ADVICE IS FLOWING..................

Well.......I have poor news to report once again.  The roller coaster continues on.  Once again I have to report a weight gain instead of a weight loss.  In fact, the 5 pounds that I lost last week I regained this week.  I am stuck in a plateau that I just can't seem to break out of.  As friends and coworkers have asked me about how my weight loss is going over the past couple of weeks/month I have received quite the variety of advice.  Most of the advice is based upon people suggesting that I take this supplement, try this diet (Atkins, South Beach, High Protein/ Low Carb), and the most frequently suggested is hCG diet.  You know "The Diet 'They' Don't Want You To Know About" because the government and health officials don't want the U.S. population to be healthy and skinny.  So I am about to step up onto my soap box and give many reasons as to why I would NEVER consider using the hCG diet/weight loss program.  Your attention please.

#1 - YOU ARE STARVING YOUR BODY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I really shouldn't even have to explain this one.  It's simple.  Yes, on the HCG diet you will lose weight fast because you are starving on this diet.  Yes, your body is living off of your fat stores - BUT your body is also living off of your lean body mass (muscles), depleting your bones (can we say osteoporosis?), and starving your brain when you are eating such a low calorie diet.  "It is virtually impossible to meet your nutritional needs for carbohydrates, protein, fats, and fiber with less than 500 calories per day and the diet will most likely result in vitamin and mineral deficiencies.  Minimum calorie levels are closer to 1200-1500 daily to satisfy hunger, fuel daily activities, and provide all the nutrients you need for good health each day."  (Kathleen Zelman, MPH, RD, LD) The body uses carbohydrates first, proteins second, and fats last for energy production.  So how is hCG reversing that process?  How are you not burning through your lean body mass in the first phase of this diet?  Yes, I would LOVE to lose 30 pounds in 30 days, but I would prefer not to kill my body in the process. 

#2 - I would never start a diet that is NOT recommended by multiple medical organizations for decades. 

The HCG diet has been around since the 50s.  Dr Simeon's was the first person to make this dieting option public.  From the good ol' Wikipedia site for Kevin Trudeau (the author who wrote, "Lose 30 Pounds in 30 Days! The Weight Loss Secrets "They" Don't Want You to Know About" which utilizes hCG and started the current hCG craze) states the following paragraph.  "Critics say that as early as 1962, the Journal of the American Medical Association warned against the Simeon's Diet.  In 1976, the FTC ordered clinics and promoters of the Simeon's Diet and hCG to inform prospective patients that there had not been "substantial evidence" to conclude hCG offered any benefit above that achieved on a restricted calorie diet. Clinical research trials published by the Journal of the American Medical Association and the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition have shown that hCG is ineffective as a weight-loss aid, citing "no statistically significant difference in the means of the two groups" and that "hCG does not appear to enhance the effectiveness of a rigidly imposed regimen for weight reduction."  Kathleen Zelman, MPH RD LD, states "You will lose weight on the hCG diets but the weight loss will be the result of the very low-calorie or starvation-like diet, not the hCG injections."  Kathleen goes on stating, "Although it may sound like a plausible weight loss plan, the scientific evidence for using hCG injections is lacking.  In 1995, the British Journal of Clinical Pharmacology published an analysis of research showing no benefit of hCG in promoting weight loss. A December 2009 position paper of the American Society of Bariatric Physicians concluded they did not recommend hCG as a weight loss aid.  Quack Watch.org director Stephen Barrett, MD tells WebMD that "scientific studies have demonstrated that hCG injections do not cause weight loss.”  The list goes on and on of various medical organizations, doctors, and dietitians that warn against using hCG and the hCG diet. 

#3 - I don't want to participate in a weight loss program that has a list of possible side effects. 

It is virtually impossible to meet your nutritional needs for carbohydrates, protein, fats, and fiber with less than 500 calories per day and the diet will most likely result in vitamin and mineral deficiencies.  "The Truth About hCG for Weight Loss",  By Kathleen M. Zelman, MPH, RD, LD.  http://www.webmd.com/diet/features/truth-about-hcg-for-weight-loss

Side effects of hCG include: increased risk of blood clots, headaches, restlessness and depression. Increased pregnancy symptoms are also a common side effect: breast tenderness, water retention, swelling and nausea. When overused, hCG can result in more serious side effects such as ovarian hyper stimulation syndrome (OHSS).  http://www.hcgdietinfo.com/


So why are there Md's recommending patients to try hCG?  Maybe it's because we live in a society where all we want is the fast and easy fix for EVERYTHING.  We want our hot and ready pizza, 15 minute oil change, high speed Internet, 3G/ 4G phone service, and to lose 30 pounds in 30 days.  We are obsessed with instant gratification and would rather try a weight loss plan that most of us (I dare say 9 out of 10 of us) know deep down is unhealthy.  Over half of the American population is considered overweight or obese and we are searching for weight loss solutions that are quick and easy. It's hard to put in the effort, energy, discipline, and blessed time to lose weight the healthy and natural way.  We want to look good for that cruise, class reunion, wedding in a couple of months and we can't take the time nor have the patience to do it healthy.  I feel most of our society is full of procrastinators too (including me, I am a number one offender in procrastination).  We know we need to lose weight to be healthy but we wait to try to lose weight until there is a reason to get skinny (bathing suit season) or our health is at risk.  Our entire society needs a shift in prospective about weight loss.  If we could shift the prospective of weight loss to be towards a healthy and long term lifestyle change a lot of fad diets would be eliminated, including hCG. 

So, how do we get past the fad diets and start living a healthy lifestyle?  It's all about lifestyle changes that are obtainable and long term.  Do you really want to be taking hCG shots the rest of your life?  Do you want to eat a ton of grapefruits everyday for the rest of your life?  Fad diets are not long term.  I found a fantastic short article that I am going to copy and paste from the American Dietetic Association's website on how to identify a fad diet.  The next time your reading a magazine article about the newest diet, look at these different criteria outlined by the ADA and decide for yourself whether this is a good diet for you.  My education and professional background has definitely helped me decide whether a diet is good or bad, but unfortunately a lot of us can be persuaded very easily into unhealthy weight loss plans.  So I want to help you be able to decipher the information a little bit easier.  Like I have been saying week after week, my weight loss plan is to eat a balanced diet with foods from all five food groups within my specific calorie range, increase physical activity, and be consistent on a day to day and week to week basis (my biggest downfall so far!).  I am not going to use any medications, eliminate any foods or food groups, etc.  This is my plan for the rest of my life, it has to be healthy and obtainable.  Here's the article:

"Staying Away from Fad Diets"
American Dietetic Association
Eatright.org website
http://www.eatright.org/Public/content.aspx?id=6851


With all the focus on weight in our society, it isn’t surprising that millions of people fall prey to fad diets and bogus weight-loss products. Conflicting claims, testimonials and hype by so-called “experts” can confuse even the most informed consumers. The bottom line is simple: If a diet or product sounds too good to be true, it probably is.


There are no foods or pills that magically burn fat. No super foods will alter your genetic code. No products will miraculously melt fat while you watch TV or sleep. Some ingredients in supplements and herbal products can be dangerous and even deadly for some people.


Steer clear of any diet plans, pills and products that make the following claims:


#1:  Rapid Weight Loss


Slow, steady weight loss is more likely to last than dramatic weight changes. Healthy plans aim for a loss of no more than ½ pound to 1 pound per week. If you lose weight quickly, you’ll lose muscle, bone and water. You also will be more likely to regain the pounds quickly afterwards.


#2:  Quantities and Limitations


Ditch diets that allow unlimited quantities of any food, such as grapefruit and cabbage soup. It’s boring to eat the same thing over and over and hard to stick with monotonous plans. Avoid any diet that eliminates or severely restricts entire food groups, such as carbohydrates. Even if you take a multivitamin, you’ll still miss some critical nutrients.


#3:  Specific Food Combinations


There is no evidence that combining certain foods or eating foods at specific times of day will help with weight loss. Eating the “wrong” combinations of food doesn’t cause them to turn to fat immediately or to produce toxins in your intestines, as some plans claim.


#4:  Rigid Menus


Life is already complicated enough. Limiting food choices or following rigid meal plans can be an overwhelming, distasteful task. With any new diet, always ask yourself: “Can I eat this way for the rest of my life?” If the answer is no, the plan is not for you.


#5:  No Need to Exercise


Regular physical activity is essential for good health and healthy weight management. The key to success is to find physical activities that you enjoy and then to aim for 30 to 60 minutes of activity on most days of the week.

If you want to maintain a healthy weight, build muscle and lose fat, the best path is a lifelong combination of eating smarter and moving more. For a personalized plan, tailored to your lifestyle and food preferences, consult a registered dietitian with expertise in weight management. A registered dietitian can help you find a realistic, flexible eating style that helps you feel and be your best.

Another good article is "Weight loss: Choosing a diet that's right for you" by the Mayo Clinic Staff @ http://www.mayoclinic.com/print/weight-loss/NU00616/METHOD=print

So I have my dietitian and my plan.  I just need to keep working at it and be consistent.  No more slacking off after a good weight loss week.  It's important for me to work physical activity and healthy eating into my life on a day to day basis.  If you want help with knowing how many calories you need, I can help you.  Another great resource available to EVERYONE is the http://www.mypyramid.org website.  You can put in your demographics and it can help you determine your daily caloric needs.   Then you can find a way, I use a website called Fatsecret.com, to track your calories to see how many calories you are eating daily.  That way you can keep eating a variety of foods on a daily basis and just adjust your options as needed.  Plus a lot of the calorie tracking websites also have a database for activities, so you can compare your calories taken in verses your calories put out.  As we all know, the more calories you burn the more weight you lose.  And it can be done in a safe and healthy way, no expensive shots needed. 

I am now stepping off my soap box.  Sorry if I offended anyone.  I just needed to vent some frustrations with fad diet suggestions.  Also I really want everyone to be successful in weight loss without harming their body.  You only get one body in this life, it's important to treat it well and take care of it. 

Resources:

http://www.mayoclinic.com/print/weight-loss/NU00616/METHOD=print


The Truth About hCG for Weight Loss
By Kathleen M. Zelman, MPH, RD, LD
WebMD Expert Review
http://www.webmd.com/diet/features/truth-about-hcg-for-weight-loss


The Weight Loss Cure 'They' Don’t Want You to Know About
By Kathleen M. Zelman, MPH, RD, LD
WebMD Expert Review
http://www.webmd.com/diet/features/weight-loss-cure-dont-want-you-to-know


http://www.mayoclinic.com/print/low-carb-diet/NU00279/METHOD=print