Weighing Your Options: Is the hCG Diet Right for You?

If you’re ready to lose weight and keep it off, the hCG diet plan can provide you with everything you need.  And while most people can safely use this program, it isn’t for everyone.  In this chapter you’ll learn about some special consideration with the hCG diet.

Once you know the facts, you can take all of that information and make an informed decision about what’s best for you.  Ultimately, you are the only one who can decide if the hCG plan is the best fit for what you need and what is safe for you.

Striving for Structure

The actual course of the hCG diet can be quite restrictive.  It’s essential that you follow the plan to the letter.  If you are someone who is able to take direction well and follow specific instructions, the hCG diet will be a piece of cake for you.

But if weighing yourself daily and eating only very specific foods is unimaginable, this may not be the right course of action for you.  You can always try a course of it and see if you’re able to stick with it before you decide whether or not it’s right for you.

Special Concerns for Women

If you’re a woman of child bearing age, you’ll need to make sure you are not pregnant before or during the hCG program.  The hCG hormone is an indicator of pregnancy and plays an important role.  You should not combine this treatment with pregnancy.

In addition, if you are trying to get pregnant or on fertility treatments you should also avoid the hCG diet.  Not only is it unsafe for pregnant women, but the hCG hormone injections or drops can actually cause you to have a false positive on a pregnancy test.

If you’re on hormone replacement therapy due to menopause – either brought on by a hysterectomy or age – you should not take part in the hCG diet.  Adding more artificial hormones to your regimen is not advised.

Women who are taking birth control can participate in the hCG diet.  While hCG is a hormone produced in higher quantities during pregnancy, it will not decrease the effectiveness of oral or other hormonal contraceptives.

Diabetes

There are some health conditions that make the hCG diet either difficult or dangerous to follow.  One such case is diabetes disease.  If you are diabetic, you may be able to follow the hCG plan, but you’ll have to carefully monitor your blood sugar. 

In this case, it’s best to follow this program only under the care of a knowledgeable physician who can monitor your progress and make sure your health is not compromised.  This is especially true because your medications may need to be altered.

That said, if you have type II diabetes, weight loss can actually help to reduce the effects of the disease.  You may find that following the hCG diet allows your health to become better.  In any case, make sure you consult your doctor before beginning this program.

 Cancer

If you’ve been diagnosed with cancer or are a survivor of cancer in remission, you should not take part in the hCG diet.  Hormones are often linked to the growth of tumors and cancerous cells. 

If you have a history of cancer, you should not add artificial hormones to your body.  The hCG diet is not advisable unless you have spoken with your physician and he or she has approved the treatment.

You should also not follow the hCG diet if you have any kind of tumor or abnormal growth that hasn’t been diagnosed.  Hormones can actually increase the growth rate of tumors and other growths and following this plan could worsen your condition.

Thyroid Problems

If you have thyroid problems, this is another case where you will want to talk to your doctor before making a decision.  Some people with thyroid disorders can follow the hCG diet as long as they are taking medication and are monitored. 

For other people, the thyroid problem rules out the hCG diet as a weight loss plan.  If you’re being treated for hypothyroidism or hyperthyroidism, make sure you talk with your healthcare provider before beginning the hCG protocol.

Breastfeeding

If you have recently had a baby and are breastfeeding, you’ll need to talk with your doctor before beginning the hCG program.  As this program is hormonal, you’ll need to make sure that it won’t interfere with your milk production or the health of your baby.

Budgetary Concerns

Most people would say they can’t put a price on their health and happiness.  However, the reality is that most people have limited funds to spend.  When it comes to the hCG diet, you’ll want to consider if you can financially budget for the program.

Some of the cost associated with the hCG diet include the cost of the injections or the homeopathic drops, physician visits, lab work, and purchasing special grocery items during the diet phase.

While some of these costs may be covered by medical insurance, the hCG diet is not covered by all insurance plans.  If yours does cover it, you can expect to pay a copay for office visits and medications.

If your insurance doesn’t cover it, you’ll need to shop around for the best prices of the hormone.  You can purchase homeopathic drops of hCG online and at health food stores.  You’ll need to comparison shop to find the best deal.

Even if you go with prescription injections, you’ll find that the price of the hormone varies widely from pharmacy to pharmacy.  Call around to see who has the best price and to determine if it’s in your budget.

Are You Ready for a Change?

While many people say they want to lose weight, not every person is ready to take the necessary steps.  You’re the only one who can know if you’re ready to lose weight or not.  How long have you been talking about losing weight?  Have you tried other programs?

These are questions to ask yourself when you’re considering whether or not to begin the hCG diet.  Once you begin this diet, you’ll be restricted to a small number of calories for a short period of time.  But if you stick with it, the long-term results are worthwhile.

Before you make a decision, here are a few ideas to help you make an informed one:

·           Talk with your physician and make sure you are healthy enough to participate in the hCG diet.

·           Find a physician that administers the program and assess the financial cost.

·           Locate resources for homeopathic drops and assess their cost.

·           Talk to other people who have tried the hCG diet and find out about their experiences.

Only after you’ve investigated the hCG diet and taken a look at your specific situation can you make a decision.  In the next chapter we’ll discuss the possible side effects of following the program.  This chapter will also help you to make a decision.