HCG Diet and HIIT

HCG Diet:

Human Chorionic Gonadotropin (HCG) is an old diet created by Dr. Simeon that has
been gaining popularity as a successful option for a medically supervised weight loss
program. HCG is a naturally occurring anti-aging hormone created in the human body
that plays a critical role in protecting and controlling the metabolic functions of the body.
In fact, women produce massive amounts of HCG during their pregnancy because it pulls
non-essential fat storage from mom to nourish the growing fetus. When used as a diet
adjunct, HCG specifically targets unhealthy visceral fat that negatively impacts our
health. After a consultation with a health professional, a qualified candidate will receive a
supply of injectable HCG doses, which will be self-administered on a daily basis for a
period of 23 or 40 days, depending. The HCG in conjunction with a very low calorie diet
(VLCD) consisting of real, whole foods allows the body to pull non-essential fat from its
stores and utilize it as energy. As a result, the average person can expect to lose
anywhere between 0.5-2.0 lbs. of fat per day, with no adverse side effects, hunger or
cravings. Interestingly, patients undergoing HCG consistently lose circumference–
typically in hips or abdomen–at a constant rate of close to 1 cm. per kilogram of weight
lost. Following a strict maintenance phase, an individual can consume as many calories
as necessary and re-introduce new foods back into their diet, while establishing a healthy
“set-point” long-term. In general, 60-70% of those patients who follow the recommended
guidelines and adopt healthy lifestyle habits can maintain their weight permanently.

HIIT:

The best exercise is the one that you will stick to. High Intensity Interval Training (HIIT)
is not a new concept, although it is getting a lot of hype recently as people are attracted to
the idea of more efficient ways to burn fat and build muscle tone in as little as 15 minutes
per day. HIIT offers a fast, effective way to get people on board with exercising and can
be easily modified to accommodate special conditions or individual fitness levels. HIIT
workouts can burn more calories than conventional workouts and research shows that an
additional 6-15% more calories are burned post-workout over a two-hour period. To be
effective, HIIT should include periods of sub-max (or >80% of predicted maximal heart
rate) where the exercise feels “hard” to “very hard” followed by a brief period of rest (or
40-50% of predicted maximal heart rate) where the individual feels “comfortable” to
prepare for the next bout of interval training. Examples of workout modes that can
incorporate HIIT include: walking, sprinting, cycling, aqua training, elliptical cross-
training and group exercise classes. Benefits of HIIT can be achieved by doing as little
as 15 minute sessions per day, 2-3 times per week. It is important to work with a personal
trainer and consult with a physician when starting any exercise regimen, for health and
safety concerns.

Benefits of HIIT include:

• Aerobic & anaerobic fitness
• Improved blood pressure
• Cardiovascular health
• Insulin sensitivity (helps the muscles utilize glucose for fuel to make energy)
• Improved cholesterol profiles
• Reduction in visceral fat and body weight
• Increased muscular tone and hypertrophy

References

The HCG Diet, (2017). Human Chorionic Gonadotropin & Metabolism Reset. Retreived
from http://www.hcgplan.net

Kravitz, Len, (2017). ACSM Information on. High-Intensity Interval Training. Retrieved from
https://www.acsm.org/docs/brochures/high-intensity-interval-training.pdf