A female hormone turns out to be a real weight loss cure.

[TruckDriver]

Gotta see this one I saw on the local news.  There is a video too. Pretty interesting.

http://www.todaystmj4.com/features/specialassignment/84414037.html

Is it the next big weight loss miracle? A hormone found in pregnant women could help you drop the pounds.
It's called HCG. And if you haven't heard of it, it's probably because it's new. It's not exactly FDA approved for use in weight loss programs either, but people using it swear by it.
DJ Fink is one of those patients. The Chicago-area man is on the move a lot of the time, shooting his TV show in venues across the country. But lately, he said his bulk was slowing him down.
"I was just continuing to grow and being on TV, TV already adds 10 pounds and it was continuing to add," he described his slow but steady weight gain.
Fink and his wife decided to try something new-- A weight loss program offered at Complete Clinics in Gurnee. The difference between this program and everything else he'd tried is a hormone called HCG. It's the chemical that makes the stick turn pink when you're pregnant.
Dr. Scott Morris is one of just a handful of physicians offering an HCG program.
"HCG elevated in pregnant women had an association with weight loss, or at least with fat loss," he explained. "It basically seems to mobilize those fat stores. The metabolism is increased by some of the dietary changes we use, but then it's able to get to those fat stores especially around the waist more readily than without the HCG," he continued.
Dr. Morris couples the HCG injections with a diet low in carbs and refined sugar, and recommends exercise.
DJ Fink and his wife started the program six months ago and have already seen a big difference.
"I am down 12 pants sizes and almost 58 pounds," he said. "She's down about 50 pounds."
Skip, another patient, is also having success with the HCG diet. Recurrent spine injuries left him lethargic and overweight. Then he started the HCG injections.
"I've tried like every kind of diet in the world," he told us.
But nine months into the new regime, he's feeling great. "I lost 30 pounds in the first four months and six inches off my waist."
So if it works this well, why haven't you heard of it yet? HCG is approved for use as a fertility drug. But it's not FDA-recommended specifically for weight loss. But Dr. Morris thinks that may change.
"In terms of really studying, researching for weight loss and other benefits, I think it's just not become that popular and that common yet," he said.
That could soon change. DJ Fink is so happy with his progress, he's telling everyone he knows.
"My pants are still going down, I'm wearing t-shirts, big guys don't wear t-shirts, if they do they wear a shirt over it."
HCG could have other uses. It's being tested right now as a way to prevent some types of breast cancer.

[Dans 68]

I would think a double-blind study would be needed before the FDA would even think about approving this for weight loss. I would like to know how patients do on simply the low carb, no white sugar and exercise regiment. 

Dan

[RD]

well, I have been doing P90X (with a herniated disc in my back) for 3 weeks now and lost 16 lbs and 3 1/2" off my waist, without HCG.

proper nutrition with controlled portions and a tried and proven exercise program is all anyone needs.  just my opinion.

[Dans 68]

well, I have been doing P90X (with a herniated disc in my back) for 3 weeks now and lost 16 lbs and 3 1/2" off my waist, without HCG.

proper nutrition with controlled portions and a tried and proven exercise program is all anyone needs.  just my opinion.

I've been following your adventure. Kudos to you. 

Likewise, losing weight is not rocket science. I dropped 20 lbs last year just by portion control and a bit more exercise. But we'll see on the last 20 lbs. 

Dan

[bull]

well, I have been doing P90X (with a herniated disc in my back) for 3 weeks now and lost 16 lbs and 3 1/2" off my waist, without HCG.

proper nutrition with controlled portions and a tried and proven exercise program is all anyone needs.  just my opinion.

I've been following your adventure. Kudos to you. 

Likewise, losing weight is not rocket science. I dropped 20 lbs last year just by portion control and a bit more exercise. But we'll see on the last 20 lbs. 

Dan

X2 I lost 85 lbs in roughly a year.

[Mike DC]

   
85 pounds inside of a year?!? 


Man, I'd be worried about yo-yo-ing a bunch of weight back on later.  That sounds pretty fast for the amount lost. 

[bull]

 
85 pounds inside of a year?!?  


Man, I'd be worried about yo-yo-ing a bunch of weight back on later.  That sounds pretty fast for the amount lost.  

The good news is it is "later." Actually, I wrote it down wrong but it's close to reality. I went from 290 lbs to 215 lbs for a total of 75 lbs lost between Feb 08 and Nov 08 and then kept it there for about nine months. At that point I did another small push and dropped another nine lbs to 206 which I've maintained for the past six months or so. So all told I lost about 83 lbs. This morning I weighed 208 lbs. And yes I would yo-yo if I didn't take it easy and weigh myself daily. If you look at the BMI charts on me at 6'1" I'm actually supposed to weigh around 190 lbs (not that BMI is the gospel...).

[TruckDriver]

From my experience, totally stop drinking all soda alone will make you drop a lot of weight. Now, although I did that for a while when I was at my heaviest, I now limit myself to how much soda I drink.

The whole secret that people do not realise, is that the easiest way to loose weight is to stop eating more calories then you burn off in a day. If you eat 4000 calories a day, but only burn 2000, your not going to loose much if anything. And, they had a news story here not to long ago, that found some restaurants meals have over 4000 calories alone in one order for one person. So, if you eat out a lot, it can be very easy to eat over 10,000 calories a day. That's insane.

Here is that news story & video they had about the calories in eat out food  

http://www.todaystmj4.com/features/specialassignment/83369187.html

[Todd Wilson]

I was the skinniest when I was drinking beer all weekend and eating McDonalds everyday when I was 20! HAHA!

The thing about restaurants for me was you get what you get. No going back for a 2nd plate like when at home.

Todd

[Dans 68]

Yep, just knowing how many calories a day go in your body will help to keep them out. I use the iphone application MyNetDiary to track my caloric intake, daily exercise, and plan to get my health to where I want it. Pounds don't matter as much as % body fat so while my clothes are getting larger my weight is not falling so fast.

Remember: everything in moderation (except Mopars, of course  )

Dan

[bull]

The thing that helped me this time was keeping track of caloric intake and weight loss. However, I only tracked my calories for about three weeks until I got a good idea of what I was supposed to be doing. That and I kept a daily record of my weight for about 18 months.

And Todd, I understand what you mean about being 20 and eating/drinking everything in sight. My problem was I was still trying to maintain that attitude at 40.

[Todd Wilson]

And Todd, I understand what you mean about being 20 and eating/drinking everything in sight. My problem was I was still trying to maintain that attitude at 40.

I am having that problem now at 39. My metabolism has slowed the last 3 years and I hurt my back 3 years ago so my activity has dropped off as well. Its tough!


Todd

[Todd Wilson]

The thing about this hormone that scares me is if dudes take it would it shrink their nads or something? Got to be bad side effects. If this is the hormone that shows up when a chick is knocked up then how come knocked up chicks usually get fat?!


Todd

[PocketThunder]

The thing about this hormone that scares me is if dudes take it would it shrink their nads or something? Got to be bad side effects. If this is the hormone that shows up when a chick is knocked up then how come knocked up chicks usually get fat?!


Todd

Dont worry there are implants for the nads available. .   

[67_Dodge_Charger]

This is an appetite suppressant taken with a modest diet plan will assist you with weight loss.  What others have stated above you will need to change your lifestyle and learn to eat differently, plus monitor what you do. 

Has anyone one on this site done this and a exercise routine?

[nh_mopar_fan]

It comes down to calories. Take in less than what you burn, every day.

The problem I have with some of these workout programs, like P90x, is that you WILL plateau and the weight loss will stop or slow.

You might reach your goal by then. If not, you will need to increase the intensity of your workout to continue losing weight.

The people that sell you P90x know that.

That's why there's no P120 or P180.

If you are overweight, haven't been eating well and have not exercised, you will lose alot of weight really fast on a program like this. That's common sense. It's what happens after that that is the question.

[jb666]

HCG has been used for years... It's just that now these "studies" are coming to the surface...

HCG is most commonly injected into fatty areas (love handles, etc..) that you really need help. It targets those areas and (allegedly) burns the fat quickly...

Personally, I'd rather do it through diet and cardio...  Work hard, and the benefits will come. There IS NOT miracle cure.

[RD]

It comes down to calories. Take in less than what you burn, every day.

The problem I have with some of these workout programs, like P90x, is that you WILL plateau and the weight loss will stop or slow.

You might reach your goal by then. If not, you will need to increase the intensity of your workout to continue losing weight.

The people that sell you P90x know that.

That's why there's no P120 or P180.

If you are overweight, haven't been eating well and have not exercised, you will lose alot of weight really fast on a program like this. That's common sense. It's what happens after that that is the question.

no, this is incorrect.. there is no such thing as a plateau with P90X due to the fact that it works separate muscles and continually shocks your muscles with new and different exercises.

Of course one will increase the intensity of the workout.  The more fit you become, the more you are able to do, hence the more intense the workout will be.  That is just how it goes in all aspects. 

You will only get the amount of weight loss based upon the effort you put into it.  That is with anything.  Anyone can buy P90X and absolutely have no drastic changes if they keep eating the same crap and dont push themselves.

I tell ya what.. let us see my before and after photos at the 90 day mark.  If I have hit the "plateau" you will be able to tell.

On the yang side of things, everyone will hit a plateau.. you have to, if not you will become very unhealthy by losing too much weight (i.e. bulemics, anorexics, etc.).  The key is to plateau at a point where you are healthy, with a low BMI, and continue to eat appropriately.

I am not going to defend P90X anymore.. if you dont believe it can get the results any one desires.. just visit the website and you may change your mind.  I have.

[jb666]

I'm another firm believer.. P90X is AWESOME.. Intense, hardcore... If you don't believe it works , you either haven't tried it or haven't tried it correctly...

[TruckDriver]

And Todd, I understand what you mean about being 20 and eating/drinking everything in sight. My problem was I was still trying to maintain that attitude at 40.

I am having that problem now at 39. My metabolism has slowed the last 3 years and I hurt my back 3 years ago so my activity has dropped off as well. Its tough!


Todd

Same thing that happened to me in my mid 30's. My metabolism dropped off the radar. I gained weight so fast, my body, I was getting reddish areas on my belly. The doctor then told me it was because of rapid weight gain. I jumped up a 100 pounds in one year. And he said most people that eat a lot normally won't gain that much that fast. Now that I have arthritis in my knees and lower back, it is painful so much, it is hard to just wanna go out to work out, little alone walk some days for me.

[nh_mopar_fan]

Muscles do not get shocked. Muscle confusion is a myth. Muscles build by being stressed.

Your body then works to adapt and overcome that stress.

The stress that works for muscles is intense muscle contraction.

It doesn't matter how you group your muscles as long as you intensely stress them.

That's true for everyone.

I'm not slamming P90x. I'm pointing out that this is no new revelaltion and that some of what he's selling isn't completely on the level.

I have no doubt it'll work.

But again, if someone is out of shape and starts exercising regularly with intensity, they will see quick results in those 90 days. I wouldn't expect anyone to plateau in the first 90 days. That's the point. You plateau somewhere further down the road and at that point, you're going to have to get out of the livingroom because it's not going to cut it anymore. Nothing wrong with that. If the program gets people to work out and continue it beyond the 90 days, I think it's great.

Personally, I think there are much effective cardio exercises out there than the stuff they have you do in your livingroom.

I don't need to go to the website. He's trying to sell you $140 worth of DVD. I expect nothing but glowing reviews there.

[RD]

Muscles do not get shocked. Muscle confusion is a myth. Muscles build by being stressed.

Your body then works to adapt and overcome that stress.

The stress that works for muscles is intense muscle contraction.

It doesn't matter how you group your muscles as long as you intensely stress them.

That's true for everyone.

I'm not slamming P90x. I'm pointing out that this is no new revelaltion and that some of what he's selling isn't completely on the level.

I have no doubt it'll work.

But again, if someone is out of shape and starts exercising regularly with intensity, they will see quick results in those 90 days. I wouldn't expect anyone to plateau in the first 90 days. That's the point. You plateau somewhere further down the road and at that point,you;re going to have to get out of the livingroom because it's not going to cut it anymore. Nothing wrong with that. If the program gets people to work out and continue it beyond the 90 days, I think it's great.

Personally, I think there are much effective cardio exercises out there than the stuff they have you do in your livingroom.

I don't need to go to the website. He's trying to sell you $140 worth of DVD. I expect nothing but glowing reviews there.

I can respect that.

[nh_mopar_fan]

Here's an article on muscle confusion you may find interesting.

http://blog.bodybuilding.com/thenaturalone1ky/2008/06/10/myth-5-in-bodybuilding-muscle-confusion/

[RD]

Here's an article on muscle confusion you may find interesting.

http://blog.bodybuilding.com/thenaturalone1ky/2008/06/10/myth-5-in-bodybuilding-muscle-confusion/

interesting, but I have never assumed that the muscle confusion thing was where the exercises actually "confused" the muscle, but rather our brain when it comes to repetitive movements and postures.  The muscle confusion, or so I have taken it, comes to the point where the muscles are worked more intensely as the individual's brain attempts to wrestle with new configurations of exercises to include intensity level and duration.  Such confusion on our mental aspect "coulda/shoulda/woulda" work all muscles to develop a well rounded physique rather than isolating certain areas.  I know, when I have gone to gym's in the past (by myself) I would focus on things I liked to do. With P90X, it forces me to work muscles and areas from a synergistic aspect ensuring that all areas are worked appropriately to promote fat loss, increased metabolism, and overall fitness from a holistic perspective.  Muscle confusion is obviously a snappy term meant to summarize it.  Well, at least it was to me.

Once you've tore up a muscle with progressive overload the next step is to get out of the gym, make sure you give the muscles sufficient time to recover so that they can actually grow, take in the precise amount of protein and nutrients to fulfill your muscles maintenance and growth needs, and ounce your fully recovered your muscles will now be bigger and stronger and you go back into the gym and follow this process all over again but now working with a heavier work load than last time, and it's that simple.

<--- minus the spelling errors from the article LOL  I know, spelling nazi

That is something I totally agree with, and is what P90X accomplishes (believe me.. i felt it LOL).

[bull]

This is an appetite suppressant taken with a modest diet plan will assist you with weight loss. 

Just reading parts of this thread is an appetite suppressant.

[Mike DC]

    
IMHO the easiest way to get skinny in 21st century america is to reject the common portion sizes.  

Our bodies never originally called 32oz drinks and 1/4-lb hamburgers "small".  We've gradually been retrained to think this way by the big farming & food & restaurant industries.  

 

[Todd Wilson]

   
IMHO the easiest way to get skinny in 21st century america is to reject the common portion sizes.  

Our bodies never originally called 32oz drinks and 1/4-lb hamburgers "small".  We've gradually been retrained to think this way by the big farming & food & restaurant industries.  

 

Never thought if it this way! Maybe I can sue them for millions?!

Or maybe some slimeball lawyer can file a class action for all of us. He can get millions and we can get a 4$ check in the mail a few years from now.


Todd