FAQ's of HCG AVITROPIN™ Diet

What is HCG AVITROPIN™ and how does it work?

The HCG weight loss diet consists of a very low calorie diet (VLCD) accompanied by treatments of HCG given either via injections or a topical cream. The average HCG dieter experiences rapid weight loss averaging 05 TO 10 Kg over a period of 40 days protocol. In addition to loss of unwanted fat, the AVITROPIN™ benefit of the HCG protocol is its ability to help modify the dieter's relationship with food and eating, resulting in easily maintained, long-term weight loss.

HCG is an abbreviation for Human Chorionic Gonadotropin. This is a hormone naturally produced in a woman’s body when she is pregnant. It has many functions and is used medically to treat a variety of conditions. It is the pregnancy hormone that almost completely controls metabolic functions. This hormone can force the body to mobilize fat and use it as energy for both mother and fetus. This acts as a “fail-safe” mechanism when calories and energy is needed. For weight loss, we use only minute amounts of HCG to capitalize on this same mechanism. It can be safely used by both adult men and women.

Why would I do the HCG AVITROPIN™ Diet?

Many people have tried multiple diets without success. They are frustrated by not losing weight, despite reductions in their food intake and multiple sessions at the gym. After all their struggles, they just can’t understand why the extra rolls of fat just don’t melt away. If you are one of these people who can’t seem to get off that weight loss plateau, then the HCG AVITROPIN™ Diet is a very good option for you. Instead of relying on only your dieting and exercising expertise, rely on the amazing properties of HCG to change your metabolism to help you.

Why do I have to go to the doctor’s office every two weeks on the diet?

Your doctor wants to make sure that you stay in good health while doing the diet. Some patients with debilitating diseases such as uncontrolled diabetes or advanced heart disease should probably not do the program. Initially, your doctor may evaluate your blood tests for potential problems and do a heart exam including an EKG. High protein diets have been associated with electrolyte disturbances; therefore regular blood tests should be performed to catch these problems early. Very low calorie diets have been associated with vitamin deficiencies, therefore oral vitamins, calcium and a regular shot of vitamins is recommended to maintain this nutrition. Support for doing the diet is important, and people always have questions regarding the diet. Thus, regular visits are a must for success of the program.

Will I feel pregnant on this diet?

Dieters do not feel pregnant on the HCG AVITROPIN™ Diet. The amount of HCG is extremely small (125 u to 250 u per day) versus the amount seen during pregnancy (around 60,000 u per day). Thus, pregnancy side effects, such as severe nausea, vomiting, breast tenderness and fluid retention do not occur.

Can men do this diet?

Men can absolutely do this diet. In fact, men usually lose even more weight than women. It is equally safe in men as women and usually no significant side effects are seen. It does not give you man-breasts or estrogen effects as it is not a sex hormone like estrogen, progesterone, or testosterone. It is more like the “control hormones” from the pituitary gland, such as LH and TSH.

If HCG works so well for weight loss, why don’t pregnant women lose weight?

HCG works to mobilize abnormal fat for utilization by the body only when there is also a simultaneous decrease in calories and fat ingested. A starvation state must exist for HCG to work. For pregnant women, this helps preserve the fetus so adequate nutrition is continually given to the fetus for its survival. For weight loss, a very low calorie diet triggers the HCG to help rid the body of fat. Pregnant women could lose weight if they did a low calorie diet, but this is not recommended during pregnancy.

How Does HCG cause the weight loss?

HCG plus the Very Low Calorie Diet (VLCD) works in 3 distinct ways:

A. HCG causes your hypothalamus to mobilize the fat out of the abnormal fat storage locations so that it’s available for use. The very low calorie diet of 500 calories a day triggers your hypothalamus to change your body’s metabolism so it continually releases the stored nutrients and calories in the stored fat into your body. Because of this, your body is actually using thousands of calories a day, and most of these come from the stored fat. The amount of fat shrinks, and so you lose weight.

B. Maintains a normal basal metabolic rate. This is your resting energy needs. If one does not maintain intake of calories to equal your BMR, your body goes into conservation mode; it wants to conserve the calories stored in your body because it does not know when you’re going to feed it. HCG makes sure you don’t go into this slower metabolism mode so you continue to feel good while on the program. You get the extra calories you need coming from your fat and not from what you eat.

C. Resets the hypothalamus to help prevent future regain. After you have been on the diet for the 40 days, your body will continue this new metabolism for as long as you maintain proper eating and exercise habits, as is discussed in this diet program This resetting of your hypothalamic metabolism along with the required lifestyle changes will enable you to continue to lose even more weight and maintain it if you stick with it.

Will my metabolism slow down if I’m on a very low calorie diet?

Normally, without HCG, when you cut back your calories and eat a very low calorie diet your body tends to preserve fat and nutrient stores. Your hypothalamus sees that there are not many calories in your blood so it makes your metabolism slow down. Your body wants to conserve the fat because it doesn’t know when you’re going to feed it more. The result is that you feel exhausted and hungry. Moreover, the fat just stays there and you don’t lose much weight, i.e. you get on that weight loss plateau.

When HCG is utilized along with a very low calorie diet, however, HCG causes the hypothalamus to signal the body to mobilize the calories out of the abnormal fat storage locations and use these stored calories for energy burning to fuel your body’s daily activities. The excess or abnormal fat reserves are reduced, resulting in you losing weight. In fact, your body is actually operating on thousands of calories a day pulled from your fat stores which enables you to lose ½ or 1 pound of fat per day.

Wouldn’t I lose the same amount of weight eating a very low calorie diet without HCG?

You definitely can indeed lose weight by simply eating fewer calories and fat. Unfortunately, because the body stores fat during times of deprivation, you will most likely lose vital lean muscle before fat. This results in loss of muscle mass which is not what you want to happen. You want your body to chew up the fat cells, not your muscle cells.

Moreover, this causes your metabolism to slow down because your body goes into conservation mode. The nutrients in blood will drop and you will have massive hunger and it’s tough to be disciplined with famine hitting you. In addition, the slower metabolism results in fatigue, so you feel sluggish and tired. This does not motivate you to continue with this type of diet. The result is that you most likely will not lose your problem abnormal fat deposits. Your body will not be reshaped. Moreover, when you stop that low cal diet you probably will immediately gain all the weight back, plus more!

By using HCG with the very low calorie diet, weight lost comes directly from the mobilization of the abnormal fat tissue rather than stripping the body of much needed muscle. You eat plenty protein, so your body utilizes this protein for its needs. Your metabolism is maintained as is your energy level while preserving muscle. The excessive amounts of fat-stored nutrients are released into your blood stream to be absorbed by your body.

The low calorie diet is vital to create the negative calorie balance necessary to lose weight. In addition, it can help prevent the immediate refilling of emptied fat cell. You benefit by preferentially getting rid of abnormal excess fat without affecting your lean muscle and normal fat stores.

Since the HCG AVITROPIN™ diet is very low calorie, will I get hungry?

Because HCG mobilizes fat, changing it into easily utilized calories. These are then available to the body as an energy source, but they also naturally reduce your appetite. Your appetite center sees your blood rich in these calorie nutrients so it is not stimulated to make you hungry. Therefore, even though you are consuming fewer calories, your body can access the energy you have stored in fat cells and use it for your normal daily metabolic needs. The thousands of calories of fat that already exists in your abnormal fat stores are mobilized so you lose weight as these stores shrink.

One concept you must realize, however, is that this effect is not instantaneous. The first three days of the diet, the loading phase, help to begin the metabolic change from the HCG. During the next few days when you start on the 500 calories a day, you may be a bit hunger challenged and this is the toughest part. If you can make it through this, most people do well during the remainder of the program. Hang in there and try to do the diet with a friend, a spouse or a relative to help each other and give each other support.

Shortly within the first week of the diet, most patients notice a significant decrease in their appetite. You’ll feel “empty” but this will pass in time too. Moreover, most people usually have adequate energy and feel good while on the program within this week. Short term appetite suppressants are usually not necessary and can create problems.

Can I change the diet as long as I stick to 500 calories?

NO you cannot veer from the diet program. This protocol has been shown to be successful only as directed. The unique combination of the HCG plus a very strict 500 calorie specific food consumption plan has been shown to work while other regimens have not. The exact foods used cause specific chemical reactions in the body and with the HCG; the hypothalamus is activated into mobilizing the stored abnormal fat reserves causing dramatic weight loss without the loss of muscle or structural fat. This is of the utmost importance. For the diet to work you must strictly follow it to the letter. If you do, you will get results.

Dr. Simeon of Rome, Italy, who created the diet, found that any variance away from these guidelines resulted in less success at losing weight. Thus, we only recommend strict adherence to the guidelines of the diet.

Why do I have to only eat the foods on the diet plan?

The foods on the plan have been chosen specifically for their nutritional content. The foods in each group are very similar, yet have other varied nutrients. These particular foods have been shown to work well in helping patients lose weight. In addition, they make the diet program easier to do. Recording three foods per meal per day is easy, and it is very important that you do a food journal to do the program correctly. Picking different foods and creating variety for each meal is recommended and important. Choosing foods that are healthy and nutritious, such as the foods on the diet, is also important for not only during the diet, but also should become habits for you to do for your lifetime.

Will it help to eat even less than 500 calories a day?

Studies have shown that eating less than 500 calories does not improve the results. The reason for the very low caloric intake is to create a negative calorie balance. An excessive negative doesn’t help and may change your metabolism to the worse. Eating lower amounts of calories do not speed up the process. Eating smaller quantities of food may actually stop the fat mobilizing mechanism.

What if I am not hungry on the HCG, do I have to eat everything listed in the VLCD?

Yes, whether you are hungry or not, you must eat the lunch and dinner in their complete from as directed. You cannot have one big meal per day. You may take the fruit from either lunch or dinner and eat it at breakfast or midday. No other changes or substitutions are allowed as they slow or stop the fat consumption process.

Will it affect my appearance? Will I get wrinkles or stretch marks if I lose all this weight?

No, you normally do not see a lot of loose skin with this HCG Diet method. Abnormal fat deposits should disappear, but this is variable depending on your genetic makeup. Double chins, pot bellies, and fat around the thighs may be the first to go. The treatment does not deplete the good subcutaneous or other essential fat. The face retains its freshness and natural appearance. Most people see a noticeable difference in their facial appearance due to the thinness of the face. The skin usually retracts and tightens on its own over time as you lose the weight. If you reach your goal weight but still have pockets of unsightly fat, some cosmetic procedures may be your next step.

Will HCG work without a diet?

There is no dramatic weight loss on HCG alone without the accompanying 500 calories a day diet. HCG may cause a reduction in inches in some people but not pounds. It is not recommended to do HCG and stay on your usual diet. The HCG AVITROPIN™ Diet is about change. In order to lose weight, you must change your metabolism and your lifestyle, which includes a change in the way you eat plus exercising more. You can’t expect to lose weight doing the same things you’ve been doing. You must change to make this work long term.

Has this method been used before?

Yes it has. Dr. Simeon started the diet in the 1950‟s. When first reported in the Medical Journal Lancet in November of 1954, it had been used in thousands of cases. Since then, it had been used in many more thousands of people with great success.

What effects can I expect from the medication itself?

Usually a loss of appetite occurs and most patients notice that the severe compulsive hunger disappears. They may feel “empty, but not have the intense desire to eat. Most feel good to great and maintain an adequate energy level. In the afternoon, some fee a bit weak, but this can occur even with a normal diet. Many state that they think clearer and are surprised that they feel so good! Results vary depending on the person and his/her attitude, just like personalities always vary.

What if I miss one or more doses?

This can just delay the total effectiveness of the program. You may experience increased hunger and cravings, plus you may not lose weight. If you miss more than 3 doses in one week the effect of the HCG is nullified and you may need to stop altogether or start over.

Can I maintain the diet even if I engage in daily hard physical labor?

Yes you can, and we encourage you to keep doing activities. HCG allows you to maintain this diet even during hard work or vigorous exercise. However, you may get tired quicker so be aware of this. The good thing is that the HCG mobilizes and uses abnormal fat stores for calories and energy instead of stripping the muscle of protein for energy. It thus prevents the breakdown of lean muscle.

What do you recommend I eat at a restaurant?

If possible, avoid eating at restaurants during HCG therapy. Most of these foods are heavily processed, loaded with trans fats, high fructose corn syrup, MSG, flavor enhancers and almost never fresh. The portions are outrageously huge as is the price. Learning to cook and new recipes is a good thing.

What about protein and vitamin deficiencies’ during the diet?

The diet is a very specific combination and balance of protein, carbohydrates and fat. However, 500 calories a day of food is not enough to provide all your vitamin needs. You must replenish your essential vitamins, minerals and other nutrients as advised by the physician.

What if I occasionally get jittery or shaky due to the reduced quantity of food?

These can be symptoms of low blood sugar. Although common without HCG, with HCG these uncomfortable symptoms usually do not occur since your body is converting thousands of calories of fat into usable glucose. However, in certain susceptible people, blood glucose levels could fluctuate creating these symptoms. A 15 calorie Lifesaver or an extra fruit when necessary usually controls this and does not interfere with the weight loss.

Can my overweight children use this program?

No, this program is not advisable for persons under the age of puberty. If you’re still growing, you should not limit your calorie intake excessively as with this diet. Please visit your pediatrician for other methods available for these cases. The diet should be used in people over age 16, or at least those who have attained their maximum height.

Do you guarantee that I will lose weight with this method?

As with any weight loss method or other medical treatment, no guarantees can be made. However, most of our patients have lost an appreciable amount of weight with this program. It is the most effective method we have experienced in weight reduction.

Is there a difference between structural fat, normal fat, and abnormal fat?

According to Dr. Simeon‟s, there are three types of fat. Structural fat provides a cushion effect to our skin, such as on the hands or soles of our feet. This is good fat. Normal reserve fat is also good, and is a good reserve of fuel for us, plus it is easy to metabolize away. The excessive fat in our bodies that makes us look overweight is called the abnormal fat. This is the fat that we want to reduce with the diet. Abnormal fat is also a reserve of fuel, but it may be difficult for our bodies to metabolize abnormal fat without HCG. However, with HCG, our metabolism changes so we mobilize this abnormal fat and this is the reason why the diet works so well.

HCG works primarily on abnormal fat and not on normal fat. Thus, if you don’t have much abnormal fat, you lose minimal weight and/or you can’t do the diet because you’d be too hungry. Thus the diet does not work well on people who want to lose just a few pounds. They just don’t have enough abnormal fat from which to pull calories. So if you are trying to fit into those smaller size jeans and you already are small, this is not the diet for you.

Will HCG interfere with any medications I am currently taking? What about birth control pills or Depo-Provera injections?

HCG does not interact with ANY common medications, including birth control pills or Depo-Provera, or post menopausal hormone therapy. There are rarely any side effects from HCG per se. However, a low calorie diet can result in some problems, thus requiring you to check with your doctor regularly. You should only do this diet under a physician’s supervision.

Will I experience any changes in my menstrual cycle taking HCG?

Although the amount of HCG is small, there may be changes to your menstrual cycle. Likewise, HCG will not affect your ability to become pregnant, nor will it increase your chances of getting pregnant. It will not make your contraceptive less effective. However, because it is a hormone of pregnancy, for women it is recommended to start it after a menstrual cycle.

How much weight can I expect to lose on the program?

Much of this depends on your starting point. The more weight you have to lose the more weight is lost. On average, our patients lose around 05-10 Kg per 40 days course on the HCG AVITROPIN™ Diet program.

How long can I continue the medication?

After 40 doses, the effectiveness diminishes due to the body's ability to develop temporary immunity to the HCG. However, if necessary, subsequent courses of Phase 1 can be resumed after a 6-week stabilizing period. In some instances, 4 or more courses have been given with continued effectiveness if a 6-week interval has been allowed between them.

Will I gain the weight back once I stop the program?

Moderation in eating will be necessary because of the tendency to gain weight after any type of weight loss program. Eat no more than your resting calorie needs (BMR) until you’ve lost all the weight you want. Add calories according to the amount of activities and exercises that you do. Learn about how many calories you expend while doing these activities and simply add these calories to your BMR. The maintenance phase is essentially a good well balanced diet. Many people find their stomachs have shrunk and they can continue eating appropriate portion sizes easily. Stability of your normal weight is relatively easy because the weight loss is from the abnormal storage fat and not from structural fat.

When can I start taking HCG again?

After you have used HCG for 40 days, it has been shown that your body develops an immunity or resistance to the medication for weight loss. Thus, it is not able to mobilize the fat as well so you must stop the HCG after taking it for the 40 days. It takes around six weeks for the HCG immunity or resistance to go away. After that time, you can start another 40 days of HCG if you have not reached your weight loss goals. This stair step schedule can be continued until you have lost the weight you desire.

Do I have to exercise?

It is recommended that you maintain good physical activity through the diet program. You don’t have to overdo it or exercise for long hours of time to lose the weight. Physical activity is essential in maintaining total health for the body. A physically fit and healthy body is the result of exercise and good nutrition. A few additional benefits of exercise are; improved sleep, healthier body composition, prevention of disease and chronic illnesses, and increased energy.

Does this mean I have to go the gym everyday for 1 or more hours?

No, exercising can be as short as 12 to 15 minutes if you do intense interval training. Here you do intense bursts of any exercise until you’re breathing heavily, then rest to catch your breath, and repeat. Don’t include the time of the rests for your total routine. You can run, jog, do a treadmill, walk fast, do weights, or whatever you like as long as it is working. Change the activity regularly so your body gets the maximum benefit from your exercise activity. If it’s not working, you should change your exercise routines. Consider developing an exercise routine that fits into your daily routine. If you do not already exercise, start off slow and increase at your own pace, but increase the intensity daily.

Will I still lose weight if I don’t exercise?

Yes, but light to moderate exercise is important in lowering stress, clearing the brain, improving strength & flexibility, controlling insulin utilization, managing weight, burning more calories, and increasing lean muscle mass. Not to mention the reshaping and recon touring it can contribute.

Legal Disclaimer:

The FDA has not approved HCG for weight loss. Its use as a weight loss aid is considered an “off label” use of HCG for the treatment of obesity and weight loss. The FDA Disclaimer is: “HCG has not been demonstrated to be an effective adjunctive therapy in the treatment of obesity. There is no substantial evidence that it increases weight loss beyond that resulting from caloric restriction that it causes a more attractive or „normal‟ distribution of fat, or that it decreases the hunger and discomfort associated with calorie-restricted diets.”

The FDA has approved it for: Cryptorchidism, Hypogonadism, Infertility, Oligospermia,Ovulation induction, Prepubescent Cryptorchidism, Kaposi‟s sarcoma, Froehlich's syndrome.