hCG acts as a safety net for the body during pregnancy, if a pregnant woman’s caloric intake falls too low; the body senses an emergency and sends a message to the body to pull fat from the body’s reserve fat stores (adipose tissue). These reserve fat stores provide an excellent source of energy. hCG does not take fat from structural fat (necessary fat around our vital organs, our eyes, and around muscle tissue). In order to get the body to sense that there is an “emergency” hCG dieters follow a very specific diet of 500 calories, and only certain food may be eaten that do not trigger the body to stop releasing fat. When followed properly, the body will release 2,500 calories into the bloodstream daily, in addition to the deficit in caloric intake (about 1,000 to 2,000 daily) one will have by eating only 500 calories, this translates to about 3,500 to 4,500 calories that will be burned daily by the body. Often individuals on the hCG protocol will lose up to 2 pounds per day. Most dieters feel full, satiated, and full of energy while on the protocol.

What is hCG? hCG stands for Human Chorionic Gonadotropin. hCG is naturally occurring in both men and women, but it is produced in excess by the placenta during pregnancy. During pregnancy, the substance almost completely controls the woman's metabolic functions. Wouldn't I lose weight anyway just by eating the 500 calories a day? How can that be safe? You would certainly lose weight, but not as much, and eventually your metabolism would slow down. Eating 500 calories a day would surely cause weight loss, if a person who normally eats 2000 calories a day cut back to 500 calories a day, they would burn 1,500 calories a day (a little less than half a pound). With hCG, your body is triggered to release 2,500 calories from your fat stores each day, so assuming you normally eat 2,000 calories per day, you would be burning 1,500 calories from reducing your food intake, and then 2,500 extra calories from the hCG, resulting in a total daily loss of 4,000 calories per day (about 1.2 pounds of fat). Also, your metabolism won’t slow down, because your body has plenty of fuel from your fat stores.

How much weight will I lose with the hCG diet?

Most hCG. dieters report a loss of 1 to 2 lbs a day, at the very least, ½ pound a day, and at the most, 3 + lbs a day.  1 lb is generally lost in the first day after the loading phase.  Factors that guarantee faster weight loss include adding/increasing vegetable intake and mixing salad with each meal.  Fiber intake is extremely important, as is water intake.  Water will help flush out fat from your body as you lose weight. The body will develop immunity to hCG after approximately 6 weeks. So, if you have more than 40 pounds to lose, you will have to do a full series of hCG, wait 6 weeks, and then you can begin your next series if necessary.

What preparations are required before I start the hCG Protocol?

Prior to treatment, we recommend starting a detoxification plan, building up all of your body with the nutrients it will need to support fat loss. We also recommend reading Dr. Simeons original manuscript ‘Pounds & Inches’ which is available in PDF form on this website. For individual injections, generally no preparations are required. We will show you how to administer self injections. We will be doing one deeper injection one per week at your visit.

Diet Diary

You will be asked to complete a week of diet diary and then meet with the nutritionist, and then a diet will be made for you related to what you eat and what is allowed while doing the hCG.

Do I have to do any specialized Measurements?

A body scan is done to accurately measure your body fat and muscle at the start of the program and the end, this is arranged through calling Bodycomp Imaging at 778.881.6142, and they are located at #700-890 Pender St W, Vancouver. Let them know that you are from Dr. Martin’s office EnerChanges™.

Is it healthy to lose 1 to 2 pounds a day with hCG shots?

Weight loss studies have shown that weight lost following the Simeons protocol comes directly from adipose fat tissue rather than lean muscle. In doing so, the weight lost comes directly from fat and does not strip the body of much needed muscle, vitamins or minerals essential to maintain good health, while at the same time, releasing excessive amounts of fat-stored nutrients into the blood stream to be absorbed by the body. For this reason, chg. dieters report a feeling and appearance of great health and marvel at the loss of negative health risks they had as an overweight individual.

Why the 500 calorie diet - VLCD (very low calorie diet)?

hCG shots cause your hypothalamus to mobilize the fat out of the fat storage locations so that it’s available for use, but this is only effective if your body recognizes a significant drop in calories. While you are only consuming 500 calories, your hypothalamus is continually releasing the fat stored in your body. Because of this, your body is actually operating on thousands of calories a day. The result is your body using thousands of calories of fat from your body each day; the reason hCG dieters lose 1 to 2 lbs of fat or more, per day.

What can I eat? You are allowed:

• 2 servings per day of very lean chicken, white fish, very lean beef, egg whites, crab, lobster, shrimp, and scallops for your protein. You can choose from non starchy vegetables such as lettuce, green beans, peppers, broccoli, cauliflower, sprouts, lettuce, spinach, or tomatoes.

• 2 fruits per day , or 2 fat free melba toasts per day
• Fruit choices: apples, oranges, a handful of grapes, 3-5 strawberries
• 1 tablespoon of fat free milk per day *spices, mustard, and the juice of 1 lemon per day are allowed
• Unlimited tea and water are allowed

Will I be hungry on 500 calories a day!?

It is sometimes common for mild hunger during the first few days, however this will pass, you will find even very tiny servings, to be completely satisfying. This is partly due to your hypothalamus adjusting your metabolic rate, but largely due to the amount of calories circulating in your system from the fat being released. It is common that hCG dieters feel as though they are stuffing themselves in order to reach that 500 calorie limit! If you are not following the protocol perfectly, you may experience hunger. If you are following the protocol perfectly, and still having trouble with hunger, we can recommend and natural herbal appetite suppressant.

Who is a candidate for hCG Diet Shots?

The majority of men and women can use hCG injections for weight loss. It is recommended that dieters consult a physician concerning your weight loss, along with the appropriate implementation of the hCG protocol. The physician will not recommend hCG weight loss injections for women who are pregnant or nursing. hCG will not allow the body to burn any fat other than excess reserve fat, so thin and emaciated person would not continue to lose weight on hCG. hCG can be used by most people, but persons who have less than 15 pounds to lose will still have to complete at least 21 days of the protocol. hCG is quite effective for people who regularly diet and exercise but cannot seem to get rid of the "last few pounds".

How about safety and side effects of hCG Diet Shots?

There are rarely side effects reported while using hCG diet shots, or oral hCG for weight loss. When the hCG shots are used for fertility reasons, the larger amount is known to cause occasional headaches, and pregnancy symptoms. However, the amount differences between the hCG diet protocol and hCG used for fertility purposes is significantly different in quantity, women are encouraged to use a back up contraceptive method while on the protocol as hCG may increase fertility.

Will I gain the weight back after the hCG diet?

You will find a normal amount of exercise will be sufficient for maintaining a very healthy body- from yoga, to 20 minutes of cardio a day, or whatever you enjoy that gets your heart moving. With your hypothalamus reset, your metabolism will be different and you will be able to eat moderately without feeling the need to overeat.

What is the maintenance program like?

You will come off of the hCG with a maintenance program where you will gradually add complex carbohydrates, fruits, and starches back into your diet. This process will take about 3 week. We will evaluate your caloric needs at your new weight, and determine your recommended intake. During the maintenance phase you will keep careful track of any gains when reintroducing new foods, and if a particular food causes a gain you will remove it from your diet until it does not cause a gain. We recommend coming in and weighing in for the first few weeks of maintenance, and getting fat burner and B12 injections.

What is the hypothalamus gland?

The hypothalamus gland moderates the thyroid, adrenals, fat storage, and more importantly, your metabolic rate. hCG will help regulate the hypothalamus.

Is hCG safe for men?

The hCG used for the hCG weight loss protocol is actually already found in men. In fact, it is present in every human tissue, including males and non-pregnant women as well as pregnant. Men will lose weight just as easily as women on the hCG diet.

How painful are hCG injections for weight loss?

The hCG injections for weight loss are administered using a very fine needle and are quite painless. EnerChanges™ Clinic will show you how to properly do the injections.

How much will it cost?

Our program is as short as 3 weeks or as long as you need, depending on your goals. When you come in to the office the first time, you will meet with our Dr. Martin to discuss any health issues, we will go over your medical history and request any necessary tests, and you will get your first week of shots and supplies. The consultation and perscription is $175, you then pick up your hCG from MacDonalds Pharmacy. The body fat measurement are $100 each and then it is $95 weekly after that, one vitamin injection with B12 is included per week.

Do I need to do anything before I can start?

We start most new patients on a detoxification diet and a 2-4 week build up phase. At this time you may meet with the nutritionist to start your detoxification phase. This also involves a series of immune injections to build up the adrenal glands, stimulate the immune system, decrease inflammation, and assist detoxification. Supplementation and or hormonal support may also be required to maximize fat loss.

Standard supplementation:

• Protein detoxification shake
• Emulsitox to maximize liver function
• Kidney support
• Blood sugar control
• Digestive Enzymes
• Advanced B-complex
• Amino acids to minimize muscle loss
• Multi-vitamin to ensure all nutrient levels are intact
• Fiber to bind up the fat at night

Preparation

• Keep diet for 1 week
• Office Visit to arrange a visit with the nutritionist to review both patient and hCG diet
• Review supplements, remove any conflicting hCG and add in those for support
• Do Prescription for hCG
• Arrange Body Comp Measurement

Week One – Thursday and Friday Day 1-7

1. Office Visit – Mix the hCG, instructions on how and where to inject hCG
2. Receive first preloaded syringe with 0.7cc
3. Give your first injection of 0.1cc
4. First Meyers Injection
5. First B12 injection
6. Eat normal diet for three days start hCG diet Monday

Week Two – Thursday and Friday Day 8-14

1. Office Visit – Review and adjust plan, add extra support if needed.
2. Receive second preloaded syringe with 0.7cc
3. Deep injection is given or patient give their injection
4. Second Meyers Injection and B12 injection
5. Weigh

Week Three – Thursday and Friday Day 15-21
1. Office Visit – Review and adjust plan, add extra support if needed.
2. Receive third preloaded syringe with 0.7cc
3. Deep injection is given or patient give their injection
4. Third Meyers Injection and B12 injection
5. Weigh

Week Four – Thursday and Friday Day 22-23
1. Office Visit – Review and adjust plan for maintenance detox diet on day 24
2. Receive fourth a preloaded syringe with 0.2cc
3. Deep injection is given or patient give their injection
4. Fourth Meyers Injection and B12 injection
5. Weigh

1. The Diet / Day 1 -3

• Weigh yourself in the morning.
• Start taking your 125iu hCG
• Eat as often as you like throughout the day. This will increase your body’s storage of fat to prepare you for the 500 calorie per day limit on days 3-23.
• Gorge yourself on fatty foods eating as healthy as you can by eating the good fats. Some have found eating starch in moderation helps to decrease your appetite after completing the gorging days, whole grain breads, pastas, and oatmeal are great choices.

Day 3-23 (longer durations can be done)

• Weigh yourself
• Drink 1 gallon of water throughout the day. The water is critical to the flushing of the fat.
• Eat everything as described below. Do not skip meals. Your total intake will be about 500 calories consisting of protein, vegetables and fruit.
• You can spread the food throughout the day to help with any hunger or blood sugar issues. For example, you can eat an allowable fruit for breakfast. Just remember: you are trying to KEEP your body in "starvation" mode to use the abnormal fat mobilized by the hCG - a very different mindset on this protocol than most.

Protein Selections - Choose only one protein for lunch and another for dinner. Never eat the same protein twice on the same day. Weigh out 100 grams prior to cooking. • Beef, Veal, chicken breast (no skin), shrimp, lobster, crab, white fish (Flounder, Sole, sea bass, grouper and Halibut)

Vegetable Selections - Choose only one vegetable for lunch and another for supper never eating the same vegetable in the same day: tomato, celery, lettuce, spinach,cucumbers, onions, cabbage, asparagus, chard, radishes, beet greens.

Fruit Selections - 2 fruit servings daily from the following: strawberries(4-6 medium), 1 small orange, 1 small apple (which could be moved to a snack).

Melba toast or Breadstick - @20cals. worth (grissini or alessi brand breadsticks) for each of your two meals.

Days 24-27

• Stop taking hCG and stay on VLCD. This is done because the hCG is still in your system. Drink plenty of water! Stabilization - Day 28 – 56

• During this phase, which you need to do for 3 weeks in order to set this new weight point, you can eat anything except - NO STARCHES and NO SUGARS! That means NO potatoes, corn, bread, sweets, etc. It is critical that you understand how important it is to increase your food intake as your body will no longer have abnormal fat to use. It is at this phase that you will be setting your metabolism at a new pace. You must eat often and full portions of the healthy vegetables, lean meats, and lower sugar fruits. Protein seems to be key in setting this new metabolic rate.

Maintenance - Once you've allowed your body 3 weeks to become stable eating a full diet without starches and sugars, you can start adding those back in gradually.

The Plateau - Some people experience a 4 – 6 day interruption in their regular daily weight loss. If your weight has been stationary for at least four days without any dietary deviations, you may take an "apple day" to break up the plateau. An apple day begins at lunch and continues until just before lunch of the following day. The only food consumed during this time is 6 large apples, which are to be eaten one at a time whenever you feel the desire. Remember, six large apples are the maximum allowed for this entire time. During an apple day no other food or liquids except plain water are allowed drinking just enough to quench an uncomfortable thirst. Resume eating at lunch the next day.