Breast Cancer Survivors and HCG Diet

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AzAnna
AzAnna Member Posts: 3
edited September 2016 in Hormonal Therapy - Before, During, and After

The HCG diet is all the rage all around me. I tend to steer clear of anything hormonal since I became a breast cancer survivor 8 years ago. Do any of you have any insight into using this diet as a survivor? I've seen dramatic results for many people with the HCG diet...

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  • KristyAnn
    KristyAnn Member Posts: 793
    edited August 2010

    I am wondering about it too!!!

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  • PB22
    PB22 Member Posts: 315
    edited August 2010

    I'm wondering also!

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  • rgiuff
    rgiuff Member Posts: 1,094
    edited August 2010

    What is the HCG diet?

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  • cimiche
    cimiche Member Posts: 16
    edited January 2011

    I just started it today... anyone else?

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  • Husband11
    Husband11 Member Posts: 2,264
    edited January 2011

    I would be concerned that it is: unnatural (hormone injections), unsafe (500 calories per day), and unsustainable (what happens after you quit the hormone injections and severe calorie restriction?).  Sounds like a pharmaceutical shortcut.  Ultimately if you are going to keep the weight off, you need a change in lifestyle and the discipline to maintain it.

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  • Nordy
    Nordy Member Posts: 2,106
    edited January 2011

    This is really the DUMBEST diet you could go on. Anyone will lose weight if they limit their caloric intake to 500 calories. Really. AND when you do that, you place your body into starvation mode, so that when you do start eating "normally" your body wants to put those new "extra" calories into storage for the next round of starvation. You are teaching your body to store its calories for times of famine. I am seconding what Timothy is saying and if you research it, you will find that it really is not safe. Whatever happened to putting in the work and making sound food choices?

    Oh, and if you think from the picture, that I am just one of those people that doesn't have to work at it, you are so wrong. I have three siblings that are obese and the only reason the 4th is not is that he had gastric bypass and now loves to cycle. I have all the genetics to lead me down that path, but have chosen to work hard not to get there. And I have certainly had my struggles, including developing an eating disorder during high school that took me 9 years to get over. You have to be in charge of your food choices (not your emotions) and your activity - your body won't do it without your brain telling it to. 

    www.dietsinreview.com/diet_column/07/hcg-diet-look-elsewhere-for-weight-loss/
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  • AnneW
    AnneW Member Posts: 4,050
    edited January 2011

    I wish there was a "like"button like on FaceBook--I'd mark your post that way, Nordy!

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  • Husband11
    Husband11 Member Posts: 2,264
    edited January 2011

    Journal of Clinical Nutrition article:

    http://www.ajcn.org/content/29/9/940.full.pdf

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  • Member_of_the_Club
    Member_of_the_Club Member Posts: 3,646
    edited January 2011

    When you put yourself into starvation mode your body learns to conserve energy and when you start eating anything close to the typical diet you will get everything back plus some.

     There are no shortcuts.  Eat healthy foods, smaller portions, exercise.  Thats the only way.

     I also come from a family with obese people.   

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  • Husband11
    Husband11 Member Posts: 2,264
    edited January 2011

    The claim is made that the HCG prevents: 1) hunger 2) ill effects from caloric deprivation.

     Problem is that neither claim appears to be substantiated.  The HCG part seems to add nothing, and must be costly.

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  • KEW
    KEW Member Posts: 745
    edited January 2011

    If I remember correctly HCG is the hormone they use in pregnancy tests.  If that is true, I'd like to know where they are getting it.  I'd steer clear.  I have a coworker how is losing weight like crazy on it, but she is in her 50's and HCG shouldn't be present in her body.  Kind of scares me.

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  • Nordy
    Nordy Member Posts: 2,106
    edited January 2011

    Thanks Anne!

    Oh, and I forgot one very key thing. One of my sister-in-laws did this diet... two times in a row. Interesting enough a couple weeks after she came off she developed a stress fracture (doing... NOTHING extra as far as exercise) in one of her tarsals (these are the bones in your feet). Of course when I mentioned that maybe the whopping 500 calorie per day diet in addition to what the hormone might do, may have caused a mineral depletion in her bones - she was totally in denial. I just don't think the HCG diet is a smart choice. Actually, I KNOW the HCG diet is not a smart choice.

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  • Lisa75
    Lisa75 Member Posts: 137
    edited December 2011
    I tried this diet and only lasted about 4 days..not for me. its supposed to release your fat stores into the bloodstream and even though you only eat 500 calories, your body uses the fat in the bloodstream to burn off.
    This was before I was diagnosed with DCIS...so sometimes I can only wonder. Frown
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  • AmyIsStrong
    AmyIsStrong Member Posts: 1,755
    edited January 2012

    I have been looking into this diet as well. I work out 6 days/week very hard and eat reasonably well. The weight WILL JUST NOT COME OFF.  I would like to only lose about 20 lbs. and I would be content. 

    I did read a study of a doc from Harvard Medical School who said that this hormone could serve as a breast cancer PREVENTATIVE in the future.  But also read anecdotal stuff from people who were dx after using it.   Anyone else have info on this?

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  • LivingLovingLaughing
    LivingLovingLaughing Member Posts: 4
    edited December 2015

    I am now 9 years after my last dx of BC and I am desperate to lose weight. I am so depressed at miserable at the extra 70lbs that I am lugging around with me. My daughters have both start the hcg diet and 1) I am terrified for them that this is NOT a good thing with a mum that has had BC but 2) they are looking so well and happy that I want to do it - but how can I, am I being a terrible mum by doing this. My breast cancer surgeon lost 70lbs on it and looks amazing, hardly recognizable. Is it ok to do it - PLEASE I NEED ANSWERS I HAVE ORDERED THEM AND WANT TO START ASAP

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  • MtnMama3
    MtnMama3 Member Posts: 17
    edited September 2016

    LivingLovin...did you ever do the HCG diet?

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