hCG Diet and Cosmetics and Menstruation

Prior to embarking on the hCG + 500 Cal/day Diet program, women should be aware of some things that will certainly affect them: the use of approved cosmetics and deviations of the protocol during menstruation. This may be a good time to mention that hCG is commonly used in treatment of infertility, so if you do become pregnant during a round, you will stop losing weight, and should come off the program (another reason for physician supervision). If that is not your goal, the protocol does state “oral contraceptives may be used during treatment.”

Another reason for only doing this weight loss program under a physicians supervision is that there are special deviations that may be required during menstruation. As Dr. Simeons states “During menstruation no injections are given, but the diet is continued and causes no hardship; yet as soon as the menstruation is over, the patients become extremely hungry unless the injections are resumed at once. It is very impressive to see the suffering of a woman who has continued her diet for a day or two beyond the end of the period without coming for her injection and then to hear the next day that all hunger ceased within a few hours after the injection and to see her once again content, florid and cheerful. While on the question of menstruation it must he added that in teenaged girls the period may in some rare cases be delayed and exceptionally stop altogether. If then later this is artificially induced some weight may be regained.” Again, you should consult with your healthcare provider on any specific variations to the program that may be needed during menstruation.

Dr. Simeons also has another contraindication that will slow or even prevent weight loss, and that is you may not use any cosmetics that contain: fats, oils, creams, ointments, or hormones. Why? While you have hCG in your system, you are incredibly sensitive to what you are bringing into your body, and even a very minor increase in proteins, carbs, or fats will cause a serious disruption. Let me tell you, if you go through all this effort, you don’t want to do anything that will require you to extend the round! Dr. Simeons goes on to say “For instance, we find that persons who habitually handle organic fats, such as workers in beauty parlors, masseurs, butchers, etc. never show what we consider a satisfactory loss of weight unless they can avoid fat coming into contact with their skin.” If you have dry skin, please consulate your hCG trained physician, they will have alternatives for you. “Hand, mineral oil should not be used in preparing the food, first because of its undesirable laxative quality, and second because it absorbs some fat-soluble vitamins, which are then lost in the stool. Obviously sun-tan oil is prohibited.”

So what can you use? Lipstick, powder and lotions that are entirely free of fatty substances. Whole Foods is probably a good place to go and see what is available. If you are not currently using mineral makeup, this may be a good time to start. But you need to be careful here as well, since most (if not all) of the department store mineral makeup’s contain starch and talic as binders (which will dry your skin). You are usually safe to use the mineral makeup product lines you find in an hCG physician, aesthetic physician, or dermatologists office, like Jane Iredale . You can also use brilliantine on the hair but it can’t be rubbed into the scalp.

I know many of you are saying “but I need the creams to keep my face hydrated!” An interesting side effect of hCG is that it “normal fat is restored to the skin, which rapidly becomes fresh and turgid, making the expression much more youthful. This is a characteristic of the HCG method which is a constant source of wonder to patients who have experienced or seen in others the facial ravages produced by the usual methods of reducing. An obese woman of 70 obviously cannot expect to have her pued face reduced to normal without a wrinkle, but it is remarkable how youthful her face remains in spite of her age.”

While I am on the topic of women related issues with hCG, I should also deal with a question I received at my neighborhood poker game. Unfortunately, I was not able to hide the fact that I was not drinking beer and eating chips, so I had to spill it! As you can imagine, with a group of guys, the first thing out of someone’s mouth was “are you going to grow breasts?” I knew I was going to be in for a long night! I think its best to give you Dr. Simeons response to that question: “HCG regulates menstruation and facilitates conception, but it never virilizes a woman or feminizes a man. It neither makes men grow breasts nor does it interfere with their virility, though where this was deficient it may improve it. It never makes women grow a beard or develop a gruff voice. I have stressed this point only for the sake of my lay readers, because, it is our daily experience that when patients hear the word hormone they immediately jump to the conclusion that this must have something to do with the sex- sphere. They are not accustomed as we are, to think thyroid, insulin, cortisone, adrenalin etc, as hormones.” I think that summary does a good job explaining that this hormone does not affect male or female sexuality.

In my next entry, I’m going discuss the 500 calorie/day diet!

You can read more details about our hCG weight loss research on the IAPAM’s website, as well, physicians wanting to learn details of the how to incorporate hCG into their practice can also attend one of the IAPAM’s Medical Weight Management training programs.

I hope you’ll enjoy reading about my experience with the Simeons’ hCG weight loss protocol! And please feel free to leave a comment or question.

Cheers,  Jeff Russell

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