A Closer Look at the hCG Diet
Today we are talking about a topic I have had an unusually large amount of questions on recently, the hCG diet. If you haven’t heard of it, good. If you have I’m guessing that, like most people, you have questions about it. Lucky you! You are in the right place! I’m going to explain what hCG is, what it does, the “science” behind how the hCG diet “works” along with some of the risks associated with it AND, of course, my humble opinion. Well, it is my blog after-all! Okedokee, let’s get started!
- Arterial Thromboembolism – which is a potentially life-threatening condition
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Ovarian Hyper-stimulation Syndrome (OHSS) another potentially life-threatening condition (not to mention, who wants hyper ovaries? NOT me!!)
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Over stimulation of the ovaries, which causes production of extra eggs which can lead to…
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Risk of multiple pregnancies (twins, triplets, quadruplets, etc. -I have to say that this particular side effect alone would scare me off! Five children is plenty thank you!)
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Blood clots
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Abnormal enlargement of breasts in men
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Acne
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Tiredness
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Changes in mood (which can range from mild to severe)
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Irritation in the area you inject the hCG
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Excessive fluid retention in body tissues, resulting in swelling (edema)
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Hair loss
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Prostate hypertrophy (enlarging)
Obviously, my opinion on the hCG diet is, ” RUN AWAY!!” I have done research of my own, I have talked with several medical doctors as well as professors of human anatomy and physiology about the hCG hormone, it’s role in the body and possible side effects -both short and long term- that could manifest as a result of this diet. I have clients who have done the hCG diet before coming to me. They all have the same things to say. They were hungry, depressed, fatigued and ornery. One of them said to me, “Laura, I can’t do that again. I’ll do anything you tell me to but I can’t do that again. I was miserable all the time. Yeah, I lost some weight, but I gained it all back plus extra. It was hell.” Everyone I have spoken with, and I happen to agree, feels that the hCG diet is scary, scary, scary. Losing weight is tough, physically, mentally and emotionally. People are so desperate to find a magic pill, a silver bullet or some other form of cure all, that they will try every new craze and fad that comes along, hoping it is going to be “the one”. The one to what? Shrink belly fat in just three weeks? Double muscle mass overnight? I’m here to tell ya folks, there is no such thing. Remember fen-phen? Everybody and their cousin took those pills. And true, there were lots of people who lost weight….and ended up with heart problems. Is that a fair trade? To me it sounds more like signing your soul over to the devil. Sure, you get something you wanted, but how do you enjoy it knowing what it cost you?