Just read a very creepy weight loss book..

I just read the creepiest book about weight loss.  I don't know if we are supposed to list the author & name of the book if we are saying something negative, so I'll just tell you all what it was about.

It was about the "cure" for weight loss being this hormone called HCG that is found in the urine of pregnant women.  According to the guy who wrote this book, if you inject yourself daily with this hormone, then eat 500 calories a day for a while, you will be cured of obesity.  He claims it is 100% effective.  Apparently, this hormone is the one that allows fat stores to be released during pregnancy to nourish the fetus if the mother cannot get enough food.   When taken at the same time as dieting, you are able to release your fat stores as well.

I don't know why exactly, but reading this kind of bummed me out.  This guy says no amount of diet or exercise can ever release the stored fat in your body.  Who wants to hear that?  The FDA does not support use of this hormone for weight loss.  

I have been really excited about losing weight the right way.  Moderately lowering calories, moderate exercise, slow permanent weight loss.  It is scary that professionals are suggesting such radical methods for losing weight.  I have no intention of trying such a thing.  Just wondered if anyone else has read about this HCG stuff, and what you all think. 

 

I also just remember the person I was referring to above would get really tired, and the same doctor gave shots of B something, either B6 or B12, to combat the tiredness.

I now know it was from not eating enough.

There are so many bordering on dangerous diet scams out there.  Add this one to the list.  I am glad that most can see that this is not the best way to go about losing weight. 

I have actually heard of this, it is very dangerous.  remember this guy could have a dozen degrees and still be a quack because his ideas are wrong.

There are people as well as drs out there who are pathological about fat, they will do and suggest anything to make sure you get rid of it, they will treat you like crap and make your life hell cause well you are fat and "deserve" it in their thinking.

From what I understand we dont actually LOSE fat cells, we shrink them, Though I may be wrong but it seems like I got that from biology 101.

yes, yes, yes all of you (including p_fagan) are pointing out the same problem...our diet fad scam industry!

ALL diet fad scam books if they are not original scientific research being presented (i.e. China Study) then they are diet fad scam spin off (i.e. EAT TO LIVE...I got it right!!!) and feeding the diet fad scam industry.

the only way to fight this problem is what? education probably... doing just what you all are doing here...talking about it and refusing to buy into it...cool.

I've only heard of it because it was on a quiz show 'never mind the buzzcocks' the other week. Elvis used it. Look where he ended up.

Enough said, I believe. 

Original Post by alyssandra:

I bet the never release stored fat was because as you lose weight you still have the same number of fat cells....They just get smaller....and ummmm hcg dosent start in peoples urine.....

I agree with alyssandra she actually right you  will still have the same amount of fat cells even after you loose weight you just have to stick to a  diet even after you loose your goal amount, maybe not a diet as strict but to  one nonoetheless otherwise your fat cells will expand get full and multiply making you gain hence making you gain weight once u stop dieting etc.

 

 

Gosh, eating healthy and counting calories seems so much preferable to 500-calorie-per-day starvation diets which include injecting weird things into yourself.

=^..^= MOLLY

I read of something similar in a Jane Fonda book from the 70's...But it was cow urine...

Either way..I think I would rather just diet or be fat than inject myself with anythings urine.

Hello. I dont know what category I fall under for posting my reply to the discussion here, as in being an advertiser??, which is not at all my intent. I would, in fact, like to shed some light on the subject here. I am a rep for a clinic that offers this program. The HCG program is , in fact, an excellent weight loss program. I have been on it myself and am going to do another round within the next month. HCG is produced by pregnant women and extracted from the urine of pregnant women. While this sounds outlandish to some, to others it has helped perform miracles in weight loss.

The FDA does not approve the use of HCG for weight loss, BUT, in the case of a clinic that uses extensive blood draws and personal histories in making evaluations, we take a clients entire hormone profile into account, and in the majority of cases find there are no risks to using HCG to help a person lose weight, but that we also make sure other factors are looked at.

We can do the blood draw for $325. This is a big savings from the original cost of over $2000.

If we were just handing out HCG for weight loss, we would be doing the wrong thing... however WE do extensive evaluations of our clients to validate its use in combintion with oversight of a clients ENTIRE chemistry and medical history, something other clinics don't do.

HCG is  not approved for weight loss in the US by the FDA, but its up to individual clinics to make that determination.

This program runs for 6 weeks , along with a low calorie diet and exercise. I am here not to advertise (as I havent given any links or names of clinics) but to inform people of fraud and scams that are out there on the internet . I urge people to be aware of what they purchase online and from abroad. I am available to give more information to those interested. Safety is our top concern.

Was this some sort of science fiction?

 

Wow.

Original Post by henrywayne:

I just read the creepiest book about weight loss.  I don't know if we are supposed to list the author & name of the book if we are saying something negative, so I'll just tell you all what it was about.

You're allowed to state book titles and authors.  Just don't use copyrighted material without attribution.

If you google Trudeau, you'll learn about his shady past and run ins with the law, complete with jail and fines.

Original Post by justlisa40:

Hello. I dont know what category I fall under for posting my reply to the discussion here, as in being an advertiser??, which is not at all my intent. I would, in fact, like to shed some light on the subject here. I am a rep for a clinic that offers this program. The HCG program is , in fact, an excellent weight loss program. I have been on it myself and am going to do another round within the next month. HCG is produced by pregnant women and extracted from the urine of pregnant women. While this sounds outlandish to some, to others it has helped perform miracles in weight loss.

The FDA does not approve the use of HCG for weight loss, BUT, in the case of a clinic that uses extensive blood draws and personal histories in making evaluations, we take a clients entire hormone profile into account, and in the majority of cases find there are no risks to using HCG to help a person lose weight, but that we also make sure other factors are looked at.

We can do the blood draw for $325. This is a big savings from the original cost of over $2000.

If we were just handing out HCG for weight loss, we would be doing the wrong thing... however WE do extensive evaluations of our clients to validate its use in combintion with oversight of a clients ENTIRE chemistry and medical history, something other clinics don't do.

HCG is not approved for weight loss in the US by the FDA, but its up to individual clinics to make that determination.

This program runs for 6 weeks , along with a low calorie diet and exercise. I am here not to advertise (as I havent given any links or names of clinics) but to inform people of fraud and scams that are out there on the internet . I urge people to be aware of what they purchase online and from abroad. I am available to give more information to those interested. Safety is our top concern.

 

This is revolting, everyone wants a quick fix so you inject hormones into your system. How do you know that this is safe? has ti be tested like a drug would be that is going for FDA approval?

What are the long term effects of injecting hormones into a person that has normal hormones? Do you check the patients hormones before starting? Are you checking them along the way? Are other health factors considered? The ramifications from going on a VLC diet are horrible. We have seen what happens to gastric bypass patients, they are starved into weight loss...Have control studies been done to determine if the weight loss is in fact from the injection of HCG or the low cal diet and exercise regime that you put patients on. This is a ludricious as the commercials for weight loss pills that promise that you will loose a bunch of weight taking them and in small print it states that they are not FDA approved, results are not typical and that it is used in combination with low calorie diet and exercise.

This is voodoo medicine and as a medical professional I am appalled that anyone would suggests that a low VLC diet along with injecting hormones is a good way to loose weight. The best and only way to long term weight loss in through regular activity and healthy eating. Do not risk your health and well being because some savvy marketing professional has convinced you that this is a miracle... if you really want to invest some money into weight loss then go see a good nutritionist... that can help you will selecting foods that support your body in a healthy manner so that you can be healthy along with loosing weight..

N

Having been on many fad diets I understand where people are coming from.  I also know that there is more to losing weight than calories in, calories out.  For many of us hormones, thyroid, adrenal function, metabolism etc. have made it near impossible to lose weight.  Personally, I was not willing to accept that my life of an overweight person.  Not only had my lifestyle completely changed but I was tired all the time and my back and knees started bothering me.  I had also been on Ambien for five years to sleep.

Last fall I started bioidentical hormone therapy which helped me start functioning properly.  Once I started feeling human again I started the HCG protocal under the care of my doctor.  I felt better than I have felt in the five years since my hysterectomy (at a very young age) and the weight gain.  Yes, I felt better than I had felt in years eating only 500 calories per day.  I believe in the program so much that my mother, her husband, and my husband all went on the Protocal.  Many medical problems by all have been completely eliminated and all lost considerable weight.

There is a lot of medical terminology that explains how it works.  I was skeptical in the beginning but trusted the doctor that I was seeing and the results from the hormone therapy (all natural).  Now, I am a believer and hate to see people dismiss it so quickly due to all the other fad diets out there.  I do not work for a clinic and I do not have anything to sell with this email.  I got my life back with HCG and hate to see others not give themselves a chance.  I don't see it as a quick fix.  It was hard work sticking to the protocol and it was a life changing decision.  I will continue to eat healthy and exercise to ensure that the weight does not come back.  I will also continue the bioidentical hormone therapy to keep my body functioning as it should.

Here are my two cents.

What I find extremely sad is that people fall for these gimmicks.  We are always looking for an easy way out; from off the wall diets to bariatric surgeries.  Yes I think people look at bariatric surgery as an easy fix (even though it is really far from it, with all of it's complications, restrictions, and the fact that in the long run it is not that successful) I work in the medical profession and see all types of people and all types of excuses (I have made many excuses myself).  Thyroid problems, menopause, too tired, no time, so on and so on. 

I think that answer is simple it is just hard to follow through.  Portion sizes have gotten out of control.  We eat to much refined foods, devoid of fiber and other nutrients. We eat too much and exercise too little.   I think we all just need to get off of our butts and move more.  I have recently started an interval weight training program and I am having fantastic results, and the funny thing is that I can't keep up with the calories that I am told to eat......2000-2300 daily.  I eat a diet that is rich in fiber, protein, and healthy complex and nonrefined carbs.  I avoid high fructose corn syrup, too much sugar in general, saturated fats, and too much salt.  Still able to have an occasional dessert or alcoholic beverage.

I hear a lot of 'I can't' in my office.  I can't eat that much fiber...it gives me gas.  I can't give up pop (regular or diet...which by the way I think was the worst invention in our lifetime).  I can't eat cereal without adding sugar.  I can't drink skim milk, it's awful.  My response is.......YES YOU CAN!! You are NOT going to DIE if you don't have whatever it is we're talking about.  It's just a matter of changing the way we think.  I think that lifestyle modifications are better than any medication or weight loss gimmick. 

 

Lynn 129,

Could you tell us how you get all the vitamins and nutrients you need eating only 500 calories a day? You're going to reply that it's stored in all that fat the hcg makes you burn, right? I've heard that line, and all I know is I eat my 1200-1400 (when I'm on the weight loss wagon and I need to get back on) and whether or not I'm dieting or not, I feel better when I take my multi vitamin, so I don't buy into that we store the vitamins and nutrients we need in our fat. Do you ever feel like you might pass out say from low blood sugar?

Ever heard the old adage....if it sounds too good to be true it probably is?

And like edziabo says there are a lot of excuses, and some of them I think are some what true......I know menopause has made weight loss a much bigger challenge for me, the same as having a desk job has. It takes hard work to live healthy. Part of living healthy is eating the right foods and the right amounts of them.......and 500 calories doesn't do that.

Dr. Simeon started all this, 50 years ago, still no FDA approval. Kevin Trudeau is the scammer who got in trouble for pushing the program. 50 years, and still no FDA approval, WHY????  If this works, tell me why ALL doctors don't prescribe it, when obesity is one of the major causes of health problems in this country. It's a fad, a scam, and will be remembered as one, one of these days, and it will come back off and on like all the others do.

I'm really po'd that my daughter who needs hcg for fertility has a hard time getting it because there is this shortage due to this weight loss fad. I also heard lots of ppl are ordering it overseas.....now how smart is that? No regulation at all, you don't even know what exactly it is you are getting when you do that.

This is one of stupidest fad diets I have ever heard of. Prisoners get more than 500 calories a day, for Pete's sakes!!!

bdmullaly, you do realize that lynn 129 last posted to this thread over a year ago?

Please PM me with the name of the book and the author.  I'm doing a project on fad diets for a nutrition class.  This might just be the grand-daddy of them all.

How many pregnant women do you know that have lost weight?

That's freaking disgusting and insane. Seriously. I think the dude who wrote the book is freaking crazy.

penny-, No I didn't realize that it had been a year ago. What happened to her? Did she starve to death?

And for the one that said pm me it is Dr. Simeon's Plan with Companion Guide. If you can't find it for your research project, let me know and I'll email you the whole thing....someone emailed it to me.