About the HCG Diet The HCG Diet is a revolutionary diet using Human Chorionic Gonadotropin (HCG) combined with a low calorie diet of 500 calories a day. Taking the HCG for a period of 23 or 43 days while observing a strict, food specific, low calorie diet allows the body to burn fat at a rapid rate (up to a pound a day) and offers lasting results and an improved metabolism. History of the HCG Diet The HCG Diet was developed by Dr. A.T.W. Simeons in the 1950′s and was recently brought to the public again with the release of Kevin Trudeau’s book “The Weight Loss Cure They don’t Want You to Know About”. The Four Phases of the HCG Diet Phase 1 Prep and Load A recommended period of cleansing and detoxing the body followed by a period of “loading” on high fat food for the first two days of taking the HCG. The loading helps prevent hunger once the 500 calorie “HCG Phase” begins. Phase 2 The “HCG Phase” The “HCG Phase” is a 23 or 43 day period when HCG is taken daily (6 days a week) and is combined with a strict, 500 calorie diet of very specific foods. Weight loss occurs at a rate of up to a pound a day. Phase 3 The “Stabilizing Phase” The “Stabilizing Phase” is the three week period following the low calorie “HCG Phase” where a normal amount of calories and fats can be resumed with the exception of starch and sugar. This phase is very important in helping to reset the metabolism for near permanent results. Phase 4 Maintenance The “Maintenance Phase” is the return to normal eating patterns. Carbohydrates and starches can be added back into the diet in moderate amounts and weight can be maintained by following a healthy, balanced meal plan.