Anyone use hCG?

[Lara]

So a friend recommended I try hCG for weight loss, so I did some research on it, and found that it also stimulates a gland that produces progesterone production. Has anyone had any experience with it, whether it be for weight loss, or just to boost hormones?

[wendy]

Hi Laura,

I used Human gonatrophic hormone to lose weigh.  Since I ate about 800 calories a day I lost about a pound every two days.  I ended up having a salt deficiency and went to hospital.  I had lost about 12 pounds in 3 weeks but gained the lost weight back in a few months.  It is important to do life style changes to lose weight.  Losing one pound a week is very doable by life style changes.

Good luck.

[azSam]

I agree with what wendy says. life style changes are the most reliable way to lose weight. I was living on my own in arizona for a brief two months. During those two months I had actually lost 14lbs, so nearly 2lbs a week.

I exercised and became active. This included frequent walks, and even hiking up a nearby mountain with friends a few times. My activity level had increased 1000%. I ate less, I cut my meat consumption down to 1/3 of what I was eating, and I brought up my veggie and fruit consumption dramatically. I cut out soda and fast food. I stopped frying my foods, and grilled. I drank lots of water almost nothing but water, almost 3 liters of water a day.

It was great, I had a lot more energy, and I was able to focus better. I was able to keep the weight off for quite a while, even after I came back home and started eating junk again. Now almost two years later, I'm still not as heavy as I was when I left.

[Lara]

I've changed my lifestyle quite a bit recently, been eating better, and got a bike, which I made my sole mode of transportation, so I bike to work every day. I've been losing weight pretty well, and haven't really been wanting to go crazy. A friend just mentioned that his wife takes it and has gotten good results. I just wanted to poll the grand trans community to see if there was some other awesome benefit to trying this diet. Thanks for the input though!

[azSam]

Well as far as a supplement, there isn't much I can say. I haven't had any experience with it. But you're certainly on the right track.

[Cindy]

I think the problem I see with people with weight problems is the lifestyle change thingy. If there is a drug/hormone way to lose weight you may not get to the means to maintain a healthy weight.

I'm not too sure that taking long term drug/hormones is a good way to maintain weight. Most of these drugs/hormones are processed in the liver, at a cost. Once the liver gives up you pay back permanently.

Sounds really good that you are changing lifestyle. I know one of the woman here is running a weight loss thread to support both girls and boys to keep motivated. It might be good to check it out.

Cindy

[wendy]

Dear Laura,

Actually I took hcg under a doctor's supervision.  She knew I also took spironolactone.   I followed diet for three weeks and about day 19 I got up quickly and passed out falling into a table.  No damage was done to me or everything that I knocked over.  I thought it strange that I passed out and attributed it to getting up quickly.

I volunteered to work at a school on Patriot Day and was having a blast with young students.  Then I got sick.  I sat down.  I consumed two quarts of water and was very thirsty and had no urine production.   

Then it dawned on me what was happening.  I was taking spiro and eating very little meat.  I had depleted my body salts.

I was now vomiting and losing consciousness.  I happened to be volunteering with my TG friend and asked her to get me to  hospital.   Going to hospital I asked my friend to go through red lights.  In hospital I told staff I am TG taking spiro and on diet and need salt.

Doctors got kidneys to start functioning but thought I might have brain damage.  In morning neurosurgeon came into my room and asked why I was taking spiro as my blood pressure was 60/40 the entire night.  I told doctor and he left room screaming at on-site doctor that "he looks like a guy!"  (That is true I do look like a guy including male pattern baldness.)

I requested to leave hospital and doctors agreed that I was alert.  I dressed back in the "patriot" outfit I had worn at school day before and walked outside.  Nurse asked if she (referring to TG friend) would pick me up.  I told her no my wife (genetic woman) would pick me up.  Nurse was confused and now thought TG fried was my wife.  Too funny! 

I now ate with a vengeance and gained all weight back.

But wait there's more (if you buy now we will give you another for free)...  I then proceeded to obtain the hcg and administer without a doctor after I had almost died with a doctor.  I did not get sick the second time and did not lose weight.  Basically I injected myself with hcg and ate same amount of food.

Wow can I blow money!

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O.K. Let's get back to hcg diet.

First hcg is a hormone produced by pregnant woman that helps burn fat.  If used by women or men properly it does lose fat fast and you are not hungry.   You must not use it too long or your body will adjust to it (as Cindy James suggested) and you will be able to gain weight while taking hcg and dieting!

It is a very strict protocol.  You must take salts as is not mentioned in literature or you can deplete your salts but few if any will be on spiro while on diet. 

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If you can follow diet for three weeks and take adequate amounts of sodium and potassium you will lose about 12 pounds of fat.  However you must change your lifestyle or weight lost will be back in a few months.

Oh how I love to cook and eat!

[Lara]

Wow Wendy, that is a scary story. The expense of it is prohibitive at the moment, but I'm actually still considering trying it on a short term basis. I don't take spiro at all, been off of it for close to 2 years now. (Had an orchi, yay!) But I really do appreciate the info and stories. Makes me realize how powerful and dangerous it can be, and that I need to be cautious and not overdo it. Thanks!

[JadeS]

I went from 170lbs down to ~100lbs (Then back up to 110-115lbs recently on purpose for HRT, also my height is 5'6) over 6 months by changing nothing but my diet

I have no troubles maintaining it, sometimes I actually have to force myself to eat enough so I don't lose more and I never feel deprived of food, I eat mostly anything I want, just not lots of sugary stuff or crappy stuff.

I agree it has to be a lifestyle change. No drug or diet or anything is going to keep weight loss permanent if you don't change how you think about food.

[wendy]

There are no shortcuts to weightloss.

All the "special diets" and whatever else will just cause you to torture yourself as you rubberband up and down.

I went from over 245 down to 140 (but typically hover around 150 now (5'10").

Rabbit I can relate.  I exercised and monitored what I ate and lost 70pounds over 18 months.  That is close to 1 pound a week.  I went from 230 to 160 at 5'10".  I chatted with one of the FFS surgeons and he told me to go to 140.  I never got there.  When I went back to eating what I wanted I got to 175.

After my orchi I still waited about 175 and my primary doctor (not the endo) recommended the hcg diet.  She knew I was taking spiro after the orchi and did not say anything even though my T level was single digit.  (I am so OCD!)

The hcg diet is so boring!  I love to eat and cook.  Eating is my comfort.  I like to drink fermented beverages too as that numbs senses (and unfortunately is high in calories).

Actually I felt pretty good on hcg diet before problems at end.  After I left the hospital I ate and ate.  I had gotten back to 160 and went back to 175. 

Primary doctor charged me about $400 for hcg diet protocol.  The emergency visit cost as much as GRS!

I went online and got all I needed for about $80.  I ate what I wanted and administered the hcg.  I ended diet at 175.

Slowly I crept up to 190.  Now I can be placed  on a BBQ and slowly roasted.   A cannibal should find me tasty as I am well marbled.

................
I will try to change my life style again and eat right.  It is not easy for me.

Best diet I have ever found is called "Pig Out Diet".  You eat very "controlled" for six days a week.  You eat good food.  You have lots of vetetables, small portions of meat, no deserts and no alcoholic beverages.  One day a week you can pig out and eat what you want.  I was able to lose about one pound a week on Pig Out Diet and felt I still could eat anything occasionally!

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Oh it is 4th of July weekend.  I love all good foods!  Food is love in my family. 

Wow Rabbit very impressive with weight loss!  Did you keep any energy?  Do you have strength to work in yard during weekend?  I felt good at about 160.  I have not seen 140 since high school.  I weighed about 150 when I entered college.  (I was about 5'8" 120 when I was 14.   )

[azSam]

Sorry, I had trouble reading your post.. *twirls hair in finger* - Hi my name is Samantha, what brings you around here? 

[A]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Human_chorionic_gonadotropin#Weight_loss

Here is the text about it. I would personally recommend going with lifestyle changes, simply. If there were easy, effective and safe weight loss drugs, no one would be obese...

EDIT: Oh, and it only stimulates secretion of progesterone in individuals who have ovaries.