Some of the saddest emails and messages I've been getting from people have to do with recovery after the hCG diet. Do most people get fatter as a result of the hCG diet? I don't know. I really don't but I'm hearing from women who are desperate because they just can't keep the weight off and it seems like so many people are telling me this diet made them fatter despite making healthy choices and watching calories. I'm also saddened by the fact that women have told me they are throwing up to keep off the weight. They developed eating disorders out of desperation. This diet just lowers your metabolism so much that unless you are going to do seemingly endless hCG cycles (and putting your health at serious risk) or having steak days or apple days or egg days where you only eat that one food, you're going to gain this weight back and it often stops at higher than your starting weight. It did for me :( After I had to go off the diet, I'd gain back some weight and it would seem to plateau and then jump up again. After a number of cycles like this, it was all back plus some. I also have a sneaking suspician that the longtime dealers of this diet, never really had that much to lose or it was pregnancy weight that came off fairly easily. Easy to sell a diet like this when you really don't have to do much to lose anyway. For those with large weight losses that you see doing the diet, they seem to be on the roller coaster of continuous cycles. That's no way to live your life.
So, I am being asked what I am doing to combat this weight gain and people who know I started Weight Watchers again a couple weeks ago want to know if it is helping.
First of all, let me say, I had a great experience with WWs years ago after my first baby. Kept the weight off until my second. I admit, I went back a couple times to try it again but, honestly, I just wasn't that motivated. I think I was bored with it. Now? Well, my health was adversely affected by the hCG diet. My medical costs were so high. My weight came back with a vegeance. Oh yes, I'm motivated now. So, along with a friend, I started Weight Watchers again and it feels like the first time.
I want my metabolism back. For several months after this diet, it was so incredibly slow. Even eating under my basil metabolic rate had me gaining. I've noticed in the last month that my metabolism seemed to bouncing back a bit. So, on top of Weight Watchers I am trying to exercise for at least 20 minutes five times a week. I have to say, that seems to be huge in getting my metabolism back. I wasn't healthy enough after the hCG det to do much that way and I had to up my calories to compat what was happening with my body so, if you are having that same struggle after the hCG diet, you may just have to gain the weight just to get your health and metabolism back.
I've had one weigh in now and have lost almost five lbs. I was talking about it and realized that that really wasn't that different from what I lost on the hCG diet the first week. I lost a bit more but that hCG diet is a sneaky thing. They have you 'load' (aka pig out) for two days. Well, that's a lot of water weight you retain and it's going to come off quickly. So, not counting the 'loading' weight that came off, my amounts were pretty similar. Considering I am eating three times what I ate on the hCG diet, that's even more impressive.
Think about it, on the hCG diet, you are allowed the equivalent of one Subway sandwich (just as an example because you'd never be allowed something like that on the hCG diet) a day. I could eat three of those (like Jared!) and still lose. I like Weight Watchers better.
Let me say though, I am in no way rushing this. I know that to really keep the weight off, losing slowly and steadily is the best way. In fact, I'm so worried now that I did permanent damage to my heart that I'm scared to undereat. I make sure I eat my full allotment of points every day. Just wish I'd started Weight Watchers instead of the hCG thing. I'd be at my goal weight my now. I wouldn't have had the serious health issues. I'd certainly be richer because of all the medical bills I could have avoided.
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