Tweet

Share on Tumblr

For most people losing weight is a challenge. Sometimes, you do manage to drop a few kilos only to see them pile back on in no time. The key to successfully losing weight is to stage your weight loss. For this reason the HCG diet has a very high success rate. The HCG diet has four stages of which calories-counting is important mainly in stage 2. During this time, you will be allowed to consume only 500 calories per day. Sound’s hard- it doesn’t have to be.

Recognize the food you can eat at every phase

The first thing to do is recognize the foods you can eat during this phase. For the 21 to 42 days that this phase will last you must not only control the amount you eat but all the type of food being eaten. If you are diabetic or allergic to certain types of food, you must let your dietician know at the onset of the program so that they may create an alternative diet for you. Unless advised by the dietician, do not replace any food on the list with anything else that is not on the list even if they share the same calorific value. It is also important to ensure that all the fruits, vegetables and proteins being consumed are organic.

Of the 500 calories per day, you may consume 200 calories worth of proteins. However, this must be split equally between two meals. Meat must be cooked off the bone and without any fat. The list of HCG approved proteins includes white fish, crab, lobster, shrimp, chicken, buffalo, extra lean beef and scallops. Alternatively, you may eat 3 egg whites.

Vegetables you can grab

When it comes to vegetables, you must consume two cups of fresh vegetables a day. This must again be divided between two meals. Green vegetables like beet greens, mixed salad greens, broccoli, spinach, fennel and chard are great for this diet. You can also add tomatoes, onions, cauliflower, asparagus and red radishes. None of these vegetables should be cooked in oil or butter. Steaming them is the best way to cook them. If you prefer a raw salad, do not add any dressing or seasoning mix as it could contain salt and sugar. Instead, you may use apple cider vinegar, mustard powder or table salt and pepper.

The fruit list

The list of fruits permitted is a little more restrictive. This is because most fruits have a high sugar index. The fruits that you can eat while on the HCG diet include grapefruit, apples, oranges, lemons, blueberries, strawberries and raspberries.

During the second phase of the HCG diet, you must avid starch as much as possible. The only starchy foods permitted are Melba toast and Grissini breadsticks. These should also be consumed sparingly. To keep your body from craving these starches you may drink a cup of herbal tea or coffee without sugar.

While on the second phase of this diet, most people count backwards to the third stage. This is because you can then increase your calorie intake to 1000-1500 calories. To get more details about the HCG diet before you start the diet check out the page – http://www.ideas4health.com/a-simple-guide-to-hcg-phases-for-beginners/.