Have you come across motivational stories of how people have lost weight? Wondering how a particular celebrity has lost all the lower belly fat post-pregnancy? Most of them undergo body transformation after following a strict diet regime and by maintaining a healthy lifestyle. Today, you will find a lot of weight loss programs that sound promising, but in reality, they could be fatal for your overall health and well-being.
But that doesn’t mean people don’t follow healthy diets. One of the most popular diets today, the HCG diet, is a perfect example of a healthy diet. The HCG diet is made from Human Chorionic Gonadotropin, a natural hormone produced during pregnancy. When you follow the HCG diet, you need to consume HCG supplements along with a restricted diet of 500 calories per day (in the second out of the four phases). The HCG hormone introduced in your body unlocks the old fat stored in your body, which is a result of unhealthy eating, and use it for energy. Let’s take a look at the benefits of the HCG diet:
1. You lose weight faster
The HCG protocol is designed in a way to help a person lose weight drastically. As per the study conducted by Dr. Simeons, the British endocrinologist who discovered the connection of HCG and weight loss, the body uses energy directly from the adipose fat tissue and not from lean muscle. As a result, most HCG dieters lose 1 to 2 pounds a day. You need to consult your physician before starting the HCG diet to learn how much weight you need to lose and if there are any instructions that need to be followed specifically.
2. You won’t have to exercise
Sometimes your lifestyle is such that you won’t have enough time for yourself. You might be working far from home, and feel exhausted by the time you reach home. No matter what your circumstances are, this diet is beneficial for those who don’t have an active lifestyle, because you do not have to exercise! The supplements and the low-calorie diet will do the work.
3. An ideal diet for diabetics
The HCG diet has been an excellent weight loss program for people with certain medical conditions including diabetes. Though the HCG hormone helps people with Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes lose weight effectively, people with Type 2 diabetes will see more improvement comparatively, as they are not dependent on insulin. The HCG diet not only involves supplements but by eating a diet with healthier food options. Since you’re eliminating sugar and starch from your diet, you will see a drop in your blood sugar, helping your body to prevent the development of diabetes and other illnesses.
4. You consume only healthy food
As a part of the HCG diet, you will be consuming only an approved list of food items. The list includes vegetables, fruits and lean protein, which means no starch and no sugar. Once you complete the diet successfully, you will see a natural inclination towards these healthier options, which will help you in the long-run, as far as your health and well-being is concerned.
5. An excellent diet for men
Have you ever wondered if men can consume the HCG hormone? Though HCG is known for its weight loss benefits, it can also boost healthy levels of testosterone in men. As a result, you will have increased libido and sexual performance, better blood circulation, enhanced energy levels, better bone density and other exceptional benefits. It also reduces the risk of erectile dysfunction, obesity, and other health problems. So if you want to see a difference in your health and lifestyle, talk to your physician about the HCG diet.
6. Helps in shedding post-pregnancy weight
Some women develop low self-esteem due to their weight gain post-pregnancy. They turn to the HCG diet to lose weight quickly and safely. However, if you’re breastfeeding your baby, you must not follow any diet as your baby will not get enough nutrients for its development. Many women notice their weight dropping during the breastfeeding stage, so it will be safer to wait for the phase to complete, which is usually 1 and a half years after the birth of your baby. Once you’re off the nursing stage, you can start your HCG diet program and notice a considerable drop in your post-pregnancy weight.
Weight loss diets you must avoid
Unfortunately, not all weight loss diets are genuine. There are a lot of fad diets that boast of how people have lost weight successfully after following it religiously. But the information could be misleading and could cause serious health problems. Take a look at some of the fad diets you must avoid.
1. Liquid diet
Surviving on a liquid diet poses extreme health concerns. As per the liquid diet, you are allowed to have only liquids throughout the program. Though you will lose weight, the weight loss is not healthy and is only temporary. Once you start introducing solid food into your diet, you naturally gain weight.
2. Juice or soup diet
Similar to the liquid diet, in the juice diet, you are only allowed to have soups, broths or juice. When you’re on this diet, you don’t see much of a difference as far as your weight is concerned. When you stop solids, your body’s metabolic rate automatically decreases, this means only fewer calories are burnt.
3. Grapefruit diet
Grapefruit is known for its excellent weight loss properties and has helped many people achieve their ideal weight. But living only on grapefruit alone is simply too restrictive. Your body needs much more vitamins, minerals, and proteins. Include grapefruit in your diet, but not grapefruit alone.
4. Cabbage diet
Some people believe that by consuming cabbage, you get rid of your water weight. But surviving only on cabbage could result in gastrointestinal problems, affecting your overall health.
5. The tapeworm diet
As gross as it sounds, some people resort to eating tapeworm eggs, so that once they hatch they can feed on the food you consume. When the patient reaches their ideal weight, they’re put on an anti-worm medication. There are high chances that the tapeworm would’ve explored your system by then, which could even result in death.
6. The cotton ball diet
Yes, this is one of the most ridiculous diets known to man. The patient swallows cotton balls soaked in orange juice, in order to suppress their appetite. The cotton ball in your system could cause blockages in your digestive system.
7. The sleeping diet
One of the most dangerous fad diets is the sleeping diet. As per this diet, when you sleep, you do not eat, so you do not gain weight. Following this is quite disastrous to one’s overall health. The patient is asked to depend on sedatives so that they can sleep longer, as a result of which they eat less. Never try this fatal diet.
It is important to speak to your doctor before you begin any diet because the diet that would suit someone might not suit you. This is because your genes, metabolic rates, eating patterns and exercise routines will be completely different. Your doctor will check your BMI, and most importantly your medical history to determine how to manage your weight effectively. Keep in mind that weight loss is not for all, you could be in the normal health bracket, but just need to make slight changes to your lifestyle.
