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Home 
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Calorie Counting
How Does
hCG Diet Compare?
QUICK FACTS
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BACKGROUND
PRO
CON
INGREDIENTS
ADMINISTRATION
DIET and EXERCISE
CONCLUSION
Common Misspellings
Whats better than
hCG Diet?
Diets
Calorie Counting
hCG Diet Review (UPDATED 2024): Don't Buy Before You Read This!
A controversial diet that calls for hormone injections.
Top Rated Diets of 2024What is it?
The hCG Diet is a weight loss plan offering a hormone that is said to reset metabolism during a very low calorie diet. The actual hCG hormone is only available via prescription, but different brands will offer a supplement version as well.
The same basic principles exist for whatever company that sells this hormone, one has to limit calories to just 500 a day. Often the hCG hormone is made available via a vial, which can be drank or injected. It claims to offer fast and effective weight loss. Our experts have reviewed countless diets and found the 18Shake Diet offers the best all-around weight loss solution. It’s made up of a natural weight loss diet pill and a meal replacement. They combine to offer hours of appetite suppression as well as fat burning. Discover more information on the 18Shake Diet via the link provided here.
Do You Know the Best Diets of 2024?
hCGDiet Ingredients and Side Effects
The actual hormone used stands for human chorionic gonadotropin, a hormone made by the embryo. Often companies will make an animal or synthetic version of this. It is created during pregnancy when a fetus needs protection.
It’s also been used to regulate normal testosterone function, and it has since been banned by many sports organizations.
The official diet was created by an endocrinologist named Albert T.W. Simeons, who believed that a 500 calorie diet alongside this hormone would result in weight loss without there being muscle loss. The American Society of BariatricPhysicians had this to say:
“There is no scientific evidence that HCG is effective in the treatment of obesity”
“insufficient evidence supporting the claims that HCG is effective in altering fat-distribution, hunger reduction, or in inducing a feeling of well-being”
For a comprehensive list of the top 10 ranked diet plans click on the link here.
The FDA have also banned it, in an open letter to consumers they said:
“steer clear of these “homeopathic” human chorionic gonadotropin (HCG) weight-loss products”
“have not been approved by the FDA, and that make unsupported claims”
The FDA also commented on the low amount of calories suggested:
“Living on 500 calorie a day is not only unhealthy,- it’s hazardous”
“ Very low calorie diets are sometimes prescribed by health careprofessionals… medical supervision is needed to ensure that side effects are not life threatening”
The dangers of such as diet are:
“may not be getting enough vitamins, minerals, and- most critically- protein”
Since using this hormone for weight loss is no longer an accepted medical reason by the FDA, any sites which sell a homeopathic version will often add unrelated ingredients. The original hCG however has the banned ingredient which has not been proven to be an effective solution for weight loss.The link here has a comprehensive top 10 list of the highest ranked diets.
EDITOR’S TIP: Combine this diet with a proven meal replacement such as 18 Shake for better results.
hCGDiet Qualityof Ingredients
The sole active ingredient is a growth hormone that the FDA has banned due to safety concerns. The 500 calorie limit a day diet is also not recommended, as health organizations do not consider than a safe weight loss solution. It will likely reduce weight since one is receiving so few calories, but this can lead to side effects and a loss of muscle. It’s also highly likely that which such a low of calories allowed, that there will be nutritional deficiencies.
Since you cannot receive the actual hormone for weight loss, it’s no longer accepted as a solution for weight loss. It’s also only available via prescription, and only to treat fertility issues but not for weight loss. Using them for other reasons not specific can be potentially dangerous, especially when using the 500 calorie a day diet. Web MD has this to say:
“uncomfortable to live on just 500 calories a day, it can be dangerous”
“It’s impossible to meet all your nutritional needs on so few calories”
One would have to supplement with some sort of vitamin and mineral complex to help support the body. Still, restricting calories this much is often only advised for people under strict watch of a medical professional.
Any type of extreme calorie reduction will likely result in some sort of weight loss benefit, but it’s not considered a safe or long term solution.
The Price and Quality of hCG Diet
The hormone is no longer available for prescription use, and any brands selling it are distributing an illegal product not recognized by the FDA.
It’s unknown what the price is as sales of it are meant only for women with fertility issues. The FDA has since sent at least 6 warning letters to companies who sell and market this hormone for weight loss. There are some companies that use the same name of hCG, but instead offer a mix of amino acids which are legal but not same. However, these businesses are using the popularity of this name to promote their own products.
A list of the highest ranked top 10 diet plans is made available in the link here.
The Mayo Clinic also adds:
“Side effects have also been reported with the HCG diet and include fatigue, irritability, restlessness, depression, fluid buildup, and swelling of the breasts”
It’s because of this that they say:
“there are safer ways to lose weight”
The overall risks make this a very low quality weight loss strategy. As you’ll read in the “Customer Opinions of hCG Diet”, many people who used it for weight loss have described it as a poor solution.
Business of hCG Diet
Any businesses that sell this diet plan are in violation of the FDA’s policies for safe products. It’s not considered to be a useful hormone for weight loss. Medpage Today adds that business who still sold this were in violation and that:
“the FDA and FTC threatened to forcibly halt their operations”
A spokesperson for the FDA added:
“is not FDA approved, it cannot be sold legally”
Any business one might find that market this diet plan are illegally selling a potentially harmful product. There’s far too much at risk, and any sales of this will often only be for fertility, not for weight loss. Any recommendations made for weight loss are illegal, and should be of concern as this can result in a fine.
EDITOR’S TIP: The top 10 list of the best diets is available here.
Customer Opinions of hCG Diet
There are very few reviews available since this diet plan has been banned since 2024 by the FDA. Here are some select quotes from some users:
“My blood pressure shot up, flushed skin… very scary”
“I felt terrible: headaches daily, weakness, dizziness, nauseated”
“Would not recommend this to anyone”
“have horrible leg cramps and I’m hungry all the time”
There were people who mentioned that they didn’t notice any reliable weight loss, and that they had to quit the diet early due to side effects. This includes symptoms such as headaches, restlessness, fatigue, mood swings, inability to relax, migraines, flushed skin, dizziness, stomach pain, nausea, and much more.
Many of the listed side effects are common in people who use very low calorie diets. People often mentioned that it was unsustainable, and they couldn’t live on this diet for a long time. The comprehensive top 10 ranked diets list is featured via the link here.
There were some that did see a change in weight, but they also add how they quickly regained it as soon as a regular diet was consumed. People were also concerned with the 500 calorie limit, since there was no additional support on how to maintain this extreme limit. This is why it will often require medical support for those reducing calories to 1,000 or less.
Conclusion - Does hCG Diet Work?
The hCG Diet is a now defunct solution for weight loss that has since been banned by the FDA. It’s made up of a hormone and it suggests reducing calories to just 500 a day. There are studies which have shown even when it was legal, that using this plan was not effective and potentially unsafe. This is why it is now banned and seen as a potentially dangerous weight loss diet. The majority of users that tried it before the FDA 2024 ban did mention it was poor, and that it left them hungry, with side effects, and without any weight loss.
Our experts have found that the most overall effective solution for weight loss is the 18Shake Diet. It’s made up of a meal replacement shake and a stimulant free diet pill. The benefits include appetite suppression, increased metabolism, boosted fat burning, improved mood, and many other benefits. Customers often say it’s a potent formula, and testimonials and reviews are available on their official website. There are no added fillers, stimulants, binders, artificial colors, artificial flavors, or cheap ingredients added to either the meal replacement or diet pill.
The 18Shake Diet is also supported by a full 30 day money back return policy. This risk free return is offered with no questions asked for the entire 30 days. To learn more information about the 18Shake Diet click the link here.
- Product Name
- User Rating
- Easy to follow
- Cheap Price
- Fast Results
QUICK FACTS
Start the Diet Now Advertisement
- Established: 1950s
- Founder: Dr. A.T.W. Simeons
- Accessibility: Injections and drops
- Diet Type: Extremely low calorie along with hCG drops or injections
- Gender: Male and female
- Celebrity Endorsements: Snookie (Jersey Shore), Jenni Farley, Britney Spears
Do You Know the Best Diet Pills of 2024?
BACKGROUND
See our interview: hCG Diet Reviewed by FullBar's Dr. Michael Snyder
A potential diet supplement administered through injections or oral drops, the hCG Diet is a very controversial weight loss method. HCG stands for the hormone Human Choriogonadotropin, which is the same hormone that is produced by women in their early stages of pregnancy.
During pregnancy, the surge of this hormone signals the hypothalamus in the brain to start moving nutrients and fat into the placenta. When used as part of a weight loss program, it is the fat-mobilization aspects of the hormone that has garnered attention for its seeming ability to help facilitate weight loss.
Even though the FDA has approved hCG shots for fertility reasons, there is no scientific evidence that shows the hCG Diet can significantly promote weight loss. Although it is used in conjunction with a very low calorie diet, any weight loss that occurs is likely to be due to the reduced caloric intake rather than the hCG shots or drops themselves.
Many side effects have been shown in those who take hCG shots for weight loss. Blood clots, depression, headaches and ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome in women have all been cited as common, and even deadly, side effects associated with hCG use. HCG drops avoid the inconveniences of a daily injection, but no clinical studies have been conducted to determine if hCG drops have any change in side effects.
Typically, the hCG Diet lasts for three weeks and is monitored by a health professional.
PRO
- May promote weight loss when used in combination with a reduced calorie diet
CON
- Not considered safe
- Weight loss is more likely to due to extremely restricted caloric intake rather than injections or drops
- Weight loss is temporary
- Side effects can be very serious. According to the Mayo Clinic, side affects associated with hCG include fatigue, irritability, headache and male breast enlargement.
INGREDIENTS
hCG injections and drops contain the hormone Human Choriogonadotropin.
ADMINISTRATION
An injection of 125 iu of hCG is administered daily or a daily dose of oral drops.
DIET and EXERCISE
Those who use hCG injections to lose weight must also follow a very strict diet that amounts to no more than 500 calories a day.
For the first two days of the injection you are allowed to eat excessively. Following the third injection, you must adhere to the 500-calorie diet until 72 hours following the last injection given. Sugars, very sweet fruits, processed foods and heavy starches are not allowed.
An hCG Diet protocol outlined by advocate Dr. A.T.W. Simeons looks like this:
- Breakfast: Coffee or tea with artificial sweetener and one tablespoon of milk. Lunch is 100 grams of lean meat, poultry or fish in addition to one low-glycemic vegetable like spinach, celery, cucumbers or cabbage. One Melba toast and one fruit like half of a grapefruit or an apple is also allowed.
- Dinner is the same as lunch.
In addition, shots of apple cider vinegar can be taken as a daily supplement. Products and make-up that contain any fatty substances like mineral oil or almond oil cannot be used.
Websites dedicated to promoting the hCG Diet contain recipes and additional protocol information and tips.
CONCLUSION
The hCG Diet is highly regimented and a very controversial weight loss program that involves the administration of either hormone injections or oral drops coupled with a very low-calorie diet. Popular amongst steroid users and those daring and desperate to lose weight quickly, the hCG Diet is not a weight loss program that is readily endorsed by health and medical professionals for its obvious flaws and real risks for dangerous side effects.
Common Misspellings
HCG, hgc diet, hormone diet, pregnancy hormone diet, hcg injection diet, Human Choriogonadotropin diet
Featured Diets and Supplements
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User Feedback
(Page 9 of 25, 489 total comments)Tonya
+I have been using HCG for 6 months now and have lost a total of 46 pounds with NO side effects.
posted May 9th, 2011 12:48 pmYou must be disciplined enough to stick with the very strict diet - the first week is the toughest. But if you can stay the course, you WILL lose weight and lose it quickly. I have NOT regained any of my lost weight in 6 months and feel more alive and energetic than I have in 10 years.
It works if you can stick with it.
sonya
I gained 10 lbs instead of losing...bottle to the garbage.
posted May 4th, 2011 1:51 pmJam
I am having intense food cravings. I weighed myself. 148 lbs. today.
posted May 3rd, 2011 10:39 pmJoe
These drops are fake. You're basically starving the pounds off. Eat 500 calories a day and you'll lose it without theses drops. If they worked you wouldn't need to just limit your cal intake to that ridiculously low amount. AMYONE that eats only 500 calories a day will shed pounds off drops or no drops.
posted May 3rd, 2011 10:28 pmJam
Day two. Down two pounds. I am going to post a few days a week. Hopefullly this works for me. 5'6", 150 lbs. Would like to be 130.
posted May 3rd, 2011 10:00 amKatie592
I am so happy with the results of the HCG diet. I tried everything! From eating healthy and going to the gym, and the Quick Trim diet. Eating healthy just helped me maintain my weight and Quick Trim had me using the bathroom all day long. I couldnt find a diet program that worked for me. Until my friend, introduced me too the HCG diet! At first I was scared to only take in 500 calories a day but it got easier as the days passed. The only time i got hungry pains was when i worked because I worked in a cafe around food all day! Other than that, I was satisfied with only 500 calories. Overall, I am 18 years old and wanted to lose 20 lbs. I started this program at 137lbs and with five days to go i weighed my self in today at 125.2 :) I never been so happy with my body. I feel great and look great!! I highly suggest you try this diet if you have the will power
posted May 2nd, 2011 12:34 pmKatie
I am so happy with the results of the HCG diet. I tried everything! From eating healthy and going to the gym, and the Quick Trim diet. Eating healthy just helped me maintain my weight and Quick Trim had me using the bathroom all day long. I couldnt find a diet program that worked for me. Until my friend, introduced me too the HCG diet! At first I was scared to only take in 500 calories a day but it got easier as the days passed. The only time i got hungry pains was when i worked because I worked in a cafe around food all day! Other than that, I was satisfied with only 500 calories. Overall, I am 18 years old and wanted to lose 20 lbs. I started this program at 137lbs and with five days to go i weighed my self in today at 125.2 :) I never been so happy with my body. I feel great and look great!! I highly suggest you try this diet if you have the will power
posted May 2nd, 2011 12:31 pmdee44
Be careful using this diet. It is not a healthy way to eat. I had talked to my Doctor about this diet when I learned of it. She told me not to do it. She said there has been many women who have ended up with cancer after doing the HCG diet, two of her female patients had went on the HCG diet, then went back to see my Doctor and found out they both had breast cancer, both ladies had done the HCG. There are other stories like this. Be aware people! Check things out before you decide on something that may hurt you in the long run. Eating (healthy) less calories based on your wieght now and exercising for 45-60 minutes a day with help you do it a healthy way. That's what I'm aiming for! There are many sites on-line that are free and will calculate the right amount calories for you, and also exercise suggestions. Be careful and do what's best for your body.
posted May 1st, 2011 10:32 pmPinks
I have heard so many people say that this diet isn't a permanent solution to weight loss, but really what diet is?! You have to bust your butt with any diet to keep the lb's off. I did weight watchers, loss 25 lb's and gained it all back. I tried nutrisystem and couldn't even get through a month of the program because the food was so disgusting! My advice to everyone out there is to follow something you can stick to. It's going to take a lot of dedication and it's going to be hard, but do whatever works for you! Not everyone will respond the same but it's worth a try!
posted Apr 28th, 2011 8:35 pmERICA
I have been miss lead. I have read so many comment on how awesome this diet is and for the first couple of days it was ok..now 7 days later I have horrible leg cramps and I'm hungry all the time! it doesn't teach me how to eat well I think about food more than I ever have. This was just not as good as people made it out to be.
posted Apr 26th, 2011 4:25 pmOlya
?And what about striae? I have some after pregnancy and don't want to get more!
Nicole
Can anyone recommend a legitimate place to get the HCG drops? I am having a hard time with the overwhelming number of sites!! Thank you very much!!
posted Apr 25th, 2011 2:14 pmKrisna
I'm
posted Apr 24th, 2011 6:02 pmMiserable, hungry all
The time... No energy lost 10 PDs the first week, I have two more weeks to go but I miss cheese and eggs and considering just stopping my injections and doing low carb while dh finished the cycle.
We joined a gym and I would rather workout and not fill so deprived!
SDOBARD
was on it oin well into my 2nd week, when I felt so bad, I thouht I was oing to die. I work as a MedTech in a hospital lab so I went to the ER. My H & H were critically low. The MD told me to get 2 units of blood. When my peripheral blood smear was done, it showed gross anemia and hemolysis. My RBC's were being shredded apart. Like DIC and blood clots. It was sent off for a Pathologist Eval. I could have died from blood loss and coaulation or clotting problems. It took me weeks to feel good again. If you're in medicine, you know what hemolysis looks like on a blood smear. I didn't have any normal cells. There were ghost cells, target cells, schistocytes, Macrocytes, just a classic textbook slide for clotting. DO NOT USE THIS. YOU COULD DIE> I ALMOST DID>
posted Apr 16th, 2011 10:28 pmTxB7onde
The loading days are unnecessary. We are all going in this diet because we load up too much everyday obviously. Any two days before you start are loading days. I didn't dare do that-got my drops & started next morning. I also make sure not to eat or drink 20 mins before or after the
posted Apr 14th, 2011 10:40 pmSublingual drops for betters absorption. A couple times a day I do a tblsp. of apple cider vinegar diluted in about a half cup of water(holding my breath) for energy. I do allow myself a Crystal Light a day. I'm losing, but who wouldn't in LCD like this. If I work out-I eat an apple before, water during, and drink half an Isopure after. I'm an RN-I understand the replace what you use as far as
Protein and electrolytes. But I'm also trying to tone while I'm losing(no loose skin)! My total goal to lose is about 25 lbs. The first few days and during PMS are the hardest!!!
Darrin66
the HCG diet is fantastic. Yes, it is regimented.. I read all these "cons" and they are false... I have yet to hear of a side effect in my 5 years being involved in this diet. Have the discipline to follow it exactly and you WILL get long term results. "Weight loss is temporary" Sure.. if you go back to eating a gallon of ice cream before bed... you need to adjust your life style... for me, the killer is beer.. lol. This is a great program that gives you fast results and keeps you pumped about the sacrifices you're making to reach your goals. Yahoo groups has a few going that can help you with this diet as well. Good luck to you!
posted Apr 13th, 2011 1:38 pmSonyaC
I am starting this diet on monday and am super excited.. I really hope it works for me I purchased it for $45.00 at a place by my school and its for 40 days.. I am a bit nervous but after reading how everyone has lost im super stoked
posted Apr 13th, 2011 12:07 amyelsha
where did yyou buy yours from!!!???
posted Apr 12th, 2011 6:50 pmjenny
It worked great but its not a permanent solution. you need to be conscious of what you eat. after you lose all the weight you need to maintain it by eating healthy. you can eat what you want but dont over do it. be consciouse of what and how your eating. be healthy!!
posted Apr 11th, 2011 9:58 amLauryn Ray
i love the hcg diet!!! ive heard that i shouldnt work out but i also heard i could so i have been lol i love 7 lbs. in 7 days..and ive been eating super healthy. ive kinda been cheating too but im a woman i cant help it i need to eat!! lol im doing the diet and everything with a friend which is a big help. its only been one week and ive had some clients tell me i look skinnier in the face and stomach :) ive been having some cramps but nothing too serious! so overall i love it :)
posted Apr 10th, 2011 9:08 pm