Comments on: HCG, “Questionable” Studies, The Placebo Effect And More…

By: ChicagoMom

ChicagoMom — Sat, 13 Feb 2010 17:05:25 +0000

I have been on the HCG protocol for 2 weeks and have lost 20 lbs. I agree, a 500 VLCD intake will make anyone lose weight. For me, I believe that the HCG supresses the hunger feeling. Once I finish my 40 day protocol, I intend to maintain an 800 calorie diet until my next round. My goal – 80 lb total weight loss after two rounds.

This is a short term fix. In the long term, a lifestyle change (including eating habits) is also required, no doubt about it.

By: ARC

ARC — Tue, 22 Sep 2009 06:03:46 +0000

Cindy!!! thank goodness someone on here has some common sense…people there ARE NO SHORT CUTS! I don’t care how you ‘reintroduce’ food. There is only one rule that applies to weight loss. The law of thermodynamics. if you eat only 500 calories of ding dongs or grapefuit its all the same! a calorie is a calorie…just like a pound of fat is equal to a pound of muscle a pound is a pound. sure from a health perspective it matters but from weight loss it gose like this…
energy in must be less than energy out to lose weight. PERIOD.
even IF hcg helps you feel better when you only eat 500 calories it is setting you up for long term failure…even IF hcg does everything it is purported to do – when you go off the protocol your body will revert and you will gain the weight back. stop paying people to fix your problems. do it yourself. eat right, control your portions and move more. done

By: mamie

mamie — Fri, 28 Aug 2009 02:34:17 +0000

I’m a first time visitor to the site, just looking for information about this hcg craze. I am really loving the information and its presentation. Finally I feel like I’m getting the kind of unbiased fact-based info I was searching for.
I’ll be back in the future.
Thank you.

By: Marsha

Marsha — Mon, 17 Aug 2009 01:53:24 +0000

My daughter used HCG and has lost 27 pounds and looks great! I was on it for 6 days and the 6th night i woke up 2 or 3 times and it felt like my oxygen was totally cut off—pretty scary!! Hasn’t happened to me before, but don’t know if it was the HCG.I’ve layed around all day not feeling well, so I’ve stopped taking it. Hadn’t lost any weight in the 6 days. But like I said my daughter had great results.May try again later.

By: Gwen

Gwen — Mon, 13 Jul 2009 11:57:11 +0000

Has anyone actually read the protocol (Cindy)? The diet is much more than hcg and a VLCD. The combinations of foods, the duration of the VLCD and how you reintroduce carbs, starchs and sugar is what makes for success long term.

I for one, have thought the hcg part was nonsense from the beginning but it helped my husband lose 22 pounds on his first round and hopefully another 20 this round. I personally lost 12 pounds and am very close to my ideal weight. I’m not foolish enough to believe that I can lose 10 more and stay healthy and the VLCD is not a long-term diet. How you approach food for the rest of your life is what this diet is all about, not a quick-fix and then back to stuffing yourself.

FYI- we are using an hcg spray (and I wouldn’t be surprised if it was nothing but water!)

By: Cindy

Cindy — Wed, 10 Jun 2009 01:47:12 +0000

I was on hcg injections back in the early 70’s and on a 500 calorie a day diet. This stuff set me up for a lifelong weight problem. You do not need hcg to go on a starvation diet. Anyone that consumes 500 calories a day will loose weight. That is a no brainer folks. The hcg does nothing to make you not hungry you will gain the weight back as soon as you start eating like a normal person again.

Losing weight is changing your lifestyle and 500 calories a day is not a lifestyle change. Out of 5 people in my family that went on this hcg ALL of US have weight issues now. I was 15 years old when I was put on this diet. I needed to lose maybe 15 pounds according to my mother a former model I was grossly overweight.

If you want a lifetime of misery and training your body to go into starvation mode for the rest of your life, go on it. This will be the biggest mistake of your life. I did not think this would ever resurface again, I thought the medical industry would have made more progress in 40 years than reverting back to this. What a shame!!!

By: Stephanie

Stephanie — Tue, 09 Jun 2009 23:21:22 +0000

Hi,

I am early in my HCG journey. I have so far found great results, as have many other people who I have talked to.

I have tried MANY other weight loss programs, and none of them worked.

Now I know that the studies say that the placebo works just as well as the HCG. My response to that? So what? I am losing weight & getting healthier! If it is a placebo effect, or if it really helps, I don’t care! I am getting results.

I also know that there are clinics out there charging outrageous prices for this. I am lucky! I live in a small town, no big weight loss clinics around here. My Dr prescribed the HCG for me and that is all I have to pay for.

I know my response doesn’t change any of the studies or some peoples opinions, but I’m a believer.

Editor’s comments: What the placebo effect means in this case is that the HCG protocol (i.e., a very low calorie diet and intensive support from supervising technicians) works just as well with or without the HCG. In other words, it’s the diet coupled with the support that works, and the HCG makes no difference.

By: Elissa

Elissa — Fri, 15 May 2009 19:13:38 +0000

LOL Paul: I approved it ’cause that s**t makes me laugh.

But back to hCG: first of all, nice post!

I don’t know what – if anything – you’ve added to the commentary at Real-Customer-Comments.com, but it might be worth referring some of the protesters to my follow-up comment here as well, to reinforce how we look at these sorts of things here.

By: Paul

Paul — Fri, 15 May 2009 12:30:55 +0000

Fat Guy, it’s a good thing Elissa approved your comment first – I would have just deleted it. I’m simply not interested in having this blog degrade to this level.

I’m not sure if you’re trying to be funny, or if this is your response to an argument you cannot present a valid countering opinion to.

Whatever it is, good for you for hiding behind an anonymous moniker and e-mail address. What courage you’ve shown! What insight! What wit!

BTW, unless you have something meaningful to add to the conversation, your next “post” will be deleted.

By: Elissa

Elissa — Fri, 15 May 2009 04:00:28 +0000

Nor will it ever be, I’m afraid, as I don’t do steroids – never have.

Your point?