The extreme diet which helps in tremendous loss of weight has gained popularity across the country. HCG or human chorionic gonadotropin limits the calorie intake to a minimum and enables in weight loss without any exercise. The ultra-low diet will ensure that you do not feel hungry and only consume a few calories through the day. This diet is not for everyone. It is important to consult an expert before starting the diet. Individuals who want to lose a few pounds should not straightaway begin this diet. The biggest benefit of the diet is that it does not require any exercise and has shown significant loss of weight in no time.
The HCG diet will limit your calories to 500 a day for eight weeks and this is in addition to taking a shot like sprays, pellets or oral drops that are available across different stores. It is important to consult an expert before starting a diet since it can have significant side effects. Experts have mentioned time and again that the diet is not suitable for every individual who wants to shed a few pounds. Although the diet does not require exercise, it is important to include at least 20 minutes of physical activity in the daily routine post the diet.
The diet is divided into three phases.
Each phase in the HCG diet has been planned by experts in order to provide a quick loss of weight by controlling the daily consumption. With a restriction on the intake of food, individuals can notice the loss of weight and fat muscle. The tenure of the diet is based on the requirement of the patient and their ability to withstand the extreme diet.
Phase 1: This is the first stage where patients are asked feed to their maximum capacity. This is the gain before loss phase. The patients have to start force feeding one week before they start the diet. Individuals whose general capacity is satisfactory can begin 3 days in advance. The idea is to build calorie for the phase of diet. The calories gained during this week will ensure that the patients have enough stamina to maintain their limit of 500 calories a day. In the phase 1, patients need to get drops for HCG weight loss and they start taking the drops from the first day itself. The first few drops remain ineffective because the body is only preparing for the effective weight loss.
Phase 2: The second phase is where the bulk of the treatment starts. This phase lasts for the longest period of time and there is a limit on the 500 calorie intake. There is a list of approved foods which the patients need to strictly follow. It is important to strictly follow the diet in order to benefit from the same. The patients who have eaten to their maximum capacity in the first phase tend to feel much better in the next phase.
Phase 3: In this phase, the calorie intake can be mildly increased. Since this is the third phase of the diet, the patients could feel weak hence it is important to increase the calorie intake mildly. Patients need not worry about the weight gain and increase the calories from 500 to 700 and then to 1000.
Is it for you?
The diet is not something you simply get on to. Patients who get on the diet only to lose a few pounds in a couple of days could end up with serious health issues. The diet should be started only after consulting an expert who will decide whether your health and body are suitable for the same. It can provide significant benefits for weight loss; it is not something to jump into only because others are doing so.
The diet helps in weight loss without any exercise and by simply controlling the intake of calories. It takes a long time to get on with the regular diet and routine after the completion of these three phases. Patients need to work to improve their metabolism and include exercise in their daily routine. The biggest step is to ensure that the weight is not gained back and this can be done by keeping a watch on everything you eat. You cannot restrict yourself to the 500 calorie diet for a long period of time. You will eventually have to get back to your normal diet and increase the intake of calories to live a strong and healthy life.
Published by Alex Hales