hCG diet?

[oceanforkids]

Is anyone else following the thread at VV about the hCG diet?
http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2011/04/13/pregnancy-hormone-hcg-can-melt-away-your-body-fat.aspx
I just can't wrap my head around the whole idea, to be honest. Everything I've read about it, from Dr. Oz to AJCN say it's a very bad idea. Then I go to VV and almost all of the testimonials are from older people (like me!) who are having good success. What puzzles me, though, is what about the younger women who want to try this diet. Wouldn't it interfere with their monthly cycle?

I could never get DH to go without his raw milk and real butter, not even for a few days. He doesn't need to diet, but I could stand to lose some pounds, although not desperate about it. But we both eat the same foods because I don't have time to cook separate meals -- nor would I, anyhow. I'm not that energetic nor do I have the time to devote to two menus. I barely have time for one menu.

What do you all think of this WOE? I ask because I might recommend it to friends, but I'd hate to give them bum information. It sounds an awful lot like the Fat Flush Diet (the food part anyhow) to me, and I did that for several years a while ago. There was an induction phase, phase 1, meat the size of a deck of cards, etc. More veggies though. It worked but I just couldn't stay on it. Very boring, very restrictive of spices, and too many supplements for my taste. Of course, the lady who developed FF was also selling the supplements - imagine that. I think nutrition should come from food, not pills, except those we just can't get enough of from foods (like D3).

Just curious.

[bmc65]

Well, I think I peed quite a bit on that article, but since you asked and for anyone who didn't look in on VV, I would not recommend this diet. Why? At the end of the day it's a diet and diets don't typically work over the long hall. There have been a bunch of testimonials on VV, but no one is reporting on how long they have kept the weight off. While this diet does seem to be working for folks who have had difficulty losing weight, if they don't change the habits that gave them a weight problem to begin with the success isn't going to last. IMO, why suffer the deprivation you tend to feel during a diet when adjusting your habits (which is what you need to do for the long hall anyway) will get you there?

[Reesacat]

It is making me cringe-I read a bit and just had to walk away.

I would direct someone who is considering gastric bypass to Dr. Mercola's site-think the HCG diet would be the lesser of 2 evils.
My husband was an ICU RN and routinely had patients from gastric bypass die on the unit from complications of the surgery.
One of the ward clerks in a different unit wanted to do gastric bypassand the ICU nurses took her up to see the latest patient who was dying-she cancelled the surgery.

[Islander]

...no one is reporting on how long they have kept the weight off.
I got to it late in the day when there were over 150 posts and I read them all, because I was fascinated, and yes, quite a few people said they had kept the weight off, one for a couple of years...and those who failed admitted that they had resumed bad habits.

Since JM gave it a guarded thumbs-up (didn't outright recommend it but did not write it off, either) I'm inclined to try it. The magical drops are not terribly expensive and I dare to do it without medical supervision. If it worked, it would change my life.

You have seen me via Facebook. You know I'm overweight, bordering on obese. My weight affects my knees and probably has a lot to do with the lower back pain. I started gaining when I closed the garden center in '01, and picked up an extra 30 pounds when I quit smoking in '06. I managed to take off that 30, but there's probably another 25-30 that crept up over the last 10 years that I can't drop...and you all know my lifestyle. I'm the kind of person who "does everything right."

Ocean thinks it's "shallow" to let body image dominate one's life. Color me shallow. I've never been this heavy. I hate what I see in the mirror. There are places I won't go and things I won't do because of my shape. I was considering going back to school for a nutrition certificate, but I would have been laughed out of the program. I look like a gluttonous pig when in fact I eat small portions, organic, no sugar, no white carbs, etc. etc., you all know the drill. Back pain makes it impossible for me to walk for more than 5 minutes, so even if I could afford to travel again, I can't now. It's a vicious circle: I used to walk 2 miles a day without fail, which helped keep me in shape; can't walk, can't lose.

So if this diet works...like I said, it would change my life.

[oceanforkids]

Oh I agree, Reesacat, much better than surgery. I have a neighbor who did that a few years ago and it sickens me to see her portioning out a cup of this or that and if she overdoes by one ounce she pukes and, well, it's just not pretty. Besides, she said she feels so awful most of the time she wishes she was just still fat - it was easier. I have to agree, she was better off before, albeit heavy. She wasn't as big as a Buick or anything, so I can't even understand what prompted her to have it done other than pride.

But I'm concerned about the hCG stuff because almost all the people who responded, who were having decent to great results, were older people. We have no idea how this will effect young people in the long-term, because we're not there yet, ya know? I mean gawwwly, should people be messing with a hormone (whether or not it's a sex hormone, as stated by one lady at VV) it's hard enough to keep control over all the other hormonal things going on in our bodies when younger, but to start a program like this and stay on it for a long time --- we don't have evidence yet as to what that's going to do. If there is, I haven't seen long-term studies because they aren't available to the public.

The Fat Flush Program was actually quite healthy, but very boring, and didn't have gall bladder complications which seem to arise regularly on the hCG diet. Probably because we started the morning with a warm cup of lemon water, which gets things moving in the liver/gall bladder arena. DH and I still do that every morning because we like it. Whether it ACTUALLY helps us, is another unknown. ;o) We took CLA while on FF, but it became quite expensive and we decided we'd rather get our CLA from grass-fed meats, etc. Then, when we had a chance to once again purchase local raw milk from someone we trusted, we abandoned FF and went straight for the WAPF WOE. We are both much more content and happy on this program, by far.

So quick weight loss might be inspiring and even beneficial for some, but we're happier where we are. We're both approaching 60 in the next few years and are relatively healthy. I have a couple of minor health issues and one major issue, DH had no issues except heartburn, which I feel is all about the stress in his life. All in all we do quite well and are very active for our ages. Neither of us has been in a hospital (as a patient) in decades. DH has knee surgery way back in 1974 and I with my last baby in 1987. That's it. If not restricting good fats in our diet is keeping us that way, we'll keep doing what we're doing, but I don't think I'll be recommending this hCG to anyone until much more is known about it.

[Reesacat]

Islander, I would feel comfortable about you trying it-I worry about people who eat junk food going on a severely restricted diet-I think they are malnourished to start with.
You have more sense in your little fingernail than most people get in their entire lifetime.
I do think you meet Dr. M's criteria-you eat correctly, you have tried other things, and for you it is a health issue as much as body image.

Go for it! Whatever we can do to help-let us know!
I'd be interested in following your progress.

[oceanforkids]

I got to it late in the day when there were over 150 posts and I read them all, because I was fascinated, and yes, quite a few people said they had kept the weight off, one for a couple of years...and those who failed admitted that they had resumed bad habits.

Since JM gave it a guarded thumbs-up (didn't outright recommend it but did not write it off, either) I'm inclined to try it. The magical drops are not terribly expensive and I dare to do it without medical supervision. If it worked, it would change my life.

You have seen me via Facebook. You know I'm overweight, bordering on obese. My weight affects my knees and probably has a lot to do with the lower back pain. I started gaining when I closed the garden center in '01, and picked up an extra 30 pounds when I quit smoking in '06. I managed to take off that 30, but there's probably another 25-30 that crept up over the last 10 years that I can't drop...and you all know my lifestyle. I'm the kind of person who "does everything right."

Ocean thinks it's "shallow" to let body image dominate one's life. Color me shallow. I've never been this heavy. I hate what I see in the mirror. There are places I won't go and things I won't do because of my shape. I was considering going back to school for a nutrition certificate, but I would have been laughed out of the program. I look like a gluttonous pig when in fact I eat small portions, organic, no sugar, no white carbs, etc. etc., you all know the drill. Back pain makes it impossible for me to walk for more than 5 minutes, so even if I could afford to travel again, I can't now. It's a vicious circle: I used to walk 2 miles a day without fail, which helped keep me in shape; can't walk, can't lose.

So if this diet works...like I said, it would change my life.

I don't belong at FB so I'll never see you I guess! And just because I think it's shallow for people to believe that how they look determines whether or not they are a valuable person (I've seen this attitude a LOT in my life) don't let that deter you from doing it if you think it will make you feel better. I didn't mean to imply that feeling better, physically, wasn't a good goal. But that person I responded to at VV was talking mostly about his appearance and he linked that to his self-worth. IMPHO, that's wrong. Go for it, baby!

[Maurya]

This is getting personal! I think that one should consider the intended audience for this HCG treatment. With no offense intended to Oceanforkids, if you would like to view some really fat people, just come to Philadelphia. Those of us who are fifteen pounds over our ideal weight perhaps should be advised to endeavor a different method of straightening out our dietary intake, and of optimizing our type and variety of exercising.

As emphasized by Reesacat, the gastric bypass phenomenon has grown in recent years, to have become a completely acceptable choice, and not even as a “last resort” life saving procedure. One must be quite obese to be considered for any surgical procedure, whether lap band, bypass, or similar invasive high risk surgeries. Medicaid or other insurance will pay for this surgery in certain cases, but never will contribute a cent toward paying for grass fed meats, organic vegetables, etc. I could go on and on about the necessities of living in an area where supermarkets fear to tread, one has no personally owned means of transportation, and the only retail outlets consist of convenience stores, Tasty Kakes, and liquor stores, but I shall refrain. This is a rant for another day.

For many years, I have respected the writing of Dr. Jonathan Wright. Several years ago, he reported on his and his wife’s experience with HCG treatment. Although this is from memory, I think that they had lost about twelve pounds in a three week period. No idea as to whether they succeeded in keeping their weight down to this level, or whether they tried another cycle at a later time. As they did this together, their report also points up the necessity either to isolate oneself for a few weeks, or to carry it out along with a close friend or family member. By the way, for a pre-menopausal woman, the protocol emphasizes that it should be carried out during the middle three weeks of the woman’s cycle.

Any diet involving extreme caloric restriction, applied assiduously for three weeks, could be expected to cause weight loss. The salient factor in this treatment seems to be the HCG itself, which supposedly causes not only fat loss, but a “permanent” resetting of the metabolism, as well. Of course, any dietary intervention will be expected to fail, if one immediately goes back to unbalanced, excessive ways of eating, following the completion of the “diet”.

Having said all of this, my main concern would be that I have not seen the issue of muscle mass being addressed. As one gets older, Mother Nature seems to desire that one increases fat and has a much harder time maintaining or increasing muscle mass. No reduction in fat stores, even with a corresponding increase in metabolic rate, can lead to optimal health without addressing the dreaded sarcopenia. From my understanding of this HCG treatment, not only would it be impossible to do any more than the mildest form of exercise while on the “diet”, but nothing has been said of how to begin increasing one’s minimal muscle mass following the completion of the HCG period. Without addressing this issue, I fail to see how any success can be sustained over the long haul. Perhaps now a “smart person” might come along to explain all of this…

[Islander]

Sorry, I'm waiting for the smart person too...but supposedly radical caloric reduction affects muscle to some degree, as well as overall body fat, and slows metabolism...whereas the hcg diet is said to demolish the unwanted, unhealthy abdominal fat while leaving the rest untouched, and burning that fat keeps the metabolism up. I'm still working my way through the pdf I downloaded.

[oceanforkids]

One of the best ways to judge how this program actually works would be to see photos of people like Wright and his wife, and Kevin Trudeau. I haven't seen or heard anything about KT for several years. I also don't have time to search it right now, but it would be a good general indicator of the success (or not) of the program.

[Reesacat]

You can always stop the hCG diet. Gastric by-pass surgery stays with you forever.

[bmc65]

Excellent point Reesacat. Islander if you want to try it you are definitely in a better position that most folks. You already understand about healthy eating. My main concerns about this diet are being able to keep the weight off, (it's really discouraging to go through a diet and then gain the weight back), and also that the 500 cal restriction will slow your metabolism making coming off the diet really difficult.

[oceanforkids]

My main concerns about this diet are being able to keep the weight off, (it's really discouraging to go through a diet and then gain the weight back), and also that the 500 cal restriction will slow your metabolism making coming off the diet really difficult.

Bingo!

[Aaltrude]

Islander, I know you are health savvy therefore I presume you have had your thyroid levels checked and can be certain that low thyroid function is not the reason you have had problems losing weight.

[Katee]

I saw a new doc today, Dr. S in Newport Beach.

Someone i really trust has been recommending her for a couple of years. However, i have had so many difficult times with different docs and so many recommendations from folks' with their "wonderful doctors" that i tend to freeze up and make no decision. It seems that about every 9 months in the past 3 years or so i try someone new, try their recommendations, it doesn't work, and i just keep on plugging.

So far, however, i am very favorably impressed with this doc. She is a MD, but she believes in listening to the patient. The past few docs i have seen seem to listen, too, but then they try to determine "which box" to place me in. From what i've seen, she is not looking to put me in a box at all.

First off, i told her i can not do a severely restricted diet. I told her i saw no justifications for the severe restrictions the last doc put me on, nor did i see any improvement. I told her i stuck with it for 5 weeks (when i was suppose to be on it for 5 months to 2 years), but it was so limited that i was averaging only 700 to 900 calories a day. I was always hungry. I did not lose ONE pound of weight.

Dr. S won my heart by saying, "You stayed on this for 5 weeks? I wouldn't have lasted 5 days!" She also agreed that there were no justifications (most of the "allergy markers" were at a +1 level, on a scale of 0 - 4, 4 the worst). She also agreed that a smoothie of raw milk, raw organic eggs, stevia, and flavoring (i like almond and nutmeg) sounded like a good thing. :)

She asked if i knew of the hCG diet, and i could only say "Yes" based on the little i've gleaned from this conversation. She told me about it, but encouraged me to research it on line, as well.

Dr. S said that she tried it herself for a few days to see if a person could actually function and not be hungry on 500 cal a day. She said that the hCG dose (given either IM or sublingually) is very small - not enough to even register a false positive on a pregnancy test. It needs to be Rx, not homeopathic or otherwise. She said that the hCG tells your brain to release and utilize the fat stored in the abdomen. While she is WNLs on weight and does not need to lose weight (although i would not consider her "skinny") she said she lost 5 pounds in 5 days and was not hungry.

The protocol she listed for this is that after we do a bunch of lab testing and she feels it is safe for me, i will see a nutritionist. The nutritionist will do elaborate testing including muscle mass, fat percentage, etc. I will be on the hCG for 2 weeks (i think i'm getting mixed up some here, possibly). The diet will be very simple and easy, mostly protein, non-starchy veggies, and a limited amount of fruit. At the end of the 2 weeks (if i have this right) i see Dr. S again. The hCG stops. I can have larger amounts of the same foods. At the end of the 4 weeks i see the nutritionist again to re-test all of the original things she measured. I can begin to add other foods back into my diet.

Dr. S feels that this "resets" metabolism - that it should help with weight loss, thyroid and adrenal issues, and help me to have more energy.

At this point, with the info i have, i see no reason not to give it a try, tho it will be a month or so before i can begin. I've got blood tests and things to do first.

So, there is the view point of an alternative MD, who has read the research and attended seminars on this, and tried it herself.

The hCG is a very small amount (pregnancy tests pick up 20-70 mIU/ml, in the pregnancy, these levels can climb up to 288,000 mIU/ml at about 12 weeks gestation, then slowly drop back down). If the hCG given, for only 2-3 weeks, will not even trigger a false positive, the amount given is very small indeed.

[Reesacat]

Awesome information, Katee! I know how tired you must be-thank you for taking time to post this to help the forum members. Hugs to you and hubby and kittehs:)

[oceanforkids]

Katee, did this doctor seem to think the homeopathic was not useful just because it was homeopathic or did she give a reason? From what I've read at that mixed up mess over at VV, most of the folks there were using homeopathic drops and having good luck. Placebo effect, do you suppose?

[Katee]

Katee, did this doctor seem to think the homeopathic was not useful just because it was homeopathic or did she give a reason? From what I've read at that mixed up mess over at VV, most of the folks there were using homeopathic drops and having good luck. Placebo effect, do you suppose?

I don't know. She does a fairly extensive intake/consult the first time and we'd other things to discuss. I can ask when i see her again. I got the idea (tho i don't think she specified) was that she didn't feel that homeopathic or whatever you find on the internet is regulated enough to be sure that the hCG was the amount/quality that would be dependable. However, this was just an impression.

I think too (being an MD, even an enlightened MD) was that she wanted whoever doing it to be under dr/nutritionist guidance to be sure that they are not losing electrolytes, muscle, etc. Again, speculation on my part. But i can ask when i see her again.

[bmc65]

Katee, can't wait to hear how it goes. I hope you'll give us up dates, especially in the future to let us know how you are doing at keeping if off. Again, you are already health savvy and in a better position to handle this diet.

[Reesacat]

I don't know. She does a fairly extensive intake/consult the first time and we'd other things to discuss. I can ask when i see her again. I got the idea (tho i don't think she specified) was that she didn't feel that homeopathic or whatever you find on the internet is regulated enough to be sure that the hCG was the amount/quality that would be dependable. However, this was just an impression.

I think too (being an MD, even an enlightened MD) was that she wanted whoever doing it to be under dr/nutritionist guidance to be sure that they are not losing electrolytes, muscle, etc. Again, speculation on my part. But i can ask when i see her again.


If you are correct (and I think you are) those sound like very reasonable precautions to me.
You have felt very ill for some time and I am delighted you will be monitored closely as you have had some funny drug reactions in the past. I am so glad the doc spent time and listened to you! Happy Dance!

[Islander]

I'll be following this closely, but I may proceed on my own. I have no health issues other than the (controlled) diabetes and the thyroid, for which I'm medicated, and this diet specifies that you stay on thyroid meds.

[oceanforkids]

I'll be watching this thread closely for the next few months then, so I can follow along whenever you guys start, and see how you're both doing. I figure if one or both of you have results to post by mid to end of summer, that's still plenty of time for me to suggest this method to a few people who will/could/might benefit from the protocol if things go well.

[Maurya]

Katee, this is wonderful that you finally seem to have happened upon a sensible doctor. Please do keep us all posted as to how this health projects evolves over time. Best of good fortune to you!

[Islander]

Ocean, if this works for me, I will be back in my size 12s by the beginning of summer!

ETA: Well, maybe the size 14s.

[oceanforkids]

I sincerely hope this works for both you and Katee. It would be awesome if just once something actually worked the way we hear it does!

[highlander]

I’ve been interested in the hcg diet for months. (I read testimonials on Mary Shomon’s website stating it worked for some with hypothyroidism.) I think that with people who eat healthy and exercise but can’t lose weight are battling a hormonal malfunction. Many of us were thin for decades and then something went wrong. Remember the VV poster who had her first child at age 40 and gained 90 pounds? (This is also why I get pissed off when people label anyone overweight or obese as lazy gluttons.banghead) Maybe the hcg is able to reset the metabolism specifically because that key fits that hormonal lock. This is also why I don’t think it is a diet for people who really do eat a lot of crap food and don’t move. I agree that they need to get those ducks in a row first.
I’m eager to see how Katee and Islander do with this. I just might follow.

[Katee]

Thanks, everyone for the support. I do feel so blessed to be part of this community. And to have found a doc who i hope will be open.

I'll try to keep track of all that was done and the progress along the way.

The doc's scale weighed me a full 10 pounds over my scale at home, putting my BMI (at 5'4" at 30.9) - into "obese" category. Sigh. I don't feel obese. I wear size 14 pants and either medium or large tops. (Yeah, i know, size inflation.) I don't generally see myself as obese in the mirror. I don't like my weight. I want to lose, well, at least 25 pounds, but i'd love to lose 40. I have a medium bone frame - does BMI take that into account? Even "very skinny" i have large breasts and i don't look thin.

Hugs to you, Reesacat! You are always so loving and encouraging. : )

[oceanforkids]

Thanks, everyone for the support. I do feel so blessed to be part of this community. And to have found a doc who i hope will be open.

I'll try to keep track of all that was done and the progress along the way.

The doc's scale weighed me a full 10 pounds over my scale at home, putting my BMI (at 5'4" at 30.9) - into "obese" category. Sigh. I don't feel obese. I wear size 14 pants and either medium or large tops. (Yeah, i know, size inflation.) I don't generally see myself as obese in the mirror. I don't like my weight. I want to lose, well, at least 25 pounds, but i'd love to lose 40. I have a medium bone frame - does BMI take that into account? Even "very skinny" i have large breasts and i don't look thin.

Hugs to you, Reesacat! You are always so loving and encouraging. : )

Katee, you sound a bit like me (in build). I 'm 5'3" and wear a size 12 pants but always a large or even x-large top because of the boob thing. Besides, I like to be comfortable and I don't dress fancy during the daytime when babies are here. I wear a bib-apron because I need the pockets. I have some post-menopausal ab pounds I'd love to lose, but I'm not freaking over it too much. What I do freak over is that my doctor's scale weighs at least 10 or more pounds over what I show at home, and that's what goes onto the "record". I rarely weigh myself though, as someone told me long ago that it is a very self-defeating gesture. I believe it is, too, because you're supposed to weigh yourself naked, first thing in the morning - which then sets the tone for your day. If you like what you see, fine, but if you don't, it's a day buster. A scale is a handy tool once in a while, but I would never dream of weighing myself daily or even weekly. I can tell by how my clothes fit whether I'm losing or gaining or whatever. That's usually a more accurate indicator anyhow.

I get plenty of exercise during the day hauling babies around, and then I try to walk 2 miles every day, at least. It's more for relaxation than anything else though, because I've never lost much weight with walking, although I did lose inches. Strange. But I like the fresh air and the alone time.

I do wish you guys luck and good health while trying it, though, and will be watching for reports. :)

[bmc65]

Katee, I hate the silly BMI, and no it does not take bone structure into account. Percent body fat is of course the gold standard. If you can get that it would tell you a whole lot more.
Highlander, I agree about the label thing. Some people do everything right and still have a weight problem. I believe there have always been people like this. However, the recent explosion of overweight people has to be attributed to the garbage that is being passed off as food these days.
PS: I'll try and edit typos later. No spell check on this computer. errrrr

[AussieSwede]

Yeah.. HCG is really a serious diet. Dropping your calorie that you take in a big amount can really cause a big problem! Why not settle yourself with easy and nice way of losing weight. Regular exercise and healthy foods, more fruits and vegetable. That's wasn't so hard. ;)

[Katee]

Yeah.. HCG is really a serious diet. Dropping your calorie that you take in a big amount can really cause a big problem! Why not settle yourself with easy and nice way of losing weight. Regular exercise and healthy foods, more fruits and vegetable. That's wasn't so hard. ;)

Um, i don't want to be rude to a new member, but you are talking without knowing me. I have been doing most of what you suggest for over 5 years now. I have a multitude of medical issues. For the average healthy person what you are suggesting is good sense. Frankly, i think you are out of your depth on this issue. I wouldn't be considering this extreme diet had i not already tried most other options. I'm offended by "That's wasn't so hard." It HAS been hard and painful and frustrating.

[Reesacat]

@AussieSweede: the original article we have been discussing on this thread was at Mercola.com. The link to the article is here:
http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2011/04/13/pregnancy-hormone-hcg-can-melt-away-your-body-fat.aspx

Dr. Mercola wrote a thoughtful article on what to do to lose weight, but acknowledged he had several patients with issues such as a benign pituitary tumor that regular weight loss strategies didn't work for. Several of us (myself included) have thyroid and adrenals damaged by the retrovirus involved in ME/CFIDS, and due to damage in the heart can't exercise plus are dealing with the effects of chemicals such as fluoride poisoning and other endocrine disruptors.
There is some thinking that the hCG diet can reset damaged endocrine systems......

[Islander]

Allow me to chime in. AussieSwede, first, welcome!

Please note that you are stepping into the middle of a conversation. I hope you have read the Mercola article by now so you will understand a bit about the HCG diet. Most people come to this site because they, or someone they care about, has health issues, and one of them is obesity. I daresay ALL of the active users follow a healthy diet and lifestyle; no soda-drinking, fast-food-eating junkies here. Those with weight issues have already tried everything else. This diet is a bit unusual but I see nothing unhealthy about it and have already begun. I'm keeping a daily record and if it works well for me, I'll post my progress in the Blogspot. Right now I'm only on Day 4 so it's too soon to tell. Please try not to judge people until you know them a little better.

[highlander]

Islander, I'm really eager to hear how this goes for you (even though I probably said that already).

[Islander]

Kindly rein in your enthusiasm, dear friends and posters, for at least one more day. I will say: on course and steady — no hunger on 500 calories. Hard to believe, so wait & see what Day 5 brings.

[Pattypans]

Whew, my hat's off to you, Islander! I'm rooting for you, and Katee too. (Did I miss somebody?)

I guess I reined in no enthusiasm--sorry about that--but it comes without pressure, okay?

[Islander]

Oh, Katee, have you started it yet? C'mon, you gotta partner me in this!

[Katee]

Oh, Katee, have you started it yet? C'mon, you gotta partner me in this!
I will & i'm anxious to start. But the doc wants me to do this under her supervision, and she's waiting for blood tests (they took 13 vials of blood) & all to get back. And because i still have menstrual periods, i think we have to wait until day 4-5 for me to start it. Believe me, i'll let you know . . . tho i have to admit, the couple of negative responses at Mercola are giving me a bit of pause. It does seem i tend to be one of those people who, if there is a negative response to be had, i will have it.

Islander, what kind of hCG are you using? Where did you get it?

[Islander]

It's called HCG LEAN 2000 drops, 60 ml, 2 oz. Looks like a lifetime supply. Directions are 10 drops 3x/day. It sorta looks like it might kinda be maybe homeopathic but I hope not because it's working really well and I don't believe in homeopathy. Not hungry, feel great, lots of energy.

I checked out an online source mentioned by someone on VV but I was eager to start and was lucky to find a local source, one of the 2 health food stores within a few miles of me in this otherwise remote area! I did not want to wait!

[highlander]

Katee... 13 vials? And you could walk out? :eek: I'd have passed out.

[Katee]

Katee... 13 vials? And you could walk out? :eek: I'd have passed out.

Yeah, 13. And i had to go to three different labs and be poked 3 different times for the privilege. Some of the tests the doc ordered couldn't be processed from the first lab (they didn't poke me). The second lady was alone at the lab, and anxious to get to lunch. She poked me twice and got 4 vials before she sent me to a third lab to finish the job. Plus i'd had an appointment at the first place at 12.10, so i'd been fasting about 16 hours at that point. Not a fun day.

BTW, off the subject, i'm getting error messages on about half the posts here so that i can't open them. I went to Safari to read them. I've had this problem before (some months ago) in Firefox, so i switched to Chrome and it hasn't been a problem until recently. I don't trust Safari much, but i may have to switch again. Thank you Aaltrude and Reesacat for the help with the sulfur problem. Islander, i tried the baking soda form of No 'Poo, with a vinegar rinse. I'll check into other alternatives. Thanks, guys.

[Islander]

Katee, next time that happens (I hope there IS no next time), can you copy the error msg you get and PM it to me? Thanks!

[bmc65]

Katee, if you find a no-poo alternative you like please let us know. I had to stop using conditioner because of the head itch thing. Now shampoos are beginning to make me itch, so I'm using a shampoo from whole foods that has no sodium lauryl sulfate. It's called M G A max green alchemy. It lathers great and is really concentrated, but it leaves my hair kind of sticky and dry.
Also 13 vials!!! I think they are a band of vampires and they were collecting a little extra for their lunch LOL.
Islander, I don't want to pressure you, so I'm just going to wait until your ready to report on how this goes.

[Aaltrude]

I mentioned that I use a super fatted solid soap as a replacement for shampoo and conditioner in another thread. If you can't find any super fatted soap, also known as castille soap, you could use Dr Bronner's liquid soap, which is a liquid castille soap, as a shampoo.

[bmc65]

I found Dr Bronner's to be kind of harsh. Maybe I'll re-visit it.

[Aaltrude]

I prefer the super fatted soap as a shampoo to Dr Bronner's. If you are not able to make your own, you could also try to find some castille soap.

[Aaltrude]

I just found that Dr Bronner's also makes a super fatted bar soap.
http://www.drbronner.com/DBMS/LS.htm

[Reesacat]

I used to use JR Ligget's Shampoo Bar when traveling with folks in motor home-here is the link.
http://jrliggett.com/why/ingredients.html

The ingredient in the original bar from the website:

Olive Oil, Coconut Oil Castor Oil, Sodium Hydroxide, Pure Spring Water
and Fragrance: Rose Oil Just smells clean!
Works well for nearly anyone, including people with severe allergies and sensitivities

Sodium Hydroxide is also known as lye.

[Aaltrude]

Sodium hydroxide is also completely utilised in the saponification process when making soap. There is no sodium hydroxide in the finished product.

[Reesacat]

We used to get real lye soap at craft fairs years ago and it was the best stuff-gentle but thorough and you could use it for anything you needed soap for.

[Islander]

It's almost impossible to get lye for soapmaking any more. Red Devil lye used to be in every supermarket. Turns out it's an ingredient in making meth so it's practically unobtainable now.

[mellowsong]

It's almost impossible to get lye for soapmaking any more. Red Devil lye used to be in every supermarket. Turns out it's an ingredient in making meth so it's practically unobtainable now.

I have a friend in her sixties who makes home made soaps and sells at the farmer's market. Last year she told me she was trying to buy lye and they actually called the police on her!

[Pattypans]

K... I'm using a shampoo from whole foods that has no sodium lauryl sulfate....but it leaves my hair kind of sticky and dry.

bmc, it's not exactly no poo, but I wash my hair with Dr. Bronner's, then rinse with white vinegar diluted in water. The vinegar takes away soap residue (which I think should take care of the stiickiness you mention with your shampoo), and leaves my hair soft.

[bmc65]

Thanks for the suggestions. I don't know about trying to make my won soap, (I'm not sure if I'm willing to get arrested over lye LOL). Maybe I'll try Dr. Bonner's again or look for a different supper fatted soap. I'll post about it if I get some success.
Funny when I was a kid my mom told me lye soap was bad.

[walterrichmand]

HGC is possibly easiest to pursue but yet the most effective. For one, dieters are not required fatiguing exercise routines. All dieters have to do actually is to have the HGC hormones directed daily and chase the diet which is not as hard as others weight loss diets.

[Lovemywesties]

I guess I'll admit my ignorance and say I have no idea what the hCG diet is.

What worked for me when I was somewhat overweight was simply eliminating ALL sweets, including the so-called "healthier" sweeteners. I lost 20 pounds with that alone. Then, more recently, I eliminated all grain products and started adhering more closely to a "paleo" diet and lost another 18 pounds.

The weight literally dropped away with no other help from me. My exercise program was nonexistent because of a screwed up knee (now on the mend, thankfully). I did nothing but sit for several months and I STILL lost weight. In fact, I started adding in a large baked potato (with butter or sour cream) a couple times a week because I was afraid my weight loss had gone into some sort of weird free-fall and I would completely waste away. I didn't, but I do need to rebuild muscle tone because I've been so (unwillingly) sedentary.

While I don't understand why this approach wouldn't work for everyone wanting to lose weight, I do know that it doesn't always work, for whatever reason.