Weight Loss with hCG

Question: What do you know about people taking CHG for weight loss? I know several people that have tried it and they have all lost weight. However, I have several concerns. Taking anything intravenously seems drastic to me, as does injecting a pregnancy hormone. What are your thoughts? Go for it? Or avoid it like the plague?

ML from Seattle

Answer:
Dear ML,
In short, avoid it like the plague. But first, let's clarify a couple of things. First of all, I think you meant hCG, which stands for Human Chorionic Gonadotropin. And yes, this is a hormone produced by the placenta during pregnancy. When pregnant, this hormone helps to control the woman's metabolic functions. So, the theory is that the hormone can still help the individual lose weight by manipulating the metabolic functions when injected while you are not pregnant. And further, let me clarify the difference between an injection and something taken intravenously. While they both involve needles, an injection is nothing more than a shot -- similar to getting a flu shot. Taking something intravenously involves actually sticking a needle into your vein.

The diet works like this: Administer 125 iu of hCG daily via injection for 3 days. During this time, eat excessively. Following the third injection, consume a 500 calorie diet for the next 3 days and consume very little, if any carbohydrate. Then re-introduce carbohydrate in very small quantities. 1-2#/day weight loss is considered an average weight loss.

Why do I not like this diet? Well, first of all, I don't like any "diets." A diet is something that starts and stops. When you start, you lose weight. When you stop, you gain it back. Why put yourself through it? Secondly, I am definitely opposed to injection of synthetic hormones for the purpose of weight loss. You're right; it's drastic! Besides, with or without the injection, you're going to lose weight on a 500 calorie/day diet! Thirdly, I am totally opposed to diets that don't allow carbohydrate. Your body and brain, like it or not, is designed to need carbohydrate as it's main fuel source. While most of us should be consuming more whole grains instead of crackers and such for our carb intake, it is harmful to the body to avoid it all together and/or severely restrict it. And last, but not least, I copied a sample menu off one of the major websites touting this diet. Here is what it said (during the 500 calorie phase):

Breakfast: coffee or tea without sugar

Lunch: 100 grams of very lean meat along with 1 vegetable (you can pick from a short, specific list they provide) and a piece of melba toast. You may also have a piece of fruit, but you can only choose between an apple, orange, 1/2 grapefruit or small handful of strawberries.

Dinner: Same as lunch. 1Tablespoon of milk is allowed every 24 hours.

So, ML, while you may know people that have been successful with this diet, I bet you money that you talked to them recently. Talk to them a year from now, or even a few months from now. The weight loss won't be permanent because it's totally unrealistic to stick to this kind of regimen.

If you have a question for My Personal Dietitian, please write to me at mypersonaldietitian@gmail.com

Weight Loss with alli

Our next question comes from San Francisco. MM wants to know if she is looking to lose a few pounds and is wondering if alli is the right choice for her.

First of all, alli has a wonderful website (www.myalli.com) and I would encourage anyone considering the product to check out their website. They even have a quiz you can take to see if you are a good candidate for the product.

How does it work? alli, the only FDA approved over-the-counter (OTC) weight loss product currently on the market, works by preventing the body from absorbing some (approximately 25%) of the fat that you eat. Because of this, an individual can lose about 50% more weight than dieting without the use of the product. alli promotes gradual, modest weight loss of about 1-2 pounds per week.

Is it right for you? alli asks you the following questions so that you can see for yourself:

Are you willing to do the hard work to lose weight gradually?
Are you committed to following a reduced-calorie, low-fat diet (an average of 15grams of fat/meal)?
Do you understand that if you take alli with a meal containing too much fat that you may get bowel changes that may include gas with oily spotting, loose stools and more frequent stools that may be hard to control?
Are you committed to eating smaller portions?
Are you committed to making time to be more physically active?

There is also a wt/ht chart and the product is not recommended unless you weight at least the amount shown in the chart. For a 5'3" person, the product is not recommended unless you are at least 152 pounds.