Phase 1 – Splurge
This is a short 2-day phase where you are required to consume more calories than you would on a normal day. Calories consumed ideally from fats. According to Dr. Simeons, when you splurge for the first two days of taking HCG, then all of a sudden on day three of taking the hormone, when you drop down to the 500 calorie Diet, the hypothalamus goes into an emergency mode, mostly produced by a reaction of the adrenal glands. This process causes the hypothalamus to burn abnormal reserve fat. This is known as emergency storage fat. Your hypothalamus will pull from your fat stores much more efficiently when consuming a high fat diet for those first two days.
Phase 2- The HCG rapid weight loss phase
The HCG phase (day 3 onwards) is when the HCG works with the hypothalamus and begins to provide access to abnormal fat accumulated around the size area of the body- the hips, stomach thighs etc. This results in an eventual return to your body contour or shape that you may not have seen for years. It is for this reason Dr Simeons’ scientific paper he wrote on the HCG Diet is called “Pounds & Inches”
What does the hypothalamus have to do with being overweight?
It is suggested that over time, as your body weight slowly increases, the hypothalamus does not receive input about the extra energy / food you are consuming in order to stop overeating. Once this starts it is hard to lose the adipose (fat) tissue. Over time even small amounts of food can cause weight increase because of this dysfunction, and becomes a never-ending cycle. Many people report that even after eating a big meal they don’t seem to be satisfied- the food cravings continue. When the Hypothalamus is out of balance, food becomes increasingly more important, yet increasingly unfulfilling; hence your food cravings can increase. This is when hunger hormones become out of balance, typically leptin and insulin. Leptin and insulin are the hormones you are resetting, this is the goal and reason why you are taking the HCG hormone. This is not a traditional weight loss program based around purely calorie restriction or a grueling “biggest Loser” type exercise program which is unable to be maintained. There is no other diet like this- you are using a bio identical hormone to reset your hunger hormones, so you must follow this 100% – it really is exciting.
Our hypothalamus not only gives us the motivation to eat, but most importantly how eating is to be experienced. Working together- the HCG and the hypothalamus are able to access your abnormal fat or what we call “shape fat”.
The HCG diet will begin to re balance the hypothalamic regulatory systems, insulin levels drop, blood sugar levels drops, and cholesterols begin to stabilize favorably.
In many cases ladies with fertility or menstrual irregularities see resolution after many years of obesity.
Your hypothalamus regains its proper function and resets your weight- your “set point” which has become off balance and caused increasing weight gain over the years.
Phase 3- The Stabilisation phase
The stabilisation phase is a low carbohydrate meal plan, inclusive of fats and a step in the right direction for long term health and wellbeing.
The goal during this phase is to maintain your new weight loss, not lose more weight. If you have more weight to lose, you can do another round in 6 weeks (or more if this is not your first round). It takes about 3 weeks before the weight reached at the end of the HCG treatment becomes stable, i.e. does not show violent fluctuations after an occasional excess.
Your goal- to create a new weight set point, a weight that your body automatically maintains, close to your last HCG date weight.
Your body’s goal- to ‘recover’ the weight you lost. This is what most people are unaware of when they ‘finish’ the diet. Without a method to create a new weight set point, most bodies successfully ‘recover’ the lost weight
To ensure your goal wins over your body’s goal, you must perform the stabilisation phase diligently as guided
The 21 days of stabilisation is a different eating plan to the 500 calorie HCG phase. Stabilisation has dietary guidelines to be adhered to in to order complete the full HCG Diet successfully.
HCG phase sees amazing weight loss
The Stabilisation phase ‘locks in’ the new weight you achieved during the 500 calorie HCG phase.
Phase 4- Life Long / Maintenance phase
The Maintenance phase is an optional consultation that is most often embarked upon by our clients. It is your choice if you would like to have a maintenance consultation.
The type of consultation you will have is individual to every person depending on their current health status and health goals. This is where many people will choose to have a consultation to learn more about Ketosis. Perhaps you want to learn more about Cholesterol management, detoxification, gut health or hormonal imbalance.
If you are Interested to know more about our HCG Treatment program, please visit our HCG treatment page or call our helpful and lovely Staff at Pause Menopause on 1300 255 225 or fill out our free consultation form and we’ll get right back to you.
All the best in health!
Kylie McCarthy
Nutritionist