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HCG Injections: The Lowdown

HCG injections for weight loss, you’ve probably run across some information on the internet, if your a avid user. But like many of the new dieting trends, you probably don’t know what it is or how it works. There is much controversy surrounding HCG injections and a surge in interest over their ability to help people lose weight fast. Here are the basics behind the latest weight loss regime to hit the market.

What are HCG injections?

HCG injections are derived from human chorionic gonadotropin, which is a hormone developed during a woman’s pregnancy. This hormone helps to maintain the health of the ovary as well as produce progesterone during the nine months. This progesterone is crucial in the development of a healthy baby. It helps build up the uterus in order to protect the budding embryo. In fact, HCG is such an integral part of the human life cycle that the levels are what is used to detect pregnancy. It can be used to force a woman to ovulate, which is a method used by many fertility clinics.

How do they aid weight loss?

Although there are still tests being performed, some people have come to believe that the injections are viable weight loss methods. Some companies and health stores offer oral pills, but these are often thought to be ineffective. HCG injections are generally administered by a health professional or nutritional organization. A small amount is injected into the body and a strict, low-calorie diet must be followed in order to achieve the best results possible. Some individuals who stick to their regular HCG injections and maintain the diet find that they can lose one to two pounds a day.

What is the cost of HCG injections?

This can vary greatly depending on brand, supplier and insurance coverage. Some insurance companies do cover the injections or offer discounts. You’ll have to contact your carrier for more information. Without insurance, a month’s supply of HCG injections could run you a few hundred dollars.

How long does treatment last?

It is most often recommended to be treated through cycles to ensure the best results. The initial treatment will be a month, with most days requiring a HCG injection. Afterwards, another month may be taken or if the desired amount of weight is lost the treatment can be stopped. After two treatments, most professionals recommend taking a month or longer break as it is thought that continual usage can lead to immunity or less desirable results. Only four total cycles are recommended.

Is it safe?

There are always potential side effects and risks, so it is important to discuss any new diet plan with your doctor beforehand. Headaches, nausea, blood clots, depression, and pregnant-like symptoms have all been reported after using the injections. Many people, due to costs involved, choose to perform injections themselves which can also present certain risks if not done carefully. Be sure to research and understand the diet fully before committing to a cycle.

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Diet Diary Your way to Double the Weight Loss

Big news related to a study on dieting that you will in fact double your weight loss by keeping a food diary as well as just a few additional added tasks. Fairly simple concept that is quite obvious to me as to why you would achieve a much increased better weight loss.Accountability raises the bar when addressing success with weight loss and for that matter most tasks. You merely need to read about the most successful programs for dieting and up pops Weight Watchers every time. Makes complete sense to me that when someone has to weigh in weekly and then attend a meeting in a crowded room with everyone trying to achieve the same objective that the natural conversation is something like; How much weight did you lose this week? Yikes! Such accountability… You cannot deny that it is a huge piece of the widly chosen program for weight loss called Weight Watchers .The new study conducted by Kaiser Permanente’s Center for Health research recommends a weight loss diary as well as a diet rich in fruits, vegetables and low to non- fat dairy products and 30 minutes of daily exercise to double your weight loss. In the diary, they would write down what they ate, and also estimate the portion sizes to help keep track of calories. Sounds pretty much like the Weight Watchers concept for a healthy weight loss program. It is just very simple accountability that elevates the speed in achieving the desired end result. Nothing like feeling accomplished at the end of the day. The more in depth detail you write in your food diary will directly correlate to the bottom line of your end result.Here is my recommended list of questions that you should answer in your diet diary only after you purchase a small notebook that will be able to travel with you daily.1. At the top of the page write down the date and don’t be shy about using as many pages as you deem necessary daily. Do this every day until you have reached your desired weight.2. Write down every morsel of food you put in your mouth as well as the number and or estimated size. (Just that task alone will make you put less food in your mouth to avoid picking up your pen)3. Write down each the time you ate it and estimate calories.4. Write down your how you feel when you ate? Was it satisfying?5. Write down each time you exercise even if it’s only 2 push ups and 8 crunches.6. Write down how you feel at the end of each day.Are you looking to lose weight? Something like 20 pounds in the time it takes to lose 10? It just doesn’t get any simpler than this technique and I am not surprised at all that it is proven that you will double your weight loss.

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What is Dukan Diet and its side-effects?

This article gives pertinent information about Dukan Diet and its side-effects

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Pierre Dukan, a French doctor and nutritionist, challenged with the case of obesity started to look for alternative ways in curing the illness. After 20 years of thorough research he published in the year 2000, a book called, “Je ne sais pas maigrir” or translated as, “I don’t know how to get slimmer.” It gained the best-seller in France after a year it has been published.
It was made a hit in UK when Kate Middleton, now the duchess of Cambridge, tried the Dukan Diet before her marriage to the beloved Prince William, she reportedly claimed a loss of two dress sizes. It also allegedly claimed to help five million French. The book is also gaining fame in the US in the year 2011 when actress/singer, Jennifer Lopez, lost pounds after her pregnancy by following this diet.
Dukan Diet: What is it? How does this work?
Dukan Diet is similar to the famous Atkins diet. Atkins and Dukan are much alike in terms of non-intake of carbs initially and do not require portion control or counting calorie consumptions. In Atkins, it requires net carbohydrate intakes and unlike Dukan, it suggests a daily intake of oats, increase water consumption and 20 minutes of everyday brisk walking. Dukan Diet adopts four phases namely: Attack, Cruise, Consolidation and Stabilization.
Four Phases of the Dukan Diet
Attack: In this starter phase, the dieter is only allowed take protein rich foods that are exquisitely low in fat. Dr. Dukan provided 72-item list of foods to be eaten, it excludes pork, lamb, poultry products and cheeses. Food should always be cooked but without adding any fat to it, it best to cook in grilling or roasting. It also requires you to eat 1 ½ tbsp. oat bran & 1.5 liters of water per day. This phase should be followed around 2-7 days or more. Results from this initial phase within 5 days may result in 4-7 lbs. loss. This phase promotes quick loss of weight since it is strictly based on a protein-only diet.
Cruise: Cruise, the second to the fourth phase of the Dukan diet scheme. During this phase dieters who were only allowed to eat protein-only foods can now alternate a 28-items of non-starchy vegetables. They may take attack phase diet for today and take non-starchy veggie diet for tomorrow, and so this phase must go on by alternating these two types of diet each day. This phase may last long enough as much as you want by reaching your desired weight and assuring 2 pounds per week loss.
Consolidation: As one achieves the desired weight, one has to go the next phase called Consolidation, this is the maintenance phase of this diet scheme where you have to prevent putting back excess pounds. The plan in this phase is less strict compared to the first two phases. During this phase you are permitted to eat protein-only and veggie diet along with a piece of low-sugar fruit, 2 slices of whole grain bread and a portion of hard cheese. In this phase you are allowed to have 1-2 serving of starchy foods and one celebration meal per week. The phase of consolidation does not expect to loss off pounds but rather it is steadily the maintenance process.
Stabilization: Stabilization is the final phase and a life-long phase of the diet scheme. In here maintenance of the life-changing diet may be a challenging and tempting. During this portion of the scheme, one is already permitted to allow any food intake that a person wants and by also sticking to the diet rule in the consolidation phase. As Pierre Dukan suggest, that staying on the phase 1 rule once a week and eat whatever you like for the rest of the week lowers the chances of regaining weight.
Pros and Cons of Dukan Diet
Pros: The fast results of this diet scheme is beneficially rewarding and motivating. It allows you to have protein and veggie meal plan diets and does not require you to count off your calorie intakes.
Cons: It is highly restrictive and can exclude healthy foods. Dieters can experience side-effects such as symptoms of headaches, nausea, lethargy, irritable and loss of concentration. Dieters may acquire halitosis (bad breath), metallic tasting mouth and strong smell in their urines. For those people who have problems with their kidneys and liver are not advised to follow this diet plan. It is not also recommended for pregnant and nursing mothers.

Views and Opinions by Health Experts on the Dukan Diet
There are lots of critics in this diet plan. Due to the restrictive type scheme of this diet, some fruits, grains and nuts which are healthy and have high amounts of vitamins and minerals that are vital to the nutrition of the body are eliminated. Keri Gans of American Dietetic Association, said that the lost amount of multivitamins that should be acquired from those restricted foods are not compensated in the Dukan diet. Experts have also criticized that experiencing such side-effects may not be healthy at all.

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