The HCG weight loss diet was first prescribed by Dr. A.T. W. Simeons, a famous British endocrinologist who ran a weight loss clinic in Rome, Italy in the 1950s. Dr Simeons used an hormone named hCG or human chorionic gonadotropin, which is naturally occurring in all healthy adults, but found in greatest concentration in pregnant women. Dr Simeons discovered that this hormone could help the overweight achieve their weight loss goals through a natural method.
When he started the HCG diet, Dr. Simeons collected and distilled hCG from pregnant donors, and treated his patients with daily injections of the hormone. The diet ran for a course of 40 days. After the six weeks course, his patients were encouraged to resuming a normal diet. After a break of 3 – 4 weeks, a new cycle of dieting was begun if necessary. Many dieters underwent several cycles of the diet, depending on how much weight they had to lose.
In addition to the hormone injections, Dr. Simeons prescribed a 500 calorie daily diet, high in proteins and green vegetables, with few fats or simple carbohydrates . Dr. Simeons’ dieters ate 100 grams of animal protein twice every day in simple meals that included cooked vegetables of two types without oil or butter and a small salad consisting of fresh vegetables. Fruit was included with each meal, which could be in the form of an apple or a handful of strawberries. Water consumption was monitored; dieters were required to consume at least two liters a day, not including other allowed beverages, such as unsweetened tea or coffee.
Clearly a 500 calorie diet will cause any otherwise healthy adult to lose weight. Dr. Simeons found that the addition of hCG to the very low calorie diet caused changes in the way that the body reacts to calorie deprivation. HCG weight loss causes the body to target excess fat, while sparing lean tissues. Dr. Simeons observed that his dieters, using a combination of a very low calorie diet and hCG did not lose appreciable muscle mass after the weight reduction, moreover they did not experience the hunger and cravings that are normally associated with a very low calorie diet.
Today, there is no longer need to have a physician prescribe and administer daily injections of hCG. Sub-lingual drops appear to be just as effective in helping dieters reduce hunger, and d target excess fat deposits with their diet. Anyone that embarks on an hCG diet will do well to read Dr. Simeons original work “Pounds and Inches: A New Approach to Obesity”. Readingthis book, in addition to following his hCG diet protocol, and finding hCG weightloss diet recipes will help ensure your success on this diet.