Reading Between The Lines: HCG Diet and Special K Cereal Diet

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Diets Uncovered

Annually there is a surge in dieting as the holiday season approaches.  Some purge before the feast.  Others hope to impress loved ones with their svelte frame.  Two low-cost diets currently circulating the Brandywine Valley are the HCG Diet (vegetable based) and the Special K Cereal Diet (grain based).  What is the truth about these diets?

Courtesy Ashleydietrich.com

 

HCG Diet

The HCG diet uses over-the-counter homeopathic drops in combination with a restrictive diet.  Occasionally, the drops are replaced with injections at a doctor's office. The Special K diet uses products available at the supermarket in combination with a restrictive diet.  Thus, both diets share a philosophy of restricting calories and substituting meals with alternative products, in the form of homeopathic drops or grain foods.  Also, both diets are introduced as short term diets, yet the diets sell a lifestyle based on "repeat dieters" who return to the program on a recurring basis.   Are these diets safe? Are the effects temporary or permanent?

The HCG diet has been debated for more than fifty years!  Invented by a doctor in the 1950's, the diet hinges on the use of a purported appetite suppressant called HCG, short for human chorionic gonadotropin hormone. The homeopathic drops are sold by internet retailers everywhere.  They are also available at mainstream shops such as Walgreens and GNC.  They are regulated by the FDA.  The drops contain trace amounts, if any, of the actual HCG hormone, in order to be considered homeopathic as opposed to prescription medication.  Some dietitions prescribe injections of the hormone which fall under the Rx umbrella.  Most also contain other herbal dietary supplements intended to aid with dieting.

HCG Dieters limit their calories severely to 500 per day.  They follow a diet heavy on vegetables, water, and limited proteins.  Fats, oils, breads and sweets are allowed in trace amounts daily.  The dieters take HCG to suppress their appetites during this time.  The idea is that the body will burn existing fat.  The diet runs on a 20 to 40 day cycle, at which point the dieter is instructed to eat normally for an equal amount of time before returning to the program.  Results can be dramatic, but so can the side effects.  Results in one month can range from a 30-lb. weight loss to heartbeat irregularities and loss of hair.  The Dr. Oz Show investigated the diet in 2011 and has published many informative videos on the subject.

Special K Diet

The Special K Diet is also a restrictive diet.  This one is based on the idea that a high fiber diet brings about weight loss.  Dieters substitute two meals daily with products from the Special K collection of cereals, protein shakes, and bars.  One major difference between the Special K Diet and the HCG Diet is that Special K Dieters are encouraged to adopt an exercise program to supplement the food program.  In the HCG Diet, heavy exercise is discouraged because of the general notion that the body needs to focus on resetting its metabolism during the diet period and exercise would interfere with the natural process.  The Special K diet permits its dieters much more leeway than HCG dieters in terms of snacks. Special K Dieters can choose Special K snacks or fruits and vegetables.  The cereal maker's website contains online resources that walk dieters through the process.  This and the flexible structure of the diet make it easy to follow.

Common Sense Advice:

• The HCG Diet and Special K Diets can produce results in some people when done properly and safely with attention to individual nutritional needs.
• Consult a doctor when trying the HCG Diet or Special K Diet
• Seek help from a nutritionist, if you can!  Many insurance plans cover nutrition visits several times per year.
• Let your loved ones know you are dieting.  Don't diet in secret! Allow family and friends to support you.  
• Appreciate the honest observations of changes in your weight, mood, and general physical condition from loved ones, as hard or easy as it may be to accept this feedback.  (But, do let them know when enough comments are enough!)
• Do not observe a restrictive diet on a long term basis.  Sooner or later, it is time to take off the training wheels and work on why the weight accumulated in the first place.  This step may involve changes in lifestyle, outlook, or relationships.

Thanks for reading.  As for Gardentina, she is sticking with salad and seltzer water for now.  She welcomes comments on your experiences with these diets.

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