have the injections now, and then I have ordered the 40 day supply of drops. I need some guidance on what is the best practice to lose 75 lbs on this plan. Thanks in advnace for your time
Isn’t it 21 days of injections plus 72 hours VLCD no injections?
Amanda, you have to do the 3 weeks maintenance (phase 3) and then you must wait 6 weeks before starting again. I have heard you must follow this exactly or you can mess everything up with your metabolism and gain weight.
Okay so 21 days injections (two days fat filled, 19 VLCD)
3 days of VLCD dieting
Phase 2 – how long is this, and what do you do besides 1500 calories no sugar or starches..how long is this one?
Phase 3 -H have heard steak days, and how long is this one?
I need to lose 75lbs so I know I will have to do a couple rounds of injections, Thank you Tracy for clearing that up for me, i was going to do round after round…boy what a mess that would have been…
Updated:
It goes Phase 1 – Day 1 and 2 is fat load days
Phase 2 – Day 3 thru 23 is 500 cal, with last 72 hrs without injections but still VLCD
Phase 3 – the next 3 weeks after the 23 days Maintenance period, 1500 cal but NO BAD CARBS OR SUGAR
Phase 4 – Slowly adding back carbs and sugar like every 3 days
Thank you so much Tracy for breaking it down like that for me!
So when can you start phase 1 again?
Amanda, you know you can do the first round up to 46 days, right? Then start Phase 3 (3 week maintenance period) after that. Wait 6 weeks and start again.
Restarting Phase 1 would be 6 weeks from the end of phase 3 (maintenance period) so that would be 9 weeks from the end of Phase 2, VLCD.
Well, no that is what I am going to do then…wish me luck I would love to lose 30lbs on this first round, so when I start my period, I do not take injections right? Then when it’s over and I start taking them again do I start with 2 load days?
Les, do you wan to confirm what I wrote here about restarting. I know you have down it a couple times. This is how I understand the protocol.
Right, no injections for about 3 days of period but still VLCD (not sure how that feels).
Yes, you restart the same way with PHASE 1 which is the 2 load days w/injections.
You should read through the Simeons protocol book which is on-line and free in various places including the website that Les recommends for the drops at http://diyhcg.com/….all the details are there but I think I have summarized pretty well. I have been sending this info to my friends and summarizing it for them so I had it already.
http://diyhcg.com/
I reread your question above….there are NO LOAD DAYS when you stop injections for your period for 3 days and then start injections again. You only have load days in phase 1 when you restart after 6 weeks after Phase 3 Maint period ends.
Good luck….off to the beach now!!!
Will check in later, Tracy
OK, Here is the way it works. When you have finished your injections on either the 23 day or the 43 day plan, you must stay on the 500 VLCD plan for 3 more days which equals 72 hours. Then if you have done the 23 day you must not take any HCG for 3 weeks, if you have done the 43 day you must not take HCG for 6 weeks, period. Your body builds an immunity to HCG and it has to have a resting time to reset itself and rid your body of the HCG. The first 21 days of the diet is Phase 3 add more eggs, meat nuts, more veggies, dairy, cheeses, more fruits, and eat as close to 1500 calories a day as you can hoping not to lose more or gain more than 2 pounds either way. You DO NOT TAKE ANY HCG during this time at all or you will screw everything up. You can not take more than 40 days of HCG at any given time without taking a 6 week break from it or it will NOT work. I know 2 different people that tried proving it wrong and gained 15 pounds one of them had to have there gall bladder removed, because extended use of HCG will cause problems with your GallBladder, that is one of the reasons they want you to take a break. So all you folks down load POUNDS AND INCHE by Dr. Simeon and read the entire thing.
Phase 4 is the phase after phase 3 where you add in a few sugars, carbs, and starches. Add in every third day to see how you re-act if it makes you gain dont do it again. Try something different. The first 3 weeks is the most important phase on the entire diet program.
tomorrow was suppose to be my last injection but i got my period today and i read that your suppose to have 3 days after your period of injections and i only had one. so i hope this wont screw anything up. for the 22 days of injections im down 13.4 and hope to lose the last 3.4 pounds by the end of the 2 days of the VLCD. Any words of wisdom on skipping the last day?
or if you take the injection while you are on your period. what is the reasoning behind not doing injections on those days. also someone said i should take the last injection tomorrow becasue if you dont have a certain amount of injections you may just gain it back?
There is really no rule on taking HCG while on your cycle. The rule is if when you start your period and you see a major change or experiance any problems stop taking it until you are off of it. My Wife and my daughter and my daughter-in-law and several friends took it right on thru everything and experianced zero problems. The only thing that really happens is you retain more fluid showing some no loss days and then when it is over you lose 2 – 3 pounds. So just do as you were and get on thru the program. Also you will lose a couple more pounds on your VLCD last 3 days but not quite as dramatic and you may feel hungry on the 3rd day but be encouraged, that just means it is leaving your system. Do you know what to do in phase 3 ? And Amanda the only time you start with two load days is when you have been off of the diet the allotted time. You do not take HCG during Pahse 3 or 4.
Also Tracy, you only have to be off of HCG 6 weeks from the end of your 40 day plan on phase 2. Phase 3 and 4 are your 6 weeks off. You do not do 9 weeks. 43 days on VLCD 6 weeks off then do 2 load days and kick off with HCG again. The question was asked earlier about having a lot of weight to lose. I Have lost 46 pounds and in my phase 4 now. Sept. 1, I will start my HCG again and do 23 days, because I dont want to take another 6 week break. You only do a 3 week on 23 day. I began needing to lose 100 pounds, i have lost 45 of that in 40 days and I will lose 25 in 23 days, then 3 weeks off and then do another 23 day plan and will have lost 100 pounds in 80-90 days incredible. I think it will be from now on in my life a twice a year 23 day protocol to keep it all in check and not ever gain that weight back. I time in the early spring and one time right before the holidays. Have a great day !!.
Okay I have decided to just do the 23 day cycle. So this is how I think I have it broke down, please let me know what you think: I started today BTW
Aug 5 & 6th gorge with HCG Day 1 and 2
Aug 7th thru 24th 500 calories with HCG ( day 3 thru 20)
Aug 25 thru 27th 500 Calories no HCG
Aug 28th thru Sept 18th eat up to 1500 calories, and weigh every day to ensure not gaining, if I do gain…eat apples all day long. Eat proteins fruits and veges…( 3 weeks off HCG)
Then if I want I can gorge again Sept 19th and 20th, and start all over again with another round of HCG?
Almost right, on phase 3 you do steak days not apple days, according to the two books I have read and the experiance from several other people and Dr.’s word. If you gain 2 pounds and even 1 oz or more do a no eat all day and a big steak for dinner along with apple or raw tomato. Yes on the rest. Just remember you take HCG while gorging.
Thanks my friend Jenny confirmed as well…Okay I have my calendar marked as to what to do each day.
Everyone has been so helpful, thanks for everything!!!
ok so now here is the thing. i threw away the last injection. whats gonna happen now? am i gonna screw up everything by not taking 1 injection? i dont know what to do now? Please help?????
Thanks Les…that was the only part I was not sure of and that is why I asked for your confirmation. I am doing the 23 days and thought it was a 6 week wait period no matter what. Is that in the protocol that it’s only 3 weeks from when you finish taking HCG? If that’s the case, I may do it again in October, rather than November…better for me!! If I am lucky, I will not even have to do it again. I have lost 13 lbs and have 18 to go and i have 15 days to go (including stopping for my period for 3 days). I know women tend to lose less than men. I am going on 2 vacations or I would consider staying on it for 43 days.
Les,
the problem is, is that i threw away the injection figuring i couldnt take it because i had heard that you needed 3 days of injections after having your period and not to take it while your on it. i asked but no one responded on any HCG blog. so now what? did i screw everything up now by missing one injection?
Les,
My thinking was…. that you had to keep it under your tongue for 5 min. I just thought the inj would be a one time thing daily. It does make more sense that it would be more controlled. I think that is what I will do then. Thanks again. What about the info. you have? as far as breaking it down for the newbies like me?
Amanda:
I don’t think you have messed anything up by not taking the last shot. If anything, you lost one day of potential weight loss. If that was your last injection, go ahead with the maintenance (Ph3) after 72 hours of 500 calorie days starting the day after the last injection. Remember, as Les has said so many times, the three weeks after the HCG treatments are vital to resetting the metabolism of your body to the new weight. Good luck.
I am about 10 days away from Phase 3, and I want to go for a second round. My doctor is going to charge me way too much for round 2, almost double what I paid for 1st round. So my boss who is a dentist called a mail order pharmacy that has the injectable HCG called Novarel, which is what I have now. He said he’d write me the rx for it except he is not sure how to write it!! My bottle that I have now was drawn up by that office so I am no help there All I know is I inject 1cc 6 days a week for 6 wks. I want to do same for round 2. Anybody ou there now what the prescription should say???
So my question is, I hear about the 23 and the 43 day plan. For my own needs, I am feeling like I am more of a 30 or 33 day person. Can this be done, if at the end of those days of injections, I still do the 3 day VLCD at 500 calories?
dmarie – If you don’t mind me asking, what did your Dr. charge for the first round and what is it for the second round? Did you ask him why it was increased? If you complain he might very well return to the first price. If not, your medical records are your property. You are entitled to get a copy, including the meds prescribed so you can bring it to another provider. I would be up front with your Dr. that money is tight and you can get the same product for much less. Good luck!
I just wanted to report my progress I am on day 19 and have lost 20.4 lbs 🙂 I am glad this diet is working. I could not be happier! Thank you so much everyone on this site for your great advice and support!!
Candace- That is so awesome, I’m on day two and gained 1.7lbs….ha ha, love me some load days!!!
I have a question??? I have been on HCG for 27 days, I am out of the drops. My shipment won’t be here until Monday?? So can I go ahead and stop now and take the 3 weeks off for maintance and then start back up and do another round of 23 days? and then go off for 3 more weeks and then back on. HELP
Yes, the minimum is 21 days of HCG + 72 hours of VLCD after you stop.
Amanada- Enjoy your load days I gained 5lbs on my 2 load days. I ate like a mad cow. It was too funny 🙂 But I enjoyed every minute of it.
Beth is right – read the protocol over and over. I find new things, ideas and information each time. And especially the more I am on it, it is easier to understand. The HCG Weight loss Cure Guide, is wonderful and I got it on diyhcg.com. It has helped out immensely, especially with the products allowed and guidance. Again, Read it and over again and again and you will be amazed at the new stuff you find. Enjoy – it is so wonderful.
ok, guys. I can’t believe it but I actually cheated yesterday. For some reason i was ravenous. At first I didnt have anything off menu but I had MORE of it than I was supposed to. By the end of the evening I totally broke down and had some microwave popcorn. I didnt eat the whole bag but I had 3-4 big handfuls and then I threw it out. I had gained 1 lb when i checked this morning. So my question is what do you suggest as a way to rebound? Should I do an apple day or should I just pick up and get right back on the normal protocol menu? I feel so bad. This was working. Idont know why I had such cravings yesterday. I usually dont cheat on a diet if it’s working. I normally only cheat when I’ve given it my best and have received no pay off. I hope I haven’t ruined things too badly. So. . .what do you guys think I should do?
okay,
I ordered the hcg on diy today. I should be starting on monday with the drops. I am going to start reading reading reading so I dont get stuck with no info and a hungry tummy! What site lets you download part of the protocol free? I thought that I had read that somewhere?
OK, so can I do the injections for 25 or 30 days and then 72 hours VLCD?
I started PH3 yesterday (upping my calories and eating an expanded menu after allowing myself 72 hours off hcg) and promptly gained a 1/2 pound this morning. I know it’s just a half pound, but I’m so afraid that all of my hard work will now go down the drain since I’m eating more. If anyone can share their PH3 experience, I’d really appreciate it. I need reassurance!!
Judy – that .5 lb is most likely just the weight of more food in your tummy – keep drinking lots of water. Your body will adjust. Just remember – NO starches and sugars!
After my apple day 3 days ago, I lost 2 pounds and since then I have weighed in at 153.4, 153.4, and today 153.6. Not good. I have not done anything wrong but I do have to put sunscreen and lotion on my children….maybe that has something to do with it, or I am retaining water since I am due to start my monthly cycle. I wonder if I need another apple day….getting discouraged now since I only have 6 more days.
Judy – There is bound to be an adjustment once the calories are increased. You also might want to exercise more. Please keep us posted here so we know what to expect when we get to Phase 3. By the way, were you hungry during the 72 hours you took no hcg but had the VLCD?
Jackie,
By the 3rd day of my 72 hours off hcg, I was a little more hungry–but not much. I ended up eating dinner early and then I was fine. Now I think I’ll get my butt to the gym!
For those of you with blood pressure issues: My sister (64 years old) has had many years of high blood pressure and has been on medication for a long time. Even on her meds, she wasn’t able to get it below 150/90. In the first week of being on this diet, she took her blood pressure and it was 107/74. She has been off her medication for the first time in years. Oh, and she’s lost 10 pounds in 7 days.
Ok – It is a question I have been asked many time, but do not know the answer. Anyone Please help. Does Chicken, Beef, etc. weigh more before or after it is cooked. I measure out about 90 grams cooked for my protein, but am I cutting myself short or too much. Raw meat freaks me out and I don’t want to sling it on my scale. Who knows the answer? You cook 100 grams of chicken to get XXX grams cooked. Is it lighter when cooked? Or Heavier or same? Please to answer.
Jen: The meats weigh less after they are cooked. The loss is maily fat and water. I don’t like to “sling raw chicken” onto the food scale either. In fact, because of salmonella (figure about 1/3 of the chicken you buy is contaminated with it), I am especially careful in handling it. I wear latex gloves when handling raw chicken. (The rest of the meats are not as dangerous.) I take it out of the package, holding it over the sink and rinse the slime off with flowing water. I cover the scales with a layer of Saran Wrap. When I have it weighed and cut into 3.5 ounce pieces (100 Grams) and finally have it cooking, I will wash everything that the chicken and/or the juice touched then disinfect with 3% hydrogen peroxide (available at a drug store). Throw the Saran Wrap that you used to cover the scale away. Don’t forget to wash and disinfect the countertop also. You are shorting yourself at 90 Grams. Go to 100 Grams RAW meat. Hope this helps.
Jen: I forgot to address the 100 Grams raw is how many ounces cooked question. 100 Grams equals 3.53 ounces. That’s within 3/100 of an ounce of 3.5; close enough for me. I don’t know how much it is cooked. Every piece of meat is different and cooking times and methods vary all over the place. All of that will affect the weight of the cooked meat. Weigh it raw and don’t worry about the cooked weight.
Ok good – glad I am eating less than more. I thought it was less, as I have had the joy of losing a pound a day. It ROCKS. I just cook a ton of chicken in the crock pot for 8 hours, skinless and boneless and then shred putting it in bags of 90-100 grams. I usually can’t eat all of this, and then thought I was eating too much. It is hard to believe sometimes it is hard to finish 90-100 grams. Promise – everyone – some day you will think the same. Hang in there- it is worth the commitment for 23 days.
Jen, thanks for asking that question. I also was wondering about the raw vs. cooked weight. I don’t mind weighing raw except if I want to make a roast beef for my family (and also have that to eat myself). It’s really hard to cook a 3.5 oz piece of roast beef and have it come out well, and if I can have beef only once a week it’s going to be spectacular (not dried out) Thanks for the info, Harvel. I agree everyone needs to stay committed. It’s a bummer when you have a day you don’t lose, but it seems the next day I lose a bit more and I always feel a little skinnier each day (even if I don’t lose). I’ve been on the diet now for 2 weeks and I’ve lost 11 1/2 pounds in 14 days. I have 13 1/2 more to go. I hope to be done by August 25th. Good luck everyone!
TRACY, I ,too, stayed at the same weight for four straight days! I was kinda getting discouraged…and decided to drink twice as much water as usual! Even though I know that I am close to TOM…..Ta Da!!!! I woke up this morning 1 lb. lighter! The fifth day! That extra water helped so much. Try it!
Jen and Jackie and All the Rest,
Jen If you are losing a pound a day, whatever you are doing must be OK. Jackie, glad to help.
It’s time to bring you all up to date on how my wife and I are doing. We signed on to a clinic here in the Phoenix area. When we started, we weren’t aware of all the DIY information on the web. Also, because of our ages (67 each) I wasn’t particularly anxious to “wing it.” Now that we have almost completed the VLCD portion (the last injection of HCG will be next Thursday (8/13)) on a 43 day cycle, I think we know enough to go “solo.” The comments posted here by those of you (a tip of the hat to Les) who are going it alone are very encouraging.
I have lost 35 pounds and my wife has lost almost 18 pounds. The process is more difficult for her because the VLCD has to be tailored against her high blood sugar–trying to keep the carbohydrates as low as possible, which limits the fruits. This means that she is eating, on average, 50 to 75 calories less than 500. I think that makes a difference. Our clinician is silent on that point.
Both of our bodies have changed shape and I am wearing 44″ pants for the first time in a loooong time. After maintenance, Ph3, we will both be about half-way to our target weights. I think we will opt for the shorter version and maybe do it twice if once more isn’t enough.
I once did a stint as a long-haul trucker. I say to all of you, “Keep on truckin’.” This thing works!
Harvel
OK, haven’t heard back and figure that is because no one really knows. I weighed 142 at the beginning, and am down to 126 on day 20. I know to a lot of people that doesn’e seem that much to have ever been worried about, but when your body has always been in the high 1-teens, and you are short, you are still up there. Today is day 20, and I have 6 injections left. I would like to go a few more days! Does anyone know why I shouldn’t? Of course, then I would finish up with the 72 hour VLCD. I would sure love a little feedback! LOL
Linda, dont know of one reason why you cant finish off your injections as long as you do your same protocol with the 3 days VLCD before you start phase 3. Just remember in order to keep your weight off and to change and reset your hypothalamus you must do the phase 3 and 4. Phase 3 being the most important phase on the diet. OK Be Blessed. LES
On the weighing meat aftet it is cooked. My family who all did very well on this diet and by the way we are in Phase 4 now and loving a few carbs and starches , not many just a few, but we have really changed our thinking and it is amazing. Back to weighing. If it was cooked like shrimp or roast or a big steak to go from somewhere we weighed 3.0 oz instead of 3.5 oz. I know the ratio is not right but it didnt hurt us at all. I have lost 46 pounds now and thru it all I weighed 3.0oz on cooked meat. It is not the protien that will make you gain the weight anyway. If we were a little hungry and needed a to fulfill a desire, we just ate 4-5 oz meat and seemed to always work out, Now we only did that on Sundays or maybe Sat. night but it still worked. And that was our cheat, a little more protein. Anyway that is just my opinion and I am sticking to it. Harvel we too are only doing the 23 day protocol Sept.1 because I dont want to wait 6 weeks this time to lose another 20 pounds. Cant wait. “GO THE DISTANCE”
I know phase 3 is very important and I am getting close to it. I am planning to have wine and I know it is in the protocol that you can have a glass with dinner. Does anyone know if I have more than that if I will mess everything up? We will be in wine country for a short weekend vacation and I am hoping to have some.
And thanks Suz. I did try to drink more water and yesterday I am finally down another pound (just under a pound)!
Linda,
As to whether or not to to go beyond the 23 daily hCG treatments (26 days including the 3 post-treatment days), remember that there is a 40 treatment (43 days total) protocol. Ask your clinician about simply going on to the longer course. They both start the same way (gorging for two days) and end the same way (3 days post-hCG).
Tracy,
Remember, during Ph3 no sugar! While I am not a drinker of wine, I would probably consider only dry wines and then in limited amounts. Anyone else out there have any suggestions?
Les,
Thanks for the information RE: the weight of cooked vs raw meat. The 3.5 ounces raw compared to 3.0 ounces cooked makes sense to me. That should be valuable advice to those of us who are cooking for a family of non-dieters.
Les,
Do you have all of your receipes and great infor compiled into something that you are willing to share? I would love to get a copy of it. Please email what you have to claytonj83@yahoo.com. I would be happy to pay for such great help. Thanks so much
Hey everyone! I am so glad I found this site. I have been quietly reading for over a week now. I am on Day 11 of the injections, day 9 of VLCD. I am down about 7 pounds. I don’t have a digital scale so it is not exact, but it is going the right direction.
Reading here has really helped me – I have bought the Stevia, Braggs and Waldens Salad dressing. just got the Braggs and Waldens last night.
I have even had a few restaurant meals and have not cheated. And boy, last night did I ever want a margarita!!! I feel confident that I can eat right for the next 13 days.
My last injection will actually be on the 18th as we leave for Cozumel on the 22nd. That will give me the three days I need after the last injection for the VLCD.
I am only 6 pounds away from my goal weight and am so thankful I found out about HCG. I went to a dr. who offers the plan -he charges $675. I had never heard of it – so I came home and did some research and ended up ordering it on line for less than 1/3 of the price at the doctor’s office. They gave me the printed protocal there and I have continued to research what is working for everyone. Of course, at first I am thinking eating only 500 calories a day is NUTS – but I really have not been very hungry.
I am hoping I will lose another 7-10 pounds before I move into Phase 3 – eating in Cozumel will not be that difficult – the place we stay has a wonderful breakfast buffet with lots of fresh fruit and you can get omlets – and of course we always eat fresh seafood while there. The big deal will be drinking. It is only 4 days. I am not going to go on vacation and not drink, but can keep it at a reasonable quantity.
I went to a WL center in Houston in 2002 and lost about 40 lbs. As of today – I am only 5 pounds up from where I stabilized – but I have already lost about 23 lbs. It took me a long time to put the weight back on, but think this plan is going to help me keep it off for good.
Anyway – sorry to ramble on – I am just glad I found this place.
You are all doing so well- David – thank you for this blog – Les and everyone else – thanks so much for all the advice and encouragement.
I am enjoying the baked apples (would have never thought of that), have weighed skinless chicken breast cut into chunks and put in zip-locs in the fridge so I can just grab and throw in the skillet with Pam. I seasoned it with creole seasoning.
Help. Day 5 at the same weight. I did an apple day also. This is my second round of hcg. This never happened on the first round. What do I do now?
Hi Mandy,
Yes I waited 6 weeks. Seem to work fine for the first week, now nothing. Have a call into hcgmedical. Great thing about them is the year long support and medical testing. They’ll get back to me tomorrow. No clue why…
I count my weight before load. Since that is where I wanted my loss from
Debbie
Hi everyone
Thank you all for your info.Much appreciated.
I am having a terrible problem.Really thought this program would work for me. I am a senior and I have type 1 diabetes. Insulin stores fat so I wonder if that is my issue.
Ihave been on the program for 3 weeks-very strict-no cheating and have only lost 11 pounds.
Has anyone else lost so little or is it the insulin? Anyideas?
Hi Muriel,
Are you eating according to the diabetic diet? Adding in different things? It does state in my info that you will experience a smaller loss than the normal protocol
Debbie
hi Debbie
Thanks for your answer. No I am eating exactly what is on program and taking much less insulin.
Muriel,
11 pounds in 21 days is very good, about 1/2 pound per day. Everyone is different and, in addition, you have the diabetes. My friend is losing an average of 1/2 pound/day while I have been losing an average of 3/4 of a pound. The first week or so I lost 1 pound per day but then it slowed a bit. Don’t get discouraged, it sounds like you are doing great.
what if you go over the 500 calories???
i also heard no fruit (or sweet fruit is allowed)….what about wine?
Renee
Have you read Pounds and Inches?
Les,
I was not able to take the last injection as i had bent a needle and was short a needle and also because i didnt know what to do becus i had one day of injection left and i had gotten my period and it says to have 3 days of injections left after your period. so i threw away the last injection. ive heard numerous stories on you only need 2 days of VLCD after the last injection, so i only did 2. friday was my last VLCD and saturday i started eating more. Yesterday i woke up and was 140.8 and today im 142.8. Any idea whats going on? did i screw it up by not taking the last injection. Ive posted this a few times but never got any response. Any words of wisdom???
Amanda,
I’ll try to answer your question. One thing men don’t have to deal with is the timing of hCG doses around their periods (male PMS not withstanding).
I think one reason you gained weight is that the continuation of the VLCD after the final dose of hCG is THREE days starting the day after the last dose. Why? Because it takes three days for the influence of the hCG to clear from the body. You added calories beyond what the body could burn.
What to do now? I don’t think it’s a disaster. Cut back a little bit on the caloric intake and keep to your schedule. If the weight gain continues, try a steak day.
Surely someone else has some advice. Anyone?
Harvel
Hi Amanda,
I have the book, HCG Weight Loss Cure Guide. There is excellent info in there for Phase 3 and 4.
First of all, no sugar, no starches. Other than that, eat a MINIMUM of 1500 calories. HCG is used to burning 2000-4500 calories. If you eat less than the 1500, you will gain and change the whole process. Your body will go into starvation mode again, probably what got you here to begin with.
Also, the only area to have low-fat in, is dairy. All other low fat items substitute sugar for the fat to have taste. No sugar. That said, watch the amount of fat intake. General rule of thumb according to the book: healthy snacks with Carbs 20 or less, fiber 2 or more, sugar (natural) of 10 or less and protein of 4 or more.
Its a good book, and that phase is the hardest to get thru and most important. There is so little info on that phase that I could find and this is round 2 for me.
Good luck. Hope some of this helped. Do a steak day
Debbie
Amanda, the last injection had nothing to do with your weight gain, but not following the 72 hour or 3 day rule did. If you are going to continue on this program just have to Keep It Simple. Down load Pounds and Inches and go by it other than a few food changes and recipes that you see on here and read about, or the book, Debbie told you about. People are always trying figure ways to get around the real deal and Very good response Harvel, you learn quickly. Amanda, when it says 3 days or 72 hours, that is what it means for reasons sometimes the Dr. Simeon understood. It really is a simple diet and people are always trying to go around the protocol. Well if there diet worked they wouldnt be on this one. Just use common sense approaches on your decisions. Zero cal Zero Carb Zero Fat foods are labled as such, One of the important things to remember afetr the phase 2 is stay low glycemic foods for life. Go to the site Low Glycemic food list and it is very helpful. Have an Awesome day and remember, He (the LORD) will not put anything on you that you cannot handle. The ohase 2 protocol states that if you gain 2 pounds and even 1 ounce from your weight on your last injection day to do a steak day. Just enough water and drink to hydrate yourself and no food all day and then at your evening meal eat a large steak and either an apple or a raw tomato.
Les wishes he could type better
Amanda,
Interestingly enough, hcgmedical also told me 2 days after the shots..
They follow the Simeon protocol to a T. I can’t have most of the things people talk about on here.
But, after finishing round 1, I too had a gain. After this round, I am waiting 3 days.
Good luck
Debbie
Amanda,
Dr. Simeons says THREE DAYS. Check out pages 24 and 25 of his manuscript, “Pounds and Inches.” (I hand-numbered the pages in my copy.)
Hope that will clear up any misunderstanding, Harvel
thanks guys, im actually still with in my weight of my last injections which was 143.6 i think. i thought it was 3 days but my friend who had done it twice kept telling me 2days of the VLCD after the last injection. i guess i will have to wait and see what happens. the next time around i will do the 3 days on the VLCD. i hope i didnt screw anything up. Also i had an iced coffe but i had it with spelda becus i forgot the stevia. any effects of that ?
Les,
I am very interested your recipes my daughter, son in law, son, daughter in law and myself are on this diet. I need new exciting ways to prepare meals
my son and his wife are ready to quit due to the bland food. I would appreicate copies of your recipes
if possible my email address is mlueraharris@yahoo.com
I’m starting the protocol as soon as my prescription arrives. I’m going through HCGMedical. Is anyone else on this site using them?
Stacy,
I am. And I really like them. Very supportive.
Debbie
Les, Would you please also e-mail me your recipes? I would greatly appreciate it! I have been on the diet for 16 days and have lost 18.8#’s. I havent cheated not one time!! I am so proud of myself! But am getting bored of my bland foods! Need something to spice it up!! Thank you so much!
Lora
well, tonight I figured out why my weight stalled 5 days! The poultry seasoning I was using had sugar.
Now what? Anyone know
Tracy,
Other than that??
I’m sure they did solw you down. Still, I’ll bet you’ve lost some weight.
Harvel
Tracy,
I guess I was more than a little sarcastic. I apologize. Yesterday I hit a brick wall. It was day 39 of injectable HCG. I had no hint of hunger previously. About 2pm, the table legs were starting to look good–even better with catsup! I went hog-wild. Reread Dr. Simeons. Found out that this hunger reaction is typical when the body develops immunity on the long-term diet. Frankly, I didn’t care. I was hungry and managed to pack away almost 800 calories. And, yes, we’ve all made errors. Forgive me for my comment.
I am really grateful for this forum. It is really helping me. I am really getting tired of eating meat. How often can you substitute cottage cheese for meat? Also, can you use the Walden Family sugar free, fat free and carb free, dressigns and mayo. Any help would be appreciated.
thanks Jen. Any quantities to share?
Les, second round is not as easy as the first. Nor do I feel great like i did. I will say though, I am only 10 pounds away from my goal weight.
HCGmedical has been an awesome resource to have and call to get through any issues and make suggestions.
Great job Harvel
can someone tell me where to buy hcgweightlosscureguide?
dmarie,
I went t a clinic in Arlington actually. They wanted a small fortune.
I ordered sub lingualhcg last night from the web site Les speaks of.
Just waiting to get my supply in!
Jackie~ the miracle noodles, or yam noodles, aren’t bad! i emptied mine and sort of dried them off. then i put them in chicken broth and made chicken soup the next day. they are actually good! but don’t order them for $30! you can find them at any Asian food store! they are about $2.
I also had leg cramps at night occasionally even before I started the diet, my clinic told me I could take a potassium and magnesium if that occurred. It did seem to help. I don’t have to take them everyday.
Jen,
Thanks for posting information regarding Phase 3. There doesn’t seem to be as much information around about that. I’m glad to hear you weren’t starving with no hcg for 3 days – that was my fear. By the way, where is it stated that the calories in Phase 3 should be 1500 calories? I assume that’s the upper limit and there is no problem with eating less (for example 1300 or 1400)? I had hoped to start Phase 3 on Sept. 1st but my weight loss this week has slowed from the beginning so I might have to be on it longer to reach my goal of losing 25 pounds. So far I’ve lost 13 1/2 lbs. (so I’m a bit more than half way there). Please keep us posted with your progress. Thanks again!
Hi everyone,
Check out the link I posted earlier. It’s a quick start chart and I think you will find it very informative. I’ve just finished my first week of phase 3 and after one week, I’m not so worried about gaining a lot of weight back. I’ve been fluctuating in the 4 pound range and I have not had to do a steak day. Still 2 more weeks to go though. So we shall see.
I also recommend looking at the vlogs of people on youtube that have been using hcg. They can provide a lot of information on the hcg experience. Many have done several rounds and can give great guidance and inspiration.
I’ve been on Phase 3 and just started the last three of six weeks and have started adding in starches here and there. I have basically been following Atkins. The first three weeks I followed the food lists for all but the last phase food list. I have now added those in. I’m really not counting carbs or calories. I’m eating off the lists until I am comfortably full. I am having a fruit between each meal as suggested. My weight is staying within an approximate range of four or five pounds, but not going more than the two pounds above my last injection weight. My weight stays mostly around two to three pounds under it. I am having fun experimenting with low carb recipes. My diet is never dull. While I was on the HCG injections, I fed my husband pretty much low carb menus and he lost weight (needed to). I will start my next 40 day injection round on September 1st and am excited about it. I lost 35 pounds on the first round, so I hope to lose at least 30 or 35 on this next one. After that, I’ll do the weeks off and then do a 23 day round to finish the weight loss off. I have followed the diet to the letter with the exception that I did add cauliflower and broccoli (I almost never spell that right, but I’m sure you get it.) I used Can’t Believe It’s Not Butter spray, Bragg’s Amino Acid spray and extremely little amount of Pam spray. I usually used non-fat chicken broth instead of spraying with Pam. Using a very little amount of the “spray butter” worked well.
I’ve tried the Miracle Noodles and like someone else said, you are supposed to rinse them in a colander under hot water for 3 to 5 minutes. I have used them in soups and a spaghetti recipe. I tried them a couple of times during the 500 VLCD and didn’t really have a problem, but was scared so didn’t have them again until Phase 3. You have to remember they are just fiber and will bulk your intestines a bit, so weight loss could slow, but once the body starts pushing it through (helps constipation)your weight loss will continue just fine.
This is a lifestyle change (as it should be, or the weight will come back on). I am receiving my soy milk maker this Monday, but will make almond milk (soy makes me gassy). Phase 3 has allowed me to have half and half or cream, butter and cream cheese. I’ve developed or found some wonderful low carb recipes. Food is no longer the enemy…I just can’t believe that!!! I really don’t crave candy anymore. I really don’t feel like a must have bread, potatoes or any of the stuff that got me fat in the first place. The foods (including legal desserts) I am having are fabulous! I am grinding my own almond flour (almost no carbs at all) and make even pancakes with it. Pork rinds are great and I’ve used those as breading. If you are a little creative, the food ideas are wonderful! There’s a lot of recipes on the internet to glean from. I absolutely do not feel deprived at all. I hope I can give any of you encouragement and excitement with what choice you have made. I have read the Simeon’s Pounds and Inches Protocol over and over. Those of you who have questions and haven’t read it should really read it. It’s all there. Congratulations to all those doing this diet–it’s great and it works!
To Lulu: About switching your injection to morning, it won’t kill you. If it were me, I’d go ahead. My friend who mixed my hcg added too much bacteriostatic water and the dose was low. I gave myself a second shot that night to make the dosage add up right for the day and then gave the correct amount the next morning. I had no ill effects from it. Have great success!
I am on day 5 of Phase 2, and am so excited that I have lost 7 pounds. I’m not hungry, and I feel more energy. This blog is awesome and so very informative! I can’t wait to try some new recipes to keep it interesting. I am also excited to know that I can use ‘I Can’t Believe It’s Not Butter’ spray in moderation.
I am having an issue with my deodorant. I switched to using a Crystal deo purchased from Walgreens. It doesn’t seem to work, so I researched and found that using moistened baking soda would work. I have tried that and it does kill all the odor, but it also irritates the skin. Any suggestions?
I just received my HCG in the mail. I was expecting to get the intra-muscular injections (which I’d been told arae the absolute best), but the instructions with this one show a picture of injections going into fatty tissue. Is anyone else working with that type?
Let me rant a second… I’m very angry with this doctor from HCG Medical (who has never spoken to me despite my repeated requests to answer specific questions and discuss how to proceed with my treatment). I ordered supplements from them that they said I “Had to have” and it includes Vitamin E, which I know from reading the protocols that is not a part of this diet. No one there can have an intelligent conversation with me about the studies they’ve done to show it doesn’t affect the degree of weight loss. The advice is, “just do as we say”. I’ve never trusted doctors to just do as they say without completely understanding why I’m doing something, so this makes it sound completely wrong to me.
I think the HCG Medical program is a scam to get as much money as possible from people with the most limited amount of work using only functionaries as contacts. The only people I’ve ever been able to talk to are what they call “dieticians” who can’t answer my technical questions and sales people. I have NO IDEA what it is I’m supposed to be paying for here and feel cheated. I’ll take a course of action against them, but in the mean time, I recommend others not to use this clinic.
Stacy,
Regarding the Vitamin E: While it isn’t part of the diet protocol, I don’t see how it can hurt UNLESS it is an oil formulation. Remember, no oil or fats during Ph2. Vitamin E is generally produced from wheat germ, a source of oil.
Harvel
ugh!! I gained 2.6lbs this morning, I was down 10.4 yesterday on day 8 of phase 2, and now that I gained 2.6 back I’m only down 7.8 in 9 days on phase 2. I know that I had a little too much protein for dinner, I had steak and 4 shrimp,but didn’t think that would makie a difference…also is anyone having any low carb alcholol drinks? I guess 7.8 lbs is still good for day 9, but I just wanted more…..so what do I do today since I gained?
Is the goal to lose weight on Ph 3, or just maintain? I need to lose another 60lbs, so I know that I am doing 23 day cycles, 3 weeks 1500 calories, then to start phase 1 again. Does anyone fear phase 1 to gain weight again? I kind of am, but then again it’s nice to get all cravings out of the way by stuffing your self to then get to take off another 20lbs
Manda,
The purpose of Ph3 is to reset your hypothalamus and your metabolism to the new weight. Maintain your weight at plus or minus 2 pounds of the weight on the day you took the last dose of HCG.
You start the next cycle just like you started the HCG-VLCD the first time, with the first two days of gorging. The whole thing starts over again. And, yes, you probably gain weight during the gorging, but those two days are important to make sure the essential fat deposits in your body are full and won’t be threatened by the HCG-VLCD.
Harvel
Stacy,
I used HCGmedical and couldn’t be happier. 4 friends had used them and they were pleased. Because of the great success I’ve had, 2 others in my office went to them.
I personally like the one on one care. I’ve had things come up and they addressed them. I spoke with a nurse regarding some things.
I do take Vitamin E and my personal doctor says that I have never been healthier.
Sorry you are disappointed.
Hi les, i am on day 1of phase 1 could you pls send me your recipes? oawodele@soteriaclinic.com. thanks
Good Evening to you all 1:35 A.M.
There is something to be said about the energy you get while on this diet ! I love it. Yes I do miss my diet cokes very bad, it was always my way of having s treat before starting the hcg protocol. I have a few questions.
My boyfriend is very hungry and crabby, we are into our 5th day including gorgeing days.(3VLCD) He was previously on thyroid meds and taking testosterone inj. due to low levels. He stopped these because of what he has read about being on meds and stuff during. Can he do a steak day this early on? Also, I am using my lemon juice allowence daily with ice,water and pealed lemon in a blender with stevia. Is this allowed? Do I have to stick with 3.5 oz of veggies or just make sure my calorie count stays at 500 for the day? As long as I have no more than 100 grams of protein and fruit that is allowed.? This site has helped so much. I got the drops from diyhcg as Les recommended. My start weight was 143.5 and as of this evening it is 137.6.I have not been weighting myself at the same time daily guess that would be a good idea huh? Any recomendations help, as always I understand all info comes from experiece and not M.D.
Have a great evening, maybe I can get some sleep.
Good Evening everyone,
Day 5 including 2 load days and using sublinq.from diyhcg. I am enjoying the energy and not to hungry. I have a few questions. My boyfriend is doing this with me and is very hungry.Is it to early for him to do a steak day? He was on thyroid meds and inj of testosterone for low levels but stopped for this 23-26 day diet. He has no energy and is very discouraged ! I beleive he is down about 4-5 lbs. Is it okay to peel a lemon and have it with water stevia and ice in the blender for the daily lemon allowence ? Also I have been using the coconut oil for cooking meats, dry lips and skin? Is that a No-NO?
I have followed the protocol as far as personal items so far. I did buy the dial soap, I believe it is a cranberry scent is that okay? How about washing dishes by hand ? Should I glove up? As the days go on just simple things could slow the whole process down according to what I have read. Thanks so much for all of your recomendations. I understand thats what they are and we ultimately have to decide for our selves
Jane
Sorry about that
I thought I had lost the first entry. Maybe I better try to get sleep now. I am starting to repeat myself.
Question about gorging – should I go all organic with no starches and sugars? Am I supposed to have starches and sugars during those two days?
Jane,
Hope you slept well. A good solid 8 hours is recommended. The diet places enough stress on your body without being sleep deprived as well. So far as I know, the way you are using the lemon juice allowance is OK. I use it the same way except I just juice the lemon instead of using the blender (less to clean up that way).
Three and a half ounces of vegies isn’t very much. My wife and I will use the vegetables (just don’t mix them in any given meal and only two each day) to make up the 500 calories. Many times, we would be up to 9 or 10 ounces of something like cucumbers and other lower sugar vegetables.
Start with the calorie value of the meat, add in the fruit, and make up the difference with vegetables. I will add in a breadstick if I need a little more.
Our counselor told me that plus or minus 10 calories (490 to 510) was OK. Sometimes it’s difficult to come out to exactly 500.
During the HCG-VLCD, avoid ALL oils and fats. Not on your skin and not in your cooking. Saute the meat in water. I will use a Forman Grill for the meats and steam the fish and chicken.
As to wearing gloves while washing dishes, it depends on what dish soap you are using. If it is a garden variety detergent, those are not based on a fat like a typical soap and they don’t add to the fat load. Dial soap, by the way is a fat based soap.
It is important to weigh yourself at the same time each day. That way you get a standardized measure. Dr. Simeons said to get up in the morning, go to the bathroom and then get on the scales.
My wife was very hungry until her HCG dosage was adjusted upwards. That solved the problem for her.
Stacy,
During the two “gorging” days go hog-wild. Anything and everything, fat, carbs, starches. And as much of it as you can choke down. Those two days are to make sure that the essential fat reserves in your body are full to the brim. This protects them from the influence of the HCG-VLCD.
Organic is not essential, but I like the idea that the foods my wife and I eat are not loaded or spiked with pesticides, genetically-engineered stuff, antibiotics, hormones etc, etc…
This thing is turning out to be more of a novel than a blog. However I have one more thing to say.
If you are looking for the calorie content of foods, the best source I have found is the USDA’s Agricultural Research nutritional data base. It is searchable, it is easy to use and it’s pretty darned comprehensive. Here is the web address:
http://www.nal.usda.gov/fnic/foodcomp/cgi-bin/list_nut_edit.pl
If that link doesn’t work, Google “USDA Nutrition.”
Harvel
Stacy,
I believe you can eat anything you want, organic or not, because this is what your body will be using during the first few days. Hope this helps. Eat like you have never eaten before.( guess thats what got us here to begin with Ha Ha ) Remember to eat from every food group and different kinds of fats.
Jane
Well i have been on Ph3 for 1 week total yesterday and i have been able to maintain the weight within 2 lbs. i did eat brocoli and cauliflower and didnt have any problems with loosing weight. 2 more weeks of ph3 and i will start adding in my carbs. I will be going to NY and im gonna see how having pizza and ice cream will effect me. most likely i will have to do a steak day when i return home. 1 more round of 23 injections after i return and hopefully will be at my goal. the first time around i lost 14 lbs.
Debbie – I’m curious, do you inject into muscle or fat with the HCG Medical items?
Harvel, Debbie & others – Thanks for the info regarding Phase 3. It was very helpful.
Harvel & Tracy – I also was concerned about my daughter being on the hcg for more than 43 days because it seems everyone on this site is following that rule. We are getting my hcg through a holistic physician specializing in weight loss (among other things). It is pure hcg in powder form (in an ampule) which I add saline solution to. Once the solution is added it is good for 4 weeks as long as it’s refridgerated. I’ve asked my Dr. a couple of times about the immunity issue and he has said that immunity is an issue with injections and homeopathic hcg, but not the form of hcg he prescribes. I know my friend (who referred me to her Dr.) has been on it about 6 months and she has continued to lose. If my daughter had immunity issues I believe she would be hungry on the 500 cal, but she’s not. I will discuss this with my Dr. again, however, so I can better understand why no break from the hcg is required. In any event, my daughter (finally) lost 1 pound yesterday. I’m hoping it continues today. Thanks again for the advice.
Jane,
You really need to read Dr. Simeons Protocol. In Phase 2 there is no steak day. If your boyfriend is hungry he may need a higher dosage or maybe he didn’t gorge properly. You should check with your Dr. or clinic. Coconut oil is definitely not on the list of acceptable foods. One lemon each day for all purposes is allowed. I frequently make fresh lemonade with 1/2 a lemon, 8 oz of water, stevia and ice. It’s fabulous. Good luck!
Hi Stacy,
I injected into fat, and happily can say, having a harder time finding fat to pinch!
I was told my a lot that have been on this, that the intramuscular can only be given daily by a medical professional. Not sure if that is true.
I’ve been struggling with the last 7 pounds to get off. HCGmedical has been great with helping me on this. Protein day, uping my calories, etc and it is working. I’m trying to hit the bottom of my weight range… not easy. Said I am running out of abnormal fat. But, I am only on day 23 of my second round. So lots of days to go…
Anxious for maintenance. I am starting to get bored with the foods. I’ve tried the recipes and I’m still bored. Our plan, does not include all the things others here ate. And, while you may lose weight, doctors i’ve talked to said it may not stay off.. meaning it doesn’t reset the hypothalmus.
So, we will see.
Good luck. HCGmedical will call you, you can call them daily with questions, issues. I’ve found that to be a blessing, especially this close.
Debbie
Debbie,
Those last 7 pounds? It may be that your body doesn’t fit the standard weight charts and you are getting close to the bottom of YOUR natural weight range. Don’t stop the HCG-VLCD. I offer this thought for your consideration in case you don’t make to the bottom of the “chart” range and to not beat yourself up.
Harvel
Thanks Harvel!
I do understand that. HCGmedical has been great working with me on that. Started to get hungry, etc. They had days they recommeded, that I’ve seen nowhere that did help break over that point. I also know that .2 or .4 loss is good at this point.
They also had me up my calories (same foods plus egg whites)especially the protein, to get what I can off. And, I can do 15 minutes of exercise. Not strenuous, but exercise.
Either way, I am thrilled. I am 5’8″ tall, 51 years old and in a size 8. Long time since I’ve been here!
And my doctor said I couldn’t be healthier. Which was equally important to me.
Have a great Sunday!
Debbie
Debbie,
Thanks for the information.
So glad to hear you’re on the last few lbs. Have you considered that the last few lbs. you’re looking to take off aren’t abnormal fat, but rather normal fat reserves that would respond better to increased exercise?
-Stacy
Hi Everyone,
Well, my daughter seems to be on track again. Since she’s gotten her period she’s no longer stalled and has lost 1 pound for the second day in a row. I had also e-mailed the Dr. about going off hcg during her period. He said that you can go off it (and stay on the vlcd during your period) but many of his patients stay on the hcg during their period and do fine. That’s what she’s decided to do because she doesn’t want to risk being hungry. Next time I see him I’ll ask him again about the immunity issue.
Yesterday, I had the hardest day of willpower on this diet. We had an annual barbeque for friends we see only a couple of times a year. I cooked so much good food I couldn’t eat (salmon, couscous salad, bread, etc) and everyone brought dessert. I also cooked filet mignon steaks and made an allowable tomato and herb salad (with Bragg’s apple cider vinegar) so I could have that, but I was dying to have the salmon and key lime pie someone brought, and, of course, the wine. I’m so glad I hung tough, however, because I was rewarded this morning when my scale showed I lost 1 pound. I’m only 10 1/2 pounds away from my goal of losing 25 pounds. So far I’ve lost 14 1/2 pounds in 20 days of the vlcd (22 days overall). In the beginning I was averaging 1 pound or more a day but I’m very happy with my progress. My inches have really changed. I’ve gone from a size 10 (that was starting to be tight) to a size 6 which I fit into for the first time in about 8 years yesterday. It was the motivator that kept me chugging ice tea yesterday like I had returned from a week without water on the desert (and kept me away from the chardonnay). So if you are really tempted to cheat just hang in there.
By the way, everyone at the party loved the tomato & herb salad and they had no idea it was low cal. They wanted the recipe for the dressing. They were shocked when I told them it was just the Bragg’s vinegar. Sorry for rambling on. Good luck everyone!
I cannot understand why we are supposed to keep within 2 pounds up or down from the last shot day when we still have VLCD for 3 more days after shots stop. Any feedback on this. I lost another pound and yesterday was my last shot.
It seems to me that we should be taking the weight from last VLCD day.
Hi Stacy,
Yes I have, but I just hit day 23. So I have to work with that. Their advise was great!
Debbie
Stacy,
I also have a medical issue, with my neck, that prohibits exercise of most types at this point. Surgery is scheduled for Oct. 20th. Hopefully that will allow me to add exercise to my life.
Debbie
Debbie and Everybody Else,
Good work everybody! My wife asked me about the baseline weight for Ph3: “Why isn’t it the weight of the third morning without HCG? The only answer I could come up with was, “Dr. Simeons says…” Incidently, we both lost two more pounds during those three days post-HCG.
Yes, it takes grit to go through a social event while on this diet. I keep telling myself to stick with it. This is the only process I know of that gives us a better than even chance of keeping the lower weight without gaining it all back.
Harvel
Harvel or Les,
I have a question for you. I cheated a little bit and on a day and then this morning forgot to take my injection. How do you think this will affect me? And should I just start the injection again tomorrow?
Harvel, Did you take the weight from the last day of HCG or from the 3rd day post with the 2 additional pounds you lost?
Congrats to everyone! You should be proud you’ve taken the step to be healthier! Endurance is the best word for this. Staying or getting back on track.
For those who ask, why the last shot day to maintain, don’t complain! Gives you a little leeway. A friend of mine lost 10 on maintenance, then started her next round.
I guess it shows our lifestyle changes. What we all want right?
Debbie
Lynda,
We, my wife and I forgot(!?!) an injection one morning. We took the shots about noon or a little later when we remembered. We came to no harm so far as I could tell.
Tracy,
We are using the weight from the morning of the last dose of HCG, not the two pounds less on the third day post-HCG. My wife would very much like to be using the lower number, but, Simeons says… .
Harvel
Hello Everyone again,
I am following the info from diyhcg. Who else is following this and can we visit a little? I hear comments about Simeons and then receipes with Braggs. Just a little confused. Thanks poundage
Jane
Can I have the recipe for tomato herb salad with the braggs? Also, Les can you e-mail me your recipes? Atoups2@cox.net
Day 10 VLCD down 11.2 pounds, yay!!
Julie,
I was very intriqued with your post. It sounds like you have many interesting low carb recipes. I never heard of using almonds for flour. How do you grind up the almonds? Also, is soy milk better for you than regular organic milk? A soy milk maker sounds like an interesting idea. I love gadgets. How does it work? If you have any good websites for low carb recipes, I’m sure everyone would be interested. Thanks in advance.
Harvel,
Do you have any sudgestions?
Desperate and dont want to have major setbacks. I woke up this morning with quite the opposite of constipation???? Anyone else having this problem?
Thanks again?
Jane
Jane,
The only thing I have to go on is our own experiences and a personal theory. About once a week during the long, 40 dose, session, both my wife and I experienced the opposite of constipation, as you so delicately put it.
It did not seem to hurt anything, except my wife had to go to work and stay close to a bathroom. My theory is that our bodies were completely full of water and did not need to absorb any from the large intestine. That surplus had to go somewhere. Combine that with the rough fiber from the vegetables, and ergo, “Dr. Simeons’ Revenge.” (That is a play on “Montezuma’s Revenge,” not a slam at the fine work done by Dr. Simeon.)
Hope this helps, Harvel
Hello all, I am on the HCG for the 2nd time and I really want to exchange some recipes. Les, you said if we wanted to exchange recipes to email you I don’t have your email. I am an NPC figure competitor so my email is figuregirl1971@yahoo.com, let’s exchange some recipes!! Good luck!!
Jane and Harvel
I am on day 27 of phase 2 and have also been plagued by the opposite of constipation.
I finally took imodium which very much helped
I have the opposite problem. The entire time (after week one) i suffer with constipation. I always drink over a gallon of water.
The only thing that helps, is the Smooth Move tea.
Anyone else?
Thanks for the info I appreciate it. I had quite a few questions in some of my earlier entries. Does anyone have any feedback on them? I gave into another diet coke today, hunger hit me and I am on day 8 today. Loss it okay about six lbs so far.
Jane
My Dr. said the constipation thing is very common. I also find that the Smooth Move Tea works very well. My Dr. also recommended it and said it was fine to use whenever you need (or want) to.
Jane,
If you’re doing the diy hcg and you don’t have a clinic providing you with information, you will need to do much of the research yourself. The first thing to do is download Dr. Simeons Protocol (I think it is at diyhcg.com) and read it at least twice. It should answer most of your questions, and it specifies the food you are allowed to eat. When people talk about Braggs they are mostly talking about the raw apple cider vinegar and the amino acids. Both these things are healthy and don’t have calories so can be used to flavor the allowed food. You can also find a lot of information by reading this blog from the beginning. That’s what I did when I first found this site and I found it very informative. If you’re hungry, you might want to talk to a Dr. about increasing the dose. When my daughter first got on it she was hungry so the Dr. increased her dose and then she was fine. I think Dr. Simeons Protocol says something about taking hcg and testosterone, but I don’t remember what it said. Maybe your boyfriend’s Dr. will know. Good luck!
Whew!
I just injected myself for the first time (Day 1) and I’m so surprised, I didn’t feel the needle at all! I was a little nervous before doing it and sat there with the needle all prepared for like 5 minutes before actually jabbing myself. I’ve always hated needles. I’m so relieved there was nothing to it. 🙂
Just sharing… Have a great day everyone!
-Stacy
Hey all
I am new (1st post) and I am new to the HCG diet. I wanted to post my experiences with you all.
1. I am very overweight, and I have been diagnosed with IR (insulin resistant). I have to watch the carb intake ALOT…and I feel like I am on the Atkins diet..LOL…My blood sugar is responsing well, I think to the VCLD…I mean, my readings were 113, 87, 98 yesterday and 108 this morning. I feel really good about that.
2. The only things different that I have experienced so far are: Yesterday, I was cold. I could not get warm. I took two hot showers and could not seem to get the old temp regulated. Once I went to bed, when I woke during the night, I found myself uncovered and nice and warm…Weird…
The second thing I have noticed is that last night, I was up every hour to hour and a half urinating. I normally drink a lot of water (the 2 liters) and drink green tea already. This was a bit unusual and my bs was really good this morning….So, I am chalking it up to the HCG.
Even though, I am big, I still don’t fit on the normal scales. Until I do, I am doing the measuring thing, watching my measurements everyday just until I get to the weight number were I can monitor.
I have been reading the above posts and I want everyone to know that I am one of the people that will be struggling with this diet. I am not looking for a reason to quit, but I am looking for ideas to make it go smoother. Les, you are wonderful with your recipes and cooking ideas. I look forward to reading more.
I noticed that I experience hunger when I went longer than 5 hours without eating. I have decided that I will break up the diet, and not eat everything I can have a one meal. I think that this will work for me.
Some other tips that I have heard of are these: When you experience hunger, don’t INCREASE the dose, but check about decreasing the dose. Also, trying drinking tea hot…I don’t like hot tea but this really helped yesterday. I also chugged alot of water yesterday when I felt the slightest bit of hunger…I hope these tips help you, as I want all to know we are in this together….Good luck everyone…
Way to go Stacy…Just remember, that first stick is the 1st step to a new you…I wish you continued success!…That’s what I hope to have.
Stacy,
Good for you! Once in a great while you will hit a nerve ending and it will be a small “ouchie.” In 40 days, I maybe had that happen 5 or 6 times.
Harvel
Thanks Christina and Harvel!
PLEASE HELP!! What are you guys using for body lotion? I have looked all over the place oil-free body lotion and I haven’t been able to find any. I tried baby oil for a few days, but I read, in this blog, that you weren’t able to use it. My skin is about to fall off in peices… please help? 🙁
I read a couple articles about Coconut oil for the skin, and mineral and baby oil…It might be worth checking out…I was coureous about fat absorbtion, but it was interesting reading…
Jenn,
I use all my normal makeup and lotions/shampoos/conditioners, and it has had no impact on my weight loss.
🙂
Debbie
Yea Debbie I agree, My wife changed it all , I didnt do anything different, It is my opinion that makeup 40 years ago must of been made out of hog lard or something. Just joking. I know that have greatly improved and we are still going off protocol from 50 years ago.
Jenn – all the literature says NO oil whatsovever on the skin, however there is one mention of Simeon using Mineral Oil when absolutely necessary.
Coconut oil is never recommended for phase II, but Trudeau does recommend it as the preferred cooking oil in all other phases.
HCG Diet Measurements
The HCG-VLCD can be tedious, despite all our efforts to be innovative and creative with menu preparation. Let’s face it: 500 calories isn’t very much. One hint is to use a smaller plate—it makes the meal look larger.
Another hint to keep enthusiasm up is to take a number of “before”, “during” and “after” measurements and keep good records. You will see progress on a number of fronts, not just the daily weight. Here is a list of measurements that are suggested:
1) Clothing sizes
Shirt, Pants, Skirts, Bra, Belt, Shorts, Panties, Blouses, Other
2) Body Measurements
Neck, Chest, Waist, Hips, Left Thigh, Right Thigh, Left Ankle, Right Ankle, Left Upper Arm, Right Upper Arm, Left Wrist, Right Wrist
Even on those days that the scales show no progress, the body is resculpting itself. The tape will probably show those changes.
I would guess that almost every home in the country has a fabric seamstress tape. If you don’t have one, you will need it. A carpenter’s tape doesn’t work all that well.
Finally, if you can, take “before” and “after” photos (Use a white or blue backdrop so the background is not distracting and is the same for each photo session. For the photo sessions, wear form-fitting clothes, no matter how unflattering. Try to wear the same colors and styles each time so what is evident in the photos will be the body changes, not the clothing.):
Face, Full Body Left Profile, Full Body Right Profile, Full Body Back, and Full Body Front.
Here’s to measuring and photogenic success!
Harvel
I just read the ingredients for the Eucerin Origional formula. They are (in this order) water, mineral oil, isopropyl myristate, PEG-40 sorbitan peroleate, glyceryl lanolate, sorbitol, propylene glycol, cetyl, palmitate, magnesium sulfate, alumium sterate, lanolin alcohol, BHT, methylcloroisothiazolinone, methlyisothiazolinone. The only oil mentioned is mineral oil. Would this be ok to use?
I use the Aquaphor from Eucerin, very moisturizing, not made a difference, also if you know someone that sells Arbonne their products are not oil based, they have fantastic wash, and lotions, in additon shampoo and conditioners. You want to avoid mineral oil right? Good luck, and drink up peeps
Jenn,
Looks like I’m about to rain on your parade.
Off the top of my head (you may want to verify), sorbitol is a sugar, glyceryl lanolate are both parts fat-based, propylene glycol is metabolized in the body as a sugar, sterate is derived from fat, lanolin is a fat. I suspect all of them are absorbed through the skin.
Harvel
Ok, I guess that I won’t use that one. I’ll keep looking. Thanks for all the help and advice!
I just read the following from a website I found while searching “Personal care products for HCG diet”
Lotions and Dry Skin:
Coconut oil, plain mineral oil (has no nutritional value), most baby oils are mineral oils or try lotions/moisturizers with a mineral oil base.
a second passage:
*Skin lotion: Baby oil which is mineral oil and does not penetrate into body.
I would say don’t discredit something that someone says without doing your own investigation. I am new and some of my thoughts were passed over, which is fine, but I am knowledgeable about what I can do. The diet is being effective for me and I am the only one who can measure, count and know what my body is doing and how it is reacting. I tend to believe that Mineral oil is not absorbed well in the skin. You can place a cracker in baby oil and then in water and the cracker stays crunchy…That is weird…LOL
Anyway, good luck..If you have questions, READ, READ and READ. There are some good bits of advice on here, but ultimately, only you will know what works for you and your situation. Good Luck….
Hello All,
Wanted to clarify – as my post may have sent some wrong info. We go from the 500 calorie, then in Phase 3 it is Minimum of 1500. With my height and weight this is about the range, but I am not restricted to this amount or do we have to count to 1500 calories. I was just expressing the joy to have at LEAST 1500 calories. And oh the joy of doing this.
Had a rough weekend, out of town and guests unable to say NO to dinner and drinks, so gained a bit more. Needless to say, today is Steak Day and I am sure others can here my grumbling belly. Yikes.
Jenn – I am a Lotion Junkie and found St. Ives Vanilla Lotion (allowable and listed as a lotion). It was not very expensive, works great and smells good. Try that.
Dinner will come early tonight and my husband better have the grill ready!
Thanks Jen! Is it just the Vanilla or will the Mineral Therapy work? Which list did you see this on? I’m going to check out the ingredients. It is suppose to be ‘all natural’.
haha, Christina, how did you come up with the cracker staying crunchy in baby oil? Are you trying to get creative with this diet? 🙂
I didn’t change my body wash or my make up. My shampoo & conditioner are already organic and oil free. I stopped using lotion all together and my hands are looking old, but I figure I’ll just stick it out a few more weeks.
I did gain weight overnight. FRUSTRATING! I know that we’re supposed to go by our measurements, but I can totally see how we get so mad when we sacrafice our love of food (and wine for some of us) and GAIN! Ugh! Today is my day 14 and I’m down a total of 9lbs. I’m hoping its just constipation. I didn’t trink my smooth move tea all weekend.
Lulu,
You can start using lotions again after PH 2 is over? I’m on day 15 (including 2 load days) so I still have a little while to go. I’m not sure if I can make it that long.
I’m going to Maui second week in Sept., which was my first reason to get on this diet. I had a baby almost five months ago and the weight just wouldn’t come off no matter how much I exercised or watched what I ate. I have two older children from my first marriage (I’m a widow) and had no problem losing the baby weight 20 years ago. But now that I’m older and had weight to lose anyway, this is the only thing working for me. I didn’t want to be Lulu in a moo-moo in Maui.
Question:
I’m flying out of state this weekend. Has anyone flewn with HCG thats injectable, that needs to be refrigerated? I’m not quite sure how to handle this yet. And the food thing… ugh (gonna be more torture!). I was gonna try to pack my cooked chicken and beef and take some veggies, but it’ll be about seven hours from the time I leave my house until I get to my hotel. Advice anyone?
Lulu,
About your question with the flying… I’m a consultant who flies every week and a colleague of mine who did the diet 2 years ago was able to fly with it. She would bring it in a small neoprene zip bag in which she would also put one of those blue freezer keep it cold things people use in coolers. Pack it in your luggage. At the hotel she would ask for a mini-fridge for her room.
One thing to make sure you cover all your bases is to carry your prescription with you. If someone gets suspicious about it, you can guarantee it getting there if the prescription is with it.
Hope this helps.
Thank you Stacy! I was just doing all this research on travelling with dry ice, which seems like more hassle than it’s worth. I don’t know why I didn’t think of that blue freezer thingy. Perfect!
Ladies – there is Lotion to help.
In the book HCG Weight Loss Cure Guide page 34, it has a list of about 10+ lotions to use.
I bought the St. Ives Vanilla (only one stated) at drug store. It works great. I have also used Baby Lotion Gel, but don’t really care for it. Used Coconut oil (not so much) and you can use Aloe Vera 100% Gel.
There is hope and don’t let your hands get all dry or legs for that matter, use the list and find the lotions. Neutrogena Oil free Facial Lotion is great and I will continue to use.
Les,
HAHA on the hog lard!
I agree. I am a professional, need to look so, and I never feel good if I look crummy, so oh well, I used all my makeup and personal supplies.
Why lose weight and feel crummy about yourself?
I’ve lost 38 pounds and almost at my goal with 23 days left on round 2.
Happy as can be 🙂
Wow! Debbie, congratulations! My total weight loss goal is 67 lbs, but I’ll be extatic if I can lose 32 on round 1 before I go on vacation.
I’ve heard round 2 is harder than round one. Is that true for you?
Thanks Lulu!
Yes! Round 2 is so much harder. Especially since i’m pounds away from my goal. And, I got bored more quickly with the diet, and summer and motivation. Didn’t feel so great on this round.
The first round, wow what a difference. Had tons of energy, slept great, tried different recipes and that got me through.
This time, Ehh. If I count the fat days, lost 8 more. I did put a few back on after round one. Never did the steak day. We were at friend’s houses in another state and on vacation, I struggled. This time, maintenance will be easier.
Just want to get done!
Good luck to you!
Debbie
And Lulu,
I think my biggest issue with maintenance was not eating enough calories.
The right things weren’t so available, so I wouldn’t eat. Not good
I’m not too worried about my maintenance this round. I’ll be very close to the farmer’s market in Maui and will have a kitchen in my room. I can’t wait to have wine!
This weekend during my Colorado trip, I know I’m going to be VERY tempted to have a cocktail. A bunch of us are meeting from all over the US to visit with family, and we are staying in a casino. Ugh! Ok, so my bff says she’ll be supportive, but I know I’d love to join her in a cocktail. Is there any alcohol that I can try to sneak? Or is it just not worth it? Vodka with soda water and lemon? (oh please, oh please)
Jenn,
I have dry skin so I was worried about not using my normal lotions on this diet but I wanted to be consistent with the protocol. I bought Biore lotion and also Neutrogena and I couldn’t be happier. They both work very well and are oil free (as stated on their bottles). They may be facial moisturizers but I didn’t care I wanted something I could use. In fact, my skin is less dry than before the diet. I don’t know if it’s the hcg or these products. I think it’s the hcg because my skin (even where I don’t use the lotion seems much more moist and smooth than before the diet. I bought the lotions at CVS. Good luck!
Hey Lulu,
How did I come up the the cracker and baby oil bit? I saw it demonstrated at a body products demonstration show…It was weird.
Get creative? I wish…My husband is the one that comes up with the different ways to cook the protein. It tastes so good when he does it, but bad when I do it..
LuLu-, I have had a few Vodka, and diet tonics with a lemon, and they don’t seem to have a too bad of a negative affect. The kicker is the day after the day. I had my drinks on Sat, woke up Sunday was down 3lbs, then Monday I was up 4. I realized that on Sunday I didn’t drink any water, only tea, so I think that might be the kicker. Thankfully today ( Tuesday) I am back down to what I was….so I would say enjoy a little, but be mindful you might gain a little bit…
Oh Amanda, you just made my day! I was only planning on having one or two here and there, but as a rule, I’ve always had two big cups of water per cocktail, so this just might work for me.
So today, you are back down to what you were on what day? Saturday? Or are you back on track with 1lb loss per day?
Lulu,
I’m on maintenance phase and I’ve had white wine with no ill effects.
LuLu,
I am down 1 pound from what I was on Saturday..I had the drinks on Sat.
Deodorant report:
Tried Trader Joe’s Scentless Deodorant during Phase I – Absolutely useless
Last two days I’ve used Arm & Hammer Baking Soda – Fantastic! No odor and no irritation.
DOES ANYONE KNOW OF A GOOD SOURCE TO BUY THE HCG INJECTIONS AT A GOOD PRICE. WANT TO START DIET SOON
THANKS
Hi everyone
Thanks for all your good advice.I am on p2 27 days out. I’ve lost 15 pounds and I am thrilled.
I am getting ready for mantance. Can anyone explain how to do that? Is there a list of do and don’ts?
I am terrified of gaing weight back-I worked so hard.
Any advice would be appreciated.
Thank you
Diyhcg.com
Muriel,
If you haven’t already downloaded and read Dr. Simeons’ book, “Pounds & Inches,” that should be your next step. He explains it pretty well. Basically, you will continue the VLCD for three days (72 hours) after your last dose of HCG. Then on day 4, you bump your caloric intake to somewhere in the neighborhood of 1500 calories, without ANY starches or sugar. Ph3 is monitored by daily morning weighings, just like you’ve been doing all along. What you are watching for is stability: no more than plus or minus 2 pounds from your morning weight on THE DAY OF THE LAST HCG DOSE. This phase lasts for three weeks. Keep track of what and how much you are eating so you can adjust as dictated by the daily weight. It’s during this phase that “steak day” comes into play in case you exceed the upper 2 pound limit. There’s more to it, but this will give you an idea of what it’s all about.
Harvel
Hi all! I just talked to a close buddy who is going to start the diet as well. After hanging with you all, doing my own research, and using my own experience (HCG injections) I also sent her the diyhcg.com link and told her to do the homeopatic hcg sublingual. I wish I would have done it that way myself. AND if you order injections over the internet it takes three weeks. If you go to a clinic its very expensive. Shelly, go with the diyhcg.com.
Question about melba toast… I couldn’t find regular melba toast at a couple places I went to, so I bought melba toast minis from Trader Joe’s. Has anyone had these? If so, how many of these little minis am I allowed per day?
Thanks Amanda and Judy for the alcohol tips. I’ll wait for phase 3 for some wine. But will try a vodka if I just can’t resist drinking socially this weekend.
Diyhcg.com I can only find the drops on that web site.
Do I need to contact them to get the injections? Any help please.
Thanks
Shelly, diyhcg.com only has the drops. I bought the injections from drugdelivery.ca. It took three weeks to get them and it was a lot of hassle worrying about customs.
I really, really, really wish I would have used the drops from diyhcg.com. It seems like hunger is not there with those drops (I’m starving all the time with these injections). And it’s cheaper AND faster to get the hcg.
The grissini mentioned in the protocol has 12 calories each, so I assume you are allowed an equivalent portion of melba toast. I got the grissini online since I couldn’t find melba toast. They are very good.
Uh oh… one serving (22 pieces) of these melba toast minis I bought is 110 calories. That means each mini is 5 calories. The past couple days I’ve eaten about 12. I better watch it. Thank you Jackie. Time to search for grissini.
Hey guys, any advice on using Splenda Flavors For Coffee? Really desperate at this point. Can no longer have black coffee with stevia. The packet says zero cals/carbs/fat. Looking fwd to some response. Thanks
Stevia Toffee,or vanilla creme are what I use with some cinnamon…all sugar free, and I water it down just a tad…
Hi Everyone,
Has anyone taken a planned interruption in treatment for a few days? At the end of the month we’re bringing my daughter back to college, and my daughter and I want to go off the diet for a few days, but we want to make sure we do it in a way to minimize weight gain. I read the protocol and it seems like it says that if the interruption is less than 2 weeks you can go off the hcg, eat what you want (I assume of Phase 3 foods) and then resume the hcg and 500 calorie diet once you’re home again (or in my daughter’s case settled into her apartment).
Is this the way everyone else understands it? We’ll be gone for 3 to 4 days, and I plan on stopping the hcg for the 72 hours before we start the trip. Then I was going to eat the Phase 3 foods for the 3 to 4 days I’m gone. Then, when I get home I was going to start the hcg and the vlcd again. I really would rather not go through the gorging days again (before starting the vlcd). I’m only 10 pounds away from my goal, and I wish I could stick with it til I’m done but I know it will be too difficult while traveling and eating at restaurants. Any advice would be appreciated. Thanks in advance.
I’m right there with Amanda with the English Toffee and the Vanilla Cream stevia. Those are the only two flavors I bought. I will buy more of something different when I’m back at the health food store. But I also love a few drops of the vanilla cream with my strawberries (tastes like strawberry shortcake). And english toffee on my baked apples (tastes like PIE!!!). I also make iced coffee on the weekends with the toffee and vanilla.
This morning I added some vanilla cream to my homemade salad dressing. It was pretty darn good! Its amazing how creative we can get!
I am a newbie to hcg, too. Day 3 of injections so tomorrow will be my first sign of weight loss (I hope!) My doc does the 800 cal version but I could only get in 500 with the food list so I will talk to her tomorrow about where those other 300 are supposed to come from. I would love Les’s recipes if you are still posting Les or if anyone has them. You did a great job on this program and in your support of all!!
I don’t know how some of you are having a problem finding calories! I measure my meats and all… but my veggies and two fruits make up for more than the rest. I really think I’m eating too much veggies.
Last night I had a unexpected visitor from out of town. I was a little pissed because she knew about my diet and still arrainged for going out to dinner. Ugh! Anyway, I ordered steak grilled with NOTHING and two sides of asparagas steamed plain. I estimated what was 3.5 ounces of the steak. I also ordered a Kettle One with soda water and lemon since I was a little on edge.
THIS MORNING I’M DOWN 2.5 POUNDS!!!!!!!! Vodka rocks!
I am going to do my best to drink EXTRA water today so I don’t have a stall like Amanda did. I sure hope I’m not doing some unforseen damage on my insides. But in the manuscript Dr. S does mention alcohol being exceptional for some people. I guess he just didn’t mean wine.
LuLu,
You are so funny! That is exactley what I did, had the drink, then down 3lbs, BUT I was bad, and didn’t drink my water the next day. I’m sure the acholol dehydrated me which is why the loss, but please let me know how it goes tomorrow. I would so double and try to drink 4 liters today.
Good luck, and sorry bout the un-expected visitor, I had one of those last week, that sat and drank Corona’s with my hubby while I drank water…fun fun
This is totally off topic, but I have to vent…
I was adopted and found my birth mom in 2007. We talk often and I have visited a couple times a year. She lives about 450 miles away. She has refused to come down and visit here because she’s afraid to fly and it’s too far to drive for her. Sooooo, I mentioned that I’m going to Colorado this weekend to baptize my newborn, and ALL OF A SUDDEN her, my 86 year old birth-grandma, my half birth-brother, his girlfriend, and their newborn are making arrangements to come down for a visit!
Not only do I have a ton of things to do because I’m flying out of state for the first time with my five month old, but I work full-time… and they show up on a Tuesday night with about five hours notice! They’re leaving Thursday.
Oh man… these people are nice people and have very good intentions, but thank God I was put up for adoption! (reason for the vodka last night)
any words of wisdom for phase 4? i will be starting this next saturday then i am off to NY for a week the week after. Now i know i read that you should only eat organic but that is nearly impossible to do, but i will try my best. my thing is, is that while in NY i am bound to have a piece of pizza, some chinese and some ice cream. anyone been on phase 4 and have had these types of food and been able to keep it off. now i dont plan on keeping my diet this way but i will be on VAC and will want to eat “a treat” at least once a day and be good for the rest of the day. You get what im saying. any advice???
Amanda,
Have fun in New York.
We haven’t yet reached Ph4. We’re really looking forward to it.
As I understand this process, the whole thing is designed for us to lose weight AND reset the body’s metabolism to the new weight. Dr. Simeons suggests that, within reason, we will be able to eat just about anything whenever we want and the weight won’t change that much. Daily weighing will continue for the rest of our lives. Adjustments can be made as necessary. I wouldn’t worry too much about a piece or two of pizza each day. I sure wouldn’t let it get in the way of having fun!
Harvel
Harvel,
Yes thats what i read but it also said to only eat organic, no nitrates, nothing processed etc…. so im hoping that while i will be watching what i eat for the most part, hope that the one treat i have a day wont make me gain it back. when i come back i plan on doing one more round of 23 injections and that should be the end of this for me.
so far i have been able to keep within my 2 pounds, while having alot of fruit ( some orgainic and some not ) organic peanut butter, all the protein ( some organic and some not ) using the microwave even though it says not to, (while your at work you have no choice when there is no oven to use) and the best part is that i have been able to go to a few resturants and eat with out feeling like i cant have anything. my fav is wings not breaded with ranch dressing. oh and iced coffe with creamer and i put my own stevia in.
its amazing how i havent really craved chocolate like i would normally and would have that everyday just about.
i hope i survive while in NY because i will have choc peanut butter cup /mint choc chip ice cream. my fav. YUMMY.
thanks for listening.
Amanda,
If you are going to have chocolate peanut butter cup/mint chocolate chip ice cream, may I carry your bags? Anyway, on a more serious note, I think going organic vs “normal” processed, antibiotic laced, chemically laden, hormonally produced, irradiated and genetically engineered foods is a way of life, not having anything in particular to do with the HCG diet. Given the choices we have in selecting foods, if we hit 80 to 85% organic in our eating, I think we are doing darned well. All we can do is read the lables (if I can’t pronounce it, I don’t eat it), ask questions and try to make intelligent choices.
Harvel
Help.
I am on day 17 of the shots and day 15 of the VLCD. I am so nauseated, I don’t want to eat? Did anybody else feel like this? If so, what did you do to get over it. I was going to do the 40 days, but I think I am only going to do 23, then start again. I have lost 25 pounds since starting, and I am excited for that. Any suggestions? I do have an appointment with my doctor on Monday.
I really enjoy this forum and really am grateful for all of your advice.
Jim,
How are you spacing out your meal? that may have something to do with that. there were times that i felt like i didnt want to eat. at those times you really should eat all that you are suppose to but if i couldnt i made sure i at least ate the protein. what i did was have my fruit at like 10am and made it last about an hour, then i would eat my lunch around 12-1, then i would just have water or tea in between, dinner around 5 or 6 and the last of the fruit around 9-10pm. if your feeling like that you may just want to do the 23 days and then do another 23 days 6 weeks later. thats what im going to do. but if you dont eat all of your food for the day you could gain. i know it sounds crazy.
Harvel,
yes you can carry my bags and if your ever in Upstate NY, Albany area you have to have Stewarts Ice Cream, its a convenice/gas station store but they make there own ice cream and nothing compares. They actually sell Stewarts Sodas at Cracker Barrel stores because they make there own soda too. its great.
But yes, i am trying to make sure when i can eat orgainic but we all know there are going to be times when we can not and we will just be normal people and actually go out and eat something processed. we just have to make sure we dont live our lives as we used too. I guess i will see what happens when im away and if i am going to have to do a steak day when i return. I hope not because i havent yet had to and im almost 2 weeks in the Ph 3.
Yes Jim
I too have been nauseated to the point of gaging.Today
I prepared chicken and was gaging so I almost threw up. I changed to shrimp and that went down.Awful feelingI am on p2-my 27th day. I also thought I’d last longer but now I’m not sure.
Anyone have a list of p3 food.I feel like I will be let loose without any guidance
Thank you
Ph 3, you can pretty much eat anything as long as your not eating starch and sugar. Ive been having lots of fruits, peanut butter, wings not breaded, more veggies, egg, cheese, avacodos, just really have to make sure what your eating is not processed with nitrates or added sugars. should stay away from mangos, pineapples and bananas. you can also have creamer in your coffe or iced coffe, make sure your using stevia as well no splenda.
Amanda and Muriel,
Thanks so much for your advice. That really helped. If this is how women feel when they are pregnant, I feel sorry for every women who has gone through a pregnancy.
Amanda,
I guess you’ll just have to go without me. I live in Arizona. I don’t see a trip to Upstate NY any time soon for me. You mentioned “creamer.” My wife and I use heavy whipping cream in our coffee. Pure cream with a little natural stabilizer and nothing else. “Creamers” in general have all sorts of stuff in them, with some form of sugar as the first or second ingredient.
Harvel
Harvel,
yes your right and thats what i meant to say. i guess with this diet you have to be exact because there are so many different versions of food avail. i try not to have it often as it does have alot of calories and fat.
All –
I need motivation. Getting so frustrated. Stayed at the same weight for 4 days, to the ounce!
I am getting so close to my goal. This is tough. I am on P2 day 27 of round 2. Injections. Have a message into hcgmedical to see what to do. I am also getting hungry and very tired. I miss round 1 with all the energy.
On a good note, had to go shopping at lunch yesterday for clothes. Had NOTHING to wear that would stay on. And, at 5’8″ and 51 years old, I had to buy size 6 and 8’s!!! Can’t believe it. People are calling ME skinny! Haven’t heard that in forever, since before the kids were born.
Not sure if this is just the weight for me, which isn’t as important as the size and look, but I don’t know what to do. Can I just stop at this point?
Good luck all. This works!
Debbie
Debbie,
Way to go with the clothing. It’s really a shame you had to replace your wardrobe, isn’t it?
You are day 27 of the second time around? Your weight hasn’t moved for 4 days? Sounds to me like you might be finished. If you decide that you are, stop the HCG and follow the protocol for locking in the progress with Ph3.
Thanks Harvel! 🙂
Only thing that still fits me are shoes!
That is tough to rebuild a wardrobe, especially when I am in sales, need suits and own a business.
I was thinking the same. that I am done. And I have a surgery in October where I will be on a liquid only diet for 2-3 weeks and the doctor told me to watch because I’ll drop more then.
Thanks for the advise!
Wow Debbie, that is fantastic! Are you happy with your weight? I’m 5’8″ also, and would LOVE to wear size 6 or even size 8! What I would do is try an apple day. If that doesn’t work, then I agree with Harvel, you’re probably done. Good luck! I’m dying to know how well maintenance and phase 4 will go for you!
I survived all the madness of the birth family visit, and am glad it’s over. I left work early yesterday to go home, clean my house, and cook food for 15 guests! Talk about serious torture!!! Thank God my daughter was there to help me and made me another yummy vodka cocktail.
So vodka update… yesterday, after Wednesday night (one) vodka with tonic, I was down 2.5 lbs. I drank LOTS of water all day, had another (just one) vodka diet tonic, and am down .5 lbs today. I’m going to do my best to drink as close to a gallon of water today.
Tomorrow more challenges with travelling!
Thanks Lulu! at 5’8″ it is not easy for us to get lower!
Too late for an apple day today. Had strawberries.
I will let you know. Still haven’t decided what to do. and hanging at this weight awhile, maybe that helps long term
Ok, I agree with the book and all the posts. PH3 is hard, I thought I was doing good and watching Sugars. That darn Starch got me and I gained 5 lbs yesterday, thinking i was doing good eating at PG Chang’s. Darn another Steak Day, that is tough. It is a difficult transition to PH3, at least for me. It was easier for me to build a day of food on 500 restrictions then this open menu.
Ok – back to the Grill for me. Darn it. However, it works.
Now I’m getting a little scared about P3. I was thinking it would be easy, just eating the same stuff but more. Am I wrong? My first day of P3 will be on my Hawaiian vacation… yikes!!
Debbie,
You are probably done. The Protocol says that the hcg is self-limiting. Once all the bad fat is gone, it does not go after the good fat (structural fat and natural reserve fat). Also, when that happens you start to feel hungry on the vlcd. Since you said you felt hungry you most likely are done. Congratulations! I hope to be done by the first week of September. I have 9 more pounds to go. My favorite thing to do is to try on my size 10 clothes which were tight on me 3 weeks ago and now are really loose. For the first time in about 8 years I fit into a size 6 again. This diet is really a miracle. Good luck on Phase 3.
Jen,
What a drag. It makes me nervous about Phase 3. I’d prefer a specific list. I guess the big thing is no bread, pasta and sugar (unless it’s naturally in the fruit). Good luck getting the 5 pounds off.
First o f all Jen, You dont introduce sugars, starches or carbs until pahse 4. You have to read. Phase 4 is after your first 21 days after phase 2. You only introduce those in every third day figuring out how your body reacts to each one and DC it if it makes you gain and try something different until you find the things that your body reacts to positively. Phase 3 you only introduce Avacado, more protien, nuts, more eggs and meat and salmond and tuns, more veggies and more fruits. DO NOT do sugars , starches and Added carbs other than what you get in fruit and vegg and meats, nuts etc. Phase 4 is when you are 21 days after phase 2.
LuLu, you do get to change and add nuts, avacados, fruits, veggies and there are a lot of those kind of things in Hawaii. Dont blow a great weight loss over a few days. You will be so glad and honored of yourself that you had enough strength to make a life change even in Hawaii. Life is about change, now live it. If you dont nothing will ever change. Be Blessed and have an awesome trip and if you eat right, you will have more energy to do more things while you are there. You will feel gratified like you have never before by not giving in to the things you used to. Have a great trip. What part of the country are you from? LULU
Phase 3 is easy folks,, down load the 21 day phase 3 list of foods recommended. Everything you were eating and add more veggies, More fruits, nuts and Avacado, Guacamole, more salsas, Enjoy the change you have made. Then go into phase 4. The best thing you can do for yourself is download “LOW GLYCEMIC FOOD LIST” If you change your eating and try to stick to low glycemic foods you will do awesome. I Lost 43 pounds in 38 days and in 40 stayed 43 pounds phase 3 lost 1 pound I am in phase 4 and have lost another pound just by eating off of the low glycemic foods list and educating myself on what low glycemic foods are and why they are called that. Things that digest slowly and dont wham your system with sugars, starches, carbs. The reason that Pumpernickle, Sour Dough and Rye bread are the best to eat is because they are the top 3 Low Glycemic Breads there are. Go by the list. Live it and treat yourself now and then and then go back to the Low Glycemic List. Study it know your foods and what they do to you. There are a lot of foods you can eat that are good. And if you eat eat right 90 % of the time the chips and salsa or margarita or piece of homemade bread or 1 cookie doesnt pack on the pounds, it just simply digest with the other good stuff. Dont worry, Be Happy !!!
Oh and by the way My total is 46 pounds and since July 15th have stayed within the 2 pound range either gaining or losing and have never had to have a apple day or steak day. Sept 1 I will go on a 23 day hcg sublingual protocol and then take 3 weeks off and then do one more 23 day deal and will have lost 100 pounds in 90 days. WOW !! then I will do 2 times a year a 23 day deal and live my new Low Glycemic diet plan with a little Adkins in it and not be big again. Remember that for every pound of fat or weight you lose you lose 4 pounds of pressure on your knees and feet. I can verify that my knees and feet are shouting WOOOPIE !!!
Hi All –
Well, surgery is behind me and I start that wonderful two day gorge tomorrow. I have been reading this site for some time and have researched extensively long before I found you. As mentioned previously, I am doing this alone in my town, almost pulling my doc along with me to prove to him I think it can work, therefore, he is no source of information…
Let me ask a question I have yet to see, and it not covered in Pounds and Inches, which Ihave read completely, twice!!
Has anyone tried this: Doing the three week protocol for the required 26 days, P3 for three weeks, then the six week protocol for the required days, P3 for six weeks, and then again, should my weight loss determine more. I look at it like this – in a 12 week period, there would be 9 weeks of injections, instead of six weeks of injections and the six weeks off.
Anyone have any thoughts??
Thanks… Amy
Les, where can I find the 21 day phase 3 list of foods?
Hi Les-
I was wondering if you could send me the yummy recipes you have used in phase 2 (and phase 3!) and also a link to the Low Glycemic Food List. Is there a certain point we should try to be at to fit into the protocol? I am a little confused by that…
My email is debbierhoton@msn.com.
Thank you to Harvel for all his wonderful help! I would not be where I am now if it wasn’t for him helping me like he has!!
It is also important on P3 to do the cleanses.
Kidney, Colon and Liver. To get the HCG out of your system.
Thanks Jackie! Congrats to you!
Well, it’s official. No time to think about it. HCGMedical talked to me and I am done with the shots today. I am only on day 27. Darn it.
I’ll keep you posted.
Good luck
Les,
I hope you don’t need the program twice a year! Shouldn’t!
Les, I’m in Southern California, Orange County (with those Real Housewives of OC). Yep, lots of very thin women that I am neighbors with! It’s tough. Not that I’m trying to impress anyone…its all about how I feel about myself.
My children from my first marriage (I’m a widow) are 20 & 18 years old. I am very blessed and fell in love again and just had a baby five months ago. Before I got pregnant I was on weight watchers trying to get from 175 to 165. After this baby I went up to 210! I was NOT comfortable with myself at all. My honey never mentioned a word about the weight gain and still loved all over me. But personally, I was just ready to make a change! My goal is not longer 165 either… my goal is 140! And I really feel confident I can do it! Thanks to you all and your support!
So now, please pray for me on my trip to Colorado tomorrow. I will not always be able to choose where I’m going to eat, but I’m gonna do my best to eat what I need to when I need to.
Les,
Where do you get the 21 day recommended food list and the LOW GLYCEMIC FOOD LIST
Debbie
NEED ADVICE, PLEASE!!
On day 3 of VLCD, down 6 lbs. including load days. Husband surprised me with a trip to Las Vegas for my 40th birthday. Leaving in a week. Should I stop taking my HCG 3 days before trip, stay on VLCD for those days and then try to follow VCLD through 4 day vacation the best that I can? Can I resume HCG when I return or will I have to start all over again with load days?
I don’t want to give up my momentum. I also don’t want to carry around my lunch sack in Vegas. Came at a bad time.:(
Thanks in advance for your advice!
I too would like to get the 21 day recommended food list.I am terrifed to go on p3.
Thanks
Hi all:
My name is Janell and I will be starting the HCG diet On Wednesaday and I am so excited.
I have been reading the post on here and it is very encouraging. I have never been this excited about a diet in my life. I have done so much reading and it’s seems as though everyone who has tried the diet has had success and I cannot wait to become a part of that list.
The food variations and recipes you all share are great. I thought I would have to eat the same food for weeks (which can get pretty boring) but you guys have given me some great ideas. My partner and I are starting this diet together so along with her and this site I feel I will have great support.
Thanks guys for the inspiration and keep posting away I look forward to reading the updates, I learn something new everyday.
I will update with my stats when I start.
My goal is to lose 60 pounds.
Happy HCG-ing 🙂
Janell,
Welcome and good luck with your weight loss!
-Stacy
First of all Les –
Believe me I have read the book and read the book and encourage everyone to do the same. Got it no starch and no sugar in PH3 – easier said than done – At least for me. Sugar is easier to see for me than starch.
Didn’t mean to scare all of you and have someone remind me to read, but it is an adjustment.
I had Hot and Sour soup – thinking I was doing good, not knowing it had cornstarch. Didn’t even think about it. I thougt no sugar in the soup and It’s not like I am shoving a piece of bread or pasta in my mouth. However, it got me. Plus the MSG.
Everyone is asking about PH3 – thought I would give my mistake and how easily you can be thrown off.
I did a steak day yesterday and WOW – 5 lbs down. It must have been the sodium and starch together.
Good luck everyone.
Jen- I had no clue that Hot and Sour soup would have caused a gain…thanks for sharing…So Les, where can we get this list of foods for phase 3, please share…I will be doing phase 3 as soon as I lose 30lbs for 3 weeks, then back to Ph 1 for another 10 to 30 lb loss..
For you newbies, stick with it through the first week, I had some discouragements seeing eveyong post about day 13 down 10+ lbs, and I was only down like 2 b/c I had to lose what I gained during the fun days….
I am happy to say that today is day 14 on VLCD and I am down…drum roll please……16lbs!!! Come on baby 14 more to go
DRINK DRINK DRINK
Awesome Jen!
Well, just when I decided that I must be done and today would be the first of my 3 days of no shots and follow the VLCD. After 5 days at the same weight. Only day 28 today.
I lost 2.5 pounds!
Unbelievable. Stopping anyway. I like the size I am at and it has been too difficult, being hungry. So, day one of the 3…
Good Morning Everybody,
I see several questions about Ph3. Figured it might help alleviate some of the concerns if I describe our first week of Ph3. Remember, the objective is to maintain weight within a 4 pound range (plus or minus 2 pounds of the weight the morning of the LAST HCG DOSE). A pound or so up or down is normal and not a reason for concern. A 2 pound or more up calls for a “steak day.” A two pound or more down calls for more calories.
The basic rules are to get the calories up to somewhere in the 1500 range. Our clinician wants my (larger male) intake to be 1500 to 1800 calories. He wants my wife’s (smaller female) to be 1300 to 1500.
We have increased the protein portion, we have added olive oil, coconut oil, sausage, bacon, butter, etc. and we are mixing the fruits and veggies. After 43 days of HCG-VLCD, I think I’ve died and gone to Heaven! NO starches (read the lables and ask if you are at a restaurant)and NO sugar. OK, so the wife asks, “What about the sugar in fruit?” Good question. My answer is that Dr. Simeons probably meant “refined sugar” in all it’s forms. I might add that there are maybe 50 or 60 synonyms for cane/beet sugar. Google it and see what you get.
At the end of our first week, my weight seems to have stabilized at about 1 1/2 pound under the last dose day. My wife on the other hand, has seen her weight be all over the place. Yesterday morning her weight was about 2 1/2 pounds above the last dose day. She agreed, after some heated discussion, to do a steak day. This morning, her weight had dropped 2.3 pounds and she was back within the range.
When we started Ph3, I was concerned that that much to eat would cause an immediate jump in weight. That has not been the case. Thank God!
Hope this helps.
Harvel
I was listening on the news to all the talk about H1N1 and how it’s likely to touch almost 50% of the population and that got me wondering… If someone on the HCG diet were to pick up a virus (any sickenss) during Phase II should anything change about the protocol? Has anyone out there gotten sick while in Ph II and what did you do?
Hello all you wonderful HCG people! I’m Amanda, and I am on Day 7. I have a question about this chili I have cooked. I recently made a switch to 99/1 fat free turkey because I’m not naturally a fan of meat.I do not eat beef and chicken is absolutely unbearable at this point. I added tomatoes, onions, (a few)chili peppers and some hot sauce, and chili powder to give it flavor. It was cooked in a crock pot. I eat very tiny servings of it to account for the vegetable servings in with the meat.(which is fine with me, because I’m not really that hungry anyways.)
My question is, does anyone know if cooking all your allowable portions together, and eating them together in chili, stew, or soup form is a no go?
While I’m at it, I started mashing up my strawberries, cooking them down on the stove, adding stevia, and chilling them. It tastes like jelly, so I eat them on my melba toast for breakfast sometimes. Does cooking the strawberries do anything horrible like increase sugar content?
Amanda, Mix up girl, it doesnt hurt a thing, we did it and lost lots of weight. Also with the strawberries, thats just fine cooking them doesnt change anything and you can buy frozen strawberries and put a blender full of them with about 1/2 to 1 cup water and splenda or stevia and it is the greatest smoothie you will have ever had. It Is awesome for a treat. The only thing you mentioned that is normally a no no is the turkey, every protocol i have read says NO TURKEY. But if it is working for you and you are not gaining eat up. Did all of that and lost 46 pounds in 40 days. I am in phase 4 now and enjoying it. Will start New protocol Sept.1 23 day for 25 more pounds
Hey, Les, thanks for answering!!
We just had our first day of turkey yesterday. My boyfriend lost a pound this am, so I guess it’s working for him? I did not loose anything, but that started a day before the turkey. It could be either the turkey or my cycle. Remains to be seen. If turkey doesn’t work, I’m afraid I might have to do Simeons Vegan protocol and I really would rather not, but if I have to, well, it’s only for a little while, =)
Cheers to the strawberry jam! It’s my new reason to be excited!! And Cheers to you and your family for figuring this out,being creative with the food, and making this diet fit YOU. I just love it! Give us the rules, and let’s make it as delicious as life itself!!
I looked online for a food list and I found the following links which have food lists from the Atkins Diet Phases I through IV. I think that we are allowed Atkins Phases I and II during hcg Phase 3. The links are: http://www.atkins.com/Program/FourPhases/WhatIsInduction/AcceptableFoodsList.aspx
and
http://www.atkins.com/Program/FourPhases/WhatIsOngoingWeightLoss/AcceptableFoodsList.aspx
The only other thing I would note is that on the Atkins Phase III food list they list a few foods (apples and grapefruit) which hcg dieters are allowed on the vlcd. I assume that in hcg Phase 3 we are allowed everything we were allowed on the vlcd even if it’s not on Atkins Phase I or Phase II.
Les and Harvel, could you verify that these are the food lists we are supposed to follow for hcg Phase 3? Thanks in advance.
Hi Everyone,
Today has been a great hcg day. I ordered a new scale for my daughter to bring to school and when I weighed myself this morning I found I was 3 pounds lighter (yes!)on the new scale than I was on my home scale. Before getting the new scale I assumed that our home scale was accurate. I guess it was stupid on my part but I just assumed it was correct. I then tested both scales on items I knew the weight of. The new scale got the right answer and the other scale was 4 pounds heavier. My daughter was thrilled because she had been banging her head against the wall about her weight not moving for several days, and I had a similar (but not as bad) experience. When she weighed herself on the new scale, she was 4 pounds lighter. Anyway, I can now say that I have lost 20 pounds in 26 days. I’m only 6 pounds away from my target weight, which makes me very happy.
Anyway, the moral of the story is to not assume your scale is correct. Test it out. After discovering this error, I immediately ordered another scale for myself just like the one I just bought for my daughter. Good luck everyone!
Jackie,
I know that a lot of folks follow the Atkins Diet for parts of the HCG diet. However, it’s actually much simpler than that. You are allowed anything in Ph3 that you were allowed in the HCG-VLCD, just more of it. In additon, you add fats and oils and just about any meat you would like (we are ging to try ostrich–tastes like chicken??). You can mix your vegetables, you can branch out in the vegetables and fruits you eat. The restrictions are: 1) around 1500 calories a day. 2) NO starches or sugar. 3) Keep the weight within plus or minus 2 pounds of the weight of the day of the last dose of HCG. We are going into week 2 of Ph3 and aren’t having any problems with what we eat. It does seem like a lot of food at first!
Les, anything to add or correct?
Harvel
Hi Les,
I would like for you to email me some recipies, sweet4now2@aol.com..beenn on the protocol for 9 days nd have lost 11 #’s so far.
Les,
Can you send me the recipes?
What salad dressing can we use?
Thanks for all your help.
Sally
Where can I buy hhcg?
Sally
Harvel,
Thanks so much for responding. Your explanation is helpful. The confusion that I have is identifying foods with starch. For example, I know potatoes, pasta and bread are out, but what about black beans and corn? Do they have starch? Then, I thought I read somewhere that carrots have starch. Also, I thought I read in one of the posts here that we aren’t supposed to have bananas. Believe me, I’m very excited about moving to Phase 3 because I know there are so many more choices. I just want to make sure I don’t mess up what I accomplished in Phase 2.
By the way, the ostrich sounds interesting. You’ll have to let us know how you like it. Thanks again!
Les,
I asked for the recipes and forgot to give you my email address.
How are you doing on phase3?
What dressing are you using? By the way I love your attitude with the protocol.
I’m a nurse btw.
Thanks,
Sally
For Les,
SBrustowicz@cox.net
Thanks
Sally
Jackie,
Basically, the starchy foods to avoid during Ph3 are potatoes of all kinds and forms; all grain-based products (wheat, corn, rice, amaranth, rye, etc., etc); beans and some vegetables. I found a website with a table of the starch content of common foods presented in grams of starch per 100 grams of food (percent). That may help. Look through it and you will quickly get an idea of what to avoid: I would say to stay away from anything that has a starch content of greater than 2 to 3%. That’s why breadsticks and Melba toast(allowable during HCG-VLCD) are a no-no during Ph3.
http://www.kickas.org
Harvel
This is the list of foods HCG Medical Clinic gave me to follow after I got off the injections for the 21-30 days and then slowly add in carbs after that period.
Dairy
Milk
Cheese
Snacks (use caution)
Almonds
Almond Butter
Pecans
Pumpkin Seeds
Walnuts
Protein
Hemp Protein Powder
Pea Protein Powder
Eggs
All Meats
Staples
Extra Virgin Coconut Oil
Extra Virgin Olive Oil
Mustard (ck ingred)
Hot Sauce (ck ingred)
Truvia – Stevia
Fruits
Cherries
Plums
Grapefruit*
Peaches*
Peach, canned in natural juice
Granny Smith Apples*
Pears
Strawberries*
Prunes
Cranberries*
Raspberries*
Blackberries*
Blueberries*
Cantaloupe*
Honeydew*
Tomatoes*
Vegetables
Artichoke
Avocado
Asparagus*
Bamboo Shoots
Bok Choy
Broccoli*
Brussels Sprouts
Cabbage*
Cauliflower*
Celery*
Chilies
Cucumber*
Eggplant
Fennel
Greens
Green Beans*
Herbs
Jicama
Lettuce* (Romaine, Mixed Greens)
Mushrooms*
Okra
Onions*
Radishes*
Sea Vegetables
Snow Peas
Spinach
Sprouts
Summer Squash
Tomatoes*
Zucchini*
Jackie,
Here’s a more precise web address for the food starch listing:
http://www.kickas.org/ubbthreads/showthreaded.php?Number=146875
Good Luck, Harvel
Regina,
Thanks for posting the list of Ph3 foods. Question:
What are the asterisks (” * “)? I didn’t see a footnote in the list.
Thanks, Harvel
Hi Les,
I haved loved reading your post. You have done great I am on day 18, 21#down. Would love to have some of your recipes. roxy@my.amigo.net
Thanks
Regina,
Thanks so much for the list! By the way, I assume when you say all meats are allowed you are including all fish as well. Is that correct? Thanks in advance.
Sally,
For salad dressings try some of the following:
-Fresh squeezed lemon juice (you’re allowed the juice of one lemon every day)
-Fresh squeezed grapefruit juice (if you use half a grapefruit for breakfast, squeeze the other half on your salad at dinner)
-Mustard (read the label to ensure it’s JUST mustard – Annie’s Naturals are good)
-Vinegar (all types, as long as there are no sugars – try Apple Cider Vinegar)
-Salsa (Again, no added sugars, just tomatoes and peppers)
-Stacy
Hello Everyone,
I have a few questions on what the phases are. I have lost 13.5 lbs in 13 days YA HOO!!!!! I read alot of sites and think the phases are different. I mainly read this one and try to follow. Please tell me if I am right.. Phase one: gorge and drops either 26 or 42 days, Phase two is no drops and no less than 1500 calories just no starch and no sugars, Phase three is where you slowly add starch and sugars? I am confused, what is the maintenance phase called?
Thanks so much for any clairification.
Les, would love to get your receipes. How do I go about that?
Thanks again
I’m on Day 4 and 5#’s down.
As a “foodie” who loves to make gourmet meals, I keep thinking of ways to make meals I can eat but will also be really flavorful, pretty to look at and can also serve to guests.
Last night I created a meal that we felt tasted great, even served it (in larger portions) to my fiance. It’s hearty, has good textures, and is both sweet and peppery. I’ll share…
The following portions are for one serving.
Apple-Celery Sole (202 calories)
3.5 oz of Dover Sole (approx. 2 filets)
1 cup celery
1 small apple
1/2 lemon (juice)
1T Apple Cider Vinegar
Spices for fish (your preference)
Cut celery in 1/8″ slices
Core apple and slide in 1/8″ slices
Stir celery, apple and vinegar together in a bowl. Add salt and pepper to taste.
In a frying pan, add mixture and 1/2 C water.
Saute on Med-Hi for 6-8 minutes.
Before removing from pan, squeeze in the juice of one half lemon and fold in.
Season fish filets (I used salt, garlic powder and a bit of cayenne pepper).
Cover bottom of frying pan with water and lay fish in pan. Heat on Hi for 3 minutes. (since this fish is so thin, turning is not necessary)
Put apple and celery mixture on plate and lay fish filets over top.
Enjoy!
-Stacy
Jane,
Congrats on your weight loss so far. As to the Phases, if you’re doing the drops now, you’re in Phase II. Here’s the phases, in short:
Phase 1: Eat a healthy, low calorie (many people do all organic) diet and do a cleanse (liver, kidney and colon).
Phase 2: HCG injections/drops/etc + a VLCD (very low calorie diet)
Phase 3: (Maintenance) Eat a low glycemic diet (no starch/sugars) of approx 1500 calories. Adjust or do the “steak day” if necessary.
Phase 4: Eat a normal diet but continue to weigh every day to check for weight fluctuations.
Hope this helps….
-Stacy
Jane,
What Stacy didn’t mention is that the “phases” she mentions come from Kevin Trudeau’s book, “The Weight Loss cure.” Dr. Simeons does not include the one month Ph1 with it’s cleansing before actually starting the diet process. In Dr. Simeons’ protocol there are three steps: 1) HCG-VLCD, 2) Maintenance for three weeks and 3) Normal diet thereafter.
To add to the confusion, some folks are referencing the Atkins Diet with its own phases, numbered I, II, etc.
Hope this helps more than it confuses.
Harvel
Harvel,
I’m sorry – the asterisks are foods that supposedly have negative calories. I typed it from the list they gave me at the clinic.
Yes, all meats include fish as well. They told me I could not have the grissini break sticks or melba toast during that period.
Regina,
Thanks. Negative foods are supposedly those that take more energy to digest than is derived from them. I don’t know enough about it to know how much energy (calories) is involved. Maybe someone else can refer me to a reference source.
The toast and breadsticks contain starches (wheat-based). That’s why we can’t eat them in Ph3. But, then, you probably knew that.
Harvel
Thank you Stacy and Harvel,
That helps clear things up.. When I am counting my calories for the day many times I can have more than 3.5 oz of veggies to equal up to the 500 cal, is that correct? I use garlic and onion (fresh) to flavor my meat 99% of the time is anyone else doing that and then using a veg or even two from the list? at one meal? Les mentioned early on to supplement with pot and mag. I drink all mineral water, do you think that is enough supplement?
Thanks again.
Hello everyone,
I haven’t posted in a while. I’ve been kind of depressed and didn’t want to spread the negativity. But I have to say, I’m a little disappointed. I’ve been on the diet 30 days as of today and I have only lost 13 lbs. Now let me say, the only other diet I’ve been on that allowed me to lose 13 lbs in a month was a liquid diet. So I’m glad to have been able to lose 13 lbs while still eating. But that being said, I keep reading everyone’s posts about losing 20 lbs in 15 days or 11 lbs in a week. On my first week I lost almost 7 lbs. The second week I lost 3. The third week I lost 2 and I lost another 1.8 this past week. I don’t know what I am doing wrong. I’m not eating anything that’s not on the list. I eat pretty much the same selections of food all the time because I don’t want to get lead astray trying to find something tantalizing for my taste buds. I figure I’ll just keep it simple and stick to the protocol. I don’t even mix my veggies as I see that some people do. So when I say “salad” what I really mean is plain lettuce. I have upped my water intake considerably since the first week. I dont hit the 2 liters every single day but maybe 5 out of 7 I get that much or more. I have nothing but water and brewed iced tea with equal and a little lemon juice. I walk for exercise. . . maybe 3 miles twice a week. I use a little mineral oil with vinegar for salad dressing (this is what my clinic advised was permissable). My make up is water based. I take my HCG as directed.
I’m happy for everyone who is doing so well but I am really discouraged because I don’t know why my weight loss is so slow. I really thought I could be done within a 23 day series but after last week I realized I’m going to have to go to 43 days. Which I wont mind so much unless I tack on the extra days just to lose another 1.8 lbs.
If it had not been for the 6 lbs in my first week on this diet, right now I would probably be considering this whole thing a scam and a failure.
I DON’T feel that way. . . I’ve read about too many people’s success on this site to think that but I really don’t understand what’s happening with me.
The “nurses” or whatever they are. . in my clinic are no help. The first week I experienced low weight loss the girl asked what I was eating and I told her that pretty much every meal was chicken breast and salad or chicken breast and asparagus. Well, her response was to tell me I needed to eat more variety; mix in some steak and different foods. She said my body was holding on to the weight because it wanted variety. Uh. . . right. . . ok.
Didn’t make sense to me but whatever. So, the next week I bought some beef (one of the cuts recommended. Top something.) I only had it maybe 3 times that week. I was really wary of going too heavy on beef. But I wanted to add variety as advised. I also switched my salad out for tomato slices or cucumber slices sometimes. But the next week I still only lost 2 lbs.
I will say I was surprised to see the small weight loss this morning because my clothes felt like I had done better. Which I understand means more than the numbers on a scale, so I’m glad for that. I really am. But i just don’t feel comfortable with my numbers hovering where they are. I started at 191.4 and I am 179 now. That’s a little tooo close to 180 for me. And as far as I’m concerned 180 and 190 are the same thing. . . . too freakin’ close to 200!
I want to get out of that neighborhood all together. I wanted to get down to 170 with the one 23 day series. NOw I know that’s not happening and I’m not even sure it will happen int he 43 days. I’m really scared of what’s going to happen if I have to take that 6 weeks off the HCG. I’m pretty scared about that.
Oh well, I guess I’ve rambled on enough. But if anyone has suggestions, answers, explanations or just good old words of encouragement. . . .I could use it right now.
Thanks.
Jane,
With regards to the daily calories (500), I carefully weighed the raw protein (chicken, beef, buffalo, veal or fish) to 3.5 ounces. Then I would account for any fruits (we were allowed two kinds a day (Orange, grapefruit, strawberries, and apple), but not at the same time. Finally, I would make up any difference with vegetables, often going above 3.5 ounces. I would sit down at the computer and plan the next day’s menu to be sure that we stayed on track. If we were within 20 or 30 calories of the target, I would add in a breadstick or two for about 22 calories apiece.
We were not allowed to eat more than two vegetables a day, and then not at the same meal. I couldn’t believe how many ways plain cabbage can be eaten! Or spinach, either.
I was using a fair amount of fresh onion as a flavorng agent in meats and salads. Our counselor pitched a real B….. about that. She said if you are going to eat onion during the HCG-VLCD phase, eat onion! She meant enough straight onion to make one whole vegetable portion. Well, I don’t know very many people who can eat a whole onion, certainly not me. There are some recipes for baked onion–I just never tried them.
Garlic as a flavoring agent is OK. You’re probably not using that much of it.
Potassium and Magnesium? Yes, they are necessary. As to whether or not the mineral water you are drinking contains enough of them, I don’t know. What does the label say in terms of percent of daily requirements? I am supplementing with both in capsule form.
I think I have covered everything you asked–probably more than you wanted to know. If I missed something, or was unclear, ask again.
Harvel
Hey everyone,
I just wanted to say that of all the sites I’ve been on, this is the most informative one I’ve found. I am not yet on HCG, mainly because I have a few questions that elude me. Every site says something different. First is how much do I take? I want to do the sublingual…is that twice a day??..and if it is do I do twice a day for 40 days or do I just take it 40 times total? I am really looking forward to this diet..I lost 30 lbs. on Weight Watchers and can’t seem to lost anymore…I still have 30 lbs. to go!
Danielle
I have heard people talk about the Ketone stripes. I have been following the food exactly and my stripes never change from a tan color. I have been on the drops since 8-7-09 and only lost 8 pounds,Any thoughts.
Harvel,
Thanks for the link for the starches. I’ll check it out.
Sandi,
The ketone strips didn’t turn color for my wife either. But, she still was losing weight. You have lost 8 pounds in about 16 days, if I am counting correctly. That’s right at 1/2 pound a day. It may not be as much as you would like, but if it is consistent, keep on keeping on. A question: “Were the first two of those days the gorging days where you ate as much as you could choke down?”
Harvel
Sandi,
I’m not an expert, but I’ve talked to many people who have done this diet as well as read everything I can get my hands on and everything I’ve heard and read says that if you are doing everything right you WILL lose 1 lb a day, every day. This has held true for eeveryone i know who followed the most restrictive pprotocol. If you’re only losing half of that you could take a very careful look at everything you’re doing. For example:
-As Harvel asked, did you do a good job on your two gorging days? Did you get around 3,000 calories of fatty foods on both of those days?
-Did you do a cleanse or period of healthy eating for 30 days before starting the injections/drops? (It’s believed that if you have hormones, chemicals, etc.. in your system that the diet won’t work as well)
-Are you eating less than 500 calories a day?
-Are you weighing your portions?
-Are you getting exactly 7oz/200g of protien a day?
-Are your fruit and vegetable portions within limits?
-Did you stop using all lotions, creams, oils, cosmetics, soaps, deoderants, etc… and coming into contact with anythingn that has oils and fats in it?
-Are you using only Simeon’s foods list (which is the most restrictive) or are you using a modified list from somewhere else?
-Have you cut out all artificial items? (this is something Trudeau recommends given our modern times)
-Could there be sugars or oils hiding in the spices you’re using? (check labels carefully for all things which should be avoided and research all the pseudonyms for sugars, starges, oils and artificial flavors)
-Are you doing your injections/drops at the same time every day?
-Are you drinking more than a gallon of water a day?
-Are you getting 8 hours of sleep?
-Are you not eating within 3 hours of bed?
-Did you
If you look into these and can’t find an issue, you may need to talk to your doctor to adjust your dosage.
Hope this helps…
-Stacy
Stacy,
Wow! You have done your homework. That is the most comprehensive list of things to watch for that I have seen in one place. You can bet that I captured it for future reference.
A couple of comments:
1) A weight loss of 1 pound a day is not guaranteed. Dr. Simeons, himself, used an average of between 10 oz and 13-1/3 oz per day in his calculations.(Page 24, “Pounds & Inches.”) Some lose more, some lose less. For example, I lost an average of 0.94 lbs/dy and my wife lost 0.5 lbs/dy.
2) Sources of fat that are extra-dietary (We don’t eat them, they are absorbed through the skin.) in additon to the cosmetics and skin lotions, etc. are furniture polish and raw ground meats. When handling these items, wear rubber or latex gloves.
Thanks a million for the list.
Harvel
So frustrated. Today is the start of my day three off shots and VLCD.
I gained another pound!
I am now at the weight I was stuck at for a week. Dropped 2.5 the last day.
I’m not sure what to do. Also, this round was very hard on my. Gave up on day 27 of the 40 per HCGMedical. Said it sounds like I am running out of abnormal fat.
Help
Debbie,
Just a thought, could this be water retention?
Before starting the diet I invested in a scale (I bought the Ironman brand) that measures weight, water %, muscle %, fat % + other things and that’s been really helpful to me in determining what kind of weight is coming off each day.
What are you thinking it might be? Any ideas?
-Stacy
Hi everyone,
One note to add to Stacy’s list, Simeons’ protocol calls for 100 grams (3.5 ounces) of veal, beef, chicken breast, fresh white fish, lobster, crab, or shrimp. All visible fat must be carefully removed before cooking, and the meat must be weighed raw.
Has anyone looked at the quick start chart that I posted earlier? That really sums up the protocol very accurately.
Debra
Stacy,
Not sure. I dropped 2.5 pounds the last day of injections after staying at the same weight for 7 days.
Maybe this weight is my low point?
I have been constipated the entire diet. Feel like I retained water…
Also, I have had to take meds a lot this round, waiting for surgery.
May do another in late February. Trying to avoid Christmas, a cruise in Feb. But be nice and low for my daughter’s wedding next july 🙂
Should you do an apple day on the last of the three days after injections?
Debbie,
Did you find that taking medications during HCG reduced the amount of daily weightloss overall, or did you just notice the stall at the end?
I know what you mean about avoiding holidays… I’m planning on starting my next round so that my two gorge days are over Thanksgiving.
And… congrats on your daughter’s engagement!
-Stacy
Debbie,
Apples are diuretics – that would help if it’s water retention. Try it?
Harvel,
Thank you for the information. It helps alot! I have enjoyed reading all the entries. I looked for the miracle noodles and couldnt find them by name. Has anyone found them packaged under something else?
Thanks Stacy! It’s exciting.
Regarding medication, I noticed more near the end but I am also taking more. Muscle relaxers and anti-inflammatories. Not like I can avoid them. I have surgery scheduled on my neck for Oct. 20th. It is a rough time with lots of pain. I do think they make my retain water. If I miss a dose, I drop.
I also know I can’t diet during surgery or recovery. I asked. And, I will be on a liquid diet for 2-3 weeks, so I have no clue what will happen. Figured I’d give my body time to recover, quit smoking, then do another round.
Really putting my body thru a lot since end of April when I did round one.
Apple day… not sure I should push that at the end..
They also think I am getting protein deficient since we are just above that on the diet. And, this long… could be an issue.
My suggestion to people. Wait longer than the 6 weeks. Round 2 is harder. And, I think our bodies need a little time and would do better. I moved too quickly
Debbie
Dionne,
There’s three things I saw in what you’re consuming that you may want to change… Equal, amount of water, and Mineral Oil.
Equal is never recommended on the diet – it is made from aspartame. The only sweetener recommended is Stevia (and now there’s a new one called Truvia, but I’m not sure enough people have tried it to have any trust in that).
As for Mineral Oil, I would stay away from any oils whatsoever.
Also, you should be drinking *3* liters of water a day, and I saw you are only getting 2.
Give these a try and see what happens?
-Stacy
Hi Harvel
I found what I think is the equivalent of Miracle Noodles here in AZ in store called LeeLees.Very inexpensive 0 everything. I am not big on cooking but I found a 0 broth in same store and put some in with chicken and fresh spinach and some mustard and it was very good. Did that today so don’t know impact on weight-but I did enjoy it. Also I hear from my daughter that Whole Foods has similar products.Hope this helps
Good Afternoon Everyone,
I have another question. Earlier it was stated that food should only be eaten of the Sieomens list. I have followed the list that is listed at the beginning of the entries. Has everyone else been doing this as well? I have noticed that most of the receipes have came from all of the foods from both lists. I have been trying to make a copy of all of the receipes shared on this site. I anyone wants a copy please let me know. Its mainly a cut and paste list, but it gets the job done !
Does anyone have Les email. He mentioned we could email him for recipes. I am starting my program this week loading 27th and 28. I did not do phase 1, just going through a Naturopath for the injections, I have my appt on 27th.
Has anyone dones this without phase 1?
Started Hcg drops last Wed, so on day 5,(3 of vlcd). I bought the 15 day supply through the yourhcg website. My question is…. is that, along with 72 hours after last Hcg day, and phase 3, enough to reset metabolism? I have read several times after starting that it takes 20 to 21 days on protocol to reset it.. I will be traveling for Labor Day, and did 15 day supply so I would be done with most strict part before then. I am down 5 lbs, counting from my pre-gorge days, but 9 from 2nd day of load. Either way, I’m truly excited, and feel well. If anyone has help on that question, I would appreciate it. And by the way, congrats to all of you, I have read some incredibly motivating stories.. Everyone here is so helpful and encouraging. thanks again, Denise
Deborah,
My wife and I did not go through the Trudeau Ph1. It is a lot of cleansing and getting your body set up for the stress of the HCG-VLCD. Never-the-less, we skipped it and got along just fine.
Harvel
Denise,
Congratulations on taking the first steps toward a life-time of being in control of your weight!
Dr. Simeons, who developed this procedure for weight control, had two treatment modalities: 23 doses and 40 doses. While I had not heard of a 15 dose regimen, I guess in the hands of your supplier it must work. As far as resetting the metabolism, the 72 hours without HCG and then 3 weeks of Ph3 should do it.
Harvel
Dionne,
Before I leap into dark waters and find a rock, I have a few questions about how you are going about the diet.
1) What list of foods are you following?
2) Were you routinely walking the three miles before you started the diet or did you start the walking when you started the diet?
3)Based on your body confirmation and height, what would you say your “ideal” weight would be? Why did you choose 170 pounds as the target?
4)Did you see the list of things to check that Stacy posted earlier today, Sunday? Is there anything on that list that you haven’t checked out? (although, it sounds as though you have been very careful.)
If you would like, I can email you the food list and rules we were given by the clinic that supervised our diets. Get ahold of me at: hfalish@hotmail.com
Harvel
If anyone has recipes or les’s email please send them to me
SBrustowicz@cox.net
Thanks
Sally
Harvel, Thanks for the info. I am very encouraged, and feel that I am off to a great start. Denise
Progress report: Well, I’ve been through one week and the program is delivering as promised. I’m on day 8 and I’m down 8.6 lbs. I’m looking forward to more of the same for the whole 40 days! 🙂
Thanks Harvel, I am so excited to have found you all. What a wealth of information on this blog.
I am a Flight Attendant so will have to do the protocal on the road most of the time. Does any one have any TIPS FOR TRAVELING AND MAKING THIS WORK. Especially food tips. We have a oven on the plane but nothing else.
Les,
I would love for you to email me some of your receipes if it isn’t to much trouble. I start P2 on Thursday. Loading Thursday and Friday.
debbarrans@gmail.com
Deborah,
I traveled last week where I wouldn’t have access to anything to do my own cooking. Basically, I made the meals foolproof and did everything ahead of time. I weighed, spiced and cooked all my meat portions and packed them up in a ziploc bag. Then I sliced up cucumbers and celery and put them in the handy-dandy ziploc 1 Cup containers for easy munching and brought a large container of salad greens. I sliced up grapefruit and put them into portions in ziploc bags, portioned strawberries into 1 Cup containers and threw in apples whole.
OK, so all of this preparation makes for very simple meals. For some meals I’d just munch on each of my portions of protien, fruit and veggies while in the plane or car. I’d make a salad with sliced apples or strawberries and shred the chicken on top. I’d make a chicken burger by wrapping a big leaf of romaine around my portion of chicken and adding natural mustard… endless ways to mix it up without having to cook or have a hot meal. You can carry all of this in a small cooler where you can also keep your HCG.
Stacy,
Thanks so much for the great information. I am determined to figure this out. I have a lunch bag cooler so I just need to get organized.
I am on day two of the VLCD. This is my second round. I cheated the first time and still lost 26 pounds. I have to say that I really don’t considered it cheating…I was able find out what I could do and couldn’t do. I eat and 1/2 slice of Ezekiel bread and this helped me a lot. It is a sprouted bread. I don’t eat the Melba toast or Grissini when I eat the half slice. I have found that I can drink a bit of vodka (2 shots with just lemon juice, stevia and water. This has worked great for the weddings I had been to that last time I did the diet. WARNING: some people just cannot do this without a stall or gain. This is my personal experience. I cannot even a half a half of a glass of wine w/o a gain. And for those who were looking for recipes….THIS IS THE PLACE!!!
http://www.lowcarbfriends.com/bbs/other-plans/616126-hcg-diet-recipes-only.html
HTH…
Renee
Question – has anyone had a problem with sagging skin as the pounds drop off? What do you do about it? (hasn’t happened to me yet, but I would love some ideas)
Just started with load days yesterday….wish me luck…a lot of my friends have done it.
Hey Stacey and Harvel. Thanks for responding.
First I have to say, I’ve read Dr. Simeons protocol a few times since starting this diet and I guess I was just seeing things. I did receive some literature from my clinic and I guess between referencing both documents back and forth I must have melded the two in my mind and messed up the information.
But anyway. . . .
Stacey,
I re-read the information I received from my clinic and I also re-read Dr. Simeon’s protocol again when I got home from work today. They both say to get 2 liters of water. In the Dr’s protocol it is right underneath the section where he outlines the specifics of the diet.
As for the sweetener. I think that was info I got from my clinic instructions. They just say to use artificial sweeteners and stress NO SUGAR!! When I checked that against Dr. Simeon’s protocol, the protocol says you can use saccharin or Stevia. I don’t see why equal would be any worse than saccharin (which is what’s in Sweet ‘n low I think.)
Now the mineral oil. . . I did not see anything about that in the Dr.’s protocol. Again, I got that from my clinic instructions. It says that I can use mineral oil added to white vinegar as a salad dressing. It just said not to use fat free dressing because they substitute sugar to make up the taste. But I guess I will cut that out since since the Dr’s protocol specifically says no oil or DRESSING. So, what do you guys use on your salads?
So, from the things you pointed out as far as I can tell I’m ok on the water. I didn’t see a mention of 3 liters anywhere. But I will cut the mineral oil and I’ll try to find a sweetener with saccharin or that new Truvia thing (which is kinda pricey. I checked it out in the store today.)
Thanks for the ideas. I appreciate your response.
Harvel,
Again,as I said above I was referencing my clinic instructions as well as Dr. Simeon’s protocol and I probably mixed up the info. As far as the list of foods, what I got from my clinic and what’s in the protocol are pretty much the same except there are a few more vegetables on my clinic list. I have been eating cauliflower which is on my list but not in the protocol. The only other thingon my clinic list that’s not on Dr.’s protocol is zuchini. But I haven’t had any of that. The only fruits I have had have been apples and grapefruit. So, I have been only eating what is on Simeon’s list with the exception of the cauliflower.
As for the walking. I was actually jog/walking up to 7 miles 3 times a week and occasionally as much as 10-12 on Saturdays. I stopped all together when I started the diet and only started back with the 3 mile walks on week 2.
My ideal weight? Based on what. . . Doctor’s charts and the medical industry or based on what I would love to look like. Well, medical charts say I should be no more than 160. I was 155 at one time in my life and loved it. I picked 170 because I am at least 10 years older than i was when I was 155. Also, I feel relatively comfortable in my clothes and in my skin at that weight. I’d love to be smaller but I can live with myself comfortably if I get to that weight. Also, I was at that weight (173) about a year and a half ago and I felt pretty good about myself. I somehow let things go and ended up over 200 lbs which I have not been for over 10 years. That was scary and I want to get a significant and substantial distance away from 200 lbs!
So, based on what Stacey suggested and what you’ve said. . . .so far I know I need to kick the mineral oil and vinegar salad dressing. DRATS!! Not like it was good or anything but something is better than NOTHING! Also, I will pick up an artificial sweetener with saccharin or this Truvia stuff. Other than that, and the cauliflower. I dont know what else could be holding me back.
In all that I have said, do you see anything?
ok, I forgot to mention this and it could be the most important of all. I’ve noticed a few people saying they take .5 cc’s of the HCG 3 times a day.
I just realized that my clinic instructions are to take .25 cc’s twice a day. I’m doing the sublingual drops. If others are taking .5 of the sublinguals then I am getting half the HCG everyone else is taking! AND I only take it morning and night.
I’m not sure how this compares to the actual protocol because Dr. Simeon talks about powders and solutions and injections. I dont know how his measurements compare with the measurements for the sublingual HCG. But do you guys think I maybe have not been getting enough HCG in my system?
Dionne,
Some of my suggestions also came from Kevin Trudeau’s book, which gives some updates for today’s times (like warning against anything artificial like sachrin). I must say, going after ALL of Trudeau’s suggestions is a little over the top (read his book and you’ll see what I mean), but a lot of what he says makes a lot of sense, particularly his theory about chemicals, processing, artificial elements and hormones in our food messing with the hypothalamus in a way that Dr. Simeon couldn’t have predicted in his time. I’d suggest picking up the book “The Weight Loss Cure”.
Also, I posted a list of alternatives to salad dressing in an earlier post…
-Stacy
Dionne,
Thanks for answering my rather personal questions. Let me try to take them one at a time:
1) Exercise. What we were told when we started this process was that we should continue physical exercise at the same level during the diet as before. In my case, that was continuing to be a couch potato. the reason given is that a change in exercise level changes the physiology of the muscles and that effects the body’s metabolism, often working at cross-purposes to the HCG-VLCD. Maybe you shouldn’t have stopped. But since you did, the milder 3 miles walking a week is probably appropriate.
2) Artificial sweeteners. The only one I know of that does not come out of a chemistry lab is Stevia, a natural extract from the leaves of a South American plant. We like the “Sweet Leaf” brand. It comes in liquid or powder form. There are about a dozen flavored liquids. I like a few drops of the chocolate flavor in my coffee in the morning. Pricy? Yes, but you are only using 2 to 4 drops at a time (unless you are using it in cooking) so a small bottle will last a looooong time.
3) Target weight. This one in particular was none of my business. But, since you were generous enough to answer the question, I’ll respond. Basically, if 170 is where you are comfortable, that’s what is. If the weight charts say something less than that, you ought to be able to make it to 170 (but maybe not in just 3 weeks of the diet), if we can help you get off dead center.
4) Foods not included in the original Simeons protocol. The clinic that supervised my wife and I followed Dr. Simeons’ food list to a “T.” No exceptions. We did well, and we didn’t have to worry about messing something up. I’d ditch the cauliflower if I were you. And, like Stacy said, the mineral oil also. Mineral oil is not digested (so it is not a source of fat for the body), but it will coat the intestinal lining and interfere with the absorption of vitamins and other nutrients.
5) Salad dressing. Until I learned about some of the websites out there with recipes, we used Bragg Apple Cider Vinager, Bragg Liquid Aminos, salt and pepper on our salad vegetables. I developed a salad dressing based on those four ingredients and we still use it.
6) Concentration of the HCG (How Much and When).
Dr. Simeons used an injectable formulation in his clinic in Rome. I don’t remember him saying anything about sublingual or homopathic preparations. with the injections, he could control the concentration and precise dosage for his patients. My wife and I did and will do the injections precisely because of the precision they offer. What other people are doing is what they are doing. However, you raise a good question that should be directed to your HCG support team: “Am I getting enough HCG since my weight loss seems to have stalled?” All drops are not created the same; depending on how they are prepared, they will have different concentrations of HCG and might need to be taken more or less often during the day.
7) Water consumption. The standard formula for how much water to drink is to divide your weight by 2; then drink that number of ounces of water in a day. The volume of coffee and tea counts as water. I weigh 230. The formula says I should be drinking 115 ounces of water, coffee or tea a day. No sodas.
Did I miss anything? Get Kevin Trudeau’s book. While much of it is “over the top,” as Stacy said, there is a lot of very good information in it.
OK, OK, I’ll stop for now.
This procedure works. Don’t let the road-bumps throw you off.
Harvel
I lost 2.2 pounds yesterday and it was my second VCLD! Yippie!!!
Renee
Status Report –
Phase 3 – Actualy not so bad, especially if you have done low carb in the past. My first couple of days off of the HCG and after 3 days at 500 calories. I really focused on eating Almonds and nuts as a snack, as it notes a possible protein deficiency, so i focused on protein and I think this really helped.
I have stayed – maintained about 2 lbs above my last HCG Injection day. But this is not bad, as it has been over 2 weeks. I have still stayed away from Diet Drinks, and still enjoying Tea, Coffee and Water. Coffee – I have been adding Sugar Freee Creamer and have not had a problem with this. Makes coffee oh so much better. I also have had an occasional low carb beer will sneak into my hand, and all is good. It is funny how 2 can make me tipsy, glad to have my cheap tolerance back :). One thing for me, it is harder to drink water than on HCG, I think it made me thirsty, as I could chug down 4 – 32 oz cups a day. I struggle a little bit now, still not really hungry. Really changed my appetite and I don’t eat as much – I feel really full – fast.
I need to bring Exercise back in, but still impressed with my loss and how my skin shrunk back. I thought it my have forgotten after all of these years. LOL. Ready to jump back on, as soon as I can. Hang in there – it is worth the journey. Jen
Well Phase 3 has not gone so smooth for me. I can definitely do the no starch and sugar but I think I must be having too much fruit. I am having lots of protein, and staying under 1500 calories but I like to have a glass or two of wine (i did this twice). I also just noticed that the ham I have been eating was marinated in something with sugar so that has not helped me. I keep staying at the 2 pound above the last HCG day and when I went over by .2, I had a steak day and lost 1 pound but now I am again over….3 pounds and planning another steak day and not too happy about it. I am wondering if I should just do a modified steak day and see what happens.
Since Maintenance started on 8/16, I have gone from
149.4
148.4
149.2
150.0
150.0
150.4
150.8
150.4
151.4
152.2
151.2
152.4 today
Renee – 2.2 lbs, that’s fantastic! I’d love to hear what happens on the day following that big loss… can you report again tomorrow?
(I had one day with a 1.8 lb loss, followed by a 1 lb loss… was pretty happy with that)
Hi everyone ….. was wondering if someone could send me some new recipes ? I have been on this diet for 9 days now ….. lost 8lbs. so far & don’t want to blow it . Thanks ya’ll . Any help would be appreciated .
Hi , also I would like to know if it’s ok to drink a beer , not 2 , not 3 , 1 beer ?
Diane,
No alcohol at all is allowed during Phase 2. In Phase 3, the Protocol states that 1 glass of wine/day is allowed.
For recipes, I keep it pretty simple. I cut up proper 3.5 oz pieces of organic chicken breasts and season with salt & pepper & oregano. I usually make up enough for about 5 days. Then I cook them at 400 degrees on the Convection Bake setting of my oven for about 15 min. They are still moist – you don’t want to overcook. I also frequently eat shrimp. I sprinkle the shrimp (after weighing out the proper 3.5 oz) with Garlic & Herb (salt free)Seasoning and cook them in a hot non-stick pan til they are done (about 2 minutes a side or until they are firm to the touch). They are very tasty. Both the chicken and shrimp taste great cold if you want to pack them to go. Once a week, I’ll have 96% fat free organic beef. I make a burger and then use big slices of tomato for the bun and put on an allowable mustard.
For my vegetable, I usually have tomatoes or cucumbers seasoned with salt, pepper & 1 TB of Braggs Apple Cider for the dressing. It tastes absolutely delicious. I like it so much I plan on using it off the diet. I also have the Tammy Skye cookbook and love the Tomato & Basil Soup recipe. It is very filling.
For my fruit, I often have an apple baked (covered with aluminum foil) in the oven at 400 degrees for about 10 minutes, sprinkled with a mixture of cinnamon and stevia. It honestly tastes like apple pie. I also like strawberries sliced up. Then I pour on top a mixture of 1 Tb of milk and 5 drops of Stevia Vanilla Creme. This makes the strawberries taste like they have cream on top. Grapefruit with stevia is also very good.
I think this is a great diet and, while resticted, there are many good things to eat. I have been on the vlcd for 29 days and have lost 22 pounds. I am very pleased. I am 4 pounds away from my goal weight, but since I have to travel to bring my daughter back to college this weekend, it’s probably going to put me behind a little.
Good luck with your weight loss!
Hi, thanks for the tips , I need all the help I can get these days .
Hi Harvel and Stacey,
Thanks for the input. I guess I will have to look into Trudeau’s book. I’m a little concerned about having soo many different references for this thing though, and from some of the things I’ve read on this site they frequently contradict one another. But I’ll take a look and try to walk away with what is useful.
As for the exercise, I was told in my clinic not to exercise at all the first week and following that to only exercise light to moderate. I don’t know where they got this from but at the time I started the diet I didn’t know anything about Dr. Simeon or his protocol so I knew no better.
I have already dropped the cauliflower from my diet as soon as I realized it was NOT on Simeon’s list. Also, of course I am eliminating the mineral oil on the salad.
As for my target weight of 170, based on the weight loss I had seen reported on this site I had very high hopes that I could make it to my target in one cycle of the HCG. People on this site have reported losing a pound a day or very close to it. I was only 21 lbs away from my target of 170 so I thought it seemed doable in a 23 day cycle or at least to come very close. But unfortunately I have not had near the weight loss experience that others have had. I know some report that their weight loss slowed down to about ½ lb a day but that wasn’t after just the very first week. But hopefully I can last through the 6 week break without screwing up and I can do this again to get down to my goal.
There is nothing about sublinguals in Dr. Simeon’s protocol but a lot of people on this site are using it and having great success. If I’m not mistaken, Les uses the sublinguals. (Les, if I have told a lie here please forgive me.) I recently went onto the site where a lot of people here have said they purchased their HCG (diyhcg.com) and I bought a bottle. I’m going to start using it for my last 10 days on the protocol and I’m going to use their recommended dosage. Hopefully this helps.
Last, the water. In all my years of dieting (and they have been plenty) I have never heard that “divide your weight and drink that many ozs of water” thingy you mentioned. Never heard it in my life. I was just basing my consumption off the protocol which said 2 liters.
Well, once again thanks. I will see what new info I can turn up in Trudeau’s book. In any event I’m going to stick with it for now. Hopefully by the weekend I will have greater success to report.
Tracy,
You shouldn’t be under 1500 calories. You need a MINIMUM of 1500.
Day 5 of Phase 3 🙂
Hard to eat that much though! Feel stuffed all the time.
Diane,
If you would like to email me I will be happy to send you some receipes.
claytonj83@yahoo.com
Best of Luck!
For a little spice I’ve been adding a cajun seasoning mix to my steak before grilling. Tonight I tried sprinkling curry on both sides of my steak and it was delicious! Since I too am getting sick of eating the same ole stuff each day I must admit I made my lunch today into a giant cobb salad. I cut up my chicken, cucumbers and apple into bite sized chunks, mixed it all up and sprinkled with a little salt, pepper, chili powder and cinnamon. It was by far the most amazing combination of food I’ve had since on the diet…just what I needed after my apple day yesterday!
I have also found that I like dressing my salads with a small dash of balsamic vinegar.
My latest secret, Teavana! If you have one near you, it is amazing, and a great way to mix up your drink choices throughout the day. Today I had cocoa mint black tea, jasmine pearl green tea, and tranquil dreams chamomile herbal tea…. It keeps me drinking when water gets boring.
I also have a spearmint and peppermint plants growing (and taking over) at my house. I found that mint is a great addition to so many of our foods. I have been crushing the mint leaves and “steeping” them with a dash of lime juice in a pitcher of really cold water…it’s almost like a mojito minus the sugar and rum! I’ve also finely shredded the mint and put on top of sliced strawberries with cinnamon, on top of sliced apples with a dash of lime juice, and tonight I segmented a grapefruit and put the mint on top of that too! It really enhances all the flavors.
I also find that if I slice an apple and sprinkle pumpkin pie spice on top that it tastes just like apple pie! If they are in your area try the new Jazz variety of apple, they’re great!
Try throwing a bit of apple cider vinegar and cajun seasoning on steamed spinach (especially frozen!) for a new take on an old favorite.
As always check your spice mixtures for sugar to be sure before using them.
Hopefully this helps a few people, I though I would let you know a few of my more creative solutions.
I only have a few days left on phase 2, and want to make the most of them, but I got my period last Thursday and hit a 6 day long plateau… so I did an apple day and was down 1.4 today, I just hope I can keep up my momentum. I am 2 lbs. away from being under 200, and want to do more than that in the 6 days I have left. So far I’ve lost 18.2 lbs. (started august 1st)
Today … I am having an Apple day !!!! Only lost .4 , before it was like 1.6 lbs overnight , so I must have done something wrong ! So …… I’ll just have Apples all day . Keep up the good work everyone !
Stacy~~~
I lost a 0.6 pounds today. That is consistent with the Protocol,which does not promise a pound a day. However, I made a mistake the day before and had salmon BUT I lost nearly two pounds…I don’t know what I was thinking. I have done the Protocol before!
I didn’t want to wait until after TOM and any day now. I figured I was going to hit it sometime anyway.
This time doing the Protocol I did not gain on the loading days. From what I recall from reading Pounds to Inches that this can happen that not all people gain even with the extensive eating of fats.
Here is my progress:
Friday August 21 Load day 1 my morning weight was 155.8
155.0
155.2
155.4
153.2
152.6 Today August 26.
I have to eat in the morning, so I cut up my apple and pretty much cover the apple with cinnamon. I have a cup of tea with Stevia. Lunch is usually fish, crab or chicken. I found on my previous round that beef makes me gain or stall just as tomatoes do.
Last night I did something else I should have. I saved some of my crab from lunch to have with the Orange Roughy. Mistake….I think…I think I had read not to mix the proteins.
That is my progress…
Hey everyone it’s been awhile since I posted, and it’s been a tough 6 days. I woke up Thursday, and was down 4.8lbs, Fri-Mon I weighed the exact same. Tuesday gained 1.8, and then today gained another 1.8….And to top it all off I am down to 2 shots, and got my period….I have now only lost 13lbs (loaded on Aug 5th) which comes to .60 avg per day. I need to lose another 60lbs….BUT I am getting kind of tired, and hungry. I didnt’ take a shot today, so should I take off the next 3 days of HCG and do VLCD, then go into phase 3, then after 3 weeks load up again? I find myself taking bites here and there (kids plates etc) so I really need a swift kick in the @ss if anyone is close…please advise what I should do with 2 shots left, and my period
Diane,
Don’t assume that you have done anything wrong. That will make you go crazy like watching the daily movement of the stock market. Our bodies will change at their own pace and a day or so without much change is perfectly normal. Take a look at Stacy’s list of things to check just to be sure you’re on protocol. She posted that excellent comment earlier this month. One day of weight stasis or just a small reduction does not call for an apple day. See Pages 33 and 34, Pounds & Inches, Dr. Simeons.
Harvel
Dionne,
The “divide your weight and drink that number of ounces of water thingy” comes from a book, “You’re Not Sick, You’re Thirsty.” It was copywrited in 2003 by F. Batmanghelidj, M.D. The information I quoted is on page 226. As an aside, he doesn’t include any other liquid in the water ration. That would be coffee, tea, juices, etc. I’ve sorta’ ignored that part.
Harvel
Amanda T,
Dr. Simeons Protocol states that he does not recommend less than a 23 day course. He also says that you can go off the hcg during your cycle and still do the vlcd (p. 18). As soon as your cycle is done, you must start the hcg again or you’ll be hungry. So if I were you, I’d do at least 23 days, then maybe do the break on Phase 3 for 3 weeks, then start a second 23 day course after that. Maybe after a break you’ll be in a better frame of mind to follow the diet. I know my daughter got discouraged during her period because she totally stalled. Since that is over, however, she is doing much better and has a better outlook. Good luck!
does anyone know about cottage cheese ? someone told me we could have it on protocal to replace meat . is this true ? i made the califlower bake thingy , it was good …. thanks for whoever put that recipe on here ….. i’ll try to see if i can get an answer on the cottage cheese thingy ….. thanks everyone .
Has anyone noticed sleep as a factor in thier weightloss? I know that Trudeau recommends lots of sleep (of course, he recommends 30 odd things that I’m only doing half of). HOwever, this morning I woke up early at 4:00am and weighed myself (it was a .2 gain). I was dismayed and went back to sleep for 2 1/2 hours. When I woke up I weighed myself again and had lost the usual 1 lb.!! (I weighed myself again) I didn’t go to the bathroom again or anything. It was amazing to me how 2 more hours made all the difference. Anyone else noticed this?
Hi Stacy,
YES, I did also.
I don’t usually get the 7-8 hours of sleep but that makes a huge difference. Trying to change my habits.
Also, STRESS. If I had a very stressful day, I don’t do as well either. And that’s not because I’m eating what I shouldn’t. I think that the body reacts to bad things that way. Preserve.
Have a great day.
Debbie
Could someone tell me why I need to stop the HCG on my period.I’m usuing the sublingual
Darla,
The Protocol says to stop the hcg during your period (but stay on the vlcd) but my Dr. said it was optional. My daughter did not stop the doses. I can only assume that it is because the body produces hcg during that time. My daughter also had her weight stall before and during part of her period. I think this is also typical.
I’m on day 3 of my cycle,and day 2 with out HCG, I gained 1.8 the first day, then today I was the same weight as yesterday. Tomorrow I am going to go back since I am just about done, and I should see a loss…I’m hungry, but drinking water instead of snacking….strange. I have 14 more days on ( I went 35 to lose 20lbs) and I have 7 more pounds to go….Going to the lake this weekend is going to be a challenge, but I’m sure I’ll be fine if I am busy
Thanks for the info Jackie and Amanda, I’m on day 2 of my period and still have lost 2 lbs so I guess I will continue the HCG….Again ladies THANKS!!
Hey everyone I found out no-fat cottage cheese , we can have on protocal …. 100 grms only tho , it can take the place of meats . Good luck everyone .
Hi Everyone,
I have a question about Phase 3. Is bacon allowed? I seem to remember reading somewhere that sodium nitrites are not allowed on Phase 3 and nitrites are contained in bacon. Does anyone know? I am dying to have bacon and eggs. I have about a week or so before I will be on Phase 3. Thanks in advance.
Stacy and Debbie,
I too have noticed better results with sleeping more. I’ve also read in some of the Suzanne Somers books that if you don’t diet but eat no later than 6 pm every night and go to bed at 10 (sleeping 8 or 9 hours) you will lose 20 or 30 pounds within the year. I look at it as something else to add to a healthy life style. Obviously, it’s not always possible to follow those two rules but striving to do so when possible may indeed help with healthy weight maintenance.
Jackie, My wife and I are on Ph3. We found “uncured bacon” without nitrates or nitrates. Diet or no, those things aren’t particularly healthy. But, be careful, sugar seems to be a common ingredient in bacon, uncured or not. Remember, no sugar on Ph3, not even a little bit.
I agree with the eating several hours before going to bed. While I have trouble sleeping more than 6 hours (an age thing, I think) the optimal sleep period I have read about seems to be 8 hours from 10 pm to 6 am.
Harvel
Darn! That’s “…nitrates or nitrites… .”
How many load days should you do?
Sally
Sally B,
See pages 28 and 29 of Dr. Simeons’ book, “Pounds & Inches,” where he discusses the first few days of the HCG Diet. To answer your question, two days of loading.
Harvel
Anyone have a list of food for p3?
Muriel,
When the HCG has cleared from the body (72 hours after the last dose of HCG), you may eat anything you please EXCEPT SUGAR AND STARCHES. –Dr. Simeons with modification by HFA
You should be eating a minimum of 1500 calories per day.
Daily weighing is essential and that will tell you if you need to do a “steak day” or increase the caloric intake in order to stay within the Ph3 weight range.
Harvel
Went to the dentist yesterday and he gave me novicaine – I thought it might stall me for up to 3 days! However, I’m still on track, lost 1 lb., same as every other day. 🙂
-Stacy
Hey all you Phase 3 folks, I wanted to share this recipe that I saw on Food Network last night. Guy Fieri made this and he said it was just like mashed potatoes! I haven’t tried it yet because I’m still in Phase 2 (Day 26 down 18.2 lbs). But, I’m definately going to try it in Phase 3. I’m a mashed potato gal! For reference, I added a substitute of skim milk (or water) and sea salt. If anyone makes this before I get to, please share you thoughts! Enjoy!
ROASTED AND PUREED CAULIFLOWER from Guy Fieri
Ingredients
2 heads cauliflower, core removed, cut into florets
1 tablespoon olive oil
4 cups whole milk (Substitute skim milk or water)
1 teaspoon (sea) salt
1 tablespoon unsalted butter
1/2 bunch chives, minced for garnish
Directions
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
On a sheet tray, spread 1/4 of the florets with the oil, season with salt and bake until caramelized, about 25 minutes. Meanwhile, combine remaining cauliflower, milk (or water) and half a teaspoon of salt in a medium saucepan over medium heat. Bring mixture to a simmer, cover, and cook until cauliflower is tender, about 20 to 25 minutes. Strain cauliflower from milk (or water) mixture, reserving both. Transfer cauliflower to a blender. Add remaining 1/2 teaspoon of salt and butter to the blender. Add half of the reserved milk (or water) liquid. Secure top on blender and puree mixture until smooth. If mixture is too thick, thin by adding some of the remaining liquid. Season, to taste. Serve in a large serving bowl topped with caramelized florets and chives.
Okay cycle is over and finally down 2.8lbs this morning, still .8 over what I was, but I’m sure tomorrow will be another good loss…. I’m going to keep on on the HCG for 20lbs, I’m on day 21, and down 15.2, then off for 3 weeks, then gonna start again…This diet is the first one I have been on that works, I like the being told what to eat, and how much…. also has anyone ever lost weight on Ph3? I would think that putting myself on 1500 calories no sugar or starch I would at least continue to lose 2-3lbs a week? Right?
Thanks for the replies
Hey Jenn,
I just read your peost about the cauliflower recipe. It does taste like mashed potatos!
you can also boil the cauliflower, then cube it add all the ingredients as if making a potato salad (egg, mayo, dill pickles onion, mustard)It tastes just like potato salad! The mock potato salad is an old Weight watchers recipe from the 80’s!
hey everyone , go to your nearest health food store & invest in some delicious all-free marshmellow creme dip & chocolate dip , it’s great with your apples . it is all free , no calories in this dip . maybe learn a thing or two from the clerk also in there , they are very helpful ! good luck with your weightloss !!!
Hi guys!
I just started the diet. I’m on day two of my gorge days my journey has just begun. I have a question about the weightloss. When you get to a point where you’ve lost about 15 pounds or even 10 pounds, can you see it or do you feel the difference in the fit of your clothes?
I guess I’m just wondering if it’s subtle weightloss.
Only on day 6 including 2 load days and after 5 days lost 6.4…and can feel a difference in my clothes already….
Does anyone use sweet and low as a sugar substitute?
Thanks
Sandy
You should not be using sweet and low or splenda. you need to go to whole foods and get stevia.
Amanda T,
I have been on Ph3 for just about 3 weeks and i havent lost anything. i have stayed with in my 2lbs of my last injection weight. as others my loose its not always the case. your just stablizing your weight. i havent even been counting calories, just been eating fruit, cheese, more protien, no sugar no starch. from what i understand you are suppose to do Ph3 for 3 weeks then Ph 4 for 3 weeks then you can go back on. i belive you have to be off the hcg for 6 weeks before you can do another round.
what is Ph4?
Debbie,
Ph4 comes from Kevin Trudeau’s book, “The Weight Loss Cure.” It is a complete, normal diet, where you can eat just about anything you want to; including sugar, fats/oils and starches in addition to the meats, vegetables and fruits.
How much to eat in Phase 4? You will be weighing yourself every morning for most of the rest of your life. A 2 pound gain or loss calls for immediate corrective action same as in Ph 3.
Harvel
Thank you Harvel. That’s what I thought, but when I saw 3 weeks on Ph4, I wondered.
Well, a week now on Ph3 and still at the same weight 🙂
Debbie
Has anyone heard from Les? Started day 1 vlcd today. Tried Stevia gtts
for the 1st time. Gross.. I have been told we can use Sweet N Low. ???
Thanks for your help.
No weight gain after gorge days.
Thanks
SallyB
Thanks Amanda, will go and get Stevia….did make a strawbery smoothie yesterday with sweet and low and was up .6 this morning so better go try the stevia…
Stats….
Load Day 155.8 and 155.0 UGH…’
Day 1 VLCD: 155.2
2 155.4
3 153.1
4 152.6
5 151.4
6 TOM 151.4
7 150.8 Yippie!!!!
I drank last night too…vodka with peach stevia x 4..I have friends up from PA…risked it and was happied up today…I DON’T recommend cheating…just if you do…try to be moderate…
Renee
Hi ,
Just wanted to report my progress.
I started my two day gorge on August 21st.
As of this morning I am down 15 pounds!
Yipee!
I found this website when I was researching the HCG Diet. I was doing research on it because my local Doctor was charging 975 dollars for the 6 weeks of injections. I was really interested in doing it but could not afford to pay that much. Let me just say this forum has helped me so much. I did go ahead and order the HCG Drops, and am now on my 5th day of VLCD. I am down 11 pounds!!! That is amazing! At first it was very hard for me, because I am a stay at home mom of 3 children and I am the only one on the diet. So I am having to feed them breakfast, lunch, dinner, and snacks, but also cook for me without eating their food. I am adjusting to it now and can already see a huge difference.
I do have one question though. My husband and I are going to Miami for our anniversary. I can finish a 23 day cycle before then, actually just finishing the 72 hours of VLCD without injections when our plane leaves. I am wondering if I could go ahead and start the drops back as soon as I get back as we will only be gone 3 days. Or should I just go ahead and do a maintenance phase and wait my three weeks? I would just continue the drops, but I am afraid I will not have access to all the foods and water that I am allowed to eat.
Hi Diane
Can you give me the name of the two dip products? It is right up my ally!
Thanks
Sally T,
You should be not be using sweet and low, you should be using stevia as it is from a natural plant and sweet and low has chemicals in it. Most everything you eat on ph2 should be organic.
Krystal,
If you are only going to be off for 3 days you can just continue. Dr. Simeons has something in his Protocol about that. From my recollection he says it’s important to do at least 23 days without an interruption, but otherwise it’s not a problem. You just lose some time. I’m doing the same thing this weekend because I’m bringing my daughter back to college and I wanted some more freedom with what I could eat. so on Tuesday I stopped my hcg for the 3 days (with the vlcd). Today starts the short Phase 3 break. I will go back on it on Wednesday to lose the last 5 or so pounds I want to lose. My Dr. also said it was fine. Good luck!
Sally B – Sweet N Low is definitely not allowed. You might want to try a different brand of Stevia. I was a big Sweet N Low user before the hcg diet, and I switched to the NuNaturals brand of Stevia. I find it tastes really good and does not have a bitter aftertaste. I’ve also tried Stevia in the Raw and DID NOT like the taste of that. I buy NuNaturals at iherb.com. Good luck!
Really, you can do that take a short break after 23 days, I have a 5 day vacation the end of Sept and will be in Ph3, want to try to stay to the protocol if I can. So So far doing very well with ph2….but hate to sway to far….
I have some receipes for ph2 that mix veggie in soup, is that really allowed? Thanks
I read in the Tammy hcg cookbook that you can use Sweet N low
not splenda or equal
Sally
i also reread P/I… It is allowed.
Sally
I’m on day 7 (including load days) of the diet and I’m feeling extremely drained and tired pretty much all the time except right after I eat, but that lasts only an hour or so and then I’m feeling drained again. I’m taking the vit. b drops and drinking plenty of water. Has anyone else experienced this and does it pass? Any tips on how to feel better?
So helpful to read all the recipes and comments. Thanks!
So discouraged. Following protocol to the letter and only down 4 lbs. in last 14 days. This is my 23 day over all. I know if I was on a 500 cal. diet without HCG I would have lost more. Inches not changing either. How do I know the HCG is still good. (:
Carol,
I didn’t have the problem of feeling tired. My wife did. Our clinician recommends about 2,000 to 4,000 mg Vit B12 a day. Perhaps upping your amount would help. It also helped her to “munch” throughout the day by splitting the meals into “snacks.” That way, you will always be digesting something and feeding nutrition into your body. How’s your blood sugar? You might be slightly hypoglycemic (low blood sugar). Finally, A good broad vitamin/mineral supplement might help. With only 500 calories a day, the intake of micronutrients could be a little short.
I am not a physician. The above suggestions are intended as lay advice only and not as definitive treatment.
Harvel
Sandi Jones,
Are you taking the HCG by injection or HCG in liquid drop form (sublingual)? Our clinician advised us that once the HCG is placed in solution, the shelf life is no more than two weeks and it has to be protected from light, even the refrigerator light.
Use a pregnancy test kit to test the solution. HCG is the hormone in the urine that is detected by the test kit and it will work with the HCG we are taking.
I don’t have any experience with the homeopathic solutions so I have no suggestions there if that’s what you are taking.
Harvel
Hope this helps.
Sandi,
I dont know that there is necessarily a problem with your HCG. I lost close to 7 lbs. my first week on the HCG diet. The second week I lost 3 pounds and the following 2 weeks I lost 2 lbs per week. This last week I purchased my HCG from a different source and I still lost only 2 lbs.
May I ask how much weight you had to lose at the beginning of your program? I read in Trudeau’s version that if you have only about 20 lbs to lose you probably will not average a pound a day.
I understand how you feel. Reading all these posts and comments from people who are losing 10-12 lbs in a week can really make you feel dissatisfied with your own progress even if you are having success.
I dont know if you would have lost more on 500 calories without the HCG. I have done numerous VLCD diets, some of them liquid only. I have to admit that even with my low and disappointing weight loss, this was the easiest and fastest I have ever gotten back into my “skinnier” clohtes. (Not in the actual “Skinny” clothes yet but hoping to get there with another round of HCG.)
All I can say is stay positive and concentrate on what you have achieved. Prior to taking the risk and trying the HCG, I went through Lindora, 24 hour fitness Bodybugg program, Medifast and some Dr.’s cookie diet. Some were complete failures, others gave me minimal weight loss. Nowhere near what I have experienced with the Simeon protocol.
I too wish I were dropping a pound a day but I have to look at it this way; this time last month I had about 3 outfits that I could wear to work. I would rotate and mix and match the separates hoping nobody noticed that I had worn them at least 2 other times that week.
Now I am enjoying pulling things out of my closet that I have not worn in over a year.
Stick with it. We will get there!
I am doing the sublingual which is in a dark brown bottle and suppose to be a 30 day supply. I have a min. of 50 lbs. to lose, but should lose 70 to go with the height and weight chart. Thank you both for your comments and support.
Hi,
VLCD day2 down 3lbs. No weight gain during loading. not hungry .peeing
a lot due to h2o.
Yippee..
Sally
Doing hhcg
Thanks for the insight Harvel. I think upping my B12 would help. I’ve thought that I was slightly hypoglycemic before so that might be it as well. Did you wife start to feel more energy at some point on this diet?
This morning I lost 1 lb. However, the two days before my weight remained stable. I was dismayed and re-read Simeon’s section on “The Plateau” thinking I’d do an apple day. However, I realized that he starts the discussion of the apple day by saying “..for purely psychological reasons”. Well, once I read that I wasn’t so interested in doing it anymore. It seemed to me that he was saying, if you keep doing what you’re doing, the loss will start again. ….and it did! 🙂
Hello,
Well I have started phase three, and I want to know if anyone else who has started phase three gained the first couple of days. I ended my shots hat 259, and Then after the three days, I went down to 257, now I am up to 258. I have not gone over 1500 calories, and have not had any starches. I started drinking Crystal Light because I was tired of drinking water and i don’t like tea or coffee. Any help I could get would be a appreciated. Thanks so much for your advice, this blog has really helped.
Jim,
My wife and I are in week #3 of Ph3. We have both gained and lost during this period. The key is to stay within 2 pounds above or below the ending weight, in your case, 259#.
Any fluctuation within that 4 pound range is OK and will happen. If you go above 261, even a little bit, do a steak day–that day. If you go below 257, again, even a little bit, increase the calories. My wife had to do a steak day and I have had to bump the calories up to as much as 2,300 in order to stay in the range. Ph3 is flexible and governed by the morning weight. My weight went from 268.3 to 230.9 during the HCG-VLCD. It has been fluctuating during Ph3 between 227.7 and 231.6. Keep on Keeping On!
Harvel
Okay, I am officially done with PH2, I took my 23rd HCG injection on Sunday morning. So now I’m confused if it’s 72 hours from last injection, or if it’s 3 days after the last day of HCG?
Sunday- HCG 500 cal
Monday No HCg 500 Cal
Tues NO HCg 500 cal
Wed No HCG ??? 500 cal or 1500?
Oh and I lost 20lbs, so I’m pretty darn proud of myself, looking forward to Sept 25th when I can gorge and start again to drop another 20. I have Vegas in March and I want to have lost 75lbs by then
Thanks to all for your inspiration, I couldn’t have been successful with you ( esp you Jenn S)
You did great. Keep up the good work.. You must be so proud.
Day3 vlcd down 4lbs no gain during load
Yeah..
hhcg no hunger.
Thanks for the response. It is nice to know that I can just start right back at it when I get back.
I have been on the HCG w/ VLCD now for 7 days with no hunger and feeling great. Until late last night. My stomach started growling and has been growling for the last 12 hours. I even took my HCG about 4 hours ago. Does this mean it is time for me to increase my dosage? It is almost time for lunch now but just worried that I am going to deal with that every night.
Sandi, Definately dont be discouraged by us that have lost alot. You also have to look at that I have 140 lbs to loose to even reach my healthy weight range. So I have alot more fat to loose. Just keep at it, you will start seeing more results.
Amanda T,
Three days or 72 hours? I looked at Dr. Simeons’ book, pg 48, “Concluding a Course,” where he says, “When the three days of dieting after the last injection are over… .” That would make Wednesday the last 500 calorie day. Thursday would start the 1500 calorie three week stretch.
This is based on his findings that it takes about 72 hours for the HCG to clear the body.
Congratulations on your progress!
Harvel
Thanks Harvel!
Okay so I will watch my weight and hopefully never go up over 2lbs of what I weighed this morning to induce the dreaded steak day….although a big one sure sounds good right now!!
Best of luck to all, I’ll be watching the boards while I am on PH3, for those on PH2, STICK WITH IT, IT WORKS!!!! I can’t wait to start PH1 again to drop another 15 to 20lbs, easiest diet ever
I’m very impressed with all the people that love this diet. I personally think it is the hardest and most boring diet I have ever been on. It is also the most successful one. I am very tired of cooking every day and totally miss the socializing I’m used to. My husband has been very supportive thank God or I wouldn’t have gotten this far. I’m in my last 8 days and praying that I stay the course. I have not cheated once but am very very tempted. I too like some of you just dread another piece of chicken or fish. I haven’t eaten beef in years and have even tried that 2x’s a week. All I really want is cream in my coffee and a glass of wine.
hey I am on day 3 and i need some variations for new stuff if anyone has any ideas or reciepes will you please send me some.
thank you
Amanda T,
I don’t know of any reason you can’t eat a steak once in a while on Ph3.
Mkg,
Hang in there. You don’t have long to go. Cream in your coffee and a glass of dry wine now and again are OK on Ph3. I drink my coffee in a pint cup. I add 4 or 5 drops of chocolate Stevia and a tablespoon of heavy whipping cream to my first cup in the morning..Yum! Won’t be able to do that when we go back on the HCG-VLCD.
HJ,
We need your email address if we are going to send you recipes or tell you where you can get them. Look above in this blog site. There are a number of very good recipes that folks have come up with.
Harvel
Amanda T.
Great for you Sister-Pie,
20 lbs – so amazing. It is amazing how many people I have joing the HCG livestyle and changing theirs. Glad it has been a blessing for you.
Enjoy Phase 3 – like me, it is amazing the joy of Cheese, Milk, and Creamer. It was worth the wait, but oh so nice to add those items back in.
I have 4 days left on Phase 3 – 3 week adding in items. I have barely increase excercise (kind of) walking when I can. I have maintained and still fluctuate between a lb or two from my last injection weight. Very Impressed, I must say. Not like the normal diets, when we get off and it all comes right back on as we watch in horror. This is still wonderful and still getting people stopping me asking me how I have done this. Amazing to tellthe story, as right now, I do not even feel like I am on a diet.
i forgot to add my email adress for any suggestions or recipes: jhathay10@msn.com
thanks again to all of you
Thanks Harvel….I needed that…tomorrow it will be 7 days…but who is counting?
Mkg,
Who’s counting? Every single one of us! Every day.
Harvel
Ok – true confessions here!!
Day 8 of injections, Day 6 of VLCD, with a skip yesterday – during which I was VERY hungry!! – so…
I just ate two, yes two!!, birthday cupcakes!! Shame on me!! I dread the scale tomorrow –
Please forgive me, as I am hoping that my confession eases some guilt and I do not start a downward trend, which often happens with me and diets.
Thanks for letting me get it out there,
Amy
LOL Amy!
We are not a judge or jury. It’s tough. Forgive yourself immediately and jump back on the bandwagon. It is well worth it in the long run. Try to think of things, week by week.
Good luck!
Debbie
I know everyone says to stay away from artificial sweetener (Even though Simeon says you can use saccharin). I bought some of that Truvia or pruvia or whatever it is. . . made from the Stevia plant.
All I can say is. . . EEEEEWWWWWW!
ONe package is supposed to be like 2 teaspoons of sugar. Into my iced tea went 1 packet. ICK! I added another. Yuck! I added a 3rd (which by now would be 6 teaspoons of sugar). . . . Blaaagh!
It tasted like I was just continuously adding little packets of dust to my tea.
I may just have to suffer the consequences of the saccharin because if I cant have my 60 ounces of iced tea daily, I will never get all my fluids in.
By the way. KEep posting the info about phase 3. I’m starting soon and I am SCARED, SCARED, SCARED.!!!
Amy, Ooooh, I’d love to have a cupcake. Wait – scratch that – make it a pizza! (of course, for the past 2 weeks I’ve been partaking only through my olfactory senses… but it is quite a torture when my boyfriend brings home great food)
Harvel,
Thank you so much for your information. I really appreciate it. It helped quite a bit. Did you and your wife ever cheat on phase three? I haven’t yet, but I teach school and when my students are eating chocolate cake you don’t know how hard that is. Oh Well I have made it this far, so what is another 2 1/2 weeks when I can add starch and sugar especially Bread (100% whole wheat)
Jim,
No, we didn’t cheat, per se. However, we sure have been eating well! The first night of Ph3 was 8 LARGE Florida shrimp with a nice salad with almost every vegetable you could think of in it along with some cheese and hardboiled egg. We didn’t break the 2 pound barrier the next morning, but it was close. Hang in there. The pay-off is worth it. This is the only weight reduction plan I know of that has a better than even chance that what we lose is gonna’ stay lost.
Dionne,
We too were afraid of the increased calories in Ph3. Turned out not to be a problem. Watch the scales and take corrective action if you go beyond the 2 pound gain or loss. You’ll think you’ve died and gone to Heaven! We don’t even miss the sugar and starches. The enjoyment of being able to eat most anything else is just too great. My wife needed a steak day early on and I have had to adjust my calories upward three different times. Bounced off of 2,500 one day just to get back into the 4 pound range.
Dionne, again,
We like the “Sweet Leaf” Stevia, especially the flavored liquids. I have heard others comment about teh Truvia. Also, I think it has some sugar in it, probably in an attempt to tone down the taste.
Amy,
All I have to say about the cupcakes is, “Let the person who has never cheated on this diet throw the first stone.” I think you are safe. Just climb back on the horse and ride it out.
Harvel
I have a few questions. First of all what is steak day and when do you use it? Second I’m not 100% sure what starches are. I’m guessing corn, peas, white potatoes, pasta , and rice. What about sweet potatoes? Thank you . This blog has kept me going when I want to quit.
mk
Mkg,
Steak Day is used when your morning weight on a given day during Ph3 goes above the 2 pound limit gain from the weight of the day of your last dose of HCG. You will eat nothing until your evening meal. Drink plenty of water during the day. For your evening meal eat a large steak along with an apple or a tomato. (Pg 49, Dr. Simeons’ Book “Pounds & Inches)
Starches–You are correct about the foods you listed. They are starches. Sweet potatoes are too. Starchy foods include all grains and grain products, all beans and peas, all potatoes. For a complete listing of foods and their starch contents, here’s as website:
http://www.kickas.org/ubbthreads/showthreaded.php?Number=146875
Harvel
Seems like it just getting harder as I go. Mainly with having to cook the rest of the families food then having to cook me something totally different. My weight loss has also slowed to only .4 a day. Kinda worrying me. Was just hoping for better loss. I have been on the drops for going on ten days now and already down one bottle. I thought they were suppose to 2 weeks? I am only taking 10 drops three times a day. I also read that people have better results if you take 5 drops 6 times a day. Has anyone tried breaking them up?
Krystal hang in there. You can do it. I am feeling your pain with cooking for my family and then for me. I am really being challenged. But you know I have tried to remember that is my choice to follow through and feel better or give up and feel like crap until the next craze comes along. “We can We do We will” when I forget and want to chew my arm off I try really hard to remember I can have my ice cream eventually but right now I have to sacrafice to make me healthier skinnier and hotter so I can be a better mom sister wife friend…you can do it
I do 6 drops 6 times a day but I have found that it is harder to remember to get them all in!!
Thanks for the reply HJ. I keep telling myself that this will get easier. I am actually really proud of myself for making it this far. I think I may try the 6 drops. Are you loosing the weight pretty stedily?
Do you also not put anything in your mouth 20 minutes before or after? I am afraid I wont have enough time to drink all my water.
I guess I will just put my name out there!!
I gorged for 2 days and then started the first day I lost 3lbs second 3lbs third .5(crazy eating day I think i ate my fruits too late) fourth 1lb
But I also continue to use my shampoo and conditioner and lotion and sometimes do my hair (only if I have to though)
with the drops I put is directly under my tongue and I drink and eat whenever
carry your water everywhere you go you will be surprised!!
Ohh ok. I think I will try that. When I got my drops the guy sent a letter that said not to put anything in your mouth 20 minutes before or 20 minutes after. Which has been making it hard when you sit and drink water all day then realize its time for drops and have to wait 20 minutes. I have been drinking anywhere for 3 to 4 liters of water a day and yes I use my shampoo and conditioner too. But I dont use any kind of lotions or hair product. Thanks for your help.
I used it all!
Shampoo, conditioner, styling creams, hairspray, makeup, face cleansing and moisturizing, all of it.
And I did great.
If I wanted to look like yuck for 6 weeks, I wouldn’t have dieted 🙂
Hi all,
I just started the diet last week, Thursday to be exact. I gained 3 pounds during the gorge (Thursday & Friday), love that chocolate chip molten cake at Chili’s! Saturday was the first day of my VLCD and man oh man was it tough, but worth it I lost the 3 pounds I gained plus 2 ounces. Monday morning I had lost an additonal 1 pound 8 oz, this morning only lost 4 oz but that doesn’t discourage me.
I still feel hungry sometimes but not nearly as bad as I felt on Saturday. I can’t wait for the hunger to taper off completely.
I have to say it again I love this site it’s very inspirational!
Janell are you trying to kill me (haha)…that molton is my favorite.
this is a great site and thanks to all that have helped
Debbie that is great to know cuz I have been nervous about doing anything
Does anyone have a good something to put on salads?
Holley:
I killed myself by typin the name of the cake lol. I use the Walden Farms zero everything ranch dressing. It’s not as good as regular ranch but it gets the job done. I also use the Bragg’s apple cider vinegar and Braggs amino along with spices from cabinet that taste pretty good as well.
Hope that helps!
Hi All –
Well, the two (!!) cupcakes certainly changed the scales, but not as badly as I feared and I did jump right back on the diet. I must admit that I did not feel well this morning, as I am sure that the junk food gods got me, but thought it was a good sign that this diet is forcing healthy habits and perhaps my body is starting to want the healthy stuff??
I have a long, long way to go, about 60 or 70 pounds, so I will put the cupcakes behind me – as that is where they no doubt ended up anyway! – and more forward…
Hello!
First time posting, but I have followed this site for awhile. It has been very helpful, great meal ideas!
I have lost 19 lbs in 21 days, including 8 inches as of today! Not too bad, right? I am hoping to lose another 20 in the next month. Really getting a little bored with dinner options.
Congrats to all on this blog who is hanging with it!
Oh-one question I have had. Regarding my TOM, I have been starving for 3 days now. I am hoping this passes back to not being hungry when its over. Anyone else had increased hunger and cravings at that time?
Thanks!
I love to bake. I have treats for my kids and neighbors or whom ever comes over.
This is really hard to reprogram my whole way of thinking.It is good for me and eventually my family but tonite I am discouraged.
I don’t think I am getting all my calories. Has anyone had the same issue and if so what did your weight do and maybe an easy way to make sure you have it all?
Holley,
This diet can be wearing on a person. I am doing the meal planning and cooking for just my wife and me. Been at it now for about 9 weeks. I can’t imagine what it would be like to cook for a family and then seperately for yourself on this diet. Gotta’ hand it to you and all the other wives and mothers doing the same thing.
There is no real easy way to make sure of the calories, that I know of. Maybe someone else has a magic wand–I sure don’t. Weigh/measure the food and look up the calorie content. I work with a food scale that reads in tenths of an ounce. And I weigh everything. I have looked up the calorie content of the foods my wife and I are permitted for the HCG-VLCD. If you want, I can email that list to you. Maybe save you some time and help you gain the precision the diet requires. hfalish@hotmail.com
Harvel
Harvel what wonderful support you are to all of us on this blog. How do you have the time and patience to answer the same questions over and over? You are a blessing!! I know after I’m through with the 23 days and 3 weeks of maintenance I will be going to a more conventional way of losing weight b/c I really miss my social interactions. Hopefully these 23 plus days will have change my metabolism enough so that I can lose weight(15lbs) on ww. I thank you again
mkg
Holly-
I put the Maple Farms Sugar Free Raspberry Vinagarette 5 calories for 2 TBSP ( I use one) and no sugar…Don’t get Fat Free, it has sugar
Mkg,
Thanks for the good words. It makes it worth it. I am retired; my wife still works. I am really into this diet. That makes the time it takes a pleasure.
Remember that the best part of the HCG supported diet is that it removes that ugly resistant surface fat while protecting the two types of essential fat deposits in our bodies. “Conventional” diets don’t do that.
Having said that, my guess is that by now, you have learned what to eat and how much. A very real benefit of going through the HCG process is the retraining and learning to “eat to live,” not “living to eat.”
Good luck, and here’s to your continued success.
Harvel
I understand the fat part, but I have been letter perfect and I know if I continue or do a round 2 I would be taking liberties. I have missed so many social things in these 2.5 weeks that I’m getting depressed. I have never been Physically hungry just socially hungry. Now if cheating on this worked as well as a conventional diet I would do round 2.
Thanks Amanda.
thanks mkg and I totally understand!!
MKG I totally understand what you mean about missing social events. The very first day of my VLCD I went to a women’s brunch. I didn’t cheat but looking at all the yummy food and having to settle for celery, tomatoes, and strawberries was very hard.
Monday is Labor Day and of course I’ve been invited to a BBQ, which I will be skipping. I can’t take the torture.
I just started round 1 and I will more than likely do a second round, guess I’ll be missing more social “eating” events but it’s so worth it to me.
Good luck!
Hello, I have lost a total of 20lbs in 3 weeks, I am not about to go onto the maintanence part, and I’m scared since I feel that outline is fuzzy to me. No trans fats, no refined sugar, no starches or starchy veg’s. So what can I eat and not gain back my weight.
Can I eat: nuts, like weight watchers ice cream, whole wheat bread, what about cereal and diary prouducts. I don’t want to regain on this part, I want to restart another phase of this diet after maintainance is over. Please Help!
Today will be my last HCG day. I was supposed to go until saturday but I notice I have been absolutely RAVENOUS the last 2 days. HCG be d@mned! I know by reading the protocol that this is a sign of immunity setting in. So, I will make today my last day and do my 3 days of 500 calories with no HCG for Thursday, Friday and Saturday. Now, since I did closer to 40 days than 23, do I have to do 6 weeks of phase 3 or can I just do 3 weeks? I still have about 15 lbs to lose and I dont know if I can last through 6 weeks. I really want to do my 3 weeks and get back on the diet.
Does anyone know?
MKG I completely understand what you mean. I feel so lonely since I have started this diet. I am a 24 year old mother of three kids under 4 and a wife to a husband that can eat anything and never go over 150 pounds. We like to take “mini” vacations on the weekends and love taking the kids to do stuff. That has all changed though since I started this. It is very difficult, especially when you are the only heavy one in the family. I just have to keep telling myself that I am doing this for not only me but for them too. I know if I don’t I am going to miss alot in their lives. I am way too young to be over 100 pounds over weight. I have found though that I am not craving fatty foods anymore, I just want more meat and I cant wait till I can eat eggs. It definately changed the way you look at food. And I am very thankful to everyone that posts on this forum, it is probably the only thing that keeps me going. If I am having a hard time, I just get on here and read. I have probably read all of this about 15 times now. lol
So does anyone know about the maintainance part, what are the limits. Do I just go for it and weigh everyday and see if I gain or not. It just isn’t clear to me on what I can and cannot eat. Need help, going to maintanance tomorrow. YIKES! Scared.
MKG- I totally understand where you are coming from, but you will make it thru. I feel way better since I started on the diet. I don’t know if it’s being without the sugar or what but I have more energy than before, course I’m 20lbs lighter as well. I was hoping for more of a weight loss this time but 20 is good for 22days. I am going back on it after maintainence I have just started the tip of the iceberg on my weight issue, I still need to lose at least 60lbs. Long way to go, so I don’t want to gain ANY on maintanence.
I know nobody understands how hard this diet is better than us and it is hard. I keep saying to myself that I can do anything for 23days and I did, now for the scarey part for me, keeping it off for 3 weeks.
MKG- I totally understand where you are coming from on this diet, it does get lonely but you can make it thru. Keep on trucking! Carol
Dionne,
If you are close to 40 doses and you are very hungry, chances are very good that immunity to the HCG has developed. You will have to stay off the HCG for six (6) weeks. Do the first three as Ph3 and the last 3 as a more normal diet with the careful addition of sugar and starches. Weigh yourself every morning and adjust as necessry. At the end of the six weeks, go back into the diet with the two gorging days and HCG and you are off again.
Ph3 isn’t anything to be afraid of (although I was until I got into it and found out what actualy would happen). Basically, you can eat whatever you want EXCEPT SUGAR AND STARCHES. Keep your weight within plus or minus 2 pounds of the weight on the day of the last dose of HCG. Go for a minimum of 1500 calories. Ph3 is called “maintenance” because you are to maintain the new weight while the body adjusts to that weight. If you can tough it out, that last 15 pounds should be a snap.
Carol,
The above comments should answer some of your concern also. Wow! 20 pounds in 22 days? Way to go! You might gain, and, in fact, you are permitted to gain up to two pounds during maintenance. The key is to keep an eye on the weight and take immediate corrective action if you gain or lose even an ounce beyond the 2 pound upper or lower limit. This thing works, even though gaining weight might seem to be counter-intuitive!
All of you have served as inspirations to me and my wife as we all struggle through this thing in order to come out on the other side more slender, healthier and in control (for the very first time in our lives, maybe) of our weight. Don’t let the speed bumps throw you off.
Harvel
Harvel, I want to thank you for your advice. I had no ideal of what to do on maintainence and you have made it perfectly clear for me. Thank you so much for your time. I can’t wait to start my maintainence now thanks to you!
Hey guys I found another website that helps us all stay in control. We can’t put in 500 calories for a day because it tells “are you crazy eat more” j/k but it helps with lots of diffrent things.
livestrong.com
there is a daily plate part that you can input all your food a place you can track your weight a place to put in your excercise…and on and on
My friend that is on maint right now says it really helped her…
fyi
Thanks Harvel,
I guess we wore Les out and you are taking his place. LoL!
DRATS! 6 weeks! I don’t know if I can do it. I’m one of those people. . ..Give me an inch and i’ll run a marathon! If i allow myself to loosen the reigns even the little bit that phase 3 allows i’m afraid I will just lose myself on the slippery slope to Olive Garden! I do better with the restrictive guidelines of phase 1. If i pondered whether or not I could have something. . . . the answer was pretty much “NO!” and that was that. You start giving me choices and options and leeway and I start exceeding limits and boundaries. Plus, I liked that i didnt have to count calories. Once I knew the basic calorie count of the foods we were allowed I pretty much knew that the choices I was restricted to would give me anywhere from a 375 to 430 calorie meal with a little room to add mroe veggies or the melba toast to make up. On phase 3 I’m going to have to look up the calories of everything I eat and add it up throughout the day. I hate doing that! It is so tedious!
Well, I guess I better stop belly aching and gear myself up to do it because the time has come.
As far as I can tell though, the “eat anything you want” part of phase 3 really just means cheese, milk, eggs,and any vegetables you want (excluding corn, peas, potatoes and the rest of the starchy aka. “good” ones.) I can’t think of anything else we are allowed. Are we supposed to drink Non or lowfat Milk or can we have the real stuff? I assume it would be too ur benefit to do low fat.
Well, I will do my 3 days of 500 with no HCG starting tomorrow. I guess it wont be any harder than the last 2 days in which I have been starving despite the HCG. My weight this morning was 175.4.
Hopefully the next time you hear from me I wont be 200 lbs!
Harvel, again. . . thanks. You have been a great help, inspiration and source of information to everyone on this site. I’m sure I will be reaching out soon for a pep talk or some direction as I enter phase 3.
Carol:
you lost 20 lbs in 22 days and but were “hoping for more of a weight loss”???? I lost 16 lbs in 37 days. You’ve had amazing success and I’d gladly trade results with you. Keep it up!
Dionne,
I hear you. Phase 3 was scary.
But, you can eat what you have been eating, mix veggies, and know what the calories are, to get you to a minimum of 1500.
Add only one or two things a week, knowing their calories, see how you do with that.
Phase 3 is the most important.
Maintaining. And, getting us to a normal life again and maintaining.
I’ve struggled with counting but I am doing well and haven’t gained.
Debbie
Dionne,
Wait at least six weeks.
I did a 40 day round and was 15 pounds away. Second round is harder I think. I waited 6 weeks to the day, and I was always hungry thru round 2. In fact, instead of the 40 days I planned, they only allowed me to go 23 because of immunity. I did get the weight off, which then I wanted at least 5 more pounds off and couldn’t do.
If I had to do over, I would have waited a little longer. I felt awesome on round 1, not round 2. And, the closer you get to goal weight, the harder it was, per usual.
I was very realistic about my weight loss. I wanted to be on the low end for my height. At 51, maybe that was overzealous. But I did end it early because of fatigue, hunger, etc, Thankfully, HCGmedical had some great tips to get over bumps.
Good luck. You’ve done fantastic!
Debbie
Carol,
No starches (cereal, breads, potatoes, rice, etc.)
You can have nuts. But be careful! You can have sugar free ice cream, but not ww ice cream sandwiches because the cake. Eggs, cheese, milk. More veggies, more fruits. Mix them. I’ve had turkey bacon, which I love. Salad dressing, carbs 0-1g, which is ranch…
Seriously, after a round and a half, i could stay on maintenance forever. I feel good. Look good. And I don’t feel deprived.
So much so, that I’ve been baking desserts for my family, baking homemade breads.
All kinds of great meals and it doesn’t phase me. I am happy!
Debbie
Krystal Ok tonight is the first time I came home from an event with a smile on my face. It was book club where everyone brings a appetizer type dish. I thought about it for days and decided to bring the garlic shrimp from the the book 101 Worry Free HCG recipes, some celery and cut up apple. Not only was the shrimp outstanding I never felt deprived or different. When people were filling their plates with meatballs,stuffed mushrooms etc…I just went to my baggie and did my own thing. I did get a kick out of the people who looed at my plate and went back looking for the shrimp and apples
Krystal maybe you can use that tip and still go on your mini vacations just bring along your own food, a food that you like. I’m lucky I like shrimp so I never felt deprived…which is a first. It’s funny but I’ve never been a fruit eater and now apples are a fav of mine but I cut them in sections and they are more appealing..and plan to continue to use them daily as a treat
mkg
Dionne,
Well, I guess you don’t really have to count calories. Eat what you think would be about 3 times the HCG-VLCD and watch your weight. It’ll tell you if you are getting too much or not enough. Of course, it’s better to actually know how much you are eating. Eat slowly and chew each mouthful well, like your mother told you to and stop when you feel full. Let me know how it goes.
Harvel
Dionne,
Mia culpa. I forgot in all of this that you are to add fats and oils to the Ph3 part of the diet. That somewhat makes up for the “no sugar or starches” part of it. We like olive oil, butter, coconut oil (great for cooking), and bacon grease. You can really pile on the calories with just 1 tablespoon of any of those. Olive oil, for example has 120 calories per Tbsp. I have rediscovered the pleasure of 1/2 a ripe avocado with sugerless mayo. Milk is a no-no because of the lactose sugar that is naturally in it. We use heavy whipping cream in our coffee. If there is any lactose left in it, it has to be just a trace. And eggs, don’t forget eggs. My three egg morning omlette is ambrosia, especially after the HCG-VLCD!
Be careful. It doesn’t take long to get to 1500 calories for the day.
Harvel
I understand what you guys mean about not wanting to go anywhere…we have an annual event this weekend that we are going to go to, and I am planning on going taking my lunch with me in my lunch bag with a mini cooler….has anyone tried any of the receipes out of Tammy’s Hcg cookie…2 that I really like is a Strawberry Smoothie where you take serving of strawberries, 1 tablespoon of milk, ice and stevia and
blend it together…it is really good, I can’t keep my 12 year old son out of it….also for another receipe I cut up an apple in thin slices and put stevia and cinnamon on it, put it in the oven at 325degrees and bake, I have put it in for 10-15 or longer if you like…My family also likes that one.
I meant Tammy’s cookbook…guess where my mind is LOL
Debbie- That is great news, you mean I could use Ranch dressing on my salads during maintanence. That would be awesome. I was worried about the sugar content.
Carol,
I think Debbie found a Ranch Dressing that was sugar-free.
Harvel
We will be finishing Ph3 tomorrow, Thursday. My wife came up with a spectacular salad dressing good on just about anything, even meats:
1 Tbsp Dijon Mustard
7 Tbsp Olive Oil
½ tsp Lemon Juice
2 Tbsp Apple Cider Vinegar (Bragg)
4 Tbsp water
1 tsp cracked Black Pepper
Dash (1/8 tsp) Sea Salt
½ Avocado
Blend all ingredients in blender until smooth.
Chill and serve. KEEP REFRIGERATED
About 85 Calories per tablespoon
Enjoy!
Harvel
Harvel- Thanks for the recipe, it’s really good, I will try it out. Thanks again for the tip about the ranch dressing too!
Hi,
I found a 1 carb Buttermilk Ranch at Whole Foods. They make their own. That’s the one.
Also, Ken’s Buttermilk ranch is also 1 carb.
Debbie
I started yesterday doing 6 drops 6 times a day instead of the 10 drops 3 times a day. I was very pleased with it. I was not hungry at all yesterday. My cravings were down. And I actually hit a pound lost today instead of the .4 I have been hitting the past few days. I also increased my water intake to almost 4 liters. So, I think I will stick with that and see if it continues to work.
Was also wondering where you all get your stevia from? I have found the single packs of stevia at the local grocery store but havent seen the drops anywhere. The grissini also, do you buy it online?
Harvel – Thanks for posting the salad dressing recipe. I copied it to try when I go back on Phase 3.
As I posted last week, I went on Phase 3 for a few days since I was traveling (bringing my oldest daughter back to school). Then I went on 2 binging days once I went back on hcg. Yesterday was my first vlcd and it was SO depressing. I loved the Phase 3 food. I found it very easy to follow and I felt totally satisfied. In my mind, cheese, eggs and generous portions of meat and vegetables make up for no bread or pasta. While on the Phase 3 days, I kept within the 2 pounds (actually I was a pound less than my last dose weight). The binging days (while fun) packed the pounds back on. I gained almost 4 pounds (YIKES!) After my first day of the vlcd I lost 1.4 pounds. I have about 6 pounds to go before I’m finished. I wish I could have finished the diet before our trip but it didn’t happen, and I knew it would be too hard to follow the vlcd while traveling. In retrospect, I think I would have done better if I had totally avoided bread and starch while binging. Oh well – live and learn.
Krystal,
The wife and I shop at Whole Foods Market. (In as much as we can, we have gone “organic.”) They have almost all of the liquid flavored Stevias as well as the unflavored liquid. They also have the Grissini bread sticks. The powdered Stevia works well in dry mixes like cinnamon. My mix is 22 teaspoons of cinnamon to one-half packet of Stevia.
Most any health food store should have the “Sweet Leaf” Stevia products. We like the “Sweet Leaf” brand.
Harvel
Carol and Jackie,
The salad dressing happened by accident. My wife was following a recipe from a cookbook when she got to the stage of pouring the mix into the blender. For whatever reason she was standing in the kitchen holding half an avocado. she said, “What should I do with this?” I said, “Why don’t you just toss it in the blender with the rest of the stuff?” Vola! Leslie’s Vinaigrette Salad Dressing was born.
Enjoy, Harvel
Krystal,
I buy my stevia at iherb.com. I have tried NuNaturals Stevia, Stevia in the Raw and Sweet Leaf Stevia Plus. My favorite is the NuNatural, but I noticed it does have 1 g carbs. The Sweet Leaf is 0 everything, and I’m not sure about the Stevia in the Raw. Since I recently noticed the 1 g carbs in the Nunatural, I’ve been trying to use the Sweet Leaf (although I like the taste of the other better). I bought Grissin online but I forgot where. Maybe Amazon? Good luck!
Thanks Harvel and Jackie. We don’t have any type of health food store here but I think the town nearby does. Maybe I can make a trip over there sometime. I will also check amazon for the grissini.
Krystal,
Google “stevia.” There should be someone out there who sells the Sweet Leaf Stevia on-line. Maybe even Amazon.
Harvel
Does anyone know if the zero sodas are ok during phase 2?
Janell,
As a general rule, “zero” commercial sodas are not OK at any time because they contain artificial sweetners. But, then, my wife accuses me of being a purist.
A pretty good home-made fake “Fresca” soda is as follows:
8 ounces carbonated water (unsweetened sparkling mineral water)
10 drops Lemon Drop stevia (“Sweet Leaf” brand)
Another is:
Root Beer:
8 ounces carbonated water (unsweetened sparkling mineral water)
15 drops Root Beer stevia (“Sweet Leaf” brand)
See what you think of these. You may have to adjust the stevia to taste.
Harvel
Thanks Harvel, I will purchase those flavors in stevia and give it a shot.
Amy – Any update on the lasting effects of cupcakes? I’m so curious to hear whether your gain was just the morning after, or if it stalled you for multiple days?
I am on day 7 with the drops and, from my starting weight – pre-load, I’ve only lost like 4 pounds. This feels like way more work than it’s worth. And then I read about people who are losing a bunch. What is wrong with my body!
Hang in ther Christina, my first week was slow, and then week 2 and 3 were awesome, and then 4 slow again, I lost 20lbs in 23 days on HCG with a few gains, and stalls. Give yourself the 23 days to see the change, not just 7. I counted down rather than up.
Day one of Ph 3 here, didn’t do so good at lunch had 2 fries, and have been paying for it dearly all afternoon!!!
Christina,
Amanda T is absolutely right–Hang In There! While we are all going through this to lose weight, each of us will do so at the pace of our individual bodies. Besides, there are more benefits to this HCG process than just the weight loss. For example, you will learn to eat to live, not live to eat. You soon will be able to look at a meal and quickly estimate the food value on your plate and make a deliberate, intelligent decision about just how much of it to eat. (How many of our mothers told us to clean our plates; there are starving children in…?) You will learn to slow down while eating and enjoy the flavors and textures of the various foods. My wife and I learned to stretch a 250 calorie meal out to 30 minutes or more and actually (gasp!) talked. You will find that your body is reshaping itself even if the scales aren’t showing a change for a day or two. You will…; but I think you get the idea. Hang. In. There!
Harvel
Hey Christina
i have tried to get in my mind a loss is still a loss
I know it so hard to balance the sacrafice but hang in there. A couple of days in now and it does get easier and this website will be awesome for you. We are all doing the same thing and we all have or will go through the same things. There are alot of great people on the site that can really help out. You can do it!!
Hey Everyone,
I just started to HCG shots on Sat and have lost 8 pounds so far. I only have one question right now and it is What do you do if you have to go out to dinner. I will be away from the house all day Sat and I am scared I am going to mess up. Please help. Thanks Jessica
Hello All.. I just wanted to say thanks for all the helpful hints and tips! I am starting this process this coming Sunday (6th) and hoping for the best! I hear this takes determination and sacrifice… and I commend all of you on your journey so far! Wish me luck!
Harvel- Thanks for sharing your story about the creation of the salad dressing and how it came to be. I can hardly wait to try it as I have it written down and am going to get the things I need for it tomorrow. I start my phase 3 tomorrow..yippee, can’t wait. Wish me luck!
Carol
Carol,
A small confession: When I saw the green gorp in the blender I thought to myself, “Well, looks like we just spoiled a perfectly good avocado.” But, it turned out to be very tasty on fish as well as salads. Which is good, because we couldn’t eat tarter sauce because of the sugar during Ph3.
Phase 3 has turned out to be a very pleasant experience for us. Other than watching calories and weight, we are eating pretty darned well. We had a celebratory sockeye salmon filet for our last Ph3 dinner tonight.
Harvel
Jessica,
I’ve found eating out to be no problem. Easiest thing to order for me: I ask for a small garden salad (nothing but tomato, onion and cucumber) and then I tell them how to prepare a grilled chicken breast (no oil or marinades). For a dressing just ask for a few lemon wedges and I squeeze them over top. The chicken breast is generally about double what we need so I just eat half of that. Eat your fruit later if the restaurant doesn’t have fresh strawberries for dessert. And …voila!
Option 2: Order the grilled chicken breast (as above) and then ask for a portion of steamed spinach/cabbage/collard greens/etc. Make sure they know not to drizzle any oil before serving. Again, I always ask for lemon wedges and squeeze over top.
Option 3: sushi – order specific cuts of sashimi (like fluke and shrimp) and have a small garden salad without dressing.
Is anybody having bowel problems?? Not only am I not going…I don’t have to. Smooth tea did vey little to help me.
Mkg,
On the very restricted diet we are using, there isn’t much volume in the lower intestine. The wife and I were evacuating every other day, and sometimes going three days between movements. Unless we got constipated, which didn’t happen, we didn’t see the lower frequency to be a problem.
Harvel
Thanks Harvel hopefully I’m ok. Maybe when I start phase 3 things will be better. I don’t feel bad but just concerned but 3 days isn’t even in my equation.
I find myself starving in the morning and can’t wait for lunch, anyone else experiencing this? Any ideas?
Stacy-
Thanks for responding to my question. What you said ready helped. Thanks again.
I have a couple of questions for anyone that can answer them. First one is, Do you know if you can drink TOO MUCH water? And 2nd question is what are the phases everyone is talking about? Please help if you can.
Hey everyone, been a while I have been gone. I have seen some of the questions and comments though. I dont understand how anybody can complain about a .5 pound per day loss. ” I dont know if it is worth the hassel” try any other diet and see if you lose half a pound per day up to 1 pound per day. Women will almost always lose less than men on this diet but at the end of 30 days and if you only lose 15 pounds, WOW ! how good is that. Keep your head up and be grateful for .5 pound plus per day. Thats PER DAY. Not haten just trying to encourage you to keep your head up and gettin real. Be blessed
Hi Les-
You seem like you have been doing this diet for a while and have you ever had days were you gain like .2 pounds and if so what is the cause of that?Thanks for responding back to me and also I put up a couple more questions if you can answer them that would be great. thanks Jessica
Jessica,
Yes, it is possible to drink too much water, but the amount is way, way above what you would ever drink voluntarily. The formula I use to figure out how much water to drink is to divide the weight by 2. Then, drink that number of ounces of water in a 24 hour period. For example, if I weigh 200 pounds, half of that would 100. I would then drink 100 ounces, or slightly more than 3 quarts a day.
The phases that are talked about come from Kevin Trudeau’s book “The Weight Loss Cure.” If you don’t have his book, you might consider getting it and reading it. A lot of the stuff he advocates is sort of “over the top,” so far as I am concerned. However, he does lay out the HCG diet in a way that makes sense and his history of who Dr. Simeons was and how the diet was developed makes for good reading.
Anyway, the phases are Ph1-a 30 day cleansing and preparation step, Ph2-the actual HCG Very Low Calorie Diet, Ph3-the three week maintenance phase, and Ph4-resume a normal diet. Dr. Simeons did not label it like that. He just starts with the HCG-VLCD, moves into maintenance and then goes to a normal diet.
Hope this helps,
Harvel
Les,
Welcome back! Where have you been?
harvel
Harvel,
I’m currently doing a 40 day round of the HCG diet. I know that I will have to be off the diet for 6 weeks, so does this mean I will stay on Phase 3 for 6 weeks or will I do 3 weeks of pahse 3 then go to phase 4 and then back to phase 2 for my second round? Hope that makes sense.
Progress: I started the diet 8/27, gained 3 pounds over the gorge days..and as of today I have lost 10.4 pounds which includes the 3 pounds I gained on the gorge days..so I’ve lost 7.4 pounds from my original weight. I’m so excited!!
Hello,
I just discovered a pasta substitute. It might have been mentioned here before. I am on Phase 3 and we got some fresh tomatoes from a friend, and made spaghetti sauce with just the tomatoes and Italian herbs, so we could freeze it and have it with pasta when we could have it. However, we decided to try it with Spaghetti squash and it was amazing. I am going to give up pasta and start using spaghetti squash in the future. Try it you will like it. I thought I read on here that you can have sugar free ice cream on phase three? is that correct?
Thanks
Jim
Can we have the spaghetti squash on phase 2?
I thought squash was a starch. If it isn’t yahoo! I love squash
Mkg,
Squash is a starch. It said that one cup is = to 1 carb. Sorry about the bad news. Jessica
Harvel,
Thank you for the info. I gained .2 today and I think it has to do with all the water that I drunk. I went thru almost 2 gallons of water yesterday. Live and learn….HUH
Here’s a great HCG recipe site there are some cool variations for our limited food choices 🙂
http://www.lowcarbfriends.com/bbs/other-plans/616126-hcg-diet-recipes-only.html
So Harvel- Are you going back on the diet after Phs 3 or are you guys done and have lost all your weight? Just wondering what is your next step.
Carol
Good Luck everyone for the Holiday and remember
You can You do You WILL!!!
Hello to everyone,
I will be starting Ph3 on sunday. I read the weight loss cure and pounds and inches. My question is: Does anyone know if almond flour is considered a starch? Is sprouted grain flour considered a starch? I am really missing a desert and want to bake something. I am confused about lactose in the milk is that considered a sugar? or is it only refined sugars that we need to stay away from? I was glad to hear Les say that 2-3% starch should be our stopping point, I was thinking the same thing. I found some great cookbooks that utilize almond flour I sure hope we can use it. I have lost 19lbs in the 26 day phase. I cannot believe how this loss looks different than other times. Anyone else notice a difference in shape?
Have a great evening, the 2 days without the drops have not been so bad afterall, but very very anxious to eat again.
Jane
Carol,
We will be going back into the diet in about 3 weeks. We did the long course and have to wait a full 6 weeks before starting again. Today was the first day of “freedom.” (Ph3 ended yesterday.) I enjoyed the first hamburger with a bun that I had eaten in over two months. Sure was good. We’ll see what the effect on my weight is in the morning. We each have about twenty pounds to go.
Thanks for asking, Harvel
Jane,
I looked the starch content of almonds on the following website:
http://www.kickas.org/ubbthreads/showthreaded.php?Number=146875
They have 2.7 grams of starch per 100 grams. I think that is probably low enough to be OK if you don’t get carried away with it.
Any grains are a starch, sprouted or not. And, lactose is a sugar to be avoided during Ph3.
Harvel
i need help i am just getting started and i really need to know all the things that everyone else knows email me at jokerzwyld38@yahoo.com thanks what works what doesn’t work . thanks again
Harvel or anyone with phase 3 experience,
My morning weight of last injection day was 125.8. On day 3 of no Hcg and 500 cal my morning weight was 122.8. My goal weight is around 120. During ph 3 and according to what I have read, when I go 2 lbs under or 2 lbs over 125.8 I have to take action. I want to stay more at 122. Can I use the 122.8 and do the 2 lb thing? Or will it mess up my reseting? And….. If not at what point can I continue my weightloss? I will be starting to work out again and I feel that will make me lose, will I have to up my calories to stay within the 2lb limit?
I appreciate any advice or experience anyone has had.
Thanks so much for your thoughts, and congrats to everyone on this.(I am only 5′ so 120 is not to low for any of you concerned *thanks*)
Jane,
You should use the 125.8 as your Ph3 baseline for the + or – 2 pounds. That’s according to Dr. Simeons. My wife wanted to use the lower weight also, and we had a few, loving, discussions on that point. You are 3 pounds under, so bump up the calories to get back within the 2 pound range. It’s important to use the last HCG day’s weight in order to allow your body’s metablolism to reset to the new weight. This thing is a pretty precise “medical” treatment. Even using the 125.8 number, you are very close to your 120 goal. If you did the short course of HCG, you can go back on the HCG-VLCD at the end of the 3-week Ph3. But, you may be able to get the last 6 pounds off with the increase in exercise and staying with the Ph3 diet. It’s hard to tell. One thing for sure, if you do the HCG-VLCD, you will lose the last few pounds and be able to keep it off. It’s worth the time and effort!
FYI, I couldn’t stop losing weight until I got my calories somewhere north of 2100 a day. I am a 230 pound male for comparison. (40 pounds down from the starting point–I’m so proud!)
Let me know how it goes for you.
Harvel
Harvel,
Thanks for helping me out with this. When you talk about getting the last 6 lbs off with increase in exercise and staying with the Ph3. I am confused, do you mean staying with it longer than the 21 days? And If I do then the 2lb rule cant apply? Is there a shorter course than the 23-26 course? I just finished that one. Thanks for the info on the grains. I am confused also about the sugar, isnt lactose in the same family of frutose that is in fruit?
Jane,
Sorry if I confused you. What I was suggesting is that you continue the higher Ph3 calorie intake but not adding in the starches and sugars while you exercise to get to the 120 pounds. (Your weight may increase as a result of the exercise from water retention and muscle mass build-up.) If you take that course in order to lose weight, the 2 lb rule would not apply after the 3-week Ph3. If you are not taking the HCG, you will need the 1500 or so calories in order not to throw your body into starvation mode. In starvation mode, the body hangs on to every calorie you give it. And, yes, I have heard of 15 day courses. Perhaps you could start the HCG-VLCD again and when you get to 120 pounds, do Ph3 again then be finished.
Remember, I am not a diet specialist. These are only suggestions. If you are working with an HCG diet counselor, see what they have to say.
Lactose? Fructose? No, they are not the same in the way the body utilizes them. Lactose (milk sugar) is quickly and easily digested and utilized. Fructose is not so easily utilized by the body. Except for the small amounts of fructose in the allowable fruits, it’s generally best to avoid anything ending in “-ose.”
Did I just add to the confusion? I hope not.
Harvel
Atfer completing a 40 day round I know that I have to stay off the diet for 6 weeks but I plan on completing a second 40 day round, my question is, will I stay on phase 3 for the total 6 weeks that I’m off of the VLCD or do I complete 3 weeks of phase 3 amd then complete 3 weeks of phase 4 and then go back to phase 2 when I start the HCG again?
Any clarification would be greatly appreciated.
Janell,
You will have to stay off HCG for a total of 6 weeks–3 weeks Ph3 and 3 weeks of a more normal diet (Ph4). The Ph3 will add calories and fats/oils to the diet. The more “normal” diet will slowly add sugar and starches to the diet. After the 6 weeks, you can go back to the HCG-supported VLCD. It would go: HCG-VLCD–Ph3–Ph4–HCG Gorging (first 2 days of HCG)–HCG-VLCD.
Harvel
If I have only lost 4 lbs. in 30 days, so I still have to mess with the whole maintance things, since the drops did not work for me? I did everything exactly, but apparently my body does not recognize the HCG.
Harvel- Good for the two of you. I hope you really enjoyed your Hamburger, you both deserved it. Now if it had been me, there would have been fries along with it…lol….Wish you two all the luck, hope this phase is true to it’s word on not gaining back the weight, course I’m sure we all know some common sense has to go along with it. That’s where my brain is fuzzy. lol..learning though! Good Luck and ENJOY.
Carol
Harvel – Congratulations on finishing Phase 3, that’s great! Now that you are on Phase 4 what is the rule about introducing the starches and sugars? Can you have so much per day or every other day? I’ve been wondering about the rules for the transition from Phase 3 to Phase 4. I hope to be on Phase 3 soon. I have 4 pounds more to go. Good luck with Phase 4! Also, please keep us posted. I know I am very curious as to weight stability on Phase 4.
Jackie
Harvel- I’m confused AGAIN. Actually I did the 23 day plan but didn’t use the vcld – What is that? Was I suppose to use that, I just bought the drops online and went for it. Lost 20lbs while taking the drops then have lost 2 more since then, am I doing everything wrong? Don’t want to mess up any more than I have, Help me, please! I do plan on going on it again after 3 weeks or so, or do I have to wait 6 weeks. Sorry to be such a pain, but you seem to definately have the knowledge. Thanks for all your help. Carol
Sandi,
I don’t know for sure, but it looks to me as though the HCG may have lost its potency, not that your body was not responsive. Were you following the 500 calories a day for the 23 days? Were you hungry enough to chew the leg off of a table throughout? Check with your counselor, but it may be that you can hold off a few days and go right back into it.
Carol,
I thought about the fries, I really did. You are right, not only is commmon sense needed in Ph4, but you will want to weigh yourself every morning and follow the 2 pound rule. After only two days, I find that I can look at a meal and guess pretty closely the calories on the plate. I have also learned to eat relatively slowly and to quit when I begin feeling full.
For your second posting to me, the “VLCD” is short-hand used on this site for Very Low Calorie Diet and refers to the 500 calories we consume while under the influence of the HCG.
If you did the 23 day course of HCG, three weeks off is considered to be enough. You can start over again at the end of Ph3.
And, finally, Carol, you are not a pain. This diet works. I am pleased to be able to help with whatever I have learned by study, personal experience and listening to others–especially on this blog site. For the past 9 or 10 weeks I have set aside almost all of the rest of my life just to steer my wife and I through this thing. If anyone else can benefit from what I have learned, they are welcome to it. Having said that, I am not a diet specialist, nor am I a medical practitioner of any sort. I’m just a guy who wanted to lose a lot of weight and found a way to do it.
Jackie,
One of the best pieces of advice I have seen about adding the sugar and starches for Ph4 is this: Do it slowly. Add one carbohydrate food per day in the first week of Ph4. The next day, change to another form of carbohydrate food, again just one a day. The second week of Ph4, eat two carbohydrate foods, but not in the same meal. In week three of Ph4, start combining the carbohydrate foods in the same meal. Use common sense and moderation. By then, your eating habits should have changed to the point that you will not overeat. Weigh yourself every morning and try to stay within the 2 pound rule, especially up. Finally, Try not to eat a high fat meal with a high carbohydrate meal. One or the other: high fat OR high carbohydrate. Continue to measure the foods and stay within the calorie range that allowed you to maintain your weight in Ph3. That is your individual and personal calorie limit.
The above comments about carbohydrate refer to the starches. So far as sugar is concerned, avoid it as much as possible and when confronted with sugary deserts eat only a small portion. Adults in the US, I read somewhere, consume about 22 teaspoons of sugar a day(!). Children and teenagers consume up to 34 teaspoons a day. Sugar is in nearly everything on the grocers’ shelves and in soft drinks and in … .
In short, there are no hard and fast rules for Ph4. You will be monitoring your weight for the rest of your life, now that you have learned how to control it.
I know, I did it again. Time to get off the soap box and give someone else a chance to have their say.
Harvel
Talk about confused-no one is more cofused than I am.I think someone needs to write an up to date book to help us out.
I am on my first day of p3.and just besides myself. I am a senior citizen,a woman and a type 1 insulin dependent diabetic.It took me 46 days and absoluty no cheeting to lose 21 pounds. I lost 2 pants sizes and am just thrilled! Everyone-take heart if I can do it any one can.
Now to my problem I made a salad for lunch and by the time I got thru counting carbs and calories I was way over my 20 carb count.It had blue cheese dressing[home made] one egg,one egg white,some cherry tomatoes
one fourth of an avacado.I also had one slice of nitrate free bacon and scrambled egg in butter this morning My husband of fifty plus years is giving me grief.Says its too much animal fat.
Can some one please help me?
Forever greatful.
Sandi how were you ever able to stay with the program only losing 4 pounds? The only thing that has kept me going for 23 is the weight loss. You are astronger person then I’ll ever be
Muriel where did you get the 20 carb count…I thought we only had to stay away from starches and sugar?
Mkg
I got this from Atkins and also from the Dr. that sold me the hcg altho she was not much of a help.
Muriel,
You didn’t say what your blood sugar readings have been. Did they go down during the diet and weight loss? Did your insulin requirement change? One thing that you need to do, if you haven’t done so already is to get information on the carb and GI content of the various foods. A good book that we use (my wife is Type 2 diabetic) is “The New Glucose Revolution” by Dr. Jennie Brand-Miller. The book has a comprehensive listing of the glycemic indexes of over 1,000 foods.
One error that I noticed is the cherry tomatoes. They are very sugar packed. I’m not going to argue with your husband, but I don’t think the animal fat is terribly important at this point in time. However, in order to keep peace in the family, you might consider using olive oil or coconut oil to get some of the calories you need. I especially like coconut oil for cooking.
A good website for complete nutritional values of foods is from the USDA. There you will find protein, carbs, fats and all sorts of other information on the foods we eat:
http://www.nal.usda.gov/fnic/foodcomp/cgi-bin/list_nut_edit.pl
It’s tough to consume about 1500 calories and not go over the 20 Gram carbohydrate limit. I think the key is to look for high calorie/low carbohydrate/low Glycemic Index (GI)foods.
Don’t forget: During Ph3, add fats and oils to the your diet, but NO SUGAR OR STARCHES.
Congratulations on the two pants sizes. My wife and are old enough to qualify for a reverse mortgage should we want to go get one. We have both been successful. Who said old canines can’t learn new stuff?
Harvel
Hey All,
I am on day 10 counting the load days. Yesterday I thought I had lost 8 or 9 pounds today on 7. I thought you lost more on the first and second week. Was I asking to much? I am still thrilled to be down 7 pounds, just wondering if anyone thinks I need to adjust something.
Deb
Muriel,
Now, I am confused. I assumed that you were under Dr.’s care for the diabetes and that the 20 carbs limit came from that Dr. not your HCG provider. How are you getting your insulin if you are a Type 1 diabetic?
Harvel
Thanx for all the tips. Of course my insulin requirments were lowered. I control my insulin levels after all these years.
Hi everyone,
I have a question for anyone that can answer it. I am on phase 2 and have been for a week. (I have lost 11 pounds so far…thank goodness) But anyways my question is, What is the lastest that you should eat? My family and I did not get home until 8:15 tonight and I didn’t get to eat until about 9:15 tonight. Did I screw up on my weight lost for tomorrow because I did eat so late?
MKG,
I stayed with it because of all the positive talk on this site thinking it would eventually kick in. I was excited this am when I was down 1 lb. that makes 5 since Aug 15.
Jessica,
Trudeau recommends not eating anything within 3 hours of bedtime (and that’s the same rule I’ve heard from other doctors over the years). Honestly, though, I think the biggest difference you’ll see on the scale the next day will be due to the amount of undigested food still in your system (which will be gone by the next day, thankfully). Tell us how it goes!
3 hours before bed is the latest you should eat. If you were up late, and then got 7-8 hours of sleep, you should be fine
Stacy and Debbie,
Thanks for responding to my question and I learned the hard way not to eat late. I gained .4 today and I am so disappointed in myself. But I am getting back on track today. Wish me luck!!!!!!
Harvel,
Thanks so much for the helpful information on Phase 4. When you say you add a carb food a day, do you try to keep it under 20 carbs or some other carb count? Also, when you say not to combine a high carb food with high fat food in a meal, do you have a range for what is considered too high in fat for a meal? Thanks in advance.
Jackie,
I’m afraid I wasn’t clear. When I said “carbohydratess,” I meant to say “starches.” Although starches are carbohydrates, it is the starch we focus on. Things like potatoes, breads, cereals, pastas, and the like. There is no particular limit on the amount. You would want to avoid a meal that had both a greasy fried food and potatoes or an other meal with an oily alfredo sauce over pasta. You could have a fatty food at noon and a heavy starch for dinner. Eventually, I think it is after the third week of Ph4, you can begin putting them together. As with Ph3, the daily calorie intake is what you watch.
As an aside, the “20 carbs” limit is a restriction for people like my wife who have to manage their carb intake due to high blood sugar.
Harvel
Good luck Jessica. Stick with it.
Eating late can be reversed the next day. So don’t fret. Try not to do so.
Debbie
Harvel,
Thank you. So if I follow you the 2lb rule needs to be followed for 21 days then I can just try to lose the rest after that on my own. During the 21 days when I excercise and my weight increases more than 2 lbs because of water retention and muscle (which I build fast) do I take action? As always, thanks for your thoughts and ideas.
Thanks, Harvel! I’m so glad I won’t have to be limiting myself to 20 carbs.
I haven’t posted much on this site, but I follow it everyday and thank you Harvel and Les for all of your valuable information. I am on day 30 of VLCD and have lost 26.2 pounds. I am so excited to finally be losing my weight. I still want to lose another 30 pounds, so I’m almost halfway there and will require another round.
I have a question for anybody who can answer. I’ve read different things about continuing sublingual HCG drops after 40 days. I’ve heard some folks who have continued successfully past their 40 day round. And on the other hand, I’ve read about becoming immune to HCG and that’s why you should not continue past 40 days. I have the will power and determination to continue, but don’t want to mess up my program by continuing the HCG sublingual drops past 40 days. Can anybody give advise me on this? I am approaching the end of Phase 2 quickly. Thanks!
Hi guys
Here is a recipe I thought I would share in case any of you are lke me and have been missing your movie time snack.
Spinach chips (preheat oven to 350)
Place spinach on parchment paper on a baking sheet in a single layes. Sprinkle with the seasoning of your choice. Place the in the oven for about 10 minutes or until they have a dired paper thin look to them. Take them out and enjoy.
Nice healthy alternative to potato chips 🙂
Anica,
If I remember correctly, the continuation past 40 doses was using the homeopathic preparation. Just to be on the safe side, you might want to assume that resistance to the hormone is developing and follow the protocol of 3 weeks Ph3 and another 3 weeks of Ph4 for a total of 6 weeks off HCG.
Harvel
Jane,
Upon further reflection, I don’t think it is a good idea to increase your exercise until you have finished with Ph3 and the 2 pound rule that goes with it. The water retention and increasing muscle mass could throw everything off and you won’t know where you are with the stabilization of your metabolism to the new weight, which is the purpose of Ph3. If you gain 2 pounds or more, you won’t know if it is fat being redeposited or water or muscle mass and there would be no way to apply corrective action.
Just a thought, do you have a way to monitor your body’s condition with Body Mass Index (BMI) testing or similar technology? I think that might tell you where the weight change is coming from.
Harvel
Harvel,
That was my concern. I am glad to hear we are on the same page. I think that I will just walk every night and look for a more precise scale. I have seen them, just never priced them. I am really enjoying Ph3 and the addition of new foods. I will be ordering some almond flour since locally it runs about 13.00 a lb. On line I can get it for about 5 plus shipping, which makes it very reasonable. I am really missing my deserts. Last night I tried a receipe for coconut icecream. Was okay will look for a better one.
So, how is your journey going?
Thanks so much for your help.
Jane,
We bought a digital scale form Bed Bath and Beyond. The brand name is “Thinner” and it cost about 50 bucks. Well worth it.
Our journey has now taken us into the second 3 week period after HCG–Ph4 or more normal eating with some sugar and starches. I noticed when reviewing our menues for the past couple of weeks that even when we can eat just about anything we want, we seem to revert back to the Ph3 diet. Good food, healthy food, etc and with the olive or coconut oil, eggs and larger meat portions, it’s not too hard to get the calories we need. We are eating lots of eggs, maybe because they are easy to fix and we like them. AND, our weights are holding steady. Is this diet a miracle or what?
Harvel
Anica,
Harvel is correct, the immunity issue is with the homeopathic hcg and the injections. My Dr. prescribed the hcg in an ampule that I mix with saline and take sublingually. He said immunity would not be an issue. I have been on it since July 24th and my daughter has been on it since July 1st with no problem. I took 6 days off hcg to take my daughter back to college (with my Dr.’s ok) and then went right back on it again. If for some reason you do start to become immune, you will know right away because you will be hungry on the vlcd. Good luck!
So far so good! Second day on p3 at same weight.Words can’t express how thrilled I am! You are right Harvel-it is a miracle!
Anyone with experience with a drink or restaurants on p3? That is my next hurdle.
Has anyone seen this site? It seems to have a lot of detail about phase 3. Plus they have a food list attached and what not to eat. Could someone on Phase 3 check into it and let me know if it’s accurate or not? Sorry about the link.. I copied and pasted it, but it doesn’t link directly…
Thanks for the help!!!
http://www.hcginfoonline.com/maintenance%20phase.htm
Thank you Jackie and Harvel for your help. I have a goal to lose 10 more pounds before I start Phase 3 and it may take me a few more days than I thought, so I will probably only go another week or so past my 40 days. If I start getting hungry, I’ll stop my drops and go into Phase 3 as this will probably indicate immunity.
I am also going on vacation next week, and thought about a break, but I’ve come so far, and it’s just not worth taking a break. Wish me luck staying on VLCD during vacation. I think I’ll be fine so long as I go places w salads, which is almost anywhere and use lemon juice for dressing. I’ll be at the coast, so there’s lots of fresh seafood. I should be fine. I can do it!
well once again i have to go back to the fact that I really didn’t know anything about the HCG diet when I started this. I saw an add in a newspaper that advertised losing up to 30 lbsi n 30 days. I didn’t know what it was about. I just went in for a consultation. After I started the diet I googled HCG and found this website. That’s when I started learning about the HCG and Dr. Simeon’s protocol.
I said all that to say this. I didn’t know there was any option for homeopathic HCG, HCG mixed with Saline, HCG shots, or anything other than what my Dr. gave me. I dont know if mine is homeopathic or not. It is already in liquid form and I take it sublingually. I kind of wish I could get my hands on the kind that does not cause immunity because I would love to have just continued on the HCG until I lost my last 15 lbs and finished this all in one round.
But I definitely did experience the immunity factor. During my last 3-4 days on the HCG I was STARVING!
So how does one know if they have the homeopathic kind or not and how can you go about getting it?
Dionne,
If you experienced hunger, you probably have the homeopathic kind. The kind I mix has to be refridgerated. It is my understanding that the homeopathic does not need refridgeration. If you are on homeopathic, I don’t know what the rule is if you start on homeopathic then want to switch. I got my hcg from my Dr. Good luck!
I am on day 6 and feeling nauseated…. I have lost 9 pounds, however I gained 6 pounds during the load days… so that really only puts me at 3 pounds lost… Does anyone else have this awful feeling?
Well I was perfect on my HCG proticol. Tues was supposed to be my last day. All was going fine till Monday when I got a Hole In One. Then everything went south. Ate and drank and celebrated(it was fun).I decided to just end my drops a day early which in retrospect might not have been wise. I immediately gained 2 pounds. I was wondering do you think I should try and lose those 2 before maintaining my weight?
Harvel,
Yes a blessing it truley is. I have been in charge of the food choices and the “know-how” with my boyfriend and I. We both have been battleing hormonal issues that have stopped us from losing weight. I am 44 and he is 48. Funny how a person thinks that they can solve most any weight problem with correct excercise and eating habits. A lesson learned. I used to own a gym and train pretty heavily so I thought I could handle most anything. Well……………….. Hormones thought different. Until I had my full panel tested and this great diet I am afraid I was headed for the farm. I couldnt of made it with out you, les and everyone elso on this site. Many thanks to all
Crap I hit a flat line!! Help me please!! Who has the best advice to get my body going again?? This is so frusterating when you have followed every letter to the “T” the day before. Friends please help me!
How long is your flat line?? ! or 2 days is ok then you kick in again as long as you stay with the program
I stayed the same two days ago lost one pound and again today I am the same!
Holley,
I stalled over the weekend. I remained the same for two days and now I have started losing again. I think it’s normal.
Holley,
Yes, a couple of days of “flat-line” are normal from time to time. As I understand the physiology of the situation, empty fat cells are reabsorbed by the body and the vitamins, minerals, protein, etc are put to use elsewhere. But, until the fat cell destruction takes place, water is used to fill the now empty cells. Since water is heavier than fat, you will flat-line or maybe even weigh a little more. If the flat-line continues for more than a couple of days, your weight may have “plateaued” whch, according to Dr. simeons, should resolve itself in a few days if you stay on the diet. However, an apple day might break the plateau in about day 3 of the flat-line.
Harvel
Thanks Harvel for the explanation of why the flatline may occur. When this happened to me over the weekend I was so frustrated and had decided that if I got on the scale a third day and there was no change or an increase I was going to have a cookie…lol. I felt I was justified 🙂
Janell
Thank you guys!!
ok Harvel now I understand thanks I will keep plugging along
And Janell yeah I know I said the same thing but I have 2 wedding cakes this week and the chocolate cake that I had left over was my threat!!
Hi everyone,
I need help!!! Yesterday I followed the diet to the “T” and I gained 2 pounds. What is going on? Yesterday when I weighed in I loss 3.4 lbs and today I gained. Can anyone help me.
les will you email me thouse recipes ashley@fourthstreetclinic.org
Jenn,That site is awesome…it is just what I needed to get my mind in the right place. I WAS trying not to eat too much but everything on that site put it in logical perspective. Thanks so much for sharing
Help! I was doing ok on phase 3 and now all of a sudden a 3.2 lb. gain!!! DRATS!! It is my “TOM” as you guys call it, but I was not expecting 3 lbs. So I know I have to do a steak day but tell me this. . . DO I at least get fluids? Can I have coffee and iced tea and stuff? oh Lord! I knew this day might come but now that it’s here I am dreading it. I”m gonna be STARVING!!!
Dionne- I just came off two steak days in a row,and I broke it up, I had some at lunch, and then another one at dinner, and I was down the lbs gained this morning. I think the key with the steak day is to get your body into ketosis so that it is burning nothing but fat for energy rather than carbs, and such.
Good luck
Dionne,
Yes, continue your fluid intake during the steak day.
Harvel
I had a several days that I only lost .4 and days where I gained. I was starting to get pretty worried about it, but then I read on here not to eat past 7. Which I had been eating an apple late in the evening so I wouldnt be hungry at night. But I decided to try it. The past three days I lost 1.1, 1.5, and 1.1 again. I guess the eating past 7 has a huge effect of it. Thanks guys!
I will be starting sunday. has anyone done the cleanse before starting the VLCD? Did not see where anyone did it.
Lynda,
I did a 20 day cleanse and started eating all 100% Organic foods as part of Phase I. Over the 20 days I lost 7 lbs before even receiving my HCG.
-Stacy
I just tracked my HCG and it left Jacksonville this morning so I should be getting it any day now. I am going to follow Dr. Simeons Protocol. Should I be doing something these few days before my HCG arrives. Also since food has changed so much since Dr. Simeon wrote P & I, can I use Splenda, Sweet N Low, or Equal, or should I look for Stevia? Is there a substitution for Melba Toast?
Hi All, I thought this might be something that would set your minds at ease–I did the diet and the maintenance phase without any deviations and then the day after my maintenance phase ended I left for a trip to Italy. Needless to say, I was eating and drinking more than I normally would but when I got home after 2 weeks I hadn’t gained a pound. I was a bit worried about it while out there, but decided to put it out of my mind and hope that all the claims of “resetting your set point” were true. Well, it seems it’s true.
Ok guys I am hitting a low. I have again stayed the same and yes last night I cheated (lettuce wraps from PFChangs)
Anyway I need some motivation?! I am doing the drops and I have done pretty good except since Sunday. I need a pep talk plz!!
ps that is awesome Judy good job!! I hope you had a wonderful time!!
Holley,
I’m no expert on the diet but from what I’ve read on this site it might be time for you try an apple day. You should try that and see what happens,
Did the lettuce wraps impact the scale at all? Let me know how the cheat impacts your progress I’m just curious.
But keep your head up!!
Janell
I have had two days where I cheated pretty bad. The first day I was out in town and started feeling really weak so I grabbed a grilled chicken wrap from McDonalds. So I decided since I had already cheated I might as well go out to dinner that night with my husband and I didnt take my drops past noon that day. I only gained .4 the next day. The next time I cheated I continued my drops the whole day and only ate two pieces of boneless chicken wings that night and gained 1.8 the next morning. So lesson learned. Definately dont cheat, you WILL gain weight!
Holley…I too had really hard boring days where I wanted to quit. I didn’t but I totally understand. Try to keep busy and it passes. I read a lot, golfed alot and sometimes felt sorry for myself. Trust me it is worth it. I kept counting the days…I wouldn’t recommend that.My advice keep busy busy busy and it goes faster and Don’t get a hole in one.
The other thing find something you like..mine was shrimp and scallops…I have 2 great recipes if you are interested…started thinking of these things as a treat your mind is a an amazing thing…vary your menus and I found the best apples and I never was a fruit eater
This is a wonderful site. It has become my go-to daily motivation for keeping on this program. Today is my birthday and I treated myself to the zucchini with cinnamon and stevia. My daughter came over and put a candle in it! So – the first time in 54 years my birthday hasn’t been about food! What a switch for me! I’ve owned a restaurant for the last 10 years too, so I’m royally spoiled. Have lost 15 lbs. since starting this 8/15 – 27 days!
Thanks MKG and yes I would love those recipes jhathay10@msn.com
Maybe I do want a hole in one?!! j/k
but great job!!
Hey Janelle
no it didn’t change i stayed the same I think that is another reason I am so frusterated!!
I am thinking about just eating what I want tonite and then start again tomorrow!! but I probably shouldn’t.
Congrats and happy birthday Vikki!
Can you use splenda on this diet.
Debbie,
Thank you!
Looking for a good salsa recipe with no sugar. If a recipe calls for 1 c of sugar, how much Stevia is that? Also, what is a good cooking oil to coat a pan for scrambling eggs in phase 3? I tried olive oil and spray canola, but my eggs still stick.
Sandi…Time to buy a new pan LOL
Sooooooo cute, Mkg, my mind is so into what oil is ok, that I missed the obvious. Thank you for a great Friday laugh at myself!
Hello fellow HCGers,
I am in phase 3 and can not remember what the rules are about dairy. I know that I read it somewhere–where I do not know?! Oh yea did they tell you along with the weight you also lose your mind? Ha Ha just kidding. I love this phase, so far no problems.
I work in a physician’s office that has recently started offering the HCG diet for our patient’s. I myself have tried this diet with great success. My question is that the original Simieon diet states that the injections are to be given intramuscularly, however, many sites talk about giving subcutaneous injections which would be easier for patients. Any info on IM injections being superior to sub Q? Are there any studies on better weight loss with IM vs Sub Q? Let me know. Thanks. Also I’ve now counselled approx 35 patients on this diet since May 2009. I stick strictly to the original Simieon Protocol, where we’ve had great luck, where do some of you get the other food options such as broccoli, Pam non-stick spray etc.? Is there even another school of thought in addition to Simieon and Kevin Trudaeu? I’d love to hear back on this one.
I fell off the wagon and wow what an overwhelming guilt!!
This is so hard when you hit the brick wall and you don’t have any loss. It really makes you question why the heck am I doing this. I am going to jump right back on 2morrow but mainly just bacause the little success I have had…I don’t want it back. I am paranoid of everything I eat. And right now I am on a downer.
Sorry just needed to vent to someone that has been through it!!
Holley,
Ok, so you fell off the wagon for a day. So just jump back on. I started feeling down b/c I stalled weight loss for a few days. I wouldn’t call it a plateau, but I still did an apple day. I’ve done this before and the apple day kicked my butt back into gear and I started losing again. Why don’t you try an apple day to get you back on track. I know the protocol says the apple day is psychological, but according to my scale, it’s pretty genious. And, it will hopefully get you excited again about the diet. Good luck!
Holly,
OK, so you feel guilty and are on a pity party. All that does is make you want to eat comfort food. We have all (well, me in particular) have “fallen off the wagon.”
It’s done. Put it behind you and move on. Anica is right when she says that an apple day might help. It sure won’t hurt!
Keep On Keepin’ On, Harvel
Jackie,
Thanks for the response. The first HCG I got from mydoctor’s office was to be refrigerated. At least that’s what they told me. So I don’t know if it was homeopathic or not. When I ran out of that I purchased the HCG from the diyhcg website. Their instructions said it did NOT have to be refrigerated. But I was only on that a couple of days when the immunity set in. I hope it will stay good until I’m ready for my second round!
Judy
I had the same experience as you. I went to Italy for two weeks after finishing 3 weeks of P3 and 1 week of P4. I just got home and was dreading the moment of truth with the scale. I was so surprised that I was only one pound up. Tomorrow I’m starting R2. 25 to go!
Judy,
Thanks for the update on your progress. That is great news that Phase 4 does not cause weight gain. I have to say that I really believe in this diet. It is truly a miracle. I am almost done with Phase 2 and am looking forward to Phase 3. I can’t imagine how liberating it feels to be on Phase 4. Continued good luck with Phase 4!
Jackie
Greetings All,
I got my HCG today and I have a quick question…When do most people do their injections? Morning or evening?
I’m curious. For the people using the injections. . . where are you getting it from? Is this the homeopathic kind that is susceptible to immunity? Also, I purchased some HCG sublingual drops just before immunity set in from my first bottle so of course I did not get a chance to use it. My first bottle which I got from my doctor was supposed to be refrigerated. The bottle I purchased from DIYHCG says it does not need refrigeration. NOw I have no idea if either of these was homeopathic but I did experience immunity while finishing up my first bottle. I had to cut my 40 day course short because of the immunity and I’m wondering if my almost full bottle of HCG is going to be any good when I’m ready to go back on the diet. Does anyone out there know. It has not been refrigerated, just kept away from light as the directions state.
on to another topic. I’m having a hard time on phase 3. I was up 3 lbs the other day and did a steak day. I dropped about 1.5. I’m not sure if you’re supposed to do the steak until you get back to your weight at the end of phase 2 or if you just do it until you go under the 2 lb. limit. I went back to the phase 3 diet after I dropped the 1.5 lbs but the next day I was back up to 3 lbs over. So, was I supposed to do another steak day until I get back to my weight I was on the last day of HCG?
Dionne,
I’m pretty sure the injectable hcg is not homeopathic. It’s comes in a powder that you add saline to and then you can take it sublingually or by injection (and it has to be refridgerated). Regarding the shelf life of your homeopathic hcg, I would contact the place you purchased it and ask what the length of the shelf life is.
Regarding your Phase 3 question, maybe Harvel or someone else has an opinion, but I would suggest closely analyzing your food choices on Phase 3. Maybe you are unintentionally ingesting sugers or starches. I have been very surprised when reading labels that sugar is added to almost everything. The other thing to look at is the number of calories you are taking in each day and maybe make some adjustments.
It is my understanding that you have to do a steak day every time you go over the 2 lbs additional weight. Good luck!
First day of eat all you want except starch and sugar in Phase 3. Felt like I was eating all day and a lot. When I totaled my day at 8, I had only had 731 calories. Which is worse…eating under your calorie amount or eating after 7. I went ahead and ate some almonds and a grapefruit and got the caloies up to 983.
Hi all. I am Krystals older sister. I am so nervous about my first low calorie day. This diet is such a committment and i always gain 10 of the 20 i am sure you all know that feeling. I am more nervous of ph3 than i will have to stay healthy!!!!!!!!!!!!!! what a concept LOL well i am going to do my best good luck to all of you.
Dionne,
The “steak day” should get you back within the target weight for Ph3. Jackie is right: If the weight didn’t drop, carefully analyze what you are eating: Any carbohydrates or sugars? We just came back from shopping. Tried to find bacon that didn’t have any sugar for Pete’s Sakes. There was none. Also, how many calories are you eating? If you are much over 1500, consider cutting back until you find a level that keeps your weight within the range. And, the range is up or down 2 pounds, so when your weight drops to 2 pounds above the end of Ph2 weight, you don’t need another more steak day unless you go over the limit again.
Sandi,
During Ph3, you need a minimum of 1500 calories, at least to start with. During the HCG-VLCD your body was burning calories at the rate of about 2000 a day. You were only eating 500. If you continually eat much less than 1500, your body is likely to go into starvation mode and it will hold on to every calorie it can get. The scales will tell you how much up or down to adjust. I finally settled at about 2100 calores (230 pound male). My wife got along fine at about 1350 to 1400. I would say that eating too little is more of a problem than eating after 7.
BJ,
Welcome to the beginning of a journey that will allow you to control your weight. Yes, it is a commitment–a tremendous committment. But then, those of us who make that committment are taking charge of our own health. Trust the process. Dr. Simeons worked with thousands of patients over the course of 15 to 20 years. It works.
Harvel
Hi guys,
I am on phase 2 and I have been on it for about 2and a half weeks and my husband and I are going out on a date next weekend and I was just wondering if I mess up and eat bad stuff how hard is it to get back on the diet the next day. And how much weight am I looking at to gain.
Hi All;
Just want to thank all of you posters- it’s been great for a newbie like myself! Although I had already lost over 100 lbs on my own, I finally decided to do something about those last 40-50 and started HCG on Sept 10- my birthday.
I have a question I haven’t seen – can you switch back and forth between shots and drops? I have to fly every month and I’m worried I won’t be able to take the injections with me -or they’ll confiscate then at the security checkpoint. Anyone switched back and forth between drops and shots?
Judy,
Judy,
Congratulations on your prevous weight loss! And I’m sure the HCG will help you with those last 40-50. Happy Belated Birthday! Sept 10 is my birthday too!
About the injections, I know the airlines allow diabetics to carry injection kits onboard. You might just look up your airline’s regulations online to see what their rules are. I’m using the cream, so don’t know too much about the drops and injections.
Good luck!14
Harvel
Trader Joes has delicous bacon without sugar or nitrates
I just discovered Vitacost.com has the liquid stevia in many flavors substantially cheaper than my local health food store. I’ve shopped with them before and been pleased.
These stevia flavors are getting me through the tough times. At night, I’ll just add Chocolate/Raspberry to a little water and it tricks my mind into thinking we’ve had dessert (sort of)! The Vanilla Creme is great in chai teas and orange flavor teas. Now that I see all of the stevia flavors – this could get even better! My mind needs all the help it can get with this program.
Thanks for all your comments.
And yes Harvel i am on a small pity party. this is so hard with a young family. I know I just need to be strong. I am trying my best to be strict today.
But you know once you cheat it is really hard to get back into HCG mindset.
Thanks again everyone!!
Hey there! I am on day 6 and have lost 7 pounds. My husband has lost 10. We both have at least 30 to lose. Is getting the prepackaged fish from Target or Walmart okay??? And, can you do the 40 days without taking a break?
Hey All,
Is there a typical stalling point on Hcg? I am on day 15 not counting the load days. I have lost 10 pds. I seem to have stalled the last 5 days has anyone else had this experence? I seem to remember reading about the fat cells in some way causing this.
Thanks everyone for your wonderful imput on this site, I follow all the posts!
Ok – getting ready for VLCD tomorrow- packing my food for work. But I am REALLY confused. It says :
3.5oz of protein – chicken breast 87 cal.
3.5 oz veggie – cucumber 12 calories
one melbe toast – 20 cal
one small apple – 55 cal
that adds up to 174 cal… times 2 =only 348 for the day.
How are you supposed to get to 500 without going over these guidlines?
Muriel,
Thanks for the tip about trader Joe’s. We shop at one of their stores here in the Phoenix area, I just hadn’t looked for bacon.
Holley,
I apologize if I was too quick to judge your situation. Yes, it would be difficult to do this diet with a young family to take care of–it’s difficult enough anyway. And, I do know how hard it is to get the mindset back. All I can offer is encouragement. Hang in there.
Harvel
New restaurant tip for those of you looking for dining out options… I ate at Chili’s last night and still had a 1.2 lb weight loss this morning. Here’s what I ordered:
Looked on the “Guiltless Grill” portion of the menu and ordered the Tilapia – it’s topped with pico de gallo (fresh tomato, onion, cilantro). It comes with seasonal veggies (which was broccoli) and rice, but I instructed to give me a side salad (just lettuce and tomato – specify “no cheese”) instead of the two sides. And I asked them to use no oil in cooking… the fish is cooked on a cedar plank, so that was easy for them. It was fantastic!
Good morning,
I have been following this site since August. I have read everyone’s comment from the beginning. All of your contributions have been tremendous help specially those of you who have shared concerns, cheating moments and encouragement. I am specially grateful for Les although I have not read anything about him lately and of course Harvel. Thank you for so willingly and selflessly sharing your experiences and advice.
I started this program with the drops on September 5th. After gorge days I was 188.8. Today is my 8th day on the VLCD and I am down to 179.0. I am sooooo very excited and happy. Extremely thankful for this diet. Coming from a small Asian family, where the women are petite and weight so little, i have always felt like a giant both in height and in weight. Being that I have always been bigger than my sisters even when they were pregnant!! This summer I was at my lowest point emotionally. Extremely depressed for always being the fat joke target in the family. But, I am sooooo thrilled with the results. I KNOW this diet is hard, but, even if it is only 2 oz that you are loosing, YOU ARE STILL LOOSING. I am very grateful. Stay encouraged.
Harvel-
No your good i really am on a pity party. You weren’t being mean. I appreciate all you have taught me. You are a great person. I am still the same, so I think i am going to do the steak day or apple day.
Does anyone have an opinion on which is best?
thanks again Harvel!!
Stacy,
Thanks for the tip on Chili’s. My wife and I have found that most restaurants are very cooperative when it comes to ordering special stuff, like no cheese or don’t use oil to cook the food.
For those of you in Ph3 and concerned that the salad dressing at a restaurant might have sugar in it (most of it does) go simple and basic with vinegar/oil or just lemon juice.
Harvel
KellyR,
Congratulations on your very good start on a journey that will put you in control of your weight, your health and your life!
I too have learned much from this blogsite. When you are first starting the HCG diet, some of it is counter-intuitive and lots of it doesn’t seem to make any sense. Trust the process–it will pull you through.
Harvel
Holley,
Thank you for letting me off the hook. If you are in Ph2, the HCG-VLCD, do the apple day. The steak day is for Ph3. It may be that you have truly hit a plateau. In the past, how long did you stay at your present weight? If it is a plateau, it may take a few days for your body to adjust and to break through the barrier.
Harvel
Thanks Harvel. You have been extremely helpful. 🙂
I was just wondering, when people plateau and have to have an apple day. How many apples will they be consuming? And is there an specific protocol as to how much time between each apple. Thank you.
KellyR,
Dr. Simeons lays it out in his book, “Pounds & Inches.” If you don’t have a copy, you can download it from:
http://www.hcgdietdirect.com/DrSimeonsProtocol.pdf
The manuscript is written in a way that makes it hard to find any specific information. I prepared an index that helps find stuff. If you would like, email me at hfalish@hotmail.com and I’ll send the index to you.
OK, to answer your question: Dr. Simeons said in his book (Pg 35 in my copy), “An apple day begins at lunch and continues until just before lunch of the following day. The patients are given six large apples and are told to eat one whenever they feel the desire though six apples is the maximum allowed.”
He goes on to say to only plain water is allowed during this time and then only what is needed to quench an uncomfortable thirst. No other foods or liquids are allowed.
Hope this helps, Harvel
Wow made it through the first day thought I was going to eat the couch….Or one of my small children……. But it was worth it I started out 168.6….gained to 170….now I am 166.6….as long as my two year dont start wearing steak sauce or chocolate I should be fine……….
Judy,
Go to the USDA nutritional database for your calories.
3.5 ounces of chicken (skinless and boneless)has 110 calories. 3.5 ounces of beef is up around 170 calories. Website here:
http://www.nal.usda.gov/fnic/foodcomp/cgi-bin/list_nut_edit.pl
For my wife and I, I started with the meat, added a fruit and made up the difference in calories with vegetables. I used the Melba toast or breadsticks only to make up the last little bit if I needed to.
We would quite often get up to 8 or 10 ounces of vegetables and maybe 4 to 5 ounces of fruit to get to 500 calories. The only hard and fast guideline for how much in Dr. Simeons’ book is 3.5 ounces of meat two times a day.
Harvel
Stacy,
Are you on Ph 2 and eating at Chili’s? Was it OK to mix the broccoli, lettuce and tomato?
I’m Ph 2, day 31. 16 lbs down!
Judy,
I had the same confusion with the calories and ended up adding more vegetable calories to get it up to 500. It made a big difference and the weight is going off faster that way. Once, I added more shrimp to get there, too.
bj, I don’t have any little ones to munch on, but I have thought the peanut butter dog biscuits looked pretty good!
Vicki – I am on Phase II (Day 29 – 28 lbs lost) and eating at Chili’s. I’m a purist about the foods so I didn’t do the broccoli since it’s not on the list. I got the salad INSTEAD. However, I do put lettuce and tomato together for a salad – I haven’t found a problem with mixing veggies, as long as I don’t have more than 1.5 cups altogether. Also, as Harvel noted, the only dressings I use are straight citrus – in this case, lime.
I’m eating at restaurants a lot, however I’m always very careful and specific about how I want things prepared. The best thing is to go to a very fine restaurant, tell the chef my restrictions and have him create something amazing… For example, I went to my favorite restaurant, The Capital Grill, and the chef created a fabulous onion-crusted chicken (a perfect 3.5 oz serving) topped with whole crunchy basil leaves that he salted and baked in the oven until they turned crispy. He provided a side of very flavorful spinach with fresh lemon and pepper. For dessert it was fresh strawberries with finely ground Kona coffee grounds for dipping.
It’s great to let a fine chef loose – they really do have fun with it.
Stacey where do you live? I want to move there!!!!!!
This is my 2nd round of the 23 days of injections. Suppose to wait a full 6 weeks but starting on the 5th week. Hope it wont really hurt me that much. during my phase 3 i stayed with in a pound of the LIW and even during phase 4 i went to NY and had pretty much anything i wanted and only gained a pound and was still within my 2 pounds of my LIW. this time around it seems much easier. should be done the first week of oct. cant wait. hope everyone is doing great on the diet.
MKG – I’m in Boston. Come on over… I’ll take you out to restaurants where I’ve already trained the chefs… and I’ll cook a bit myself, too (cooking on this diet can be fun).
Judy,
I had the same question. When I added more vegetables and fruit, I could never get the ketone stick to change. I only lost 6 pounds in 34 days. I want to try again, but am not sure what changes to make to get better results.
Ok – getting ready for VLCD tomorrow- packing my food for work. But I am REALLY confused. It says :
3.5oz of protein – chicken breast 87 cal.
3.5 oz veggie – cucumber 12 calories
one melbe toast – 20 cal
one small apple – 55 cal
that adds up to 174 cal… times 2 =only 348 for the day.
How are you supposed to get to 500 without going over these guidlines?
Hi everyone,
today is my first day of the vlcd, and thank goodness it was pretty easy for me (I am so excited the loads are over as i was really feeling stuffed to the max). I didn’t feel very hungry today and i actually struggled to eat my meals. thing is i only ate 355 calories(thanks to my 72 calorie apple), should i be striving to eat the full 500 calories in order to lose maximum weight? FYI- i am doing injections at 150iu daily. Tomorrow i will hopefully see some loss as i gained 3 pounds on load days.
im so glad to have found your community here because it will be great to have some people to bounce questions and ideas off of.
Louisa,
Welcome to the world of true and lasting weight control!
You should be eating close to 500 calories a day. If you consistently fall much below that level, your body will think it is starving and will hold on to everything it can. 500 calories is just on the verge of starvation.
Harvel
Louisa,
I haven’t noticed any harm in being under the 500 cal. limit. As many here have noted, it’s sometimes hard to get to the 500 cal (especially if you mostly eat chicken and fish). I would say that I am usually between 384 and 430 calories per day. The only days I reach 500 (or close) is when I have beef, which is not more than once a week. I try to get to at least 400 by increasing my portion of vegetables (rather than the meat or fruit portion). I have been very happy with my progress (losing on average between .6 and .8 pounds per day). Even if I don’t lose for a few days (I just had a 3 day stall at the same weight), I feel like I have lost inches. My clothes are looser, etc. I read in one of the HCG books that you will lose weight a bit faster if you have chicken and fish instead of having beef. In any event, I’m thrilled with this diet. I feel great and I am happy with the way I look. So far I have lost 25 pounds and have only a couple more pounds to go. Good luck!
Stacey,
Thank you for clearing up the Chili’s and eating out question. I will try that for sure. I was hoping you lived in Houston where I just moved to in November. Would love to find folks to eat out healthy with. I see we have a Capital Grill here too.
I must confess I was married to a fabulous chef for 16 years – just divorced 9/4. You are right, when turned loose, they do love to create in the kitchen and do a fine job of it too! So, sadly, the marriage part didn’t work out after owning a restaurant together for the last 10 years. But….I did learn to have some fun cooking and have been experimenting a little with good results on this plan, too.
I bought a basil plant today and will try that roasting till crispy trick. Crispy is one of the things I miss the most. One evening I did rainbow trout on the grill with grilled asparagus & it was a bit crispy and wonderful.
Broccoli was on the list my Dr.’s office provided, so I’ve been doing that. Of course, my results are not as fabulous as yours. Congratulations!
Vicki,
Sounds like you have some background to create fabulous things yourself. I wish you lived close by too… we could cook for each other and try our best to impress! That would be fun! Right now I’m doing that only for my boyfriend (for whom I always give a double/triple portion and add a starch like pasta, rice or bread. He’s been enjoying the concoctions (especially my HCG version of my tortilla soup).
As to your results… I have no idea who put broccoli on the diet, when or why, but so many people seem to have gotten a list with it. Have you tried sticking to just the foods on Simeon’s list for a few days? You never know, it could do the trick for you to get you to a lb. a day.
Stacy,
Please tell us what is your version of Tortilla Soup? Or any other creative foods would be so greatly appreciated!
I finally got through my stall I think down one more pound today. Hopefully everything will keep moving now.
Chicken Tortilla Soup (this version without tortilla topping, of course. Also without corn and bell peppers and without the other toppings: avocado, sour cream, cheddar cheese)
Makes 10 Servings (remember, there’s protien in the tomato juice and chicken stock as well as the meat).
Ingredients:
-3 large chicken breasts
-1 bunch of fresh cilantro
-32 oz water
-32 oz tomato juice (I like Whole Foods 360 brand)
-32 oz chicken stock (I like Pacific Natural Foods Organic, Free Range, Low Sodium Chicken Broth)
-2 large tomatoes
-2 large onions
-2 cloves garlic
-fresh lime
The following ingredients make it (Medium Hot). If you want more or less spice, adjust amounts.
-3 jalepenos
-1 teaspoon cumin
-1 teaspoon powdered red pepper
-1 teaspoon black pepper
-1 teaspoon salt
-1 Tablespoon hot sauce
Bring water to a boil in a large soup pot. Add salt, chicken and half of the cilantro (tie it in string so it’s easy to remove). Boil for 10 minutes. Remove cilantro and discard. Remove chicken and place on a plate to cool. Turn down heat so that water is just simmering.
Chop tomatoes and onions into large chunks. Chop jalepenos into small chunks (remove seeds if you like it less spicy). Chop garlic into small pices (IMPORTANT – don’t use garlic from a jar, this will have been stored in oil!)
Heat a large frying pan on high. Put enough water in to cover the bottom and add a few shakes of salt and pepper. Throw in onions and jalepenos and saute until the onions start to brown. Then turn down the heat and add in garlic and tomato – heat just long enough to meld flavors together.
Take a ladel or two full of water from the pot and add to the vegetable pan to deglaze, then add all ingredients to the water.
Add tomato juice, chicken stock, red pepper, cumin, hot sauce, salt and pepper.
Chop the remaining cilantro and add it to the pot.
At this point the chicken should be cool enough to handle (and now this is the tedious part). Shread the chicken breasts into small, bite-sized pieces (I usually cut the breast in half first so the shreads aren’t too long) and put the meat into the pot.
Cover the pot and simmer for 30 minutes.
Serve hot with a wedge of lime (trust me, sqeeze it on top and you’ll love it).
A serving is approximately 1 3/4 cups of soup. (I ladel it right into my liquid measure cup to measure.
Enjoy!
(It’s a bit of work, but it will keep in the fridge for a week and also freezes well. My pot only lasted 3 days because my boyfriend ate more than half of it… which is a good thing, because it means people not on the diet will enjoy it too. For those folks, serve the toppings mentioned at the begining of this post along side and they’ll be thrilled)
Hi Everyone,
I have a good recipe for the people that are on Phase 2 and if you like soup
3 1/2 oz broccoli
3 1/2 oz grilled chicken
2 cups of chicken broth
and then all the different spices that you like
I like garlic powder, soul food seasonning, onion powder, and fresh garlic. And just cook it until the broccoli is done. Hope you enjoy it. Jessica
Greetings all,
I am so glad to have found this website. It’s answered so many questions. I am going to follow Dr. Simeon’s Protocol. Today is my first day on the VLCD. I, like Louisa, am concerned because it doesn’t look like I will hit my 500 calories. Is this ok? Should I add more veggies at dinner? Can someone email me recipes for P2. Also, what are people using on their lips? I don’t wear lipstick and usually use Carmex. I read on a different website that Carmex was ok since it’s not absorbed. dnhobson@gmail.com
One more question…where do most people inject themselves? Also, do you have to inject in the same place all the time?
Tummy is where I inject no problems keeping it there for 2 1/2 weeks.
does anyone know if we can have yellw squash
BJ,
I really don’t think so because squash is a carb.
BJ:
You can have white meat summer squash such as zuchini, but winter squash has yellow meat and is more of a starch or higher carb food. You cannot have the winter squash on Phase 2. You can have it in moderation in Phase 4. If I’m wrong, would someone correct me? Thanks!
jesica and julie thanks i didnt think so but thought i would ask
I was at a conference dinner that only had starches and sugars as a prepared meal they brought to everyone. I am in phase 3 and needless to say my weight went up this am. I have to go back today, but will just not eat and do a steak and apple day today. Do you think that will put me back on track? I should have been better prepared as they usually have chicken on rice with a salad, which I could have left the rice, but they had lasagna, breadsticks and cheesecake. I have been so faithful on the food until yesterday. I feel so guilty, not to mention headache, tummy ache and a drug like fatigue. Should have gone hungry yesterday. Starch and sugar not worth the after effects.
Sandi,
Yes, I think a steak day will put you back on track. My wife and I are in Ph4 waiting to go back to the diet. My wife has to avoid starches and sugars because of high blood sugar and I am finding that I feel better if I keep my consumption of those things at a minimum.
Harvel
are we suppose to take a vitamin in ph 2…….at 161.6 yipppiiiiee
FYI – I posted the tortilla soup recipe but it’s marked “Your post is awaiting moderation”. Not sure if anyone can see it?
Good morning all,
just need your thoughts on something. I am on phase 2 and on my 10th VLCD. The only two sources of protein that I have been eating is chicken breast and shrimp. (both grilled) I have noticed that when I eat shrimp once a day, I don’t lose as much as when I just eat chicken for both lunch and dinner. I have stopped eating shrimp but, i really could use a change. Any thoughts? BTW, when I eat shrimp, i make sure that I am well within the 500 cal limit.
P.s. Can I have more than 2 cups of coffee a day?
Thanks
KellyR,
The protein sources we were given are: Beef (limit to twice a week), Buffalo (very good, not at all “gamey”), chicken, “whitefish” (including cod, haddock, halibut, Dover Sole, flounder and many others–avoid “oily” fish like salmon and tuna), Shrimp, lobster and crab (only one of these once a week), and veal. Make sure the beef and buffalo are very lean–under 5% fat, if you can find it. You might want to pick out a good lean rump roast, have the butcher trim off any visible fat and grind it for you. Ask him to clean the grinder first so you don’t get someone else’s fat.
You can have all the coffee you want. Remember to drink water on a one-to-one basis to make up for the diuretic effects of the coffee so you remain well hydrated.
Harvel
Sandi Jones,
Here is an amended comment I posted a few days ago. I think it will answer some of your questions.
Go to the USDA nutritional database for your calories.
3.5 ounces of chicken (skinless and boneless)has 110 calories. 3.5 ounces of lean beef is up around 170 calories. Website here:
http://www.nal.usda.gov/fnic/foodcomp/cgi-bin/list_nut_edit.pl
For my wife and I, I started with the meat, added a fruit and made up the difference in calories with vegetables. I used the Melba toast or breadsticks only to make up the last little bit if I needed to. They are optional and are a source of starch.
We would quite often get up to 8 or 10 ounces of vegetables and maybe 4 to 5 ounces of fruit to get to 500 calories. The only hard and fast guideline for how much in Dr. Simeons’ book is 3.5 ounces of meat two times a day.
As to the keto stick: Many people lose weight on this diet and never see the stick change color. I wouldn’t worry about it.
Harvel
Hi Sandi,
You alternate the vegetables and fruit that you have.
For example, have grapefruit for breakfast, add asparagus to dinner. More calories. Takes a bit of planning but cukes are low.
Debbie
Thank you Harvel for your imput. I just realized that I was not giving the chicken it’s proper calorie point. I have been using the calories posted at the beginning of this blog that says chicken 87 so, I may have miscounted and possibly have eaten over 500 cals due to this mistake. But, I drink more than 3liters a day of water excluding tea or coffee.
Again, Thank you for the clarification. I am gonna talk to my butcher and try your suggestions. 🙂
Harvel;
Where did you find the directive ‘beef not more than twice a week’? I can’t find that in Simeons protocol- same with shrimp. I have been eating both with no regard to frequency. I also MAKE SURE I am eating at least 500 calories a day – everything I have read says DON”T go below this. Perhaps that is why some people are only losing .6 a day and I am losing 2 lbs a day ( so far)?
Judy B,
You are correct in that Dr. Simeons didn’t say anything about beef 2 times a week or the crustacians only once a week. Those restrictions were part of the instructions given us by the clincian who was supervising our diets. Dr. Simeons did mention that American beef had more fat than Italian beef and to be careful with the American beef, but that was all he said about it.
And, you are also right about the 500 calories. Much less than that for an extended time will make the body go into “starvation mode” and it will glom onto and keep everything it can. This is not a case of “less is more.”
If you are losing 2 pounds a day (“so far”) you’ve got to be doing everything just about right. Good go!
Harvel
Thanks Harvel – I was just checking. I do stick to very lean beef or buffalo for red meat.
How about Splenda? It wasn’t around during Simeon’s time. I have tried to stay away from it for now- same with Diet Pepsi… my great vice before this diet!
I’m glad I found this site- so much useful information!
Judy B,
With respect to artificial sweetners, we don’t. they are all the result of chemical formulation, and at least one of them was discovered when a lab was trying to develop an insecticide and one of the lab personnel licked his fingers! We like stevia, a natural substance with several hundred, if not thousands, of years of recorded usage. Of the many choices, we like the “Sweet Leaf” brand.
Harvel
Stacy,
I can see the tortilla soup recipe and it sounds delicious! Thanks for sharing.
I have found that deglazing technique to be one of the best for flavor on all things. I use a dried herb mix or Mrs. Dash flavorings while I saute my protein and/or onions in lemon juice which turns brown in the pan, then add a little more lemon juice, apple cider vinegar, broth, vegetable water from the veggie I’m cooking or just plain water till it evaporates again and just do that a few times until I end up with a “sauce” for my dinner. Tasty!
Too bad about Splenda – Stevia leaves a horrid aftertaste for me. So I guess it’s no sweet stuff!
Judy B,
My wife complained about the taste of stevia until we discovered that there are two “sweet” components in the leaves. One component is stevioside and this is the not so good tasting part. The other is rebaudioside which is more pleasant tasting. Look for a product that is mostly rebaudioside and I think you will be pleasantly surprised. Since the leaves contain more of the stevioside than the rebaudioside, it’s cheaper to use and stevioside is the more common formulation.
Harvel
I know i havent been here long but Iuvia it is like stevia with no after taste very very good………i also have been eating too much because of calorie count but caught it early this is my 3rd vlcd. I started at 168.6 I am now 161.6 so no problems so far……my big issue is people constantly saying oh no that is not enough food you are going to make yourself sick….well poo I dont think so and i feel great ..the first two days were rough but know i feel great today. Yesterday and today i forgot my last drops of the day….hope i see a loss tomorrow??????
truvia sorry
This Blog is the most helpful thing to keep you on track. “Others” don’t inderstand the whole philosophy of this diet. Don’t let their words sabatog your program. Keep on keeping on. It is sooo worth it!!!!
Hi everyone,
Hope everyone is doing ok and I ahve some good news for all the people that is bored with all the plain foods on this diet. There is a chef here in Branson,MO where I live that was on this diet and got tried of all the boring stuff that he had to eat so he decided to make up some recipes just for the HCG diet. He has lost over 85 lbs with this recipes and all the ones that I have tried is really really good. The cookbook also come with all the seasonings packets that you will need for a month on this diet. I paid 35.00 for the cookbook and seasonings but that was on sale (I think). So it may be more with shipping. But it is worth the money to have something different. It has beef,veal,chicken,veggies and soup recipes. And each recipe is for two meals and it IS Phase 2 food. The address is:
EZ-Weigh,LLC
1440 State Hwy 248
Suite Q-252
Branson, MO. 65616
ATTN: Cookbook Distribution
(314)881-9587
I hope that the people that do get the cookbook and seasonings will enjoy them. Just let me know what you think. Jessica
Greetings All,
I have another quick question…Dr. Simeon has one of the veggies listed as green salad…does that mean that we can mix lettuce and cucumbers on Phase 2?
Just one quick question. Has anyone heard about the Miracle Noodles? And if so do you really think it is HCG friendly. Please let me know. Jessica
Harvel,
I went to that USDA site, but could not find the info you were talking about on calories. I am missing something as to how to look up the info., but thank you for the suggestions. Why does this site and that site have such diff. calorie counts? Could be why I only lost small amt. of weight. Could you send me the calories you use on Phase 2 foods since you were so successful to jones_sandi@hotmail.com? Also, if you kept a log of each day, I might just try to follow exactly what you ate. Thank you.
Sandi,
The USDA site takes a little getting used to. After all, it is a government operation. If I gave you the correct link, the first screen should be mostly blank with the phrase “New Search” repeated twice on the right side. Click on one of those. The next scteen will be one that has a place for a keyword and a food group selection menu. Let’s use onion as the test. Type in ‘onion’ as the keyword and select Vegetables & Veg Products from the Food Group menu.
The next screen is a whole bunch of onion products. Mark ‘onions, raw’ and go to the bottom of the page to hit submit. The next screen will be a whole assortment of quantities and descriptions of onions. Mark the one you want and hit submit. I usually go for the 100 Grams (almost exactly 3.5 oz).
Finally, you’re there. The energy number you want (calories) is the entry for “kcal”. In the case of raw onions, there are 40 calories in 3.5 oz.
I don’t know why the two sites are so different because I don’t know where the data came from on this site.
I’ll be glad to send you the chart I developed for Ph2. I did keep logs, but they won’t do you any good. I had to work around my wife’s blood sugar issues so my menues are not “standard” HCG-VLCD although I stayed with the approved foods.
Hope this helps, Harvel
Hello, anyone know about this diet making you more fertile? thats what i read in a few other blogs?
hello all and thank you for the responses to my first entry.
Devrie, im glad you asked the question on injections as i was curious too. I have been injecting in my thigh and i wanted to switch it up but wasnt sure if i could. i hear the best place is upper butt cheek, but thigh, upper arm and stomach is good as long as you inject in a 45 degree angle. I am on day 4 of the vlcd and have lost 3.5 lbs already making it a total of 6.6 lbs after load weight. I am super excited.
Cooking has been fun, i am however mixing vegetables that are in the same caliber, like i am not using broccoli or cabbage but i am using broccoli rabe and bok choy as thier caloric value is right around the list of approved vegetables. it is only the beginning but weight is coming off at a steady 1.2 lbs a day, so im guessing the mixing of vegetables is okay as long as you stay within your caloric limits.
Does anyone know a good substitute for melba toast, i am having a hard time finding for some reason.
kelly, there is a wonderful array of approved protein out there that i suggest you try. Talapia is a great fish and its real easy to cook, (just add salt, pepper, garlic and throw in pan with some lemon slices on top. So meaty and not fishy at all you will love it, just remember to use some pam as it has tendency to stick. I have also found canned lump crab to be really nice< bumblebee started packaging it recently and its actually quite good.
fyi i was eating about 300-350 and increased my calorie intake to about 400 yesterday and this morning it appears i lost more weight. Harvel i think you may be right.
Amanda A,
HCG is often used as a fertility treatment. I find it funny that within 2 minutes of each other I take my birth control and then my HCG: Fertility vs. Infertility. It cracks me up every day.
I’ve been using extra protection just in case.
Louisa, I am injecting in my stomach. I was wondering is it ok to one day inject in the stomach, then thigh, buttock, etc…I am on day 3 of the vlcd and I am down 4 lbs. I am just thrilled.
Good Morning, Everybody,
My wife asked me to ask any of you who are post-menopausal if you are experiencing heat flashes after the course of HCG? We are in Ph4 waiting to start the HCG-VLCD in a another week or so. She is experiencing heat flashes and thinks that she might be going through a “mini-menopause.” We are 67 years old. All that stuff should be well behind us.
Thanks,
Harvel
Louisa-thanks for the info regarding the Talapia. I am going to try it. The problem is that I am not much of a cook due to the craziness of my job. But, thanks to this diet, I AM COOKING!!! my mom is blown away by that fact 🙂 so, I have been using the George Forman grill for my chicken and shrimp…but, I guess it is time to expand. What is second nature to most of you ladies, it is down right frightening to me. But, I must say, that I am impressed with what I have been able to accomplished in the kitchen even my mom has EATEN my protein. So, to all the newbies out there…if I can do it so can you 🙂
Jessica,
I’ve used the Miracle Noodles on the diet without any problem. I would use them no more than once a week. They have a texture more like an Asian-type noodle rather than an Italian-type noodle. But I tossed them with some hcg-friendly marinara sauce and it was a nice change of pace. My girlfriend liked them so much she is still cooking with them and she’s been done with the diet for quite some time.
Hi Jessica,
Your HCG friendly marinara, do you make it or do you buy it somewhere? If you make it, do you mind sharing the recipe and if you buy it can you please post the Brand?
If anyone else knows of any HCG friendly marinara I would love to know about it.
Thanks,
Oh, sorry Jessica, looks like Judy mentioned the HCG friendly marinara.
Judy, the above question should have been directed to you.
Janell,
I make a simple marinara with just a tomato. I heat up a small frying pan on high with a 1/4 cup of water in the bottom and a few grinds of sea salt – bring it to a simmer. I rough chop one large, organic tomato and throw it in the pan and then add fresh basil, black pepper, and freshly chopped garlic. (sometimes I also add a tablespoon of chopped onion). I cook this on the stove until the liquid has all been evaporated. It’s tasty and fresh and only takes 5 minutes!
Hi Everyone,
Does anyone here know if you can do the hcg diet while taking blood pressure medicine? One of my friends wants to go on the diet but wants to know if the blood pressure medicine will interfere with the hcg. Thanks in advance.
Harvel
FYI We were in Whole Foods today and they had many nitrate free bacon.Choice was amazing!
Muriel,
Thanks. I have seen the nitrate-free bacon at whole Foods. But, if you check the ingredients, all the ones I saw had sugar in them. The best choice for Ph3 seems to be fresh side which is bacon before it is cured or treated with anything.
Harvel
Lynne,
My Dr. told me that immunity is an issue with injections or homeopathic hcg but not the hcg he prescribes (which comes in powder form to which saline is mixed in). You DEFINITELY swallow the drops after you hold them under your tongue. Don’t spit it out. Good luck!
I have done 2 rounds lost 50 lbs gained back 20, my fault didn’t do P3 right. Now I am doing round 3 , I find losing on P2&3 much slower, and had problem with immunity in P2, and its been real slow this time. I still lose if only .2 I have never cheated and follow it to the letter with the exception of having the eggs acouple times. I never really cared for meat and always buried it in mashed potatoes. Now I have to really taste it and ugh, I really don’t care for it. But anything for the cause.
I have a question about sublingual, do you swallow it after after you hold it under your tongue or do you spit it out? Nobdy ever mentions it.
I thought Les said the homeopathic wasn’t supose to cause immunity and that someone has been taking it for 6 months? Did I dream this?
Another thing I suffer from severe chronic pain and when I am on the shots, my pain level decreases by at least 50% or more in some areas. Has anyone else experienced this? Wish I could stay on the hcg forever. I really enjoyed all the tips, I have learned so much, it was hard out there all by myself doing this. Thanks, Lynne
My sister takes a lot of prescriptions probably about eight. She wants to know if it is possible to do hcg? Anybody know? She suffers from fibromyalgia and other things. She know, how it has decreased my pain level., I got myself off all meds years ago, and I refuse to put all that junk in me anymore, but her condition is much more acute than mine and wants to give it a shot
Thanks, Lynne
Jackie ,
Thank You for your help. I am only going to do Round 3 another week and stop on day 23, as I always seem to go into immunity. I had to stop on day 30 before, I want to try the sublingual next time, I thought I amy have better luck. Just hope it works on the pain as well. Then I will do P3 and start again. Do you know if I go back on after P3, if I do the load. That would be awesome to be able to eat a little mashed potatoes and a cookie. but now I know I can live without it.
Thanks for your help, Lynne
Lynne,
Yes, after you finish Phase 3 and restart the hcg, you do the load days again. Good luck!
Hello Everyone,
I was wondering if someone could provide some insight as to my dilemma. I have read in the protocol that you should stop using the hcg once your menstruation begins. I am presently using the drops and I am concerned about stopping for 7 days as this is how long my cycle normally is. I have read in some of the posts that people have continued. Are there any negative side effects to continuing with the drops. I am particularly scared bc on my cycle I experience the most crazy cravings and I don’t want a set back. I am on my 12th day, 12.6 lbs down and 26lbs to go. I would appreciate any insight. Thank you.
In phase 3 can you continue eating grissini and melba toast?
Kelly R,
I am on the injectons and have contiued with the HCG through my cycle. I have not noticed any difference. My Friend however is on the drops and she continued as well, the only difference she noticed is that her flow was a little heavier.
I don’t really know the reason why we are suppose to stop but I was afraid to do so. My appetite typically increases when it’s my TOM and I too get cravings and I was afraid to have to deal with those without the HCG.
Janell
Harvel
Just checked bacon Pedersons has less than 1g of sugar per portion.Do you think that matters?
I will be on p4 soon. Any words of wisdom-or anyone want to share experiences?
Thank You
Mkg,
No. You cannot eat the Melba Toast or the breadsticks during Ph3. They are both starches.
Muriel,
First, my wife says that I am a purist. I try not to allow any sugar to pass my lips. Now, having said that, I doubt that less than 1 gram of sugar would be a problem. If you noticed on the same package, the carbohydrates per serving are listed as “0”. Of course, there are some, but the FDA lets the manufacturer get away with saying “none” if the amount is below a certain level.
My wife and I will be finishing Phase 4 the end of next week. We have noticed that we don’t want nearly as much to eat as formerly. We have also noticed a reluctance to eat starches, and when we do, it’s only in pretty small amounts. As with Ph3, keep the weight in the plus or minus 2 pounds and take corrective action if it goes out of range, especially if it goes up. I’ve actually lost a couple of pounds but it doesn’t seem to have hurt anything.
Harvel
HI ALL,
I started my VLCD on 9-13 I have now lost since the beginning weight 10.2 # I am sooo happy today i ate a huge bite of cake hope it doesnt hurt too bad…..I was at a birthday party that was the only cheating I did even though I made my Tennage daughter taste everything and tell me if it was good LOL………WEll it seem to help me.
Hi everyone..Today marks my first 500 calorie day and so far, I am doing pretty well. I had an apple for breakfast, tuna on lettuce and cucumber for lunch and strawberries and chicken breast for dinner. I am really full and still have calories to go… My only complaint is that I am tired, tired, tired…. how naughty is it to have a diet coke? 😉
SOS!!! Today is my 6th day on the VLCD and I’ve just gotten off the scale and for the second consecutive day there was NO loss. There wasn’t a gain either. I have lost 5 lbs to date but I keep reading about others losing as much as ten pounds their first week. I have NOT cheated once. Should I do an apple day today? Is it normal to stay the same weight for two consecutive days? I am getting discouraged!
Devrie,
Don’t be discouraged. It is normal that once in a while your weight will stay the same for a couple of days. To quote Dr. Simeons, “…women are more irregular in spite of faultless dieting. There may be no drop at all for two or three days and then a sudden loss which reestablishes the normal average. These fluctuations are entirely due to variations in the retention and elimination of water… .”
What happens is that the body will absorb the empty fat cells and use the proteins and other nutrients elsewhere in the body. However, the process isn’t well timed and the empty cells are filled with water while they are awaiting recycling. I’ll bet that your measurements are changing anyway. If the weight loss hasn’t resumed in another day or two, then an apple day would be appropriate.
While the scales are the final arbitor of our success; on a day-to-day basis, there are other things going on. Follow what your body is doing, not what others have done. You’re doing fine.
Harvel
Kelly R.
I continued doing the shots during my T.O.M., I wasn’t aware that I shouldn’t. The experiance I got out of it was that I felt kind of lousy. I’m usually a little crazy before it but I was feeling uptight and depressed during it. It’s over now and I feel much better, as I have felt better all around taking the HCG hormones from the beginning.
I am sure everyone is different but this has been my first week and I will show you what I ate to lose I also drank at least 2 liters of water and as much as 4 liters……day 1 green tea (about 32 ounces each day) lunch hamburger meat tmomato apple supper broccoli&cauliflower frapefruit chamomile tea later a pickle day 2 green tea chicken pickle orange broccoli and caul. hamburger melba toast(2 small ones)
day threee green tea grapefruit chicken tomato beef tomato with a small amount of canned tomato sauce 2melba toast diet root beer about 3pm i was so hungry… day 3green tea tomato chicken grapefruit asparagus(canned) the whole can fish 4 melba toast
day 5 green tea chicken grapefruit tomato hamburger grapefruit tomato
day 6 green tea chicken cucumber apple melba toast 1 egg w/2egg whites tomato 2 teas. of salsa 2 diet sodas today and 1 peice of surgarless gum
7 day green tea grapefruit hamburger lettuce tomato and pickle not full serving of each veg. very small piece of cake (oops) 4 melba toast apple 1 bite or lick of spoon of squash casserole 2 apples 1 diet soda and chamomile tea….weight loss each day…. day 1 170. gained 2 # during load days day2 166.6 day3 163.2 day4 161.6 day5 161. day6 160.2 day7 158.6 day 8 159.4 dont cheat at all!!!!!!
ps I am on the homeapathic drops in case that helps knwoing what I am on I agree with Harvel i have seen my sister stall and then lose a few ponds in one day….I also have felt great on the hcg….my sister said the hardest part was the 3 days without it and still on 500 calories
I keep hearing terms like “steak day” or “apple day”. Would anyone mind explaining this to me? Thanks.
Hi everyone,
I find that I’m having a really hard time on Ph3. I am on day 19 and this is my 4th time having to do a steak day!.
I dont understand because I have not really changed my diet much from the ph2 diet.
I will admit up front that I am not counting or tracking calories. But again, I’m not eating anything that much different.
The only things I have added to my diet are:
eggs
Non fat or 2% milk
turkey meat
low fat cheese
I have only had eggs 3 times since ph3. I dont really like eggs much.
I have only had milk 3 times in the 19 days. I do sprinkle a little cheese on my salads. I have also added turkey tacos to my meals. I use lettuce as the shell so basically it is just a little salad with turkey meat.
Other than being able to mix the vegetables, that’s all I’ve done. I usually still have coffee and an apple for breakfast which is what I did on ph2. For lunch I have a salad with grilled chicken or a chicken breast and small side salad or asparagus. . .just like I did on ph2. Dinner will be either one of those meals, or the turkey tacos. I allow myself to eat an apple whenever I want a snack or need to stave off a craving of some sort.
The only thing I have had that might have been off program was once when I went to PF chang. I had the tofu lettuce wraps and a cup of hot and sour soup. The calories were within the 1500. I checked before I went. I have no idea what the broth of hot and sour soup is made of so I dont know what rule I may have broken there but I did not exceed the calories that day. I did gain the next day but I figured it might be due to sodium.
So anyway guys, I have NO idea why I am having such a problem maintaining the phse 2 weight.
I don’t find that I’m eating that much more than when I was on ph2. I am no longer weighing my meat. I will have a whole chicken breast when I eat. Also, when I get my grilled chicken salad from Jack in the box I don’t remove the cheese like I used to. On ph2 I would remove the cheese and the bacon bits. NOw I just remove the bacon bits and eat the rest (grilled chicken, lettuce, cherry tomatoes and cucumbers.)
Does anyone have any ideas. I’m moving on to ph4 soon but since I had so much trouble on ph3 I dont anticipate much success on phase 4.
Help?
Janell and Dina;
Thank you ladies for your imput regarding my questions. I guess the only way to find out is to actually go through it. I appreciate Dina your comment with regards to the mood swings/or low feelings. I will keep that in mind. It seems this process is much simpler on our male counterparts LOL They loose faster, no stalling problems, no T.O.M for them….I wish I was them LOL. I hope you all have a blessed Sunday…and continue to press forward in this upcoming week.
P.S. For those of you who are loosing .4 or .6 oz a day only…don’t get discouraged…keep going, hcg is like a little micro robot in your body and knows what is doing. There were days i only lost .4 or .6oz and wished it was more but, I took my measurements yesterday and the inches are coming off!!!! I am on my 14th VLCD down 14 lbs and a combined of 15 inches off my body. So keep going strong 🙂
BJ,
You’ve lost 10 lbs and you’re drinking diet soda and eating broccoli? I’ve been following Dr. Simeon and diet soda or broccoli isn’t a part of it. I didn’t read Trudeau’s book…is that what diet you’re following?
Harvel,
Thank you for your words of encouragement. Did you stray from Simeon’s protocol at all. I know that your wife calls you a purist. The only veggies that I’m eating is cabbage, romaine, iceberg, and cucumbers. Can we eat pickles? I’m only eating these veggies is because of all the veggies listed on Simeon’s protocol, these are the only ones I like. Have you eaten broccoli on P2?
Well, i was starving and the soda filled me up maybe not the best idea but i read it either on here or in the book that no more than two a day of soda would not hurt….I am trying not to make it a habit…When i was craving ice cream the diet root beer really helped…… look at the list of veggies at the top of the page maybe if you change it up some your body will respond better….like any thing each body reacts differently….good luck I think things will change for you if you start trying a few different things……have you been eating too much salt or hidden sugars in your spices maybe
during hcg days if you get stuck for 4 days you should only eat 6 apples that dy and then the next day you should see a huge difference
I only use Stevia (on my grapefruit) and I’ve been using garlic powder, sea salt, Crushed Red (in my cabbage, black pepper, and the juice from lemons on my seafood and chicken.
devrie………………………….sounds like your doing ok there maybe your body is adjusting are you walking…. i am not… i spread my food out i dont eat it all at once i eat one thing at a time when i am hungry then at supper i eat whats left to eat……not eating after 7….are you weighing as soon as you empty your bladder in the morning and naked….you could get false reading if you wait or eat…..be encouraged…..
Devrie,
We carefully followed the foods list given us by our supervising physician. That list differed from Dr. Simeons’ in that it included buffalo as one of the meats and did not include either chicory or fennel in the vegetable catagory. Otherwise, they were the same.
I reported to our clinican that we had eaten a few pickles. I figured, what the heck, they’re just cucumbers, right?. No, they are not “just cucumbers.” They weren’t allowed for us.
We were advised not to eat iceberg lettuce simply because it dosn’t contain much in the way of nutrition. We did not eat broccoli during Ph2.
Here’s the list of vegetables we ate for Ph2: Spinach, Green and Red lettuce, Romaine lettuce, Cucumber, Asparagus, (tried chard-didn’t like it), (ditto beet greens), Celery, Onions, tomatoes (except grape or cherry–too much sugar), and Radishes.
Harvel
Hi Everyone,
Your blog is most interesting & helpful. As I sit here drinking Cherry Flavored Stevita & reading thorough it. The best prices for all kinds & flavors of STEVIA are at http://www.vitacost.com plus shipping is low. I have a loaded shopping cart of STEVIA products I want to purchase in the next few days. So far in the two weeks the low 500 calories vcd I have lost 12 lbs. The drops I am using are GREAT! If your interested in them ask for ANN at hcgliquid.com I am two weeks into my 500 calories & Ann has been a very patient help to me. Answering all my questions & more. They give you a 12 day supply for FREE when you pay shipping. They are average price from what I have seen on the INTERNET. Plus I spent over a weekend doing lots of research as well. Let me know; if you want more info.
Karen
My doctor didn’t list cauliflower,broccoli,onions or radishes.
And I went to see a meeting hosted by a woman that runs a health and wellness clinic and sells the diet and she added zuchini.
And this is Doctor Simeon’s list of vegetables:spinach,chard,chicory,beet-greens,green salad,tomatoes,celery,fennel,onions,radishes,cucumbers,asparagus,cabbage.
I guess some are allowing other veges due to their own research that they would be ok for the process the weight loss. I’ve added broccoli,cauliflower,onions and zuchini. So we’ll see.
Hi All,
Harvel you have bit a great help as I read through the blog. You & your wife along with everyone else may want to check out Caroline Sutherland out of Bellingham WA. She is an expert on both Female/Male hormones. She has a website also has a Monday night free conference call. I would encourage everyone to check her out. She tells it like it is… Recently, I think she had a guest speaker on about hcg drops. Her name might of been Donna.
Regarding apples can we do that on the 500 low calorie for beginners?
Stacy, what phase is your Tortilla Soup for. It sounds great. Julie your soup recipe sounds good too!
More later,
Karen
Karen,
Thanks for the tip on Caroline Sutherland. We’ll go looking.
Enough confusion, already. Here is the complete list of foods for Ph2 (HCG-VLCD) taken directly from Dr. Simeons’ book. While I know others have been given different lists, this one is the original.
Taken from “Pounds & Inches”
By Dr. A.T.W. Simeons
Food List
HCG-VLCD
Breakfast:
Tea or Coffee
Milk 1 Tbsp/24 hours
Stevia (I added this, wasn’t on Dr. Simeons’ list.)
Lunch
3.5 ounces of: (Trimmed of visible fat and weighed raw)
Veal, Beef, Skinless-boneless Chicken Breast
Fresh white fish (Avoid “oily” fish like salmon, tuna, eel, herring and all dried or pickled fish)
Lobster, Crab, Shrimp
Vegetable
A choice of ONE:
Spinach, Chard, Chicory, Beet Greens, Green Salad (Lettuce), Tomatoes, Celery, Fennel, Onions, Red Radishes, Cucumbers, Asparagus and Cabbage
Breads (ONE of either):
Grissino Breadstick or Melba toast
Fruit (A choice of ONE for a single meal):
Apple, Hand-full of Strawberries, One-half Grapefruit
The juice of one lemon daily
Spices and Condiments
(Pretty much all spices and herbs can be used for seasoning. Make sure they don’t have any sugar, oil, butter or “dressing”—which contains oil in most cases.) A partial list would include salt, pepper, vinegar (watch for sugar), mustard powder, garlic, sweet basil, parsley, thyme, marjoram, etc.
Dinner
You may have the same choices and rules as for Lunch.
Eat only one kind of meat, one kind of vegetable and one kind of fruit at each meal—don’t mix different kinds of meats, vegetables or fruits in a single meal.
Hope this answers some questions,
Harvel
I am on day 8 of the drops and have lost 4 pounds. I was losing a pound a day since I started VLCD. Today I woke up and was exactly the same weight as yesterday. I used more seasonings yesterday then I had been and I had a piece of sugar free gum. Could that have made me not lose??
I am on day 4 of the drops (including the two gorge days) and have lost 5.2 pounds. It seems like the pounds are just melting off… I hope that it will continue!
Danielle, I had a piece of sugar free gum last night as well.. and it is so sad to think that I was “cheating” by having that 5 calories…. this is really a mind trip.
I seem to be doing ok during the day.. but when I lie in bed at night my tummy screams for a snack… will that get better? or should I be happy that it must mean that my fat cells are being gobbled up?!
Happy Monday everyone!
Danielle,
Two thngs: 1) Was there any sugar in the spices? some of them have sugar in them. 2) “Sugar-free” gum has artificial sweeteners in it. The gum is mostly calorie free, but, according to what I have read, the artificial sweeteners have a down side–a couple of hours after ingesting them, your might be hungry enough to chew the wallpaper off the walls. “Lite, Lo-calorie” beverages can actually contribute to weight gain through this mechanism. Also, “sugar-free” means “no sucrose.” The gum could well contain any number of “-oses,” like fructose, maltose, dextrose, maltodextrin, etc. As always, read the label.
Rebecca,
See my comments about “sugar-free” gum, above. If you are really hungry, and you haven’t eaten the full 500 calories for the day, you can eat more of ONE of the two vegetables you ate during the day.
Keep on keeping on.
Harvel
I’m experiencing the same thing as Dionne. I too have been eating very similar to PH2 but have added eggs, cheese,different legal veggies and cream(whipping) to my coffee. I have gained 3 ibs. and am having a steak day today. Hopefully it will come off but…geeez
ok i will never cheat again…………i gained another 2 oz on top of the 10 oz the day before i am craving everything…..so i am doing an apple day even though i dont have to somthing has to make the cravings stop…..nobody on here has done an apple day so i will take one for the team i will report back tomorrow
I am very tired today ….real weak feeling at least i am not at work
bj,
I have forgotten: Are you in Ph2 or Ph3? Are you taking any vitamin supplements? Especially Vit B-12? If you are in Ph2, you might want to talk with your coach/clinician and ask about increasing the HCG dose.
Mkg and Dionne,
I take it that both of you are in Ph3? What is the calorie level of the foods you are eating? If either of you are substancially below 1500 calories, your body might feel as though you are starving it and will hang on to everything you give it. I know, it sounds counter-intuitive, but you were burning about 1500 to 2000 calories a day above what you ate on the HCG-VLCD. You can easily boost the caloric intake with butter, olive oil and nuts, all of which are allowed in Ph3.
Harvel
Thanks Harvel! I appreciate your input! And it makes sense about the gum…. probably won’t be chewing it anymore! Day three on the 500 cal.. is going great so far… water , water, water! Potty, potty, potty… I feel like I am prego! 😉
Rebecca,
Whenever I had any hunger pangs on Phase 2 (it hasn’t happened that much), I’d drink another glass of iced tea sweetened with stevia and I’d be fine. I have read that stevia is known to relieve hunger pangs. I can’t say enough about stevia. I’m so glad I found out about it because it actually has many health benefits (unlike the artificial sweeteners). Once you get used to the slightly different taste, it tastes great. I also squeeze a slice of lemon in each glass I drink (that’s how I use my daily lemon), and I find it makes any suggestion of an aftertaste disappear. Good luck!
Rebecca,
I agree with Harvel about the gum. My daughter was stalled for days until we figured out she was still eating her “sugar free” gum (which, of course, is not really sugar free). That combined with her cycle really made things slow down.
Hi Everyone,
I am excited to report that today is the last day of the vlcd for me. I can’t praise the hcg diet enough. I lost 23 pounds in 30 days, took a break to settle my daughter in at college and then went back on it losing 10 pounds in about 18 days. On days I had no loss, I definitely lost inches. I went down 3 pant sizes going from a size 10 (that was tight) to a size 4 that fits comfortably. The inches lost are even more remarkable. I lost inches everywhere from my calves to my neck, losing a total of 40 1/4 inches overall. It’s just amazing! Tomorrow I start on Phase 3, and my husband is taking me out to dinner. I’m so excited! It really makes all the sacrifices worth while. There were times when I wanted to cheat, but didn’t (like when I was cooking great food for my kids and my husband). It makes me glad now that I hung in there.
Harvel – I’m curious about the 1500 cal. minimum you mentioned since my Dr. didn’t set a minimum or target. He just has given me a list of foods that are acceptable and not acceptable. For the most part, the list is consistent with what I’ve read here but, according to him, grissini sticks are still allowable on Phase 3 (but not more than 6 per day). I am still going to avoid them, however, because I didn’t eat them much on Phase 2 anyway. Did you start with 1500 cal and then adjust from there? Also, did you eat cream, butter and nuts on Phase 3? My Dr.’s list indicates you should have low fat dairy. I usually have low fat dairy anyway but I do have a few recipes that call for some butter and cream. Thanks in advance.
Jackie
i am on ph 2 and i am doing this on my own…..and i am not taking vitamins i asked a while back if i should be but i had n o reply i am sure nobody was on that day but should i be taking a multivitamin
I am done with phase 3 for a week. Everything was going great. Now, I am gaining every day. Up 5 pounds now.
I can’t skip meals to do a steak day. I get migraines from skipping meals. I did try an apple day today. Maybe that will work.
Frustrated. I still haven’t added back any starches.
Debbie
Jackie,
When my wife and I went into Ph3, we added fats, oils and cheese to the diet as well as increasing the meat, chicken and fish portions. We avoided sugars and starches. We no longer worried about mixing things up and have had some tremendous salads with dressing made with olive oil, basaltic vinegar and avocado.
The 1500 calories was a “jumping-off” place. Our clinician recommented that I go for 1500 to 1800 calories, while my wife should target 1350 to 1500. After a few days, I found I needed about 2100 calories or I would lose weight. My wife, on the other hand, had to pretty much stay a little below 1200 or she would gain weight.
Debbie,
What are you eating and how much? That much weight gain is unusual. Where are you with respect to TOM? Did you start a vigerous exercise schedule?
bj,
Yes, I think you should be taking a good broad multi-vitamin and Vitamin B-12.
Harvel
Just started day 3 after gorging and gaining. Have many questions…prescription medication? I cant be off them. Will it effect me? Tuna fish..ok? water based moisture cream?
I need recipes!! Please send. Is the $40 tskype book worth it? I thought you can only have 1 and 1/2 cup of vegetables..am I wrong? Please help as I dont want to sabatoge this. I must do this. Thanks all..where’s Les?
Hi Harvel,
I’ve been terrible about counting calories. I added milk, eggs, cheese, organic trail mix and peanuts.
I think the nuts did it.
Also, I struggled with constipation the entire time. Not fun. Not TOM for me 🙂
I am on a lot of muscle relaxers and anti-inflammatories. Having neck surgery Oct. 20th. No choice on those.
Not sure what to do to get back on track.
Thanks,
Debbie
Debbie,
Let’s you and I go “off line” and get into some detail. Send me a message at hfalish@hotmail.com
Thanks,
Harvel
Thanks Harvel. I am going to try to take the same approach. It sounds like being rigorous about keeping track of the calories eaten is the biggest thing besides staying away from starches and sugars.
Hillary – You really need to read Dr. Simeons article Pounds & Inches. It explains everything about the diet. You should check with your Dr. regarding the prescriptions. As you will see when you read Dr. Simeons article, tuna is not allowed and the only creams allowed are oil free. Dr. Simeons does not really put a limit on vegetables – you use them to bring your calorie count to 500 cal. Both Biore and Neutragena make nice oil free creams. I like the Tammy Skye cookbook. I love the Tomato & Basil soup recipe and it became a staple for me and my daughter this summer.
Thank you Harvel for getting back in touch with me so quickly.
Karen