The First Week of the HCG Diet

Getting through the first week of the HCG diet has never been easy. During your first week of doing the HCG diet, your body transitions from burning carbs for fuel to burning fat for fuel. Some may experience carb crash or carb withdrawal that’s why it’s always good to be well-prepared. During your very low calorie diet, you might have other challenges that may cause you to go off track.

Your body is used to using carbs as a source of energy.  However, with HCG diet, your body will rely more on your stored fats because the amount of calories that you’ll be receiving each day is just 500 calories. That is why your first week with HCG diet will be the hardest. The following are some tips on how to help your body adjust to the very low calorie diet of the HCG:

Day 1 to Day 3: Carb Withdrawal

This is the period of discomfort because your body needs time to adjust since it is used to have so many carbs used for energy. Do the following tips to get over the problem:

1. Plan delicious things to eat. Plan for a menu that’s very low in carb. Avoid depriving yourself of making a big change in eating habits.

2. Drink lots of water. Drinking plenty of water can do several wonders in the body and mind

3. Eat lots of fibers and fat. The feeling of being full can be highly produced with fat and fiber.

4. Get support. Find people who have experienced the same situation. It is better to seek advice, listen to their sharing of own experiences and ask questions about the situation.

5. Do not be hungry. Being hungry is not expected for long periods of time. In fact, you shouldn’t feel hungry at all if your HCG dosage is right. Take some time to plan a few low-carb snacks so you won’t crave for foods in between meals.

6. Be good to yourself. It is important to take care of yourself.  Deal with your craving and reward yourself after. It is also better to avoid stress.
   

Days 3 to 5: Watch out for “Carb Crash” 

There are times your body’s glucose reserves are used up but the body is not yet used to running on fat and protein. This phenomenon is called “Carb Crash”. When this happens, you may feel irritable, shaky, nervous and fatigued.

Days 5 to 14: Reward Time! 

Gain the rewards of the VLCD of the HCG diet after the first week. After the first week, you may experience an increase in energy. You may also feel less obsessive about eating and you’ll have a better mental awareness. You will no longer have cravings.