Avoiding Hunger on HCG
Well, many people would assume that eating as little as 500 calories a day such as on Phase 2 of the HCG Diet, you would get pretty darn hungry. I know a thing or two about hunger. Prior to finding the amazing metabolism boosting benefits of a round of HCG, I suffered from massive food cravings. I mean, I would eat anything under the sun, particularly bread and sugar.
An interesting phenomenon of being on the HCG phase of the HCG Diet is the absolute lack of hunger dieters experience while eating only 500 calories a day. This is in fact totally normal. I was absolutely floored myself by my own lack of hunger. In fact there were nights where I just wasn’t hungry and would practically have to choke down my strawberries or “remember” to eat my chicken and spinach. So, I’m here to offer a few helpful hints on what things may cause you to be hungry on the HCG Diet and what you can do about it if you are.
So lets address some of the reasons you might be hungry. First of all, your HCG must be fresh. If you have left it out on the counter for 24 hours at room temperature it may have degraded in its potency. If it’s over 30 days old it might not work for you. In fact, I actually recommend getting a fresh mix of HCG every 15 days if you can. If it was exposed to too much light it can degrade. I’ve heard people caution against using HCG imported from China and that may have caused some people to experience hunger. Always make sure you check your source of HCG for freshness. If you are working with a clinic… ask when they mixed it for you.
Another reason you may be experiencing hunger is if you didn’t load properly. I just recently posted on this issue with some special loading tips. Read that blog post if you can to get some ideas on how to load properly. In a nutshell, I say, focus on high fat foods rather than high carb foods like pasta and ….. eat more than you think you can for a full two days. People who skip the load often experience hunger for a full week or even longer. Don’t skip the load. During my own rounds of HCG it was extremely rare that had any true hunger. There would be times when I missed a certain food but in reality, I wasn’t really hungry at all.
Yet another reason you may find yourself overly hungry is if you are starting to reach what Dr. S calls “Immunity” this basically means that your body has adapted to the HCG and you need to stop the diet (Read Pounds an Inches for the procedure) and take an extra long break. Or, you might be nearing your goal weight and your body simply doesn’t have enough abnormal weight left to burn off. You might have reached a metabolic set point with your weight. Anytime you feel you have reached immunity you should wean off the diet and go on to Phase 3.
The last reason I can think of why you might be excessively hungry is if you are not taking enough HCG. There are some scam products like HCG Cream, HCG simulating vitamins. Don’t believe it. You are either not getting enough HCG into your system to work or you are taking really expensive vitamins that do not act on the body the way that HCG does.
So, lets say you’re doing everything right, and your HCG is fresh, and you are taking the right dosage of HCG, and you loaded properly and you STILL find yourself hungry. What can you do? Well, if you skipped the load you simply wait it out and within a week you shouldn’t have the same intensity of hunger as the HCG kicks in. Drinking lots of water throughout the day really helps. Also drinking the recommended hot and herbal teas can take the edge off.
I recommend in my HCG Diet Gourmet Cookbook to space out our meals. Have a fruit for breakfast, protein and vegetable for lunch, protein and vegetable for dinner, and a fruit for an evening snack. Again, lots of water and tea in between. Another trick is to enjoy a hot soup. Very filling and delicious (Quite a few recipes are offered in my cookbook or make your own). Another trick is to eat some extra vegetables. Dr. Simeons didn’t put a real limit on vegetables so if you wanted to add some extra cabbage to your entree thats perfectly fine and shouldn’t take you over the 500 calorie limit.
Most important, hang in there. Unless you are experience a true immunity and if you are doing all the right things, then this diet should work for you. Try to distinguish whether or not your hunger on HCG is really hunger or if you just miss a certain food or have a craving. The results of this diet when followed correctly are pretty amazing so stick it out! Good luck to you all.
I lost 23 pounds on round 1 and kept it off for a year. Recently, I wanted to support my husband, who just started his round 1. I had about 8 pounds left to reach my ideal weight and so I joined him. I am on round 2, day 10. I have already lost 10 pounds and am worried about losing more. I do not want to lose anymore weight. What can I do?
Congratulations Tina! and to your husband. In order to stabilize your metabolism properly you MUST stay on the HCG for a minimum of 3 weeks. Increase your calories to 800. Then, at the end of the three weeks move in to phase 3 (allowing for two days for the HCG to leave your system) and follow the “no starch/no sugar” rule until you enter the maintenance phase. Best of luck to you both!
im on week 2 with a loss of 18 lbs and I am extremely hungry. The past 2 days i have only lost .4 lbs a day. I did experiment though and tried my foundation makeup and am hoping this is the reason for the slow down, but I am so hungry its aweful. My stomach not only growls it hurts. I got my HCG from my pharmacy they mix it them selves.
Hi Joanna! I’m sorry you’re finding challenges with the diet but don’t give up! 18 pounds in 2 weeks is extremely good (higher than normal) and some fluctuations are common. Using foundation most likely did cause a stall so try to stay strict to the original protocol. Since you’re getting RX hcg, I would check the freshness and check with your physician to see if you need to change the dosage on your hcg, both of which could cause the hunger. One pound per day is the average which means you’re still right on track but if you experience a plateau of 4 or more days try an Apple Day. Eat 6 apples during that day while drinking minimal water. Weight loss should resume the following day.
Best of continued luck on your diet!
Joanna,
I am on my third round of the diet and found the same problem as you. I am painfully hungry at all times. During my maintenance phase of round 2, I experiences severe pain in my stomach and my doctor thought it could be my gallbladder. As it turned out, I had too much stomach acid. The low amount of food was not enough to absorb it all and it was damaging my stomach. Once I went into maintenance and ate more food, my stomach expanded enough to irritate the damaged areas. I have been on an acid reducer to heal my stomach. Going into round 3 I stayed on the acid reducer and did not experience such growling and painful hunger pains. You could look into this before it gets too bad.
Hi Bonnie! I would definitely check the potency and freshness of your hcg since you definitely shouldn’t be having issues with hunger pains. I’m very happy to hear that you’re working with your physician since you’re having serious issues with your stomach.
How do I check the potency of my HCG drops?
You can purchase HCG test strips online and a few drops on a test strip will usually will show a “positive” result. Keep in mind though that we use such a low dose that it doesn’t always show up as a positive. The other way to tell that your hCG is working is that you aren’t hungry. I remember a time when my hCG wasn’t potent anymore/past expiration etc. and I felt true hunger. That kind of hunger should not happen if your hCG is fresh. Hope that helps!
Hi Tammy
I have lost 12 kgs (26.4 pounds) and still going. Im in NZ and get my drops through a supplier who gets them from the US. I dont get hungry at all. I find this diet so easy that Im wanting to tell everyone, but I am surprised about the lack of interest. (Most of my work mates are overweight ) Do get bored through having the same stuff to eat all the time. on second 20 days have 10 days left to go and another 4kgs to lose.
Fantastic results Susan! I found it easy too and it is hard to reign back enthusiasm when you have such rapid weight loss. I found my time on HCG Phase 2 to be a very special and private experience. Focus on yourself, your body, and all the positive changes you are working towards. Keep me posted on your progress! I’m always here to help.
If you find yourself getting bored with the food, try some of the recipes here on the blog and my cookbooks. All the best to you!
If I am going from phase three back to phase two do I need to do loading days again? (I have been on p3 for almost 3 weeks)
Hi Beverly, Yes, every round you need to begin by loading for two days. People who don’t do the loading could experience hunger so load up! Focus on high fat foods for the best results. Take care and all the best with your diet!
Tammy
I’m on day 14 p2 and am hungry, not losing much either, have lost 8 lbs total and i’m feeling frustrated.
Hi there, First thing check the potency of your HCG. Also, if you are nearing your goal weight or perhaps some other reason you might be experiencing immunity. I would check in with your Dr. or HCG supplier. If the hunger gets too bad I would transition to P3, take a break and if you still have a lot to lose take a good break and start up fresh again. Good luck to you.
Tammy.. I am starting Phase 3 on Friday. What I am concerned about is Phase 4. Is the South Beach Diet something that would be good to live by for Phase 4? I need to add grains back in at some point because I am having a TERRIBLE time with constipation. Please let me know what you think. Thanks!
Hi Stacy,
Congrats on starting P3! The basic principles I live by on Maintenance are: A whole food diet (ideally organic) lots of fruits and vegetables, proteins, fats, and little to no sugar or processed carbohydrates. The South Beach diet from the book (do not eat the bars, shakes etc.) is a pretty good principle. Also the Zone Diet and I also ordered the book the Perfect 10 diet which is designed to balance hormones and was recommended to me by a naturopath I work with. I haven’t read the book yet so I can’t officially recommend it but it sounds promising.
In general, just getting back to real food is the secret and avoiding sugar, processed food, and chemical additives. Fat doesn’t make you fat and eating good healthy whole food and plenty of calories is just fine. Getting away from the “Diet” mentality and living life in a healthy way. It is a lifestyle change we are working towards.
For constipation, I recommend taking a good natural fiber powder or supplement every day. Psyllium as the base and some have cleansing herbs as well. I don’t recommend herbs like Senna for anything other than occasional use so it is really about finding balance. Probiotics, high fiber foods and plenty of fruits and vegetables should help ease the constipation naturally. Also drinking plenty of water. Periodically doing a colon cleanse program can also help regulate you and help detoxify. Vitamin C powder is another natural way to keep things moving.
Hope that helps you! All the best to you,
Tammy
P.S. Try cutting down on gluten products too. you may find that helps a lot with the constipation and maintenance.
I am Round1 day 5 and still experiencing hunger. I have a hard time eating celery and some of the other veggies…is there a dipping dressing I can use?? I don’t want to cheat, but could eat more veggies if I could actually get them down my throat. thanks so much!!! I truly appreciate it.
Hi Amanda, Quite honestly, raw celery isn’t my favorite vegetable on the HCG diet. I love it in soup and cooked recipes more than with a dip. I do have some dips coming out in the new book that would be good for celery and other dipping vegetables. For hunger try a nice warming soup. You can eat extra vegetables in the soup and hopefully enjoy them more. I also just wrote you about the shirataki noodles. You could try those and they are very filling and satisfying. Keep on track and remember that the restrictive phase of this diet is only temporary. Your diet will open up with many more options when you get to Phase 3 🙂
All the best,
Tammy
Oh can I use the Shirataki noodles? I could be spelling it wrong…but can I use it during phase 2? I am using your cook book to make spaghetti…however I found out about these and would like to know. Thanks so much!
Hi Amanda, Many people are able to enjoy the Shirataki noodles on P2. Some don’t… so I pretty much just tell people to monitor their progress and if it causes an issue then discontinue them. Oh yes, and I should mention that only the pure fiber Shirataki are appropriate for phase 2. The Tofu shirataki have added starch and tofu so avoid those on the diet. I like the Miracle noodle brand 🙂 and there are other sources on the internet. All the best to you! Tammy
Hi,
I am going on day eight with hcg. I have not lost any weight for the last two days. I saw that you said that you should keep hcg in the fridge. I am using the hcg drops and the bottle just says cool dark place. Should I be keeping them in the fridge?? I have some hunger and stomach growling but eases with a cup of tea. I hope the drops are still ok?? Too expensive to buy more right away. I also have to use the Nuvaring continuously and had to replace it Friday and wondering if maybe that is what is slowing the weight loss? Is there a good support group online that I could join?? Thank you for your time and thank you soooo much for your recipe book. Have tried a few of the recipes and they have helped alot. Choking down dry chicken and lettuce leaves isn’t fun especially this time of year. The chili recipe was a life saver and want to try some of the soups :).
Hi Teri,
I’m hoping you are doing great. It is normal to get these little stalls and plateaus. Try not to worry. Now if you are taking real actual pharmaceutical grade HCG then it needs to be fresh and kept cold in the refrigerator. Many people are using the homeopathic drops and although I don’t have personal experience using homeopathic HCG I don’t think they need to be refrigerated. It’s possible that any medications or hormones could affect weight weight loss. I belong to several yahoo groups online HCGdieters, HCGdiet and HCG2. There are more but those are good places to receive some support and meet other dieters. So glad to hear that you are enjoying the book. I really appreciate your post. 🙂
I take homeopathic drops. They do not have to be refrigerated. But keep them out of the light as much as possible. And be sure to activate them by shaking the bottle several times before dosing, or tapping the bottle against the palm of your hand. Also, no other substances in the mouth for 15 min before and after.
I was hungry in the beginning of P2. Partially due to poor loading. But I also adjusted my dosage from the starting base level of .4ml (10 drops) 3x/day to .6ml (15 drops) per day. Made all the difference.
I rarely get hungry, but near meal times I usually feel ready to eat. Most evenings, I enjoy a “cocktail” before dinner of 12 oz seltzer and 2 Tbls Bragg’s raw unfiltered apple cider vinegar. Healthful, refreshing, and the bubbles take away any hint of hunger.
I really appreciate you sharing your experience with the drops. I have worked with many physicians and dieters who are reporting great success with the drops. I do caution people who are using the homeopathic to really investigate the source and ideally get a referral. There is a lot of fraud out there right now and buying drops from a random source on the internet is a really bad idea. Thanks for sharing your idea for a healthy drink! A naturopath I work with recommended a Bragg’s liquid aminos hot drink that I will be blogging more about. A cup of hot water, a teaspoon of Bragg’s, a pinch of cinnamon, vanilla stevia, and a hint of lemon. Tastes a bit like apple pie 🙂 Delish! Enjoy!
Tammy, can you please tell me where to purchase these drops?
Hi Suzie! I don’t recommend any certain distributors or brands at this time, but 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 from drops to injections, or from homeopathic to RX hcg. Best of luck on your diet!
Question: I am on Day 4 of Round 1, so far so good, it’s amazing that I haven’t felt hunger pains and am sticking to the 500 calorie plan…here is my concern, this weekend I have a wedding to attend and I am concerned about what I can eat!!! HELP!!
I’m sorry I didn’t get to your question quite in time. For future reference and for the benefit of others who are planning an event. Boy… it’s just challenging. That said… some things I have done are to pack my own food and snacks and/or eat before hand. Toast with sparkling water with lemon or walk around with it instead of a cocktail. The other thing you can sometimes do that is mentioned in Dr. Simeons Pounds and Inches book is to do a planned interruption. You can go your 72 hours without HCG and then just follow a phase 3 diet for the special event (no cake) and then resume your HCG dosage and low calorie diet immediately following.
Is it possible to use the shirataki noodles during phase one? And what about adding an extra vegetable as a snack? Like a cucumber between meals? Thanks Tammy!
Many dieters do successfully use the shirataki noodles during the HCG phase. They are also great on the Stabilizing phase or Phase 3 as many people call it and also for maintenance. Yes, it’s totally fine to snack on vegetables between meals particularly if you are feeling a bit hungry. Just make sure they are the same vegetable you enjoyed for that meal.
Hello Tammy!
I just started my HCG diet protocol 4 days ago. (Im on day five now.) I’m already down five pounds, but I havnt lost any inches, I’m afraid it might just be the typical diet water weight. I’ve been drinking a minimum of 2 liters of water a day and stuck to protocol…
Also, I’ve heard alot of conflicting ideals on this topic: are there any free foods? I just purchased 30 packs of the 7. oz miracle noodles, and plan to use them in soup and such to help fill me. (I am a physical worker, so I am burning more calories that the typical person on the diet). But I was wondering, while my family and friends chow down on deserts- what might be a good alternative for me? Gum? Sugar-free jello?? Or do I just have to grin and bear???
All the best to you Jen! Hang in there. You will see some pretty dramatic results. This is far from a typical diet and it really really works. The miracle noodle shirataki noodles are fine for many people on the diet. Some have noticed stalls and I just caution and advise people to be careful and discontinue them if they notice any slowing of weight loss. As for “free foods” I really can’t recommend any other than eating a little extra of your allowed vegetable for that meal. Dr. Simeons in his book “pounds and inches” didn’t put a restriction on the amount of vegetables you could eat on the HCG diet as long as you stay below 500 calories. With regards to gum, jello, etc. they have gelatin in them and many gums have starchy binders in the coating even if they are sugar free and made with xylitol or other more natural sweeteners. One thing I recommend on P2 is to whip up lemon icee’s with lemon juice, stevia and ice. That can be satisfying. Flavored herbal or iced teas can be a treat. Sweet berry or mint for example can be very refreshing while on phase 2. Hope that helps you.
something that has helped me with sweet cravings is peeling and chopping an apple, sprinkle it with stevia and cinniman and cook in the microwave for 2 minutes. Tastes just like apple pie when you can’t eat the real thing! Just think of the rewards. I am down 65 pounds and am on my third round. I plan on making it to 130 pounds but yes there are many sacrifices. I have tried to plan my rounds around holidays and special occasions which makes it easier.
These are great tips, thank you so much for sharing and congratulations on your wonderful 65 pound weight lose — I know you must be really proud of yourself! I also have an apple pie recipe in my cookbook and it’s always been a favorite. You are very wise to plan your rounds around the holidays to make it easier on you. With your determination, I’m sure you can make it to your goal weight and I would love to hear your progress!
I am on day 2 of my first round with hcg…. I am assuming that means that I am on day 2 of p2, right? Anyway- I am very hungry. It is like a dull, aching, dull headache, dieting hunger. I am taking drops from Celeste and have increased the dosage to 5 drops 4x/day instead of 4 drops 4x/day. I am also craving about anything sweet (and I would normally crave salty and crunchy.)
Advice???????
Hi Shari,
On day 2 of the HCG diet you should be LOADING LOADING LOADING on high fat, rich foods. That means your first two days of taking the drops (or HCG shots etc) you should be eating a lot. That could be the reason you are hungry now. The loading helps to prevent the hunger when you enter the low calorie HCG Phase of the diet. So now… I would just wait it out and the hunger should be lessened soon. Drink a lot of water, teas, and eat some extra vegetables at meals if you are just really hungry. Sometimes spacing out your meals will help as well. For sweet cravings I recommend flavored drops of stevia on your fruits, add grape or orange flavor to sparkling water. Try some of the sweet recipes in the HCG Diet Gourmet Cookbook. It can help you stick with it. All the best to you!
On P2 can we drink Nevia? It is a soft drink that is made with Stevia.
Hi Laura! I’m not really familiar with Nevia but if it’s just carbinated water with Stevia, then it should be fine. Otherwise, I would wait until P3 before drinking it.
Hi I am on ph1 and have been on for 1 week. I take the homeopathic hcg drops. Do I look at my weight loss from the start during the load days or from the start of the 500 calorie diet? If it’s from the start of the drops during the load day I have only lost 0.8lbs. But, if it’s from the 500 calorie start date I lost 3.2 lbs. I guess I expected to lose at least 7lbs in the first week, but didn’t. I’m worried it’s not working. The only other thing that happened during my first week is I got my mentrual period. Could that have stalled any weight loss? I continued to take my drops while on my mentrual cycle. Help!
Hello-
This is my second time around with the HCG diet, having lost 30 lbs the first time, and I want to mix up the recipes this time. My question is how are the Shirataki noodles ok? Do they truly not have any starches in them? I really want to get the same great results but got so tired of having the same foods over and over that I have been looking online for new recipes and the noodles sound too good to be true.
Hi,
I recently started the HCG diet, I did load Monday and Tuesday, and started the VLCD on Wednesday. I felt hunger the first day and by the second day, even hungrier. I kept saying I would not slip, but today I broke down and cheated, pretty badly. I feel terrible now, also feel drained. I want to get back on track, but I’m not sure how to, do I need to start over, or do I just continue as I know the HCG is still in my system?
Marylyn
I’m on day 10 of Phase 1 had a slip had small i mean small piece of cake but cut back else where i didnt eat grissini breadstick to help try and balance it out am i going to be ok if i dont slip anymore?
one more question : ive started using chicken broth or beef broth to cook with vs using cooking oils is this ok makes the onions taste like french onionsoup lost 12# in 10days before todays minor set back of temptation…
On my first day of the 500 cal diet. Was wondering if I can have tofu? Yes or No.
Hi Milee,
I don’t recommend tofu or soy in general due to the estrogenic effects I’ve personally experienced. If you are vegan or wanting to try alternative protein sources, you could try rice or pea protein high quality and processed without sugar or starch of course. Stevia is okay. Other alternatives that are allowable are 100 grams non fat cottage cheese, 1 whole egg plus 3 egg whites and many have tried the egg white stevia sweetened shake by Jay Rob. Hope that helps you 🙂
Hi I am wondering if I am taking the right amount of HCG I paid 750.00 for a 46 day and now I am hearing from friends and from the INTERNET that I OVER paid also I am still feeling a bit not much but a nit at times hungry I drink some tea and that seems to hel me at times or even water but I really would like to know am I taking the right amount I started the diet weighting 189 and I am at 182 I have been on it for a 11 days but I had 2 cheat days father’s day and the anniversary of our company 🙁 needless to say I have to loose about 40-50 to be at my ideal weight.
Hello! I am on phase 2 day 2 and was wondering about a few things. Can I eat just fruits and vegetables for my breakfast and lunch, and add some protein for supper? Like today for breakfast I had a small/medium apple. For lunch i had a veggie salad i mixed up which was cucumbers, tomatoes, and celery with some vinegar salt and pepper. Got a hunger attack at about 3, so i had another apple. For dinner i had 10 small shrimp and 3 oz of steak. While watching a movie, my lovely guy pulled out popcorn….I RESISTED!!! And then ate 4 strawberries to take my mind off of the popcorn I was missing out on. Am I doing this completely wrong? Please help me =) On a happy note, I am on day 4 overall and have lost 4 lbs!!!
Hi Renee! Congratulations on your weight loss AND resisting the popcorn!! I recommend staying very strict to the diet as written by Dr. Simeons. You may want to talk with your guy and the rest of your family and friends and remind them of what you’re doing and how much you need their support during this process. Also, if you’re still having trouble with being really hungry, you may want to look at your HCG as it really should be keeping you from having intense hunger. It may not be fresh or maybe it was left out of the refrigerator too long (even an hour is too long). Remember that every single cheat can cost you pounds! Many areas are also creating HCG support groups, both online and offline so you may want to look for a group like this. If you stay true to the diet, it will work amazingly for you!
Best of luck with your diet!
I lost 16 lbs my 1st week on P2, then had an unexpected trip due to a family medical emergency. I fell of the diet and thought of giving up after I regained 8 lbs. I’m ending week 3 now and am down approximately 20 lbs total, but I’m hungry all of the time. I did stop taking the HCG for 2 days.
Did I need to reload?
I just ordered the miracle noodles and hope that a serving will be enough to end this awful hunger.
Hi Allie! You could choose to transition directly to phase 3 at this point. Take a break and start fresh again in another 3 weeks. That is probably the preferable choice. You could resume the hog and reload for a couple of days which would alleviate the hunger or just keep going and stick it out. If the hcg is fresh, the hunger should go away in a day or so. Since you don’t have a lot to lose it is likely not immunity and either decision would probably work for you.
Hi, I’m reading through all these questions and I’m nervous!! hahaha. I am on Day 3 Phase 1……so today is the day of no more delicious fatty food, haha. I had an apple for breakfast and water. (I’m not a tea or coffee drinker. Although, can the tea be cold or does it have to be hot tea?) Oh and can I have another fruit for snack or was that my only one for the day?
Hi Shawna! Try not to be too nervous — this is an amazing diet and think of how great you’ll look and feel when you’ve gotten through it! Iced tea is just fine! You can use green, yerba mate, chamomile, mint, fruit flavored, chai spice or cranberry tea, using Stevia to taste. Brew it a little strong, then chill in the refrigerator. You can also mix with 3 oz of sparkling mineral water to make a soda or garnish with mint leaves or lemon slices. You are allowed one fruit per day; one apple, 1/2 grapefruit, an orange or a handful of strawberries. I highly recommend reading Dr. Simeons’ “Pounds and Inches” book also. I will soon have this available on my website, but in the meantime you can search for a free ebook on the internet. Best of luck and please keep me updated on your progress!
I thought it was 2 fruit a day….lunch/dinner??????Please let me know, I’m on day 4……..
Hi Summer! Yes, you can have 2 of the allowed fruits each day. Many people eat one for breakfast and the other as a snack later in the day.
Whoops, I guess I’m on Phase 2??? See I don’t even know what Phase this is….oh geez…hoping to figure out this soon. I did my 2 loading days so now I’m starting the 500 calorie diet part.
Yes Shawna — you’re now in Phase 2! Reading Dr. Simeons’ book, or even my cookbook, will provide you with the background on this diet.
I’m in phase 2 I crave all foods & I’m a little confused on what not to eat. I’ve been on the diet for 1 week so far & my body is not in Ketosis yet, I have only lost 6lbs and so far this doesnt seem very succefull. What should I do? I dont like seafood & it seems that every website I research shows lots of seafood recipes.
Hi Ashley! I would highly recommend you read Dr. Simeons’ (the creator of the original protocol) book “Pounds and Inches”. As well, my recipe books have a great deal of information about the diet. It also contains many, many more recipes than just seafood like you’ve been finding. There’s beef, chicken, beverages, sauces, vegetable dishes, and even desserts! If you would like a sample book to help you out until you can order the book, just send an email to hcgtammy@gmail.com and my assistant can send you one. If you would like to order the book, just go to http://www.HCGRecipes.com.
Although I don’t recommend any certain distributors or brands at this time, keep in mind that once you make your HCG 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. I can’t recommend a specific brand right now. If you feel you may not be getting the benefits of hog, you might consider just taking a break and starting over in a few weeks.
I hope that helps and please keep me updated! Best of luck with your diet!
Hi,
I’m in phase 2, day 5 of the diet and so far it’s been going really well except for a few things (and I have a few questions).
A few days ago I started feeling really hungry in between meals and slightly soon after meals. I would also feel really tired in the morning and after only doing bits of activity (just general everyday things). This kept getting worse the last few days until finally even my emotions were a bit on edge today. I am very far off my goal weight so I know that it couldn’t be because I was reaching that.
BUT, after re-reading Dr Simeon’s P&I again and some forums on loading (thanks, your information has helped heaps!), I realised that this was because I didn’t load properly the first few days. My first question then is, can I “re-load” for the next two days and then continue on with the 500 calorie a day diet, or do I need to stop, wait and then start again? Would “re-loading” work? (I’m planning on doing the 3 week round first).
I am also on the homeopathic drops (from a local natural foodstore where they’ve been getting really good results). I keep them in a dark place and away from anything electrical. The afternoon I picked them up from the store I had to go into a meeting for a few hours and so left them in the car. I put them out of the light, but the car got a bit warm. Would anyone know if this effects them at all? Also, should I be tapping them before taking them to ‘activate’ them? The homeopath told me they are sensitive to vibrations, hence keeping them away from electrical devices.
Also, how long should I wait between a first and second round?
Also, is it alright to have Splenda or Equal (artificial sweeteners) instead of Stevia (I’m not sure we have that here)?
My last question (sorry for such a long post to read), is after reading P&I, I thought I could have one fruit with each meal. Does it have to be the same type of fruit each day or can I have an apple at lunch and an orange at dinner? Or do I only get one piece of fruit (apple or orange) per day?
Hi Shay! To answer your questions, please see below:
For Phase 1 (loading), you should start by taking in high quality supplements, green tea drinks, trace minerals, and eat lots of quality healthy food, including lots of fruits and veggies. Be sure to stop taking the supplements during P2, then resume in P3. I recommend a good bowel cleanse, possibly followed up by a liver cleanse. I also recommend what I call “nutritional loading” by taking healthy supplements, eating super nutrient rich foods, and juicing. During this time, there are no caloric or carbohydrate restrictions so I recommend normal calories, healthy fats, and a whole food diet.
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. I can’t recommend a specific brand right now. If you feel you may not be getting the benefits of hog, you might consider just taking a break and starting over in a few weeks. That is the healthiest thing to do.
You must complete a 23 day cycle to have the lasting results. My opinion is that surgery, illness, etc. are too stressful on the body to attempt a break or interruption in the diet and being only one week in I would suggest that you stop and start over after you are fully recovered.
Problems have been shown frequently when using artificial sweeteners and can stall your weight loss so I would highly recommend only using Stevia for positive results.
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!
You can read my book for many other tips and answers. If you don’t have my recipe book yet, you can order it at http://www.HCGRecipes.com.
Hi Sheena! At this time we don’t make recommendations on the HCG as we want to stay impartial due to respect for our various clients and clinics.
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.
Best of luck on your diet!
Hi Tammy,
Wondering if you could give me some insight. I’m on day 12 of the VLCD (using drops). I started out losing 1-2 pounds a day. For the last 3 or 4 days I’ve been stalling. Only losing 1-1.5 in that time period. To total it up, I have lost 8 pounds thus far.
My cravings have gone up drastically and I’m hungry more often. I haven’t changed any factors.
Is it possible my body is done and I need to move to phase 3? When I started I was only a few pounds above the recommended weight range for my height. Now I am 5 below the top of that range.
If I need to move on, how do I do it without gaining? I’m really craving carbs and breads.
Thanks,
Hannah
Hi Hannah! 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”.
Also, 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.
It’s very important to resist the cheating, especially breads and starches. If you’re not already part of an HCG Diet support group, you may want to look into joining one. If you can’t find a local group, look online — they’re a great source of inspiration and support.
Best of luck on your diet!
Thanks for your quick response! I’m determined to stick it out, I’m so close. 😉
Tammy,
This is my first time on HCG and I’m currently on day 8 of Phase 2. I’ve lost 18.4 pounds (I have about 120 total I need to lose). I was planning on doing the longer cycle but the book says that once you reach 30 pounds, or 35 if you have more to lose, you must stop the HCG immediately and go on to phase 3. Do you know why? What would happen if I did the full 40 day cycle and lost more than the 35? I have a feeling it’s not going to take me as long as the full 40 days to lose another 15.
Thanks,
Pam
Hi Pam — congratulations on your wonderful 18.4 pound weight loss! A day or two greater or less than 43 is most likely fine. I suggest the 3 weeks on Phase 3 and then 3 weeks on Maintenance for a total of 6 weeks off between rounds, then increase each break by 2 weeks per round until you reach your goal weight. Most people build an immunity if taking the hcg for too long a period of time and it just doesn’t work anymore. Plus you really need to build up your vitamin, mineral, and iron intake during the breaks by taking supplements, which you can’t do in Phase 2.
Best of luck on your diet!
i want to know how can i tell that my drops are not good any more? is it by hunger? when i shake my hcg bottle i see like little tiny things in the liquid is that normal..
Check back with your physician or healthcare professional. Get your HCG from a reliable, trusted, or recommended source. That said, HCG should be clear. Lots of scams out there so be careful. Wish I could help you more.
Hello. Long story short, I am on my 3rd round of the hcg diet. The first 2 rounds I used homeopathic and STARVED the whole time, both times (1st round was 40 days, 2nd round was 23 days) I am now on my 3rd round and using rx and am still STARVING, although not as bad as with homeopathic. I’ve loaded properly, all times, with very high fat foods and totally ate to capacity. First part of round 1 the brand was slim down, then healing power within. 2nd round was healing power within. Now I’m doing the rx and I’ve finally resorted to phentramine. I am eating exactly as protocol states to eat. I still have abnormal fat to lose, I assure you :(. Also, I’m injecting 125 iu’s, I even moved my dose up for 6 days and am back down to 125 iu’s. My rx hcg hasn’t been out of the refrigerator since I mixed it, except the 1 minute it takes to fill up the needle. Could my starving be because of my blood type (I’m B+)? Also, the weight that I lost has stayed off and I’ve stabilized just fine (1st ph 4 was for 3 weeks, 2nd round phase 4 was for a little over 9 weeks). I can’t seem to get any answers for why I’m so hungry, but I won’t give up because I know this diet works.
Hi Chris! It does sound like you’re doing all the right things so I’m not sure what’s wrong. Only thing I can think of is that the HCG is just not fresh enough or was bad to begin with. It happens. It sounds too soon for immunity but if you have already done 2 rounds with what sounds like an ineffective brand of homeopathic, then you might just need a longer break before trying the diet again. I do recommend if you take a break from HCG and transition to P3, replenish your body with a good green drink or whole food supplement and some trace minerals. Bring your body back into balance so the HCG is more effective the next time. Might consider a good colon cleanse or detox as well. That might help with absorption of nutrients and decrease cravings.
Hope that helps and best of luck!!!
I am a 23 year old Female. I need to lose 120 pounds to reach my ideal weight. Is that much weight loss possible on this diet plan?
Hi T.K.! Yes, you can lose 120 pounds and reach your ideal weight! It won’t be a quick process and you’ll have to do more than one round to lose that amount of weight, but it’s definitely doable. You will have to stay very strict to the original protocol as written by Dr. A.T.W. Simeons, the originator of this amazing diet. You can also find lots of very helpful tips, along with tasty recipes, in my books.
I suggest the 3 weeks on Phase 3 and then 3 weeks on Maintenance for a total of 6 weeks off between rounds, then increase each break by 2 weeks per round until you reach your goal weight. Cheating will slow down your weight loss. Most people lose at least 30+ pounds during a 43 day round. Best to stay on track but certainly don’t beat yourself up about it if you struggle.
It is common for weight loss to slow around the menstrual cycle. Often, the biggest plateau will be around your period and normal weight loss should resume soon. This diet has lots of plateaus so don’t worry, and make sure to keep drinking lots of water to push out any water weight and excess fluid.
A hint on P3. It’s not so much about calories. I’ve moved away from calorie counting and am now focusing more on the kind of food and quality of food that I eat. I also eat a lot of healthy fat even now on maintenance. It helps with hunger and you actually eat less and are more easily satisfied. Olive oil, coconut oil, some nuts are fine. Real butter, Cream or half and half are better choices than fat free dairy or eliminating fat. I realize this will be controversial and even uncomfortable for a lot of people who believe calorie counting and fat gram counting are the way to stay slim. The other secret is just to eat clean, healthy, unprocessed, high fiber food and lots of fruits and vegetables. On Phase 3 and for life.
Best of luck to you!
Hi Chris and thank you for sharing! Actually many people do NOT have hunger on the HCG diet if they are taking fresh RX and staying strict to the original protocol — myself included!
Hi Tammy
I’m about to star my hcg diet drops I was wondering if I can
Take some vitamins like ( vitamin B ,multivitamin, vitamin D, calcium)
Which is I would love to take,I have read in other sites that as
Far as the vitamins it doesn’t contain starch, oil and sugar it’s fine
To take them tell me what do you think .
My goal to lose 40 lb hopefully 🙂
Thanks
Lina
Hi Lina! My recommendation is to stay strict to the original protocol as created by Dr. Simeons, which means you take your vitamins up until you reach P2, stop taking all supplements, etc., and resume them upon starting P3.
Best of luck on your diet and losing that 40 pounds!
I’m on the 5th day of phase 2, I’ve read somewhere eat as close as I can to 450-500 but not over or under 450. And I’m reading on lot of other sites that the menu should be 1 serving (3.50z) of meat, one servin of vegetables and one serving of a fruit. Which lacks great amount of calories from 500 in half the time. (fish,spinach,strawberries). I’ve read here that I can have as much vegetable (ond kind) as long as it falls under 500 cal/ a day. So I am confused which to follow since I have been doubling vegetables to fill the calories. What do you suggest? And also no need to eat a grissini if I don’t need to?
You should get as close to 500 calories per day as possible. Dr. Simeons did not put a limit on the allowed vegetables, as long as you stay under 500 calories. Your protein servings should be precisely 100 grams, weighed raw using an accurate food scale. You should have two servings per day at different meals and all visible fat must be removed prior to cooking. You do not need to eat grissini unless you want to.
For further information and more details, you can get my books at http://www.HCGRecipes.com. Best of luck on your diet!
how do i know if hcg i small using is reputable? what do i look for? also what can i do to make foods more appealing, recipes, ideas? thanks
Hi Stephanie! I would recommend checking with friends or support groups for referrals for HCG – I don’t currently promote any brands to honor all my clients. Be sure it’s fresh. There are several recipes available on this blog and you can buy my cookbooks at http://www.HCGRecipes.com and subscribe to my newsletter there too. I send recipes, tips and special discounts to my newsletter subscribers. Best of luck on your diet!
Hi Tammy,
Its been great to read your advice to peoples comments above.
I’m on Day 3 Phase 2 so just starting out. I am a little bit hungry but have avoided temptation for one whole day lol. I’m just wondering is it ok to fry some steak in a pan with a couple sprays of the spray oil? Or should I only boil/grill my meat.
I got my HCG as a free trial (only paid for post&packaging). Do you think that genuine HCG sellers would put out free trials? It looks genuine and money back guarentee on it.. what you think..
Thanks
Leah
Hi Leah! No oils (or lotions) of any kind should be used in your cooking, on your skin, etc. for the entire Phase 2 period. I only use RX hcg as I know the quality and freshness, etc. I would guess that a free trial would most likely be a homeopathic version. I know some people who have had success using homeopathic hcg. Keep in mind that once you make your purchase, if you are experiencing above normal hunger or other side effects (not normal for RX), I would consider questioning the freshness of the hcg or possibly switching brands or change from drops to injections, or from homeopathic to RX hcg.
Best of luck on your diet!
I have a problem. I’m on second week of Phase 2, and a close family member was hosptalized for the last couple of days. This is a second round of HCG injections for me through my Dr. I have lost 10 lbs the first week, but now I am stuck, as I ate as light as I could at the hospital. I am now home. Would I be better off starting over in a couple of days? I would like to lose about 25-30 to make it to my goal weight. I am really depressed about not being able to eat correctly for the days I was not able to be home. Help?
Hi Leslie! I’m sorry to hear of your troubles and hope that your family member is doing much better!
The best way is to do a “Planned interruption.” It’s best if you have completed at least 3 weeks on P2. Discontinue the hcg for 72 hours, transition to a P3 style planned interruption for up to 2 weeks, then you can resume your P2 diet without reloading. If you go longer than 2 weeks on a planned interruption then you should ideally take a longer break and then reload.
Best of luck on your diet!
Just wondering if anyone can tell me how many days of stalling is normal.I am on day 16 Phase 2 and have sat at the same weight for 5 days.So discouaging.I have not cheated at all.Not even a taste.I make alot of foods with my hands though, could that be affecting? All my beauty care is in line with it.I cant find the stall reason.How on earth could my body not move when its only eating so much?
Hi Rebecca! So very sorry for the delay in answering – we’ve been having technical problems with the blog and they just got it fixed! I would think that making food with your hands is bound to cause a problem so I would try to use gloves if you can. Anything that is absorbed by your body can definitely cause stalls. You didn’t mention how much weight you’ve lost or are trying to lose but if you’re close to your goal weight or the best weight for your body type, the hcg will no longer work; it won’t allow you to get that skinny, ‘gaunt’ look. Keep up the great work!
I have been on phase two for 5 days. i lost 4lbs so far, but it was the 4 I originally put on. I am staying strick to the diet…but I wear oil free makeup
Hi Kathy! Your makeup could very well be the culprit, even though it’s listed as oil free. I recommend using only powdered makeup as written by Dr. Simeons in Pounds and Inches. Anything that is ingested or comes into contact with the body can cause stalls, weight gain, etc. so you need to be sure you’re not using anything on your skin except the powdered makeup.
Best of luck with your diet and keep me updated!
In addition, Im not hungry but not losing like they say….any suggestions
hello, im on p2 d24 going for the 41 day thing lost 17lbs had a stall cause of woman things then a 3 day stall for some reason i got off the stall by drinking only water all day and for dinner 4oz of steak and a larg apple that fixed it next day, im worryed that when i start p3 i will gain lbs back when i stop the drops and incresse food intake…
Hi Kelly! 17 pounds is great – congratulations! 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”, which is used in P2 when you hit a plateau for 4 or more days, and the Steak Day is used in P3 if a weight gain of 2 lbs occurs. You do have to stay very strict to the original diet as written by Dr. Simeons. A hint on P3. It’s not so much about calories. I’ve moved away from calorie counting and am now focusing more on the kind of food and quality of food that I eat. I also eat a lot of healthy fat even now on maintenance. It helps with hunger and you actually eat less and are more easily satisfied. Olive oil, coconut oil, some nuts are fine. Real butter, Cream or half and half are better choices than fat free dairy or eliminating fat. I realize this will be controversial and even uncomfortable for a lot of people who believe calorie counting and fat gram counting are the way to stay slim. The other secret is just to eat clean, healthy, unprocessed, high fiber food and lots of fruits and vegetables. On Phase 3 and for life. Best of continued luck on your diet!
I am on the 17th day of P2 of my 4th round. I lost 20 pounds per round and was completely happy with that. I hit my goal weight. My problem is this time on day 17 I’ve only lost 3 lbs. I’ve done everything the same. I did lose 2 inches in my waist but don’t understand why the weight isn’t coming off. I also take pain pills this time due to a failed back surgery last August which resulted in nerve damage and I’m in a lot of pain with inflamtion. Could the pills be the culprit??? I gained ten pounds back while doing all the steroid they had me on before and after surgery and would have been fine with just losing the 10 this round, but it doesn’t look like that is going to happen at this rate. Please help if you have any suggestions.
Hi Melissa! The meds you’re taking could be the cause of your slower weight loss as many of them have starchy fillers. You may want to try again after you’re off the meds. Best of luck to you!
day 23 round 1 phase 2, 20 pounds in 7 days (probably due to my restricted food intake being an 8 yr bariactric patient) with a total of 23 lbs. lost. Problem is, I’ve stalled now for over a week with no weight loss. doing an apple day, and starving. Yes, i have cheated a few times. But If apple day doesnt work, do i transition into the phase 3 period? Also, how long do i wait to start another round of HCG diet? help and thank you for being there.
It depends on a variety of factors Deborah. If you are nearing your goal weight, you might be reaching immunity. You might also check the potency of your HCG. You shouldn’t be so hungry with the HCG in your system, that said it might just be the process of dropping weight with a plateau. When you lose that much weight in only 7 days it is normal for it to stall for a few days or even up to a week. Your menstrual cycle could also cause a stall. Hope this helps and I wish you all the best 🙂 Tammy
I am on day 18vlcd. I am taking Trileana sublingual drops given to me by my MD. As of day 13, I was so hungry. I was told to reduce my drops from 8 (.25ml dropper) to 5 (.15ml dropper) Trileana claims to have 10,000iu in each bottle. However it doesn’t say this on the bottle I received as my MD mixed for me in office. Upon beginning hcg, my body fat was 29.9%. On day 17, it was 28.3%, so apparently I have been burning muscle and normal fat instead of abnormal. I have lost all muscle tone and no inches from my lower body, just upper. I am still hungry after reducing the dose and I’m afraid I will not stabilize correctly given all the normal fat and muscle I’ve lost. Can you please give me some guidance? Thank you.
It sounds like your hCG is is either not fresh and potent enough or you aren’t getting enough of it. I would ask your doctor for a fresh mix at this point and see if you can increase your dose or if you should be holding the mixture under your tongue for a longer period of time. That might help you also. Some doctors that prescribe sublingual Rx hCG, recommend taking it twice a day as well to help with hunger cravings. Dr. Simeons originally recommended intra-muscular injections as the best way to get a consistent dose of hCG but I do know that many people have had success with sublingual formulas like Trileana. It is important to get a proper dose on HCG Phase 2 when it comes time to stabilize on Phase 3 so I would act quickly. Hope this helps you. All the best and let me know how things work out for you!
Is phase four of the hcg diet hard? What tips can you give
Phase 4 is the Maintenance Phase of the hCG diet. This is the way to eat for the rest of your life. I recommend eating quite a few servings of vegetables, fruit in moderation, plenty of protein, healthy fats, and limit starchy carbs and sugar. A good rule to follow is to eat a starchy carb serving with an equivalent portion of protein. Also, it’s important to eat the right kind of healthy carbs on Phase 4 to maintain your weight after hCG. Hope this helps you. Best Carbs for HCG Diet Maintenance.
Hey I’m on hcg p2 and missed my 3oz protein for lunch can I do 6 oz for dinner?
Ideally, you need to eat two separate meals with different proteins, vegetables, and fruit. I would still eat two separate meals several hours apart rather than increase your protein at one meal. Hope that helps 🙂
Hi!!
So I am in phase 2 and Day 3. I am doing it with my mom, however I am starving(while she is not) and I have not lost a single pound while she’s lost 6. We have been eating about the same thing except for dinner I have made cabbage soup, I boiled chicken for the broth added a little salt threw in the cabbage and onions with some spinach and called it good. I am starting to get a little discouraged. I am currently taking about 10drops (as she is) 3x a day.. everything is fresh, I loaded correctly I just don’t know. I am so hungry… thanks in advancs
Don’t get discouraged. I’m not sure why your mom is losing and you are not. Are you sharing the same hCG? If not, I would double check the potency and dossage of your hCG first. 10 drops may not be enough for you. Calculate a minimum of 125 iu injections or higher if sublingual. Then, watch your salt and don’t mix vegetables and eat strictly protocol. Hopefully that will help. Sometimes you can get hungry if you didn’t get enough oils and fats with your load. If it is a loading issue, your hunger should resolve within a week and losses should begin. Also, a lot of the over the counter drops don’t work the same or as well as the Rx medication for resetting metabolism and weight loss. If the drops aren’t for you, I suggest talking to your Dr. and trying the injectable medication instead. Hope that helps! – Tammy
Hi Tammy,
I have just started Phase 2 (day 3) and have lost 4 pounds however I’m feeling extremely hungry. Is this normal? Also, I have started doing very low level cardio so that my body doesn’t go into shock. Is that okay? I am planning to do light cardio (brisk walking/or elliptical trainer on a low level) for 40 mins a day 4 days a week. Should I increase my calorie intake by the amount burned?