In 1954, Dr. A.T.W. Simeons, an endocrinologist, was focused on studying tropical diseases. However, he started to note that even the sickest and malnourished women would often still give birth to babies with regular weights. He became fascinated with the phenomena and began to expand his research to figure it out. Eventually, he concluded that a hormone released by pregnant women known as the human chorionic gonadotropin (HCG) was the key. The hormone forced the mother’s body to use stored fat for the growth of the in-utero fetus. His research showed that hCG could also be used to release the fat reserves in non-pregnant individuals. This is how he developed the revolutionary 500-calorie hCG protocol.
Dr. Simeons hCG Protocol
After his discovery and creation of the hCG protocol, Dr. Simeons published a manuscript called, “Pounds and Inches” which has become the foundation for the hCG diet. Throughout the years, many have made small adjustments or changes to the diet but, overall, it still remains pretty much the same as the original version from the manuscript. The decades have invariably shown that the diet is highly successful when followed accordingly.
Following the hCG Diet Protocol
The Loading Phase/Phase One
If you are serious about trying the hCG diet protocol, then you will need to undergo the first step of the diet which is referred to as the ‘Loading Phase.’ Many people also call this phase the ‘Gorging Phase or Phase One”. During the first two days of the hCG diet, you will consume a diet of high-fat foods and start your doses of hCG. Ideally, you will eat as much as your body will comfortably allow.
Any fattening foods are acceptable during the loading phase. It is usually suggested that you focus on high-fat foods with some sugary carbs. Dr. Simeons was a bit vague about the loading phase, but he did make a few suggestions. Foods Dr. Simeons’ recommendations for the loading phase consisted of the following:
- Bacon
- Bread with thick butter and jam
- Eggs
- Fried meats (particularly pork)
- Mayonnaise
- Milk chocolate
- Pastries with whipped cream sugar
Other Loading Phase possible food choices include:
- Avocados
- Hamburgers
- Beef
- Butter
- Cookies
- Cakes
- Chocolate candy bars
- Any cheeses
- Milk chocolate
- Corn dogs
- Hot dogs
- Doughnuts
- French fries
- Fried chicken
- Gravy
- Potato chips
- Heavy cream sauces
- Pasta such as spaghetti
- Hot fudge
- Ice cream
- Nuts
- Macadamia nuts
- Macaroni and cheese
- Mexican food
- Milkshakes
- Olive oil
- Onion rings
- Peanut butter
- Pies
- Pizza
- Pork
- Full-fat dressings
- Pot pies
- White rice
HCG Diet Protocol Phase Two
Here is an example of the Dr. Simeons hCG protocol as outlined in his manuscript:
- Breakfast: During the morning, you can have any quantity of tea or coffee. You cannot use sugar in the beverage, but you are allowed one tablespoon of milk every 24 hours. The diet allows you to use saccharin or stevia to sweeten the beverage. Such sweeteners are allowed in any quantity.
- Lunch: For lunch, you can consume 100 grams of protein, one type of vegetable, a single breadstick, a piece of fruit.
- Protein: Your protein choices include beef, chicken, white fish, veal, crab, lobster, and shrimp. Before cooking the meat, you must remove all visible fat and then weigh the meat raw. Your cooking options for the meat include grilled or broiled. You cannot cook the protein items in any additional fat. The diet protocol does not allow salmon, herring, tuna, eel, dried or pickled fish. Always remove all chicken from the bone prior to cooking.
- Vegetable: You may choose spinach, beets, tomatoes, celery, green salad, chicory, chard, onions, red radishes, cabbage, asparagus, cucumbers, or fennel.
- Bread: Only one breadstick is allowed or a single piece of Melba toast.
- Fruit: A small apple, a few strawberries, half a grapefruit, or a small orange are allowed.
- Dinner: For dinner, you are allowed to choose from the same foods as those listed for the lunch menu.
Additional Dietary Menu Choices
The hCG diet protocol allows drinks and seasonings as laid out in Dr. Simeons original hCG weight loss guidelines in Pounds and Inches:
- You are allowed to use the juice of a single lemon for any purpose such as adding to tea, water, or to season fish or a salad.
- Salt, pepper, mustard powder, garlic, vinegar, parsley, sweet basil, marjoram, and thyme are allowed for seasoning all foods.
- Oil, butter or dressing are not permitted.
- Coffee, tea, and water are allowed in any quantity. However, it is suggested that you not consume more than 2 liters of water per day.
- You may eat your fruit or bread as a snack between lunch and dinner or after dinner if you do not want to eat the items with the main meals of lunch and dinner.
Rules About Food Substitutions
In Dr. Simeons Pound to Inches Manuscript, he states a few rules about substitutions that can be considered in some circumstances. However, despite any deviations, the 500 calorie limit must always be maintained while taking the hCG drops or injections.
- You may not substitute two small apples for one large apple or two small oranges for one large orange.
- An egg that is poached, boiled, or raw can be substituted if you have an aversion to meat. However, if three eggs are consumed then the whites of two of the eggs must be added to one whole egg and the yolks of the two eggs must be discarded.
- Cottage cheese that has been processed using skim milk may occasionally be substituted for meat. In such circumstances, you cannot consume more than 100 grams of cottage cheese when substituting for milk.
Weighing Your Foods for Each Meal
When following Dr. Simeons hCG protocol it is highly recommended that you invest in a food scale to determine the exact weight of each portion. This will help you control your food intake far easier than guessing on the weight of the foods.
Dr. Simeons hCG Diet Protocol Stands the Test of Time
The New hCG 800 Calorie Protocol
Approximately, a decade ago Dr. Richard Lipman authored a book called “New Pounds and Inches”. In the book, he outlined a deviation from the 500-calorie per day diet to the 800-calorie per day diet. His reasoning was that upping the calorie intake to 800 calories per day made the diet more tolerable for more patients. They would still be able to lose weight at a rapid rate and keep off the unwanted pounds when the diet ended.
The 2+2 Rule of the 800-Calorie hCG Diet
Dr. Lipman’s diet matches low-calorie, low-carb, and low-fat foods that feature similar calories to those outlined in Dr. Simeons’ original 500-calorie diet plan. He referred to the method as the 2+2 rule. The fats chosen contained both fat and sugar. The fat is ideal because it gives you a feeling of fullness and the sugar maintains your blood glucose level. In Dr. Lipman’s modern 800-calorie hCG diet plan the menu must have two grams of sugar or less. The sugar must then be combined with two grams of fat or less. In the event that one product contains 2.5 gram of sugar then the fat must be adjusted to contain only 1.5 grams. No matter what, the grams should not exceed four.
More Modern Dietary Choices
Unlike the original hCG protocol, the new 800-calorie hCG diet plan developed by Dr. Lipman offers new choices such as the following:
- All Atkins diet products
- Any food products that have been designed for diabetics
- Additional food choices that come from organic markets or health food stores.
Why go With the Modern 800-Calorie hCG Diet?
Although Dr. Simeons’ original diet plan works effectively, the modern version is often a better option for individuals who work at physically demanding trades that require additional calories to maintain their level of daily activities. Many people suffer from blood sugar reactions and feelings of deprivation with Dr. Simeons’ diet, but with the modern 800-calorie version they do not experience such problems but still effectively lose weight.
800-Calorie Plan and Breakfast Changes
With the new 800-calorie hCG diet protocol, you can consume a protein with breakfast such as Egg Beaters, low-fat cottage cheese or no-fat cottage cheese. You can also enjoy a sugar-free yogurt for breakfast with a cup of coffee or tea.
Additional Fruits Added
Additional fruits have been added to the 800-calorie version. Fruit is now considered a healthy option that helps satisfy your sweet tooth while dieting.
- All berries such as strawberries, blueberries, blackberries, marionberries, or cherries.
- Peaches
- Grapefruit
- Limes
- Cantaloupe
- Oranges
- Lemons
- Apples
- Plums
- Pears
- Vegetables and the Contemporary hCG Diet Plan
In Dr. Simeons’ original plan, vegetables needed to be measured, but with the contemporary option, almost all veggies are allowed. Only carrots, peas, and corn are not allowed. The addition of nutritious vegetables provides leeway for the creation of numerous recipes that can create satisfying meal choices.
Protein Choices
With the 800-calorie plan, you no longer weigh your protein choices but instead take into consideration their actual calorie count. Calorie counting enables you to consume more low-calorie fish or lobster products than higher calorie red meat. Such options enable many individuals to feel more satisfied and fuller for far longer.
Muscle Mass and Protein
Dr. Simeons’ original diet did not take into consideration the protein needs of muscle. Many large males or muscular individuals do not want to lose both muscle and fat when dieting. Instead, they want to maintain their strength and muscle mass. By focusing on protein and calories instead of weight they can ensure that they do not drop valuable muscle and, instead, only shed unwanted fat.
Phase 3 of the HCG Diet Protocol
Once you have completed Phase 2 of either the 500-calorie or the 800-calorie diet plans, it is time to embark on Phase 3, which is commonly referred to as the Maintenance Phase of the diet. At this point, you have two options. You can either restart the hCG diet to continue losing weight, or you can focus on maintaining your current weight. This means that you will continue to eat healthy while adjusting your body to increased calories and taking no daily hCG drops or injections. Typically, by Phase 3 your metabolism has been redefined and, as long as you take things slow, you will not start gaining weight back. If you should notice a weight gain of five or more pounds then you will need to reevaluate the foods that you are eating.
The Importance of the Maintenance Phase
Many people think it’s okay to skip the Maintenance Phase but nothing could be further from the truth. It is critical that you gradually adjust your body to a higher calorie intake. At the end of the Maintenance Phase, you should be able to consume 1500 calories per day without gaining unwanted weight. It is still advised that you abstain from eating carbohydrates or sugars.
Whether you follow Dr. Simeons diet protocol or Dr. Lipman’s modern version you will lose weight and keep it off with just a bit of dedication and perseverance. Both hCG diet protocol plans focus on rebooting your metabolism, so you not only drop unwanted fat but keep it off for life.
