The Phases of the hCG Diet Explained
There are four phases to the hCG Diet.
Phase 1:
Phase one is preparing for the diet. This is a preparatory phase that is very important but many skip. We recommend at least reading Pounds and Inches and trying one of the detox methods as you await your shipment. You can use this time to read Pounds and Inches, do your measurements( check out the myotape) and work on detoxing your body to prepare for the diet. Try the Ultimate Detox Cleanse. Click here for all your Phase 1 information.
Phase 2:
When you start taking the hCG drops is the beginning of phase 2. The first 3 days of phase 2 you will be eating a high fat diet while taking your drops 3x a day. Hold the drops under your tongue for a minimum of two minutes to absorb the hCG sublingually. You will then start building your fat reserves while the hCG is starting to build in your system. On Day 4 you will begin your start of the VLCD diet. This will be 500 calories while taking the hCG 3x a day. There are two programs a 23 day plan and a 43 day plan. Depending on which you are on you will continue the 500 calorie diet. Here is an example day on the hCG diet. Click here for Phase 2 tips and recipe informaiton.
Phase 3:
This phase is one of the most important phases of the diet. The goal here is maintenance. You do not want to lose or gain during this 3 week period following your last doseage weight. Dr. Simeons says in Pounds and Inches you are resetting your hypothalomus to this new weight so your body will remember it and it will keep you from gaining back weight in the future. You do not want your weight do go above or below 2lbs. of your LDW. During this cycle you are to have 1500 calories including fats with no startches or sugars. If you need more calories to maintain (if you are still losing on 1500 increase your calories to avoid any weight fluctuations, men especially sometimes need to do this to keep their LDW). After you have reached stabilization you will want to slowly start adding in items one at a time to see how your body responds. You will monitor this by weighing daily and seeing if a new food has caused you to gain. Once you have stabilized for 3 weeks you can return to p2 (if you are taking injections this is 6 weeks) or you can move on to P4, which is the phase once you have reached your goal weight and are ready for lifetime maintenance. If you experience a gain during your stabilization period immediately do a Steak Day or Alternative Correction Day. Click here to visit the Phase 3 category for tips and recipes.
Phase 4:
Once you achieve your goal weight you are ready for phase 4. Phase 4 is the “forever” phase. We do not ever want to return to our previous weight and will want to maintain and stay at our LDW. Phase 4 is actually easy once you have stabilized correctly. If you happen to have an off day the weight comes right back off easily and you can continue this process. In Phase 4 you can begin to add back in limited sugars and startches. I know for me I love chocolate and have tested this in phase 4, while I do not eat it everyday I have been able to enjoy the “treats” in life i.e. Pizza, a donut, cereal etc when testing the phase 4 lifestyle with no gains. You will always want to monitor your weight so that if you have a serious gain you can correct it, but it is easier to have a treat in p4 and actually see no gain at all. Click here for all your Phase 4 category information.
I hope this information was helpful. I know the phases can be confusing. You need to know this terminology to get the correct recipes for which phase you are in. There is a category section on the right side bar of the blog for your convenience. We are here to help and you will be seeing more p4 information as Carol and I have been in phase 4 for months now. We are an interactive site so please share any tips or recipes you think others would find helpful and we will all be healthier and skinnier together.
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