A human chorionic gonadotropin diet is a protocol for dramatic, significant weight loss. The diet was created in the 1950s by a British glandular expert and doctor, A.T.W. Simeons, who found that when combined with a low-calorie diet, HCG, a hormone produced in the placenta, decreases hunger and redistributes fat. One of the main components of an HCG protocol is protein consumption. Whether you can lose more weight, however, depends on a variety of factors.
Phase One
During the first phase of an HCG diet, up through the first three injections, participants are required to gorge for two to seven days. They're encouraged to eat anything they wish, but with special emphasis on fats and protein. During this time, according to Simeons, it's not unusual for dieters to actually drop pounds, even though they are loading up on calories. This is due in part to the hormone but also because people who were previously protein-deficient tend to retain water and gain weight. Protein loading reverses that action.
Phase Two
An HCG diet menu includes coffee or tea for breakfast, 100 g of protein, a vegetable, breadstick or toast, and a fruit for lunch and dinner. The total protein intake is 200 g daily. During this phase, dieters are encouraged to stick with the approved menu since increasing calorie intake interferes with the results Simeons sets forth in his book, "Pounds and Inches." According to FamilyDoctor.org, reducing your dietary intake by 500 calories a day could result in losing 1 lb. per week. Since Simeons' diet is a 500-calorie regimen, participants can expect significant weight loss, even after adding extra servings of protein.
Phase Three
After phase two, dieters are at risk of becoming protein deficient again and gaining weight. Simeons suggests keeping protein intake high by eating two eggs for breakfast, a "huge" steak for lunch and dinner, and a large serving of cheese. This type of protein loading is said to result in weight loss by passing large amounts of water through the urine.
About Protein
Protein is an essential nutrient for growth and a source of energy, reports MayoClinic.com. You can get protein from soy, nuts, meat and dairy. The recommended amount is 10 to 35 percent of total daily calories -- 50 to 175 g. At 4 calories per gram, however, consuming a 100 g serving is about 400 calories -- a quarter of the recommended calorie intake for a sedentary 31- to 50-year-old female, reports the American Heart Association. Increasing protein intake still could lead to weight loss. Harvard University reports that in comparisons of high-protein diets to low-fat diets, there are some weight loss advantages for those who increase protein intake.
References
- MayoClinic.com: End the Guesswork with these Nutrition Guidelines: Protein; February 2011
- Family Doctor: What it takes to Lose Weight; January 2010
- American Heart Association: My Fats Translator; July 2011
- "Journal of the American Medical Association"; Comparison of the Atkins, Zone, Ornish, and Learn Diets for Change in Weight and Related Risk Factors Among Overweight Premenopausal Women; CD Gardner, et. al.; March 2007
- Harvard School of Public Health: Protein, Moving Closer to Center Stage
- HCG Diet Info: "Pounds & Inches" by A.T.W. Simeons
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