hCG Weight Loss Program – Day 34 and Beyond
Well, I’m on day 34 and I have a decision to make. I’ve lost 25.8lbs since I started this program, and the almighty BMI says I’m now “normal,” so do I end it now or keep going? Well I take a look at my calendar, and if I end now I will be able to spend most of the spring break holiday in the slowly add sugars and starches phase versus absolutely no sugar and starches. Since I know one of the most critical parts of the hCG protocol is locking in your new weight during the maintenance phase, I decide to end it today! What is the maintenance phase? For the first 3 weeks you can eat anything, but no sugars and starches; then you slowly add starches and sugars into your diet for the next three weeks. This process is going to lock in my current weight as my body’s new “normal” weight. Which is one of the key benefits of the hCG program.
So today is the last day me taking hCG, however I must still maintain the 500 calorie/day diet for the next three days. The 3 days of maintaining the diet is for the last of the hCG to leave your body, if I ate over the 500 calories, I risk gaining a pound or two almost immediately. So here are my numbers going into maintenance…
Day 34 – down 0.2 (last hCG day)
Day 35 – down 0.4 (no hCG, just 500 cal diet)
Day 36 – down 1.0 (oh yeah, this is great!)
Day 37 – down 0.4 (yes, I’m finally finished!)
By the time I finish my last 500 calorie diet day, I’ve actually lost another 1.8lbs. I think this extra weight loss is like the extra weight gain at the beginning of the program. Once I start eating my minimum 1,500 calories/day, I will probably be back at my last hCG day weight (which is the weight I must be within 2lbs of for the next 6 weeks).
My biggest challenge on my first 1,500 calorie day, is that I’m just not hungry, I’m actually forcing myself to eat more. Per the manuscript, it’s critical once you come off hCG, you must stock up on proteins, since your body is bordering on protein deficiency, and if I don’t I could actually gain quickly (and probably pass out!).
It should be made clear that the goal of the maintenance phase is for you to maintain your target weight (or last injection weight), not to lose more weight. If you have more weight to lose, you can do another round of the Protocol and diet (minimum 6 weeks between additional rounds). The longer you maintain your target weight, the more likely your body will reset to that weight. You should try and maintain a consistent daily caloric intake, don’t go crazy on the weekends and cut back during the week, this will not “set” your new weight.
When you begin the first part of the maintenance phase (anything except sugar and starch), you must observe one simple rule: You must weight yourself every morning, without fail (when you get up, before any meals or drinks). You will most likely find that the amount of food you now require to become full is much less than before you started the program.
It takes about 3 weeks before the weight you reached at the end of the treatment becomes stable (i.e. does not show violent fluctuations after an occasional excess). During this period you must realize that carbohydrates like sugar, rice, bread, potatoes, pastries etc., are by far the most dangerous. If no carbohydrates whatsoever are eaten, fats can be indulged in somewhat more liberally and even small quantities of alcohol, such as a glass of wine with meals, does no harm. However, as soon as fats and starch are combined, things are very liable to get out of hand. This has to be observed very carefully during the first 3 weeks after the treatment is ended, otherwise disappointments are almost sure to occur.
As long as your weight stays within two pounds of the weight you reached on the day of your last injection, you are fine, but the moment you gain more than 2 pounds (even if this is only a few ounces), you must, on that very same day, entirely skip breakfast and lunch (but take plenty to drink). For dinner you must eat a huge steak with only an apple or a raw tomato. If you don’t skip the breakfast and lunch on the day you gained 2 pounds, you will need at least a week or two of a strict diet, to return to your target weight.
Next, I’ll discuss my experience on the first part of the maintenance phase.
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. Please also Fan our hCG for Weight Loss Facebook Page!
I hope you’ll enjoy reading about my experience with the IAPAM hCG weight loss Protocol! And please feel free to leave a comment or question.
Cheers, Jeff Russell
