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Successful Tips to HCG Diet

Jul 10, 2011 | By Lawrence Adams
Successful Tips to HCG Diet
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Dieters hoping to lose large amounts of weight sometimes turn to fad diets such as the HCG diet program. This diet plan requires you to receive the pregnancy hormone human chorionic gonadotropin, or hCG, through injections or oral supplements. Dieters also severely restrict their caloric intake to just 500 calories per day. This diet is not recommended by most medical professionals, so discuss your diet plan with a physician to ensure it is safe.

Meal Planning

Carefully plan your meals to meet your 500-calorie goal. For breakfast, HCG dieters may drink only tea, coffee or a sugarless health drink. Less than 1 tsp. of milk and artificial sweeteners is acceptable. Lunches and dinners on the HCG diet include 100 g of grilled chicken, beef, pork, lobster, white fish or shrimp. Select one vegetable and several types of fruit for each meal. Choose fruits and vegetables with a high-water content, such as apples or grapes, because they tend to contain fewer calories.

Foods to Avoid

Avoid using artificial or processed ingredients, including enriched white flour, hydrogenated oils, high-fructose corn syrup and wheat gluten. Instead of flavoring foods with oils or butters, use spices, garlic, pepper or vinegar. This helps you stay within your daily caloric goal.

Exercise

Incorporating exercise into your daily routine helps to promote weight loss. Choose activities that raise your heart rate, such as brisk jogging, dancing, yoga or swimming. Performing daily physical activity helps you lose weight faster.

Meal Timing

Space your meals throughout the day to prevent yourself from becoming hungry. The website HCG Diet Info recommends eating your last meal at least three hours before you go to bed to prevent the food from being stored as fat. Plan frequent snacks, such as green tea, fat-free popcorn, lemonade or low-calorie cookies.

Drink Fluids

Staying hydrated is an important part of the HCG diet. Begin each day with one or more cups of tea or coffee and continue to drink fluids throughout the day. Drinking large amounts of water, tea, lemonade or other low-calorie beverages decreases hunger and cravings.

Purchasing Food

Many people on the HCG diet become very hungry because of the severe calorie restriction. To keep yourself motivated to follow the diet, avoid grocery shopping when you are hungry. Going to the grocery store hungry might prompt you to purchase more food than you need. Instead, consider using a home delivery service for your groceries.

Considerations

People who follow the HCG diet and limit their daily caloric intake to 500 calories inevitably lose weight, but there is no scientific evidence to suggest that taking HCG triggers weight loss. Severely limiting your caloric intake might help you lose weight, but Jennifer Nelson, a nutritionist at the Mayo Clinic, warns that you might experience nutrient deficiencies, gallstones, headaches, fatigue or irritability while following the HCG diet. Additionally, many HCG dieters regain the weight after they stop the diet. Discuss healthy diet options with a physician to find a long-term diet plan that works for you.

References

Article reviewed by Shawn Candela Last updated on: Jul 10, 2011

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