Is Homeopathic HCG Really Copycat hCG?

hCG is approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to treat infertility in both men and women. But its weight-loss roots trace back to the 1950s, when British endocrinologist A.T.W. Simeons realized that giving small, regular doses of Medical hCG, coupled with a 500 calorie a day diet, could use the body’s fat reserves for daily energy & weight loss, while preserving muscle.  

Exactly why the hCG diet is experiencing a revival now is unclear, but the hype has sparked many hCG spin-offs and copycats, like homeopathic HCG, which have forced a response from the FDA. The agency warned that homeopathic HCG is fraudulent and illegal according to the US News & World Report. Though the FDA said such products aren't necessarily dangerous, their sale is deceptive, since almost all homeopathic HCG products will test negative for any trace of Medical hCG. It is a very simple test should one want to check the validity of the product they are purchasing/have purchased. Several drops on a pregnancy test should show positive if hCG is present.

If there is no medical hCG in the system while on a 500 calorie a day diet, the body will use muscle as well as fat, but yes a person will still lose weight; just not healthy weight. With fake HCG the dieter is always hungry and very tired, their skin looks saggy and unhealthy and they have a general drawn facial look (an emaciated look). This is not healthy and is due to the starvation diet.  So it’s the fake homeopathic HCG that’s hurting us all! True medical hCG must be prescribed and supervised by a reputable licensed physician in a clinic.

FYI: The correct spelling for prescription/medical is hCG. The fake or copycat is usually spelled HCG.

hCG Doesn't Work? Well Take a Look at Penny Now!!

KWTV- News 9 Facebook asked people this week whether they thought hCG worked for weight loss, and then they later aired a negative story about hCG for weight loss being nothing more than an expensive placebo. Here’s our answer to KWTV-News 9—and no, it’s not sign language. Let’s just tell it like it is, because it’s actually a wonderfully inspiring story!!

The following are three (3) comments posted by our very “real” patient, Penelope Bishop, on KWTV- News 9’s Facebook about her experience with Medical hCG for weight loss:

Penelope Bishop

“I would like to add that I am on a 1200 calorie maintenance diet after HCG and I am doing fine. I have no regrets and would do it again. My reduction of my medications, cholesterol etc. Speaks for itself.”

“Some of the comments talk about exercise. I walked a treadmill 6 days a week. At first could only walk for 15 minutes. Now I can walk 5 miles in 1 hour daily. Couldn't climb stairs and now I take the stairs instead of an elevator. Next for me......I have purchased a bicycle and plan to ride around Lake Hefner.”

“Jay I do not Process carbs also so my physician has devised a balanced diet and my carbs are through fresh fruits and vegetables and lean protein and low fat dairy. I am doing great on my maintenance after HCG and maintaing my 225 lb. Weight loss, now for 6 months.”

For those of you who would like the whole story in a nutshell, Penny lost over 200 lbs. in 10 months on Medical hCG at our clinic. She went from 22 medications, down to 7 medications and is exercising regularly and is very healthy now, where she had major health issues before. We are very proud of Penny!! She is one of many at our clinic who have had amazing results with Medical hCG!  You can read more testimonials on our website at http://barretohealthcare.com for inspirational weight loss & wellness stories.

HCG Diet Debate: Exactly Who’s The Fraud?

Debate over the hCG Diet is never ending. Some Medical experts say there's no good evidence it (hCG) works. But hCG dieters insist they're dropping pounds, fast. Thousands of people are latching onto a diet that promises rapid weight loss—up to 30 pounds a month—and, judging by its recent surge in popularity, actually delivers. But the so-called hCG diet is either a weight-loss miracle or a dangerous fraud, depending on who's talking. The plan combines drops or injections of hCG, a pregnancy hormone, with just 500 calories a day. While some believers are so convinced of its power they'll willingly stick themselves with a syringe, the government and mainstream medical community say it's a scam that carries too many health risks and doesn't lead to long-term weight loss. "It's reckless, irresponsible, and completely irrational," says Pieter Cohen, an assistant professor of medicine at Harvard Medical School. "Can you lose weight on it? Of course, but that's mainly because you're hardly consuming any calories. And any benefit is not going to last."

 

If the government and mainstream medical community truly believe the hCG diet is a “dangerous fraud” or “a scam that carries too many health risks”, would they please quit complaining, whining and printing negative campaigns and inform the public at large exactly what the health risks are from using hCG. Enquiring minds want to know…what are the fraudulent dangers associated with the use of hCG? There have been no reported deaths associated with use of hCG, and no known adverse major medical problems. Many hCG dieters have however, reported feeling better overall after losing significant amounts of weight; therefore, requiring their blood pressure medications, gastro meds and some diabetic meds, etc. to be lowered significantly or eliminated altogether. Not only do people experience rapid weight loss with hCG and lifestyle changes with exercise & healthy eating choices during maintenance, overall they get healthy by significantly lowering their body’s need for prescription medications. Oh…could this be the real reason why the government & some in the medical community are so against hCG, even if closely supervised by a licensed physician? Perhaps healthier patients needing less office visits, less tests and less prescriptions mean less money lining their pockets?

Fertility Dr. Says hCG Expensive Placebo!

A news story was televised this morning about the authenticity of hCG as a medication for weight loss. The only person interviewed for the piece was the feature story’s expert, a Fertility Doctor, who uses large doses of hCG for infertility in patients. He said in the story that hCG is nothing more than an expensive placebo, and went on to say that his colleagues, other Medical Doctors, are uninformed and should not be jumping on the hCG bandwagon and dispensing hCG.

First, this is slanted news reporting at its finest! For any controversial news story to have weight or merit, opposing sides must have representation. Secondly, asking a Fertility Doctor about the intricate workings of weight loss or Bariatrics is like asking a Corporate Attorney the pros & cons of a particular high profile murder case. One should really go to an Attorney specializing in Litigation/Criminal Law in order to get truly accurate information. The

Fertility Dr.

should never mock his peers, especially Bariatric Specialists, as being uninformed & on a bandwagon, as he may very well be the uninformed party at the end of the day. After all, he is a Fertility/OB-GYN expert not Bariatrics & Weight Loss. Though both are Medical related, they are still two very different fields of study. From a Bariatric point of view, Medical hCG for weight loss works very, very well for many & for some it does not work because the restrictive diet is too hard. As a Fertility expert, the Doctor should understand this concept well, as certain fertility drugs work very, very well for some and not at all for others. So does this make those certain fertility drugs simply very expensive placebos?

Is hCG Causing Cancer? What’s Next?

A Local News Station posted a general Blog question on Facebook asking people, “What do you think about the HCG diet?” Many people posted comments saying it worked like a charm, others couldn’t get past the first few weeks on so few calories. But negative comments posted by people quickly turned to how the hCG hormone is now causing cancer. 

Surprisingly, none of the naysayers are medical experts or doctors. Nor could they quote any clinical trials where the hCG hormone has been proven to cause cancer; rather they’ve just heard from a friend of a friend, or their mother told them about their aunt or an uncle who was just diagnosed. Truth be told, these people already had cancer in their bodies before they began the hCG diet. We may never really know, unless actual clinical tests are conducted. hCG is the hormone produced by all pregnant women, and it’s FDA approved in larger dosages for infertility. We do actually have a patient at our clinic who is a breast cancer survivor, who received permission from her oncologist and her other physicians to go on the Medical hCG diet and she used the injections. She lost 200 lbs. in 10 months while on Medical hCG under the supervision of our physician and she is extremely healthy, happy and very much cancer free. People will come up with any excuse not to lose the extra pounds and to knock down something that actually works!! Really?!! What will these guys come up with next? So what do you think?

hCG Diet Plateau Breaker

What is the best weight loss plateau breaker while on the hCG Diet?

For dealing with a plateau in weight loss, while on the hCG diet, the most common and probably the best course of action to start with; for one day only, is to have what’s called an “apple day”. For this particular plateau breaker, you eat 6 apples only throughout the day and nothing else except the 2 Liters of required water (or more if you can get in more water). The next day you return to the usual 500 calorie diet. This is one of several ideas available to break plateaus in weight loss.

PRESS RELEASE!!! NEWS FLASH!!!! THIS JUST IN!!!

   Barreto Health Care

Is a Proud Partner

with Mayor Mick Cornett’s

A whopping 50,500 Lbs. lost by our dedicated Weight Loss & Wellness patients over the previous two years has been donated by Dr. Barreto to Mayor Mick Cornett's "This City Is Going On A Diet"! As a proud partner of the OKC Million, Barreto Health Care is doing our part to help Oklahomans’ lose weight and get healthy in 2011 and beyond. Thank You to all of our wonderfully determined Weight Loss & Wellness patients who continue to do such a fabulous job!!!! Keep up the good work!!

The Caveman Diet Review

The Caveman Diet also goes by the name of The Paleolithic Diet or the Stone Age Diet, which relies on a method that's roughly 40,000 years old - a healthy, simplistic approach to eating. The concept of the Caveman Diet is really quite simple: If it wasn't available to the cavemen, then you don't eat it. Foods allowed are all meats, including organ meats, fish, poultry, eggs, vegetables, fruits, roots and nuts. Positives: The diet is focused on whole, unprocessed and nutrient-rich foods, it will most likely result in weight loss, it’s gluten and casein free and it’s low in sodium.

Although getting back to a simplistic approach to eating seems like a good idea with nutrient-rich foods that are gluten & casein free and low in sodium, over the long-term, this diet eliminates entire groups of food; bringing up the question that strict nature may not be a viable long-term eating plan, from an overall nutritional standpoint. The inclusion of organ meats, including the consumption of lots of pork and red meats, all of which have such high saturated fat content (very high calorie count) should increase at the very least, cholesterol significantly. This diet may have a low satiety factor despite the diet's fat content, which tends to lead dieters to cheat.

Active Lifestyle and Traveling While on hCG

Most people nowadays are very active with children and their activities, work, travel and long hours. Very little time is spent at home, so how can they be on the hCG Diet with the restrictive Very Low Calorie Diet and not be cheating all the time?

People can manage the restrictive diet with some pre-planning and an insulated lunch bag (with an icepack insert). If you know you are going to be out all day simply measure all your cooked food and put in baggies inside insulated lunch bag, with extra protein in case your day goes long, and carry your food with you. While traveling, bring basic cutlery & paper plates, scales, etc.; then find a local grocery store and carry the food into your hotel room and store in room refrigerator.

10 Best Weight Loss Tips

Today’s information contains helpful weight loss tips from the best experts ever…women who have actually battled major weight problems, won their war with weight loss and have all kept the pounds off.  Hopefully, these tips will inspire and motivate:

1) Schedule Splurges- Plan your cheats in order to keep cravings from getting out of control.

2) Get in the Race- Find an activity or two or three, that you love  to keep you occupied and motivated.

3) Limit Liquid Calories- Calories from beer & mixed drinks can add up, so plan only 1 night a week out & mix with extra H2O.

4) Don’t Demand Perfection- Physical activity, do want you love, it doesn’t have to look or be perfect, just fun.

5) Consider Calories Carefully- Calorie count and nutritional value of those calories really do matter.

6) Nix Post-Dinner Noshing- Snacking late in the evening can put weight on whether it’s healthy food or not.

7) Don’t Go to Extremes- Don’t start  dietary or exercise regimes that you must stick to your entire life, that are impossible to follow.

8) Ditch Fast-Food Habit- It will only put the pounds back on and set you up for failure if you’re just starting. Pack your lunch always.

9) Start with Swaps- Start losing weight with baby steps: eat this instead of that, then continue to swap bad food for good food.

10) Look Sexy While You Sweat- Nice, fun exercise outfits that make you look good and feel good, keep you motivated and in the gym.