My Experience On The HCG Diet

Days 1-2 I had to gorge myself on fattening foods, I have to admit that I enjoyed that part, sort of.  Let me explain, as some of you may remember I have been on a weight loss journey for awhile now and lost about 19 lbs by eating the right portion sizes and exercising regularly.  Part of me loved being able to eat fattening foods willy nilly, but the other part of me did not want to gain any weight back that I had already lost. Although I ended up losing 1.6 lbs so all in all the first two days were not so bad.

Days 3-9 1st week on HCG and 500 calorie food plan.  Feeling pretty good.
Days 10-16 2nd week on HCG and 500 calorie food plan.  Tired and weak.
Days 17-23 3rd week on HCG and 500 calorie food plan.  Tired and weak + constipation.
Days 24-30 4th and final week on HCG and 500 calorie food plan.  Constipation.


Day 3 down 3.4lbs
Day 4 down 4.8lbs
Day 5 down 4.8lbs
Day 6 down 6.4lbs
Day 7 down 7.6lbs
Day 8 down 8.0lbs
Day 9 down 9.6lbs
Day 10 down 10.6lbs
Day 11 down 11.4lbs
Day 12 down 12.2lbs
Day 13 down 12.2lbs
Day 14 down 13.2lbs
Day 15 down 13.2lbs
Day 16 down 14.0lbs
Day 17 down 14.4lbs
Day 18 down 13.8lbs
Day 19 down 14.8lbs
Day 20 down 15.8lbs
Day 21 down 16.0lbs
Day 22 down 16.8lbs
Day 23 down 17.2lbs
Day 24 down 17.2lbs
Day 25 down 18.6lbs
Day 26 down 19.2lbs
Day 27 down Same
Day 28 down Same


Days 29-31 no HCG but still on 500 calorie food plan.
The next 3 weeks...1500 calorie maintenance plan. Limit added sugars and starches/carbohydrates.

Total weight lost...21.4
Final BMI reading...30.0
Weight left to lose to 50lbs...10.2

What was my overall impression of the HCG Diet?  Well it works, but I felt so tired and weak most of the time and had a real problem with constipation, so it was not a wonderful experience for me.  I seemed to be able to handle the 500 calories without much hunger and that was a good thing.  Even though the literature states that a person should feel energized and have little to no hunger, I have to say I did not feel energized after the 1st week at all, in fact it was a problem for the last 2 weeks of the diet. 

Would I suggest the HCG Diet to anyone? No, it is far to restrictive and does not give you the essential nutrients your body needs, and I fear the claims made regarding not losing  lean muscle mass, etc...are hugely misleading.  I have felt weak and exhausted for 2 weeks straight.  The one thing I would give this diet kudos for...it is great for losing a lot of weight fast but, this diet is just that, a diet, and in no way can be sustained for too long a time.  This diet does not teach you how to eat sensibly at all.  Before I went on this diet I learned what a real portion size looks like, how to eat 1200-1500 calories a day, and to get regular exercise, all these things are important to making a lifestyle change that will last, well...a LIFETIME. 

My suggestion? Find a good calorie counter online and track what you eat for a week, then learn to eat within your bodies caloric needs, read labels and eat one portion of whatever you put in your mouth, and finally get moving.  Incorporate some sort of exercise into your daily life.  It could be swimming, walking, running, jogging, bicycling, etc...whatever it is you like to do...just do it!  If a calorie counter isn't your thing, maybe join your local gym or weight watchers support group, whatever you do, make it a lifestyle change not a diet, and good luck, you can do it.

I believe in the sun even when it is not shining. I believe in love even when I feel it not. I believe in God even when He is silent. *Written on a wall in a concentration camp*