Just finished posting on my favorite HCG diet group (Need to add the link one of these days). It had been a while. I’ve been so busy working on my new books and getting this blog set up that I hadn’t been posting. When I returned and read some of the posts from the members It hit me like a brick that we’ve all been there, we’ve all struggled to lose weight, so many of us have tried every diet possible and think to ourselves “Nothing has ever worked before, how could this be any different?”
I’m going to tough love you a little right now (more love than tough). If there has ever been a diet that works, it is this one. You absolutely need to stay focused on the goal. You will enjoy food and normal calories again. The HCG diet is different.
Tell the voice in your head that is telling you “This will never work” to take a fast walk off a high cliff and get back in the game. I’ve been you, I’ve been there and don’t you DARE give up now.
Am in the first phase, just ended the first week. Am so tired of cabbage and vinegar. And what can you do with fennel and chicory? Beet greens – beets themselves cost quite a bit in my area. Sure can’t buy them just to eat the part I would normally tear off.
Looking for Phase One recipes that will help us make use of the few foods we are allowed to eat until we make it Phase Two.
Hi you guys! Best advice I could give is get familiar with your spice rack. For Fennel, you can bake it with spices in a little water or broth (if you use broth with your vegetable, make sure the protein corresponds for that meal) or add it to a savory soup. You can steam it, or saute it, roast it or boil it. It has a wonderful flavor and goes well with tarragon, lemon juice, or just a little sea salt and black pepper. Yum! One of my favorite vegetables on P2.
Chicory and beet greens are perhaps not the most common or favorite vegetable for hcg dieters but I have a few recipes in my cookbook. You can toss it with some Bragg’s liquid amino’s, saute it in broth and spices, or serve with black pepper and lemon juice. I’m working on some new cool micro-chopped salads for chicory and will post a recipe sometime. Good luck!
P.S. Just to clarify, most people consider P2 or Phase 2 to be the hcg low calorie portion of the diet so I want others who read this post to be able to recognize the phase for your question.
You have a lot of great recipes and tips here on your website. My family, friends, and I have all done the HCG Low Calorie Diet and it is very hard to always know what to cook. I know your website is very helpful to a lot of people. Thank you for sharing. Keep up the hard work!
.-= Brian M. Connole´s last blog ..HCG Diet – Rotating Your Vegtables And Fruit =-.
I had a bad evening of craving everything and feeling frustrated with no drop on the scale for a couple of days (on day 10) but instead of cheating, I got online, and found your site. Got me through. Feeling better today. Resolved to stick it out. Here’s hoping that scale moves tomorrow. Thanks.
So glad you did. I know how it can be and the temptation to cheat can be overwhelming. I’m really glad the blog is helping you. Really, absolutely, truly, this diet is amazing and worth it so DO stick it out. The results are worth it. Don’t worry about the plateau, it is normal and will resolve itself. Hang in there.
I am just starting out. Today is my very first day – binge day 1 – any help is greatly appreciated, I’m determined to lose the weight!!!
Kelly…. Hopefully the scale is spiralling downward for you! For all the “newbees” out there…. a piece of advice…. Take your measurements before you start. There will be days after being on HCG for a few weeks that the scale does not tip. Don’t be discouraged. If you take your measurements again (if you haven’t aready experienced it in your clothing), you will be totally amazed at how many inches you have lost and how your body is changing! Good Luck Kelly….. We are all in this together!
im thinking of starting this diet, since i will be getting married new years eve, but i am getting discouraged since i am not a vegetable eater at all. I am quite worried bout the food i will have to eat to lose the weight.
Hi Moni! Please keep in mind that the P2 phase when you need to eat so many veggies is only for a limited time and you can vary these vegetables. If you still strictly to this diet, you will have amazing results and be so thankful that you decided to do it! You can do it!!!
Hi! Just started day 1 today, binging? Not so much. Wish me well! I have 40 lbs to loose!
Hi Xandra! Congratulations on your wonderful decision to do the HCG Diet and I’m sure you’ll do great! I offer free recipes and tips via this blog and my newsletter so you may want to subscribe. Best of luck for your 40 pound loss!
Tammy
I am going to start the HCG diet on Monday (need to mentally prep for the uphill diet). However, I am really lost as to what I can eat, as far as putting together foods. I know I will not put up with eating chicken the same way for 23 days…
Should I buy a recipe book?
I really need a HCG helper and motivator….I want to lose 20 pounds if I can within the 23 days? I am scared!
Lucy
Hi Lucy and thanks for writing! Try not to be too scared; this diet is amazing and you can definitely lose 20 pounds if you stay strict to the diet as outlined by Dr. Simeons and use a fresh, high quality HCG. I would highly recommend you read Dr. Simeon’s book “Pounds and Inches” which you can find online for free. Also, I think my cookbook would be a great help to you as it helps you stay on track while adding variety and flavor to your diet. If you decide to purchase a copy, you can go here: http://www.HCGRecipes.com. It not only has chicken recipes, but tells you how you can also eat seafood, beef, soup, various dressings, sauces and marinades, and even desserts and beverages!
Best of luck on your diet and please keep me updated!
I came across this blog through a google search and thought I would leave a note to give everyone who has been courageous enough to start this diet, a bit of encouragement.
I have been heavy my whole life and before I started this diet, I had reached my all-time high. I had tried everything in the past to lose and maintain. I have probably lost and gained more than 500 pounds since I started my first diet at the tender age of 10. No diet has ever rendered me more than 2-3 pounds per week. Certainly not enough to keep a person motivated. There was nothing that had even come close to quelling the massive hunger I felt constantly. Until I discovered Dr. Simeon’s HCG Protocol.
I began Phase 1 on August 25 and have easily lost 34.3 pounds as of this morning. If I can do this, anyone can do it. I used to be anxious to finish my phase 2 so I could eat again. Now I’m anxious to end my maintenance so I can get back on my second round with the HCG. Me? Excited about dieting? This is a thing unheard of lol!
This protocol teaches you so much. I learned portion control, resisting temptations, I reacquainted myself with my spice rack and I fell in love with cooking again. Anything that I can make from scratch, I can make better than any canned or boxed grocery store garbage. Processed food is killing us slowly. Our bodies don’t know what to do with the more than 1500 chemicals that are now added to everything we eat. They produce cravings and make (and keep) us fat!! Eat clean and get to know food again. Real food.
Along with Dr. Simeon’s Pounds and Inches, I recommend you read “The Weight Loss Cure ‘They’ Don’t Want You To Know About” by Kevin Trudeau. It will change your life.
Knowledge is power. Good luck to everyone who is changing their lives with this diet. Stay strong.
Hi Susan! Thank you SO much for sharing your wonderful story and encouragement to everyone reading this blog! You are a wonderful inspiration and I’m so happy that you are having such great success on the HCG Diet. Please keep us updated on your continued progress!!
Hi There!!!
I am on day 2 of Phase 2 and have been really struggling with hunger pangs. I am drinking lot\’s of water and green tea but it really hasn\’t helped much. I am nervous that my hunger is going to get the best of me and I will give in. I only have 3 weeks to do BUT it seems like forever.
I am very glad to have found this website and will be making the Citrus Fish tonight. I hope that your book along with all the great recipes and tips will help through my journey…
Hi Giulietta! I really believe that my recipes will help you but I am concerned about the strong hunger pains you’re experiencing. Fresh HCG from a reliable source should not be allowing you to feel extreme hunger. I would recommend checking the freshness and possibly getting your HCG from a different source. Although I highly recommend staying very strict to the diet as outlined by Dr. Simeons, if you do ‘give in’, don’t beat yourself up about it — just get back on course!!! This is an amazing diet and I know if you work really hard and are using a high quality HCG, you’ll have great success! Best of luck to you and please keep me updated!
Hi Tammy,
Thank you for your response. I have decided to return the H.C.G. Drops from where I purchased them. I only paid $ 21.95 for a 2 oz bottle. Could that have anything to do with the potency?? Yesterday was a really bad day for me. I felt extremely hungry, cold and shakey. And for what I’ve read the drops should control this. Can you recommend a reliable source?
I appreciate any help!!!!
I found this blog today.
I am on day 21 of P2 and have lost 21.0 as of this morning. I also am “one of those” that have tried everything under the sun. I struggled last night with wanting to quit. I did not give in though, because I kept telling myself that it is for a finite time frame. I am in need of some encouragement today!! Thanks to all who have blogged, it sure helps the rest of us hang in there. IT IS WORTH STICKING TO!!!!!
21 pounds is great Kelly — congratulations!!! You are SO right — this diet and the outcome, is definitely worth it! We can all do something for a limited amount of time and the way you’ll look and feel at the end of this time will definitely be worth it! Keep up the great work and keep me updated on how things are going!
I am on Day 18 and have lost 32lbs. Best I have felt in 20 years.
Congratulations Alex on your wonderful 32 pound weight loss! I know you must be very proud of yourself and look great! So happy this diet is working so well for you. Keep up the great work!
Starting my second round – have a question – I really struggle with not have non-dairy creamer in my coffee – any suggestions?
Hi and thanks for writing! You can have a total of 1 tablespoon of milk may be used in a 24 hour period according to Dr. Simeons protocol so if you split that tablespoon into the number of cups of coffee you have each day, you CAN add this. Also, there are a couple coffee recipes in my cookbook that you might want to try to add a little flavor to your coffee. Best of luck to you on Round 2!
I add English Toffee liquid stevia to my coffee…. it’s fabulous!!
Hi Jana! English Toffee liquid Stevia is one of my favorites too!!
Hi,
I am on day 5 of the 500 calorie plan and having a very difficult time. I have no desire to eat at all. Nothing taste or smells good to me. My sense of smell is significantly increased and everything I smell makes me nauseous. Foods that I know I enjoy eating are sicking to the point of vomiting. I have lost 14 lbs in the first week so I know this works but I need help, anything, to get me past this hump.
Hi Mark! I’m so sorry that you’re experiencing challenges. I would suggest you speak with your HCG provider and see if they can prescribe or recommend another type of HCG since it comes in several forms and strengths. Each body responds differently and it may just be your body getting used to the HCG but this isn’t a typical bodily response. 14 pounds is wonderful and I hope you can find the proper HCG for you! Please keep me updated on your progress!
I’ve been on the diest starting my third week and is it me or has this happened to others. I got on scale Sunday and then on Monday it was the same number, this has happened pretty much for the last week. Is this normal?
Hi Kandi! Plateaus are normal with the HCG diet. Weight loss usually presents in a stair-step fashion with a consistent large drop in weight followed by a slight plateau or slower loss for a few days. At least 1 significant plateau occurs in the 2nd half of the protocol that often lasts 4-5 days. This is normal and will resolve itself in time. If it lasts more than 4 days, consider an “Apple Day”.
Hope this helps and best of luck on your diet!
I have not found how much vegetables you can have. It tells you the veggies but not the amount. Thanks My husband is doing the injections and I’m trying the drops.
Hi Sharon! It depends on the vegetable itself as to how much you can have — and what Phase you’re on. Dr. Simeons’ “Pounds and Inches” book has it all broken down for you, as well as my cookbook.
Best of luck to you and your husband on your diet!
I am on DAY 1 of the 500 calorie diet. I’ve gone into this with a very positive but realistic attitude. I would be absolutely fine, if I wasn’t starving. I feel so hungry. I’ve had so much water and coffee and tea, I’m completely hydrated. I even went so far as to add a tad bit of protein to my day with two small bites of skim cottage cheese. I want so much to succeed, but these hunger pangs are causing a tad bit of panic and an instinct to run into the kitchen and EAT. Anything. How do I get through these hunger pangs? I loaded during Thanksgiving. I’d guess at least 3000 calories a day for four days prior. Shouldn’t that have been enough?
Hi Kristen! You really should not be having intense hunger pains on the HCG Diet. I’m not sure what type of HCG you’re using so I’m going to respond to each type.
Although I don’t recommend any certain distributors or brands at this time, keep in mind that once you make your purchase, if you are experiencing above normal hunger, I would consider returning to your doctor and questioning the freshness of the hcg or possibly switching brands or change from drops to injections, or from homeopathic to RX hcg.
Prescription HCG is a doctor prescribed medication. The advantages are that it works well and is currently in clinical trials to prove its effectiveness. It needs to be kept fresh and cold and immunity may occur if you don’t take sufficient time between rounds. Homeopathic doesn’t need to be refrigerated and stays good for a year. Many people are having success with homeopathic HCG but you do need to be very careful when choosing a brand and I recommend getting a personal recommendation from a friend. Some just don’t work.
If you decide to go the homeopathic route and it’s not working as well as you hoped, try a different brand. If you go with the doctor prescribed HCG and it’s not working, go back to the source and check the potency and expiration date. Either way you go, I advise staying strict to the diet as written by Dr. A.T.W. Simeons (read “Pounds and Inches” if you haven’t already). Also you can add lots of variety and flavor to your diet with my HCG Diet Gourmet Cookbook (and my upcoming books).
Whichever way you decide to go, I wish you all the best and please keep me updated on your progress!
Hey Tammy.
I too recently started the HCG diet on Thanksgiving. Haven’t experienced any hunger and have lost 6 lbs so far. Question..after phase 2 ends and you are eating somewhat normal but still restricting sugar and starches, I am worried about Christmas. If you “cheat” a few days to enjoy dinner with family how much will it affect weight gain?
Thanks for the cooking ideas! I am about to check out your recipies now. I have already grown tired of asparagus and chicken.
I want to lose about 20 lbs and this has been relatively easy so far. Hopefully I can keep it up! Thanks!
Hi Elizabeth and congratulations on your 6 lb weight loss! I highly recommend staying very strict to the diet, especially in P2 since any variations can really stall your weight loss. Eating a single peanut or anything not on the allowed list of food items can result in large and unpredictable gains, even when the calorie count is low. If you do “cheat”, recognize that you may lose about 3 days of weight loss and just get right back on the program.
I would love to hear about your favorite recipes (my new cookbook will be released in a few weeks with 150 more recipes) and please keep me updated on your progress. 20 lbs is definitely do-able on this amazing diet!
Keep up the great work!
Hello… I took my last dose on my 43 day plan this evening. I am down 30lbs in six weeks. I have to say it was hard at times, but it is so worth it. I wore very tight size 18 jeans 6 weeks ago and now I am in loose size 14. I feel wonderful and totally look at food differently. I eat more slowly and enjoy my food and the flavors they offer. I know I will hit my goal in the end. I am looking forward to Phase 3. Good luck to everyone just starting out. You will get through it and be very happy in the end. Good luck to you all!!
Hi Janie and congratulations on your wonderful 30 pound weight loss — as well as going down several pant sizes!!! I want to thank you for sharing your story and inspiration with me and others reading this blog and best of luck to you on P3!
In the begining I was one of the main people stating ” how can drops under your tongue make you lose pounds and inches.” Well three weeks and sixteen pounds later I am a true believer! I highly recommennd HCG, it really works!
Hi Vanessa and congratulations on your wonderful 16 pound weight loss! HCG is amazing isn’t it? Once we can see how amazing this diet is, we just want to tell everyone!!
I am on day 20 of Phase 2 (of 45 days). I’m getting depressed listening to everyones success. I keep asking myself what am I doing wrong. I am only droping a few oz over a 3 day period. I started at 190 on the 4th & I’m holding at 176.5 as of this am. I’m drinking at least a gallon of water a day as well as coffee and tea (green and other herbal). What I’m wondering is how off I am with my meals, snacks, and carbs (melba or bread stick). I’m confussed as to if you can have a protein on a bed of spinach/lettuce along with cucumbers, tomatos or perhaps asparagus. One thing I read says unlimited lettuce with a protien and veggie. I have a choice of two snacks(apple, 4 oz Strawberries, or 1/2 grapefruit with Stevia) The two things that I have used although not on the list is Balsalmico Vinegar as a dressing and I used Cocoa Powder one time with Stevia mixed in it for a dry dip for my Strawberries. I LOVE MY CHOCOLATE. THis was the next best thing then me baking a pan of brownies and eating all of them right now. I was just told that my strawberrie dressing has to replace a snack since I used them for a dressing. If I can’t figure this “simple” stuff out, I’m not sure this is right for me. FRUSTRATED!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Hi Shelly! I’m sorry you’re feeling frustrated and believe me, it happens to us all!
Several things I have noticed in your post — first, balsamic vinegar dressing. Most vinegars are okay in P3, but balsamic is very sweet and should be avoided even in P3. It is definitely not good for P2 and could very likely be causing stalls in your weight loss. Also know that you aren’t allowed to mix vegetables in a meal; only 1 vegetable per meal is allowed. The cocoa powder is also likely to cause a stall. You may want to try flavor drops and flavored Stevia which are available in chocolate to help with that craving.
Although I can’t provide you with a list of exactly what is and isn’t available on each Phase here, I do include an extensive list in my HCG Diet Gourmet Cookbook Volume 2 which you can find at http://www.HCGRecipes.com.
Best of continued luck with your diet!
Out of the 29 meals I have had to date, My food log only reflects that I have had Balsalmico 4 times and today was my only day trying the cocoa.
Shelly, even one bite outside of the protocol can cause stalls so I would just make sure you stay very strict to the original protocol as written by Dr. Simeons (and in my books) from now on.
Oh my goodness! I am on day 10 of Phase 2 and I’ve lost 13 pounds! Woo hoo! I can not stress enough of how strict you need to follow this diet. I was about to quit on day 4 because of my extreme hunger but I read some post that really encouraged me to keep on. Although this is not something I find myself wanting to do, I am determined to drop the weight. I know I will be so glad in the end if I don’t give up. Thank you for your tips and encouragement. So, my question is…………In Phase 2, is it correct that you can do it for at least 23 or as long as 45 days all in one period of time, depending on the amount of weight you want to lose? Thanks!
Sherri, 13 pounds is wonderful – congratulations! You’re definitely right – you do have to stay very strict to this diet to make it work properly. As for your question, if you do the 23 days, you take the injections every day (including your loading days) and if you do the 43 days, you take the injections 6 days per week (plus your 2 loading days). Hope that helps and best of continued luck on your diet!