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I've just met with my doctor about my weight gain. Last year about this time, I went into menopause. I stopped having my period, stopped sleeping through the night, lost a lot of hair, my skin went dry, I noticed patches of brown spots appearing on my face and hands, I lost my interest in intimacy with my husband, I forgot simple things like "why did I walk into this room again?", I was irritable, and I gained about 20 pounds! It was about this time that I read a book by Suzanne Somers called "Breakthrough: Eight Steps to Wellness." She talked about using bio-identical hormone replacement therapy and in a rhythmic dosage rather than a static dosage. I talked to my doctor about it and she prescribed an estriol cream to be taken vaginally 1-2x per week as needed, and a progesterone cream to be taken for two weeks on and two weeks off. She also prescribed melatonin and 5htp to help me sleep. I'd also read about L-Arginine to help with hot flashes. Those things helped but didn't fully alleviate my symptoms so I kept doing research on menopause and it's symptoms. I found a method of dosage and delivery for bio-identical hormone replacement therapy called The Wiley Protocol and asked my doctor about it. She had JUST heard about it herself. So, we agreed to embark on the adventure of trying it to help me. So far it's worked to alleviate all of my symptoms with the exception of my WEIGHT! ARg.
So, I went through the same steps of research and found a hormone called HCG for weight loss, did my homework and learned that my own doctor prescribes it! Thus, starting tomorrow, I will be injecting myself with this hormone that is only produced by pregnant women. Ironically, two other women in my office are also starting this very weight loss plan this week. I'm just looking for others online who have had experience with this and what they have to say about it.
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Well it sounds like your Dr's are telling you to do HCG with only 20lbs to lose, maybe so and maybe it does help the weight come off, and there are no side effects (other than starving your body). I think the pattern I see with the 20lber's is the slow to little weightloss. I suppose for what you need to come off HCG does work, but shots for 3 weeks to only lose 8 lbs sounds like torture to me. I typically lose 10lbs in the first couple of days, so maybe that is why it works differently for those who have more to lose because there is more fat reserve. Three rounds of HCG seems like a lot of time to get 20lbs off, but to each their own. The ulitmate goal is to feel better about yourself and be at a healthy weight, but as Nanashana said it is not for 20 yr olds who want to lose "that extra 20" , that is not the intent for this diet. And true the older you get the more stubborn the fat reserves are to get rid of. I think it's great you guys have a supportive Dr. that helps you out and you are losing, but with the wait in between each round (6 weeks on the first round, 8 on the next, then 12) it seems like a lot of months to get off the stubborn 20lb, but hey whatever works right?
April 15, 2010 - 11:34pmGood luck gals! We'll get there yet! ;)
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What I like about hcg is that it is not just a weight loss diet, it is a metabolism reset. It is a PERMANENT weight loss. I had already worked my butt off for 4 months to lose 14 lbs, but as soon as I hit menopause, I gained 20lbs. Then nothing I did, including restoring my hormones, took that weight off. My progress might seem slow to some, but it's A LOT faster than losing the 14lbs that took me 4 months, and it's a lot easier because I tortured myself with starving and strenuous exercise for those 14 lbs. My hcg progress has been slow compared to others, I believe, because I use hormone creams and we aren't supposed to use ANY creams or lotions during the VLCD stage because it impedes effectiveness. So, in my book, the time it's taken me to lose the weight (and my original goal was 20 lbs but now I'm going to keep going until I have no more abnormal fat to take off) is utterly worth it for the rest of my life of health and well being.
April 16, 2010 - 4:21pmThis Comment
Thank you Nanashana..I appreciate your honesty and help. I may not be obese or overweight but gaining 20lbs in a matter of 8 months on my small frame is very tough and not healthy. I don't want to do just any ordinary diet but something that will target my hormonal issues. I'm not in my 20's but mid-thirties and it has become increasingly difficult to get the weight off. My stomach feels bloated and all around I feel miserable. I agree in consulting a doctor before radically reducing my caloric intake to 500 calories. I guess my main issue is what would be the side affects of this extreme diet?
April 15, 2010 - 7:04pmThis Comment
So far as I know, there are no side effects. I did my homework, and now know almost 200 people first hand who have used or are currently on the hcg diet. It has proven effective and without side effects for all of us. The best place to find real life hcg experience is on youtube. Do a search for "hcg diet" there and then watch others' journey on this diet.
April 15, 2010 - 7:23pmThis Comment
Will this program work for someone to lose 20lbs? I recently have been going through hormonal changes, gained 20lbs quickly and my hair has thinned. What would be the side affects? Thanks
April 15, 2010 - 7:21amThis Comment
I gained 20lbs when I hit menopause. After getting my hormones back in balance with The Wiley Protocol, I expected that the weight would drop back down, but it didn't. That's why I usued hcg. It is not just for the significantly obese. I conferred with my doctor first, however. It is safe and effective. I DO get a little annoyed when someone young and in shape asks about using hcg because they have low self esteem. It is NOT for everyone because it will ONLY target abnormal fat reserves. For anyone else, hcg is ineffective and can be dangerous if they limit their diet to 500 calories and have no abnormal fat reserves for the hcg to feed their body with. In my first round, I lost 8 lbs. I only did a 3 week round. Women tend to lose about a half a pound per day. I'm in my 2nd round and have lost another 12 lbs. So, I've finally shed the 20 lbs I put on in menopause. I have another 10 days to go and as long as I have fat reserves, the hcg will work and I won't be hungry and I'll still drop weight.
April 15, 2010 - 4:15pmThis Comment
You can also take prenatals vitamins. They usually have great results of growing hair and fingernails even without being pregnant!
April 15, 2010 - 9:26amThis Comment
I would not recommend you do HCG with only 20 lbs to lose, This weightloss protocol is for the significantly obese. I would recommend doing the 500 calorie diet with monitored food, measured weighed, and lots and lots of water. Without having a lot of weight to lose HCG is simply to harsh on your system and it sounds like your system is already going through it. Try the 500 cal diet (read "Pounds and inches" food guide scroll down until you get to the food part) and do 1 hour of walking a day with lots of water, the weight will come right off of you I PROMISE! Google Dr. Simmeons pounds and inches and you'll find the manual it's free!
April 15, 2010 - 9:25amAs far as the hairloss, I would recommend not washing it everyday, every three days is you can make it, and limit any chemical services you can. Also, I would not recommend styling with a brush, if you do you will be pulling out more hair than daily loss and you will notice it thinning faster hormones or not. Hair holds shape after it's 70% dry, so dry with your fingers and then if you must use a brush, just set in the shape once it's basically dry. (I'm a hairdresser as well as HCG'er) Go to a GNC or health supplement store and pick up some Biotin shampoo and biotin supplements. Following these steps will help keep and grow new hair.
Hope this helps, stay positive too, stress will put on weight faster than anything else. :)
Jen
P.s/
My sister just finished her last round of HCG and has only 20 lbs left and she is eating right (no starches no sugars) and going to the gym to get the remaining few pounds off, with lots of water and she only has 10 to go after only 2 weeks!
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HCG is a naturally occurring hormone in the body. There are no indications of future prevention. In fact, if you read "Pounds and Inches" it mentions how to proceed just in case you DO get pregnant if you are using it for weight loss! I can't stress enough that if you're interested in this as a weight loss aid, READ "POUNDS AND INCHES! It is abundant and free on the internet.
April 10, 2010 - 6:21pmThis Comment
Does anyone know if it has any effects on trying to conceive in the future?
April 10, 2010 - 7:06amThis Comment