by admin01 | Jan 17, 2017 | BLOG, Diet Tips, Popular Diets, Weight Loss Tips
The remarkably effective HCG diet plan was discovered (not created) in the 1950’s by a British researcher named Dr. Albert T. W. Simeons who observed that pregnant women in India shed fat while they were pregnant while still maintaining their lean muscle mass.
They were malnourished, but they still gave birth to very healthy babies. It was then that he realized right away that pregnant women had something most people don’t.
It turns out that pregnant women carry a hormone (HCG) that would pull calories and fuel from stored fat INSTEAD of lean muscle mass to feed the baby in their womb.
Of course, Dr. Simeons believed that anyone could use that same hormone to reach their weight and fat loss goals safely – while keeping their lean body mass. And (surprise, surprise) he was right!
HCG is a peptide naturally produced in large amounts by the placenta during early pregnancy. It has many functions in utero and is used medically to treat a variety of conditions. HCG was thought by Dr. Simeons to work on the hypothalamus of the brain where it encourages the body to release “fixed” or “abnormal” fat stores for fuel.
The plan is simple: eat a low (500-calorie/day) diet and take HCG hormone supplements – the same hormone pregnant women produce – and shave off pounds and pounds of fat safely, without harming your body’s natural metabolic rate.
Sounds easy enough, right?
Well, yes and no. The trick is NOT to just eat less calories. If that was all there was to it, you wouldn’t really need to use the hormones would you? (Trust me: I get that question all time time, so I know that’s what you’re thinking).
The trick is actually NOT in the calorie count but in the strict reduction of fat, sugars and carbs from your diet. ONLY when you reduce fat can your body try to use the fat is already has and ONLY when you take HCG injections does your body turn to your stored fat INSTEAD of your lean muscle mass.
Warning: Without the hormones and only the diet, YOU WILL lose lean muscle mass and risk damaging your natural metabolic rate.
Warning: Without the hormones and only the diet, YOU WILL lose lean muscle mass and risk damaging your natural metabolic rate.
Stage 1: The Indulgence
The first step in the HCG Diet Plan is to get your body ready to burn all that fat in the first place. For the first 2-3 days, you should indulge yourself without overdoing it. Take your HCG supplements or injections, but eat as much of your favorite foods as you would like.
Why not just jump right into the diet plan?
It takes about 2-3 days after taking the hormone for your body to access your “abnormal fat stores,” which are key to losing weight long term. You want to keep your normal fat stores well-stocked until that point. After the first 3 days, you should be ready for the 2nd stage.
Stage 2: The Burn
The 2nd stage is the main stage of the HCG diet. Once the 2-3 day indulgence (or “loading”) phase is over, it is time for the real work to begin. The #1 rule is to limit yourself to 500 calories per day of lean meats, vegetables and fruit.
Note: Just following the 500-calorie a day rule and ignoring the rest will NOT get you the results you desire. You can’t eat whatever you want under that limit. Instead, you need to focus on eating lean proteins, fruit and vegetables, while limiting your fat, sugar and carbohydrates. Also, as always, be sure to drink plenty of water.
To learn more about fats, starches and what to avoid, read this guide from Harvard on good fats, bad fats and those confusing “in-between” fats.
Here is what an average Stage 2 Day on the HCG Diet Plan looks like:
According to Dr. Simeon, breakfast should just be liquids, such as coffee or tea.
Lunch and dinner follow this simple formula: one lean protein, one vegetable, one fruit, and one starch.
Proteins (2 servings a day) can include the following:
- chicken breast (no thighs or fatty pieces)
- lean beef
- lobster
- crab
- shrimp
- veal or any white fish
- *Avoid fatty fish, such as eel, herring, salmon or tuna.
Vegetables (2 servings a day) can include the following:
- Beet Greens
- Spinach
- Green Salad
- Chard
- Chicory
- Tomatoes
- Celery
- Red Radishes
- Asparagus
- Onions
- Cucumbers
- Cabbage
Fruits (2 servings a day) can include the following:
- Strawberries (a handful)
- Small-medium sized orange
- One apple
- 1/2 of a grapefruit
Starches (2 servings a day) can include the following:
- One low-fat breadstick
- One Melba Toast
- Two Melba Rounds
Side note: I have had several patients who spread their dinner and lunch menus out during the day to avoid skipping breakfast. This is perfectly fine! As long as you stick to the basic menu items and 500-calorie plan, you will get the results you desire.
Stage 3: Stabilization
In his book, “Pounds and Inches,” Dr. Simeons recommended following a strict protocol for 3 weeks AFTER finishing Stage 2 and stopping your HCG drops or injections.
Here is what he recommends during this stage:
- Weight yourself every day to make sure you remain within 2 pounds of your most recent injection weight
- Avoid ALL sugars and starches (or, realistically, limit your intake greatly)
- Eat AT LEAST 100 grams of cooked, lean protein per day (if you go over your 2 pounds of Stage 2 weight, plan a steak day right away)
Even though you are done with your injections, this stage is 100% crucial to the success of the HCG diet. Why?
From the day you stop your last HCG injection, your body will be very sensitive to high-sugar or high-carbohydrate foods. It is critical that you follow this phase as faithfully as you did Stage 2.
During Stage 3, your hypothalamus will reset, rewiring your metabolism and erasing the effects of yo-yo dieting and poor eating habits. The weight you reach on the morning of your last injection is the weight that you should use as a basis for your maintenance phase. Many call this Last Injection Weight (LIW).
Here are some words from Dr. Simeons himself that illustrates this point:
“It takes about 3 weeks before the weight reached at the end of the treatment becomes stable, i.e. does not show violent fluctuations after an occasional excess. During this period patients must realize that the so-called carbohydrates (that is: sugar, rice, bread, potatoes, pastries), are by far the most dangerous.
If no carbohydrates whatsoever are eaten, fats can be indulged in… But as soon as fats and starch are combined things are very liable to get out of hand. This has to be observed very carefully during the first 3 weeks after the treatment is ended otherwise disappointments are almost sure to occur.”
Ready to try HCG for yourself and melt those extra pounds away? Here are some key reminders and tips to keep in mind:
- Avoid using oil-based cosmetics or skincare products, as added oils can interfere with the hormones and derail your results
- Always plan your meals ahead of time, and set yourself up for success. If you get hungry before lunch, “borrow” a fruit or vegetable from the other meals. As long as you stay under 500 calories, you will still be on target.
- Take the maintenance phase seriously, as outlined above.
Why use medically-supervised weight loss instead of following the HCG plan myself?
After Stages 1 and 2 of the HCG Diet, it is important to make significant dietary and lifestyle changes to support your body and sustain the weight loss. With medical supervision, the HCG Diet also provides a safe and reliable means to treating obesity.
HCG diet programs that provide the best results offer a medically-supervised program that supports the patient before, during, and after weight loss. As with any weight loss program, it is not uncommon for patients to put pounds back on once they go back to eating the standard American diet.
One of our favorite things about the HCG Diet protocol is that our patients lose the majority of their weight from fat mass and not lean mass. However, the HCG Diet is not a “magic wand.” You cannot remove fat stores forever or simply reset the hypothalamus and go back to eating a normal diet. To achieve the best lifelong results and change, consider a medically-supervised plan with a doctor who is experiencing in helping patients gain long-term results.
by admin01 | Jan 11, 2017 | Beauty
Given the choice (and none of the judgement) what is the first thing you would change about your body? Does it have to do with struggling with skinny jeans post-holiday sugar cookies? Or constantly worrying you didn’t blend your nose contour well enough? Or does it have to do with all the half-empty bottles of false skincare promises left on your bathroom counter?
If it is the last one, read on.
By default, the face is our calling card; by looks, emotions, and simple identification! No matter what, we all want to make it count by looking great, even if we sometimes ugly cry our mascara off.
It seems that as we get older, the spotlight feels to dim on our once luminous face and sun damage, acne, and dark circles take its place. However, if you’re not quite ready to let go of your glow, we have your noninvasive option.
Before her social media hiatus, remember when Kim Kardashian posted a blood-slathered selfie? Well, it wasn’t actually something to fear, it was yet another trend to try; it’s the one known as the Vampire Facelift.
Much like many other of Kim’s actions, this one went viral too, becoming an instant attraction for A-listers. Kim is not alone in vouching for the veracity of its effectiveness. The reason why it has become a hit with celebrities is the fact that there is no down time and minimal side effects. After all, it is highly unlikely that your body would negatively react to your own blood.
What is the Vampire Facelift?
Created by Dr. Charles Runels, the FDA approved Vampire Facelift can rejuvenate your face and make you probably look better than you did at your own prom.
The patient’s blood is drawn from the arm which is later spun in a centrifuge to separate the platelet rich plasma or PRP. These are then injected back into the patient’s facial skin. When it is combined in a particular way with fillers like Restylane or Juvederm, the combination becomes what is known and patented as the Vampire Facelift.
When to consider a Vampire Facelift:
How do you know that your face needs a Vampire Facelift? Look out for these three signs on your face:
1. Your skin color has become greyer due to lack of proper blood supply.
2. The shape of your face has collapsed and become droopy due to decrease in muscle and collagen.
3. The texture of your skin has become rough.
Simply put, you have lost your rosy hue as seen in children and young adults and you appear tired, worn and droopy. Let’s be honest, you look tired because you work hard, isn’t it time to treat yourself with some good skin, higher self-esteem, and maybe a new dress for happy hour? It is time for you to give your face a Vampire Facelift.
How does the Vampire Facelift work?
The procedure is completed in two parts. During the first part, a filler like Juvederm is injected in specific parts of the face. This is done to restore the shape of your younger face.
In the second part, two teaspoons or a vile of blood is taken from a patient’s arm and is then put inside a centrifuge for separation. The process separates red blood cells from the platelet rich plasma, referred to as PRP. This platelet rich plasma is injected under the facial skin using a micro needling technique, which stimulates the growth of collagen. Collagen, a protein, is a natural body healer which replaces dead cells of the skin and also provides strength and elasticity to it.
It’s all about allowing the body to heal on its own and in 2017, natural health is more attractive than anything…but an avocado mask just isn’t going to cut it anymore.
Proof that Vampire Facelift works:
The Journal of Cutaneous and Aesthetic Surgery published a study comparing two different procedures using combination treatment. In the first, PRP was paired with micro needling, which is known as Collagen Induction Therapy. In the second, Vitamin C was paired with micro needling. Both pairings were tested on patients who had acne scarring.
The patients’ acne scarring was first rated on the Goodman and Baron Scale and grades were subsequently assigned. Both sides of each patient’s face were digitally photographed before and after the completion of treatment maintaining the same background, lighting and positions.
30 patients in the age bracket of 18- 34 participated in the study. Each one of the patients received four treatments in four-week increments. Patients were treated with the PRP combo on the right side of their face and on the left side they were treated with Vitamin C combo. The acne scars were re-evaluated after the treatment, both by the doctors as well the patients using the Goodman and Baron Scale. Out of the total 30 patients, 23 of them showed improvements of one or two grades with PRP combination.
In another study 23 patients were treated once a month with PRP and a filler injected into specific locations on the face and neck. The study conducted over a three month period was published by the Journal of Drugs in Dermatology. A digital camera and a Dermoscope were used to photograph the study participants, both before and after the procedure. The patients were finally evaluated after one month of their treatment and it was found that the technique was effective with satisfactory results. It was also noted that none of the participants experienced any major or persistent side effects.
There are many women who have shared their Vampire Facelift before and after experiences on the RealSelf.com website and majority of them are happily satisfied with the results. RaelSelf.com encourages women to share their experiences on its website who have undergone cosmetic surgery. They can also ask questions which are answered by the doctors.
Logistics of Vampire Facelift:
Vampire Facelift is a simple noninvasive procedure with minimal or no side effects. It improves the quality of your skin.
An out-patient procedure, Vampire Facelift takes only about 30-60 minutes of your time after which you can resume your normal activities. There will of course be some redness on your face due to the micro needling technique, which would subside over time. The difference will be visible to you in a couple of days and will gradually keep on improving for about two to three months after the procedure.
Even months after the procedure your skin will continue glowing as the plasma stimulates the stem cells of the skin to produce more collagen. And as the new cells grow they keep rejuvenating your skin.A treatment of Vampire Facelift is so effective the results last 16 months up to two years.
The average cost of a Vampire Facelift is $1,125 (according to RealSelf.com).
Why Solutions Weight Loss?
At Solutions Weight Loss we know what it takes to have a healthy face. As a family physician and an active member of the American Academy of Aesthetic Medicine, William Newsome, MD has practiced in Orlando for more than 20 years.
Dr. Newsome, personally trained by Dr. Charles Runels, works with each of his patient to decide the best possible treatment. Just being envious of a beautiful woman will not make you more beautiful; but what you can do is visit Solutions Weight Loss and meet Dr. Newsome for your own Vampire Facelift.
by admin01 | Nov 10, 2015 | Healthy Food Options, Weight Loss Tips
How did you handle the copious amounts of candy corn and goodies for the kiddies? Did you feel as though the traditions of the day REQUIRED you to have that cupcake with the black and orange icing? Don’t worry, you are not alone!
The answers to these questions should make you want to evaluate your normal eating habits just as much as the “special” days. Real solutions to weight loss trouble can be found right here in the Orlando/Kissimmee area all year round!
We humans are creatures of habit. Traditions are ingrained in us physically and emotionally and not all of them are part of a healthy, smart cycle. So if this holiday season you simply refuse to stick to the orders of your weight loss doctor or you falter from your HCG diet plan, just remember the key is moderation. If it is a must, don’t eat it all and fill up until you bust!
If you are willing to give it your best and focus that awesome will power that had you calling Solutions Weight Loss clinic in the first place, just remember to always be prepared. Strategy is not just for the football players of the Thanksgiving Day showdown!
Here’s some help: (more…)
