HCG or human chorionic gonadotropin is a hormone naturally produced by the placenta in pregnant women. Also, it almost completely controls the metabolic function of the hypothalamus throughout pregnancy. On the contrary, the HCG is used in the HCG diet protocols.
The HCGProtocol combines the weight loss benefits of caloric deficit dieting with the fat-burning benefits of HCG. Caloric deficit dieting can provide powerful weight loss at the cost of your muscles when the body breaks them down for energy. When HCG is present in the blood, the body can more easily burn calories from fat instead of muscle.
Phase 1: Cleansing
Before starting the HCG diet, you need to cleanse your body. The HCG diet protocol only introduced this phase after its creation, but it is crucial to success.
Phase 2: Weight Loss
Phase 2 is all about losing weight. During this time, you will notice rapid weight loss. Phase 2 actually consists of three sub-phases. A later author of this diet consolidated all of them into this category. They are:
Phase 3: Stabilization
In phase 3, you stabilize your new weight. You should not take HCG at this point. You can eat whatever you want except for sugar and starch.
Phase 4: Maintenance
In the maintenance phase, there are no dietary restrictions. HCG is also not necessary. The goal is to maintain your weight loss. Following this phase, you should take a break from the diet. After three weeks, you can start again.
Dieting with HCG results in more than just weight loss. Patients who follow the HCG protocol will experience the following:
It is important to maintain a healthy diet and an active lifestyle after commencing a diet program. After the HCG diet, patients tend to find it easier to maintain their weight since they lose fat and their metabolic rate stabilizes, making it easier to live a healthy lifestyle. Patients may even lose some additional weight after the HCG diet.