The HCG diet entails a period of gorging, daily administration of HCG injection, restricted calorie intake, and calorie stabilization over the course of a few weeks. Since its development in the 1950s, it has been updated and modified through the years. No matter what the modification is, the goal remains the same, and that is to lose a significant amount of weight.
Phase I: HCG Diet Loading Phase
The loading phase happens during the first week, and it only takes two days to load on high fat, high-calorie foods. Along with eating to capacity you immediately start having your HCG injection on day 1.
Phase II: HCG Diet Weight Loss Phase
The real excitement begins here. By your third injection, you are required to limit your calorie intake to 500 calories per day, if you’re following the original protocol, or 700 to 800 calories according to a more moderate version of the diet.
The very low-calorie phase lasts for a minimum of 23 days because the minimum amount of HCG injection required is only 23 while the maximum is seven weeks. The protocol also calls for a very specific menu of food options. On your third injection, you can have either coffee or tea for breakfast with no sugar. Your lunch and dinner would consist of 100 grams of specific protein options, one fruit, one vegetable, and a breadstick or toast.
During this three- to six-week phase, you begin to lose excess weight, but you lose more of your weight in the first week. You may lose at least one to two pounds per day.
The most challenging week
The first week of the very low-calorie diet phase is usually the most challenging week for almost all HCG dieters. As you adjust to life on the HCG diet, you may suffer from mild headaches to hunger pains during the first week. However, you don’t need to be concerned about these side effects as they are short-lived. Several factors account for this:
- Cleansing: An average person consumes a lot of sugar, fat, salt, carbs, and coffee than they should on a daily basis. As a reaction, when they eat clean, their body takes some time to adjust. This reaction causes most HCG dieters to suffer from headaches in the first week.
- Psychological hunger: Stay positive and try to distract yourself during the first week. The HCG injection works amazingly by letting your body release between 1,500 to 4,000 calories every day, and that 500 calories per meal are sufficient.
- Inadequate water intake: Drinking at least 2 liters of water per day is essential for the HCG Diet. The lack of water on HCG will prevent your body from being able to get the fat and toxins out. As a result, you will not lose as much weight as you could. Be aware that the coffee or tea you consume shouldn’t replace water, but should be included in your daily 2 liters of water.
