HCG Diet Phases and Foods

The HCG Diet is a weight-loss plan that combines injections or supplements of human chorionic gonadotropin with a 500-calorie-per-day diet. The HCG diet program is composed of different phases that guide you in your weight loss. One of the proponents of the HCG diet is the limited food choices that will sustain the nutritional requirement of your body during weight loss.

HCG Diet Phase 1 or the Loading Phase

The loading phase aims to build your fat reserves and make them ready for rapid weight loss. During this phase, you start taking your HCG injections. You can eat anything you want especially fatty foods. You can have the following foods:

• Pastries
• Eggs and bacon
• Fried meats
• Fried potatoes
• Mayonnaise and creams
• Chocolate

Phase 2 or the Very Low-Calorie Phase

Phase 2 is known as the heart of the HCG diet. Phase 2 starts on the third day of taking your HCG shots or after the 2-days loading period. The goal of the VLCD is to eat clean and establish a healthy eating discipline while burning excess fats.  Some Phase 2 approved foods include:

• Lean beef and chicken breast, lobster, crab, shrimp, and fish, whole eggs
• Chard, spinach, chicory, lettuce, celery
• Tomatoes, onions, cucumbers, asparagus, and cabbage
• Apples, grapefruit, strawberries, apples, oranges, strawberries
• Coffee and tea (sugar-free)

Phase 3 or the Maintenance Phase

Phase 3 promotes adding back more calories gradually to 800 to 900 calories per day. However, sugar and carbs are still not permissible during this phase. While weight loss is still possible during this phase, it will not be as dramatic as during Phase 2. Note that if you return to old habits that got you into the situation you were in before starting the HCG program. Foods that you can increase or add during phase 3 include all the food choices during the VLCD.