Dr. Lipman Updates the Original HCG Protocol

My 800 Calorie HCG Protocol (diet plan) is a modification of Dr. Albert T. W. Simeons’ Pounds and Inches 500 Calorie HCG protocol. This manual brings Dr. Simeons’ HCG plan into the 21st century. I have examined each one of Dr. Simeons’ rules. Many of his ideas remain valid to this day. However, I have found quite a number of them to be outdated – and others to be wrong – based on our current medical knowledge. The full book, New 800 Calorie HCG Diet can be downloaded from Amazon.com.

The 800 Calorie HCG Protocol

800 Calories a Day – NOT 500 Calories a Day

Over the past 20 years, researchers have completed hundreds of weight loss studies on Very Low Calorie Diets (VLCD’s). They reveal no significant difference in weight loss when eating 500 or 800 calories a day. In fact, more weight loss and less loss of muscle mass have been found at the 800 calorie level. In addition, adding 200-300 calories per day to the original protocol, especially in the form of lean protein for breakfast and a little more protein at the evening meal, makes a lot of sense. Here is what the NIH says of Very Low Calorie Diets:

“A VLCD may allow you to lose about 3 to 5 pounds per week. This may lead to an average total weight loss of 44 pounds over 12 weeks. Such a weight loss can rapidly improve medical conditions linked to obesity, including diabetes, high blood pressure, and high cholesterol.”

The rapid weight loss experienced by most people on a VLCD can be very motivating. Patients who participate in a VLCD program that also includes lifestyle changes may lose about 15 to 25 percent of their initial weight during the first 3 to 6 months.

800 Calorie HCG Protocol Meals & Foods

Lean Protein and Fruit for Breakfast (NO Skipping Breakfast)

Many overweight people make a habit of skipping breakfast completely. Many researchers believe skipping breakfast may be one of the fundamental reasons for the increase in obesity. What is the relationship between skipping meals (especially breakfast) and weight loss?

Breakfast is a simple term meaning you are breaking the “fast”, which you did by not eating for the past 8-12 hours. When you eat breakfast, you are reversing the fasting state while providing energy for the metabolism to function normally. You are also giving your body a little help in preventing hunger at lunch. Breakfast including proteins such as eggs, high-protein bars, or even zero sugar yogurts, stabilizes the blood sugar for the rest of day. It also ensures better choices at lunch! If you are truly on the go, grab an apple, a small piece of cheese, or a protein bar or shake. Something is better than nothing, and you are still following the HCG protocol.

More Lean Protein for Lunch and Dinner

Unfortunately, since Dr. Simeons’ time, much has changed in family life. Most people work outside the home and have little time or patience to weight and prepare “100 grams” of protein. In addition, although most individuals might be happy with this small amount of protein at lunch, they may need more at dinner to feel satisfied.

Trying to make lunch and dinner equal often does not work. In the 800 Calorie HCG Diet, larger portions are found in the evening meal, accompanied by unlimited salads and vegetables (with a few exceptions). Additionally, I suggest the using zero sugar and near zero fat protein shakes and bars as replacement meals or even snacks. Most high protein shakes have only 1-2 grams of fat. Many have zero sugar and most have at least 15-30 grams of protein. Using these as meal replacements for breakfast or lunch, or smaller volumes for snacks, has been very useful for my patients. Foods like healthy, high protein, low sugar bars and shakes were unknown to Dr. Simeons because they did not exist in 1954!

Three Fruits per Day and Unlimited Vegetables

Dr. Simeons’ HCG protocol allowed for “an apple, an orange, and a handful of strawberries or 1/2 grapefruit.” The recent low carb craze and the development of the glycemic index has revealed that many more fruits and vegetables can be appropriate for the HCG protocol. Some of these include blueberries, plums, blackberries, raspberries, pears, cherries, peaches, and unlimited quantities of salads and vegetables (there are a few exceptions).

Unlimited Zero Calorie, Zero Fat Drinks

In Pounds and Inches, Dr. Simeons wrote, “tea, coffee, plain water or mineral water are the only drinks allowed.” He adds, “Saccharin or other sweeteners may be used. In many countries, prepared unsweetened and low calorie foods are freely available and some of these can be tentatively used.”

Does this mean that artificially sweetened drinks and foods are disallowed or does it reflect the fact that few artificial sweeteners were available in the 1950’s when Dr. Simeons did his research? Most overweight people and diabetics, as well as this author, have found the useful, safe, and effective. Since Dr. Simeons approved of Saccharine and Stevia, might he have also approved of Aspartame (Nutra-Sweet, Equal) and Sucralose (Splenda)?

Eliminate “Binging” and Overeating During the First Few Days

Telling an individual struggling with their weight and compulsive eating to eat as much fatty food as they are able is at first very appealing, but is there proof that this leads to more weight loss? While interviewing more than 1500 patients during their HCG diet, I am unable to identify which binged and which did not by looking at their hunger or weight loss. People have used numerous VLCD plans in the past twenty years. No one has advocated such “binging” as a technique to increase weight loss. All the recent research of fat cells in overweight individuals indicates they are already “filled” and “well stocked” due to years of overeating. Adding more fat to the overfilled, stuffed fat cells is unnecessary. I RECCOMMEND YOU DO NOT BINGE.

Supplements, Medications, and Cosmetics on the HCG Protocol

Vitamin and Mineral Supplements are Necessary

Current day treatments with VLCD‘s add vitamins and minerals as routine without question. It is simple, inexpensive, and safe to add a multi–vitamin, sublingual Vitamin B12, and oral potassium. Daily Vitamin and Mineral Supplementation ARE Required and Medications Should NOT Be Discontinued.

Continue Taking Your Prescribed Medications

Dr Simeons wrote, “No medications or cosmetics… may be used without special permission.” I hope the beginning dieter will NEVER follow this bad advice about stopping all medications. It is simply baseless, often dangerous, and certainly not necessary. However, if you are still in doubt, ask your physician.

Thyroid Hormone Medication SHOULD NOT BE STOPPED
Patients who are on thyroid replacement therapy should not stop taking their medications, contrary to what Dr Simeons wrote.

Cosmetics Do Not Stop Weight Loss AND CAN BE USED FREELY

The FDA has found no evidence that ingredients used in current day cosmetic and personal care products cause endocrine disruption or alter metabolism in humans. See more info on cosmetics safety here. For the past 20 years, the FD&C (Federal Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act) and the Fair Packaging and Labeling Act have provided the regulatory structure for cosmetics in the United States.

HCG Protocol: Other Considerations

The Myth of HCG Immunity

Are all of these complicated treatment plans and artificial limitations necessary? Do people taking HCG administered intramuscularly (as Dr. Simeons insisted it be done) really get immune to the hormone? Or, is HCG no different than insulin, growth hormone and numerous other naturally occurring hormones where no significant immunity is seen even after years of treatment? There is no proof of immunity to HCG. If a person is doing well on the diet, then there is no reason to stop, especially if they are taking vitamin and mineral replacements.

HCG is Effective When Taken Orally or By Injection

Actually, there is no such thing as “oral” HCG. One does not swallow HCG because stomach acids quickly degrade it. Like insulin, stomach acids break down the HCG molecule to render it ineffective. Oral HCG really means taking it sublingually (under the tongue). In the area right under the tongue are a complex set of tiny capillaries that permit rapid absorption of medications. HCG taken sublingually is equally effective as HCG taken via intramuscular injection. With sublingual HCG, the doctor prescribes a greater dose and frequency to compensate for HCG that a patient inadvertently swallows.

The invention of oral HCG is good news for those that want to avoid injections. In general, most prescription HCG preparations are providing you 250-400 IU. Patients take oral HCG twice a day. Many of the HCG preparations are prepared with bacteriostatic water, alcohol, and vegetable glycerin to increase absorption and keep the HCG stable.

The HCG Protocol and Menstruation

Because the HCG hormone plays a role in a woman’s body during pregnancy, there is often a question of its effects on menstruation or the menstrual cycle. The answer is HCG has no impact on either. Women can safely begin the HCG protocol at any time. They do not have to stop during menstruation. However, if you are pregnant, you should not start the protocol. If you become pregnant during treatment, you should stop taking HCG immediately.

How to Use Dr Lipman’s 800 Calorie HCG Protocol

The HCG treatment consists of a very low calorie diet in combination with HCG hormone treatments. During the treatment, you take a small amount of HCG twice a day. This HCG mobilizes body fat that circulates through your body providing energy and preventing hunger.

The basic plan consists of taking HCG for 21 – 30 days. However, you can take the HCG diet for up to a total of 6 weeks without stopping. If you are taking HCG for more than 30 days, you need to take a daily multi-vitamin, vitamin B-12 and potassium to prevent possible depletion of these important substances. These are all readily available at CVS, Walgreen’s, Wal-Mart, Costco, Target, Amazon, most major grocery stores, etc.

Whenever you want to stop taking HCG, you need to continue the food plan for 2 days without taking HCG. This will permit your body to excrete any residual HCG. This part of the treatment is essential because if you start eating normally and there is even a trace of HCG in your body, you will gain weight quickly.

After phase 2, you should go to the 1100 Calorie High Metabolism Plan. This is outlined in Part 2 of my book, New 800 Calorie HCG Diet.

If you are doing well on the diet, there is no reason to stop during the 6-week plan. After that, take a break for 7-10 days.

As indicated earlier, most of my patients elect not to do the binge or gorge in Phase 1. You may do it if you want for 1 or 2 days. As noted previously, I have been unable to see any difference in hunger or weight loss in those patients who did not do the binge as compared to those who did it. Here are the 3 phases:

Call 305-670-3259 to Make an Appointment with Dr. Lipman in his Miami Office