Has anyone heard of the HCG Diet in Kelowna?

[mamma]

This is from The De Pieri Clinic in Kelowna, which offers an hCG diet program:

Proper use of hCG for weight loss purposes begins with careful medical screening, via a questionnaire and blood test, to determine suitability for the individual patient.

A very low-calorie diet is coupled with daily injections of hCH, which is a human hormone that mobilizes stored fat to be used as fuel for the body. The diet itself is designed to ensure that daily nutritional requirements are met, within the parameters of very few calories. It is comprised of regular food, balanced for protein, vitamin, and mineral intake, but with negligible fat, starch, or sugar content. The majority of caloric fuel comes from the body’s fat stores. When hCG is used to mobilize stored fat for use by the body as fuel, an acceptable level of caloric intake is maintained. Therefore, there is little change in metabolic function, and little feeling of hunger.

Patients need to have weekly visits, for monitoring and advice, throughout the hCG weight loss program. Dr De Pieri offers vitamin injections to maintain optimal bodily functions throughout the course of the program.

When followed properly, the body is essentially “reprogrammed” to metabolize fat rather than store it. With proper food choices after the diet, patients can enjoy prolonged and stable weight reduction.

The hCG diet program at The De Pieri Clinic runs in 3-week sessions. The number of sessions you choose to undergo depends on the amount of weight you wish to lose. Patients normally lose 1/2lb to 1lb per day. The cost for your first 3-week session is $850, and subsequent sessions are $700.

[grammafreddy]

The cost for your first 3-week session is $850, and subsequent sessions are $700.

:200: :200: :200:

[davis123]

Another "miracle" diet, I bet like most diets you will drastically lose 20 pounds or so and then eventually gain it back. There is no substitute for the actual work that is needed to lose weight, you gain weight over time by unhealthy habits and you lose weight over time by implementing healthy habits. You mentioned that you have had medical tests to rule out anything that is preventing you from losing weight and all the tests came back as normal, yet you have found a million "excuses" or possible reasons why you can't lose weight, but you also mention that you have a casual walk here or there - you need to include a lot more exercise if you intend on losing any weight. Strength training using weights would probably benefit you - it has been proven that gaining muscle will increase your metabolism, even after you have done the workout - while you lounge around it is still working. Starvation diets slow your metabolism and ends up using your muscle tissue to provide you with enough calories for your body to function. So sure you will lose a little weight - but you are losing muscle and the layer of fat is still there.

Instead of spending a bunch of cash on some new gimmic diet why not try the real proven method of losing weight and give it time - not sure how much you have to lose but why not dedicate 6 months towards a honest try with the "proven" method of weightloss. The formula is pretty simple: do some cardio 3 or 4 days a week for 1/2 hour or hour, then do some strength training a couple days a week. Eat healthy. Simple as that. Find an exercise you enjoy or you will never follow through with it, maybe the wii fit might be an option, or join a gym with a friend - helps with the motivation. Someone here mentioned that "if only it worked for everyone" of course this will work for everyone - but it will take more than a day or a week - everyone wants instant results, deal with it, it takes time to lose weight. You didn't gain 50 pounds by eating a muffin for your breakfast today - it is from years of unhealthy habits. Don't look at weightloss as a diet - look at it as a lifestyle change. If you normally drink pop or some crap switch it up to water.

One pound of fat equals 3500 calories. Want to lose a pound a week? Then you need to consume 3500 calories less per week than you use. That's about 500 calories a day. By cutting out 500 calories a day from your normal daily diet, while keeping your activity level the same, you can lose approximately one pound a week. Now if you want to lose 2 pounds a week up the exercise so you are burning 3500 calories a week. Stick with it and I "guarantee" you will lose weight.

Good luck :sunshine:

[purpleflower]

Some people on here talk as if overweight people do not have the sense to do the
proper research or know what healthy eating and exercise is. I've heard that so many
times and I've seen many people do all that....exercise and eat healthy....for years
and to no avail.

Is it so hard to realized that for some people, exercise and eating healthy does
not work for everyone? That is sooooooooooooooooo frustrating. People
struggling with their weight are all not looking for a quick fix pill or miracle...
they are just looking for something that will address their indvidual struggle
to lose weight.

How about the carbs that have been shoved down everyone's throats for years
and years, not to mention all the corn syrup, fructrose, etc. etc. Not only
shoved down our throats, but promoted by the government in our food pyramid
as as being the food in which to consume the most. Well finally there was a change
in the food pyramid and carbs in bread etc. where moved down the line.

Obviously there are people that are sensitive to those carbs. Why do people who
are judging us all the same even give any koodos to the Atkins or South Beach Diet.
Many many people have been successful with those diets, because they figured out
certain carbs wreaked havoc with their metabolisms. That point right there shows
different diets are needed for differences in people.

I myself ate so very healthy and excercised every day and yet gained a bit of weight
every year and bit by bit, I became obese. Doctors all told me everything seems normal
but how is that normal? So you see, the search goes on by many people to find something
that will work to get the weight off. Having the weight on seems to be far more detrimental
to the overall health than even the side-effects of some of the weight loss gimmics.

Maybe if all the doctors and the government would be honest with the public and admitted
that the world needs to look at people as individuals. All the overweight people do not have
eating disorders or are looking for a quick weight loss.

Okay...this is another vent....but hey....I'm trying to lose weight, do research and do my part
to let other people know that we are all not created equal...in anyway, shape or form.

[gardengirl]

Some people on here talk as if overweight people do not have the sense to do the
proper research or know what healthy eating and exercise is. I've heard that so many
times and I've seen many people do all that....exercise and eat healthy....for years
and to no avail.

Is it so hard to realized that for some people, exercise and eating healthy does
not work for everyone? That is sooooooooooooooooo frustrating. People
struggling with their weight are all not looking for a quick fix pill or miracle...
they are just looking for something that will address their indvidual struggle
to lose weight.

How about the carbs that have been shoved down everyone's throats for years
and years, not to mention all the corn syrup, fructrose, etc. etc. Not only
shoved down our throats, but promoted by the government in our food pyramid
as as being the food in which to consume the most. Well finally there was a change
in the food pyramid and carbs in bread etc. where moved down the line.

Obviously there are people that are sensitive to those carbs. Why do people who
are judging us all the same even give any koodos to the Atkins or South Beach Diet.
Many many people have been successful with those diets, because they figured out
certain carbs wreaked havoc with their metabolisms. That point right there shows
different diets are needed for differences in people.

I myself ate so very healthy and excercised every day and yet gained a bit of weight
every year and bit by bit, I became obese. Doctors all told me everything seems normal
but how is that normal? So you see, the search goes on by many people to find something
that will work to get the weight off. Having the weight on seems to be far more detrimental
to the overall health than even the side-effects of some of the weight loss gimmics.

Maybe if all the doctors and the government would be honest with the public and admitted
that the world needs to look at people as individuals. All the overweight people do not have
eating disorders or are looking for a quick weight loss.

Okay...this is another vent....but hey....I'm trying to lose weight, do research and do my part
to let other people know that we are all not created equal...in anyway, shape or form.

If you ate healthy and exercised every day, you would not become obese
Eating healthy food is not the secret if you are eating more than you are burning off.
Eating healthy also means portion control.

"So you see, the search goes on by many people to find something
that will work to get the weight off. Having the weight on seems to be far more detrimental
to the overall health than even the side-effects of some of the weight loss gimmics."

This statement shows that you don't have a basic understanding of what it takes to lose weight and maintain it.
Weight loss gimmics are just that. They are gimmics and can have lethal consequences.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/health/healt ... eople.html

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/30518843/ns ... nutrition/

http://www.time.com/time/magazine/artic ... 02,00.html

http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.h ... A966958260

http://www.ctv.ca/CTVNews/Health/200709 ... th_070924/

[Imagination]

If you ate healthy and exercised every day, you would not become obese
Eating healthy food is not the secret if you are eating more than you are burning off.
Eating healthy also means portion control.

If it were that simple, it wouldn't be such a major issue. For one, 'eating healthy' is something which is still in controversy as is the theory of burning off more than you eat. There are any number of examples of how that just isn't true for some people be they the super skinny due to high metabolisms and always looking for ways to gain some weight to those who absolutely eat by the book watching every calorie and working out endlessly only to find they are still gaining fat.

You can try and simplify it all you want but that just isn't they way some people's bodies work at all and why there is still researchers trying to figure out why that is.

[davis123]

To the people who keep saying that "our bodies are not created equally" and "eating healthy and exercise doesn't work for everyone" - barring no medical issues, of course it will work, have you tried strength training to build up your metabolism? In your last real effort at exercise, what did you do on a daily basis, give us an example of what type and the duration of the exercise you have been doing. Did you count calories or what was your method of eating healthy? You can either give in to the million excuses or you can pick up some weights get your butt in gear and lose some weight. Yes it is that easy. But it won't happen overnight.

So are you really trying to tell me that if you exercise 4-5 times a week for an hour each time, and you started up a strength training routine, and ate healthy with reasonable portions - and you did this over the course of a full year - that you wouldn't lose weight and get your body toned? If you say no I wouldn't lose weight - that is a crock of crap and you know it. Or I guess we could use the excuse -oh poor you your body is different than the rest of us pffft. In the beginning you would gain a little only because muscle weighs more than fat - that is a good thing if you gain muscle, but the layer of fat above the muscle would slowly disappear, then you would see the results of all your hard work - toned body. Have you ever actually committed to a full year of trying this yet?

I believe so many overweight people say they are eating healthy and exercising, but they are not doing enough, or they are secretly eating or skip exercising, they don't stay motivated - and they don't lose weight. If someone were monitoring you 24/7 I bet you would have your reason why you are not losing weight. Excuses. It may seem like I am being hard or insensitive but the reality is that YES it will work, barring no medical issues, and you have had that checked into, so if you are so certain you have special circumstances to gain weight - like the crap you ate as a child (your other excuse), go to a new doctor, get them to send you to a dietician - find out what the big mystery is. If the doctor finds no problems - hit the gym and drop the crap food and you will lose weight. Like I said earlier, the muffin you ate for breakfast today did not cause you to gain 50 pounds today, it came on slowly over years and it will take a long hard effort to lose the extra weight.

[gardengirl]

If you ate healthy and exercised every day, you would not become obese
Eating healthy food is not the secret if you are eating more than you are burning off.
Eating healthy also means portion control.

If it were that simple, it wouldn't be such a major issue. For one, 'eating healthy' is something which is still in controversy as is the theory of burning off more than you eat. There are any number of examples of how that just isn't true for some people be they the super skinny due to high metabolisms and always looking for ways to gain some weight to those who absolutely eat by the book watching every calorie and working out endlessly only to find they are still gaining fat.

You can try and simplify it all you want but that just isn't they way some people's bodies work at all and why there is still researchers trying to figure out why that is.

There are researchers trying to find shortcuts for people to lose weight.
If there are no medical issues such as thyroid dysfunction or physical disabilities which limit exercise, it is pretty simple.
Food in-energy out. If you take in more than you burn off, it will be stored as fat.

Rather than the latest "it's not you, it's your metabolism" bs, it is more about an eating disorder.
It is more about addiction, emotional eating, and that type of thing.
The people who say they are not over eating are either in denial, or just plain lying.
These are the people who eat salad in public, but have a box of donuts under the bed.

Those who say they eat and eat and can't gain weight, either have an overactive thyroid (not that common) or have an eating disorder. They are on the other side of it. They either eat less than what they say, or exercise more than they need to.

There are people who are secret eaters and those who are secretly anorexic or bulimic.
Both sides of it are abnormal eating habits.

Unless you address the cause of the eating disorder, nothing will be effective and long lasting.
Overweight people go on diets, have surgery, try pill and other remedies to lose weight. It may work for a while, but it will not change the reason they overeat in the first place. I know people who have done Weight Watchers, had stomach stapling, LA Weight Loss, Xenical....you name it. They have all lost weight initially from each of the "remedies". They have learned how to eat properly, they are not stupid people. However; every time, the weight came back.

Anorexic people are put into the hospital and force fed get back to a healthier weight, if the psychological issues are not dealt with, they will lose weight again once they are discharged.

You need treat the cause, not the symptom.

[davis123]

:rate10: I agree completely with everything gardengirl said above

[Imagination]

To the people who keep saying that "our bodies are not created equally" and "eating healthy and exercise doesn't work for everyone" - barring no medical issues, of course it will work, ...

And there is the rub. It is those medical (physical) issues, and to keep insisting it's all diet and exercise or some mental/emotional issue completely ignores all the people who do have imbalances, thyroid issues, insulin issues, hormonal issues, missing parts of DNA (now being studied), and a whole bag full of other things that can be going on that act like dominoes to prevent them from benefiting from such simplistic approaches. Add in the allegedly healthy food guide and you have the complete recipe for disaster.

The problem is so many in the medical profession do think people are lying and have that very same attitude being demonstrated here, closed minded and refusing to even consider there's no hidden box of donuts, no lying, no excuses. It's simply a matter of that ol' diet and exercise thing not working for everyone. You folks can go on and on about how there is only one way to do things and the rest of us who have been there and done that and aren't stupid or lying, will continue to shake our heads at the arrogance. No wonder so many throw their hands up in frustration when this narrow view is still being pushed as the one and only and anyone who doesn't fit must have other issues which have nothing to do with how their bodies work.

There are researchers trying to find shortcuts for people to lose weight.
If there are no medical issues such as thyroid dysfunction or physical disabilities which limit exercise, it is pretty simple.
Food in-energy out. If you take in more than you burn off, it will be stored as fat.

Rather than the latest "it's not you, it's your metabolism" bs, it is more about an eating disorder...

Wow, such misinformation. Sure some are looking for shortcuts but other researchers are out there trying to figure out why exactly those who do everything right (as per this diet/exercise theory) just don't see the results promised. Seems it doesn't work for a lot of people and I don't care what excuses you try to pin it on but you are dismissing a lot of very intelligent people who do not have eating disorders, do not lie, do not cheat, and sincerely need to find out what is up with their bodies.

If you truly believe the food in/energy out theory, talk to someone whose insulin missed that class or have a chat with someone who is under stress and releasing too much cortisol. That's just a start to the tip of the iceberg. There is a reason for endocrinologists and the smart ones know that in/out theory is not a be-all-end-all.

You can continue to blame the people who fail at the alleged 'tried and true' or acknowledge it's the 'tried and true' that fails a lot of people.

[shoo]

To the OP.

Do not be discouraged by the out of touch,out of date,misinformed posters here. Get yourself to an endocrinologist to determine insulin resistance,metabolic syndrome,etc. While you are waiting for an appointment,read Gary Taubes. Two books are
Good Calories,Bad Calories and Why we get fat,and what to do about it.

Good luck

[gardengirl]

To the people who keep saying that "our bodies are not created equally" and "eating healthy and exercise doesn't work for everyone" - barring no medical issues, of course it will work, ...

And there is the rub. It is those medical (physical) issues, and to keep insisting it's all diet and exercise or some mental/emotional issue completely ignores all the people who do have imbalances, thyroid issues, insulin issues, hormonal issues, missing parts of DNA (now being studied), and a whole bag full of other things that can be going on that act like dominoes to prevent them from benefiting from such simplistic approaches. Add in the allegedly healthy food guide and you have the complete recipe for disaster.

The problem is so many in the medical profession do think people are lying and have that very same attitude being demonstrated here, closed minded and refusing to even consider there's no hidden box of donuts, no lying, no excuses. It's simply a matter of that ol' diet and exercise thing not working for everyone. You folks can go on and on about how there is only one way to do things and the rest of us who have been there and done that and aren't stupid or lying, will continue to shake our heads at the arrogance. No wonder so many throw their hands up in frustration when this narrow view is still being pushed as the one and only and anyone who doesn't fit must have other issues which have nothing to do with how their bodies work.

There are researchers trying to find shortcuts for people to lose weight.
If there are no medical issues such as thyroid dysfunction or physical disabilities which limit exercise, it is pretty simple.
Food in-energy out. If you take in more than you burn off, it will be stored as fat.

Rather than the latest "it's not you, it's your metabolism" bs, it is more about an eating disorder...

Wow, such misinformation. Sure some are looking for shortcuts but other researchers are out there trying to figure out why exactly those who do everything right (as per this diet/exercise theory) just don't see the results promised. Seems it doesn't work for a lot of people and I don't care what excuses you try to pin it on but you are dismissing a lot of very intelligent people who do not have eating disorders, do not lie, do not cheat, and sincerely need to find out what is up with their bodies.

If you truly believe the food in/energy out theory, talk to someone whose insulin missed that class or have a chat with someone who is under stress and releasing too much cortisol. That's just a start to the tip of the iceberg. There is a reason for endocrinologists and the smart ones know that in/out theory is not a be-all-end-all.

You can continue to blame the people who fail at the alleged 'tried and true' or acknowledge it's the 'tried and true' that fails a lot of people.

Do you have a problem with reading and comprehension?

The OP said she had no medical issues. I also specified several medical issues which can make it difficult to lose weight.
Example: stress releases cortisol. So deal with the stress. Treat the cause, not the symptom.
Insulin....hmmm that indicates a medical problem such as diabetes.

In the meantime, PLEASE LEARN TO READ.

[Imagination]

Do you have a problem with reading and comprehension?

The OP said she had no medical issues. I also specified several medical issues which can make it difficult to lose weight.
Example: stress releases cortisol. So deal with the stress. Treat the cause, not the symptom.
Insulin....hmmm that indicates a medical problem such as diabetes.

In the meantime, PLEASE LEARN TO READ.

Gee before you start yelling at me, take your own advice and check the original posts where you will see Ocean Spirit has already discovered your way doesn't work for her and she told you so herself in her original posts. She clearly expressed the frustration of many who run into your closed attitude and to keep insisting it's all about in/out/exercise doesn't address her issue or anyone's who is in this situation. What you don't seem to realize is when you are talking about chronic problems with weight, for many it is something physical vs just eating too much or not exercising enough. Your in/out formula just doesn't work for the majority of people who are in this situation but you keep insisting that is the key to it all.

Her doctor may have said she has no medical issues but I would add "that they are willing to discover" since those of us who have been through it know full well we're dealing with closed minds with limited knowledge that look at one thing like a thyroid and doesn't even consider all those other glands that are tied in to see if they are out of balance as well. The only hope out there are the few who are taking this on and getting the word out that this in/out/exercise theory is just not reality for a lot of people.

As for removing the causes, that is exactly the game. Those causes are exactly what people like you aren't considering when repeating the in/out/exercise platitudes without adding that there are a whole host of physical reasons it won't work and all the exercise and diet in the world aren't going to help unless those things are dealt with first. There is also no way to get rid of causes if those we seek out to help won't even acknowledge they exist beyond the one or two things they are willing to consider. Until the few who are up on this get their knowledge out to the rest, our medical and fitness community is still just flailing away not even considering causes because of their bigotry towards the obese and training that falsely tells them it's all about someone over eating. So begins the accusations that it's all the individual's fault for just not doing what they were told when in fact it's not having the actual causes even considered or dealt with appropriately.

Take a look at her posts. I won't paste the whole thing here, but she stated quite clearly exactly what some of us have been trying to say to those posts that keep harping on it being all about diet and exercise and then maybe you and I can discuss reading comprehension.

Try eating healthy, less and exercise!

BSuds....if you read my story....you will see that the 'formula' you mentioned does not
work for everyone and you think the same way as most people....

'I DO eat healthy....have all my life...lean protein...no fries...no junk food ever....organic veggies...necessary but
good fats....lots and lots of excercise...I don't smoke...I don't drink....not even pop.....I don't even like
sugar for that matter. Even when I was a teenager I knew salt affected me so I've always watched that too.
I've been on Weight Watchers, Nutri-System, Jenny Craig etc. etc. and
I especially make sure I watch my calories which seem to average about 1500 per day.
Even when I've been sick...I still do some form of exercise......from stretching in the pool to
a refreshing walk.

So thanks again everyone and please, if there is anyone out there that can shed some more light on
this or share their own story then I think it would help in the whole process of being better informed.

Cheers All.....Ocean Spirit.

To this your respond with blame and continuing to assert your way works instead of taking what she has said as a truth from someone who seems to know what they are talking about and found it has not worked for them. Even when others have added it hasn't worked for them either, the platitudes continue that it does work and if it doesn't it's their fault.

If you ate healthy and exercised every day, you would not become obese
Eating healthy food is not the secret if you are eating more than you are burning off.
Eating healthy also means portion control.

Please, spare us all and anyone else you may feel just doesn't get it by opening your mind a bit rather than just assuming it's all about overeating. We have tried it your way and it doesn't work for us. Believe it. We are not stupid, we don't cheat, we didn't over eat, and we probably know more about all the theories and how they work than the average person. There are other ways, and the key is finding out what works with the individual body, not applying only one theory to all and expecting it works for everyone.

[Imagination]

To the OP.

Do not be discouraged by the out of touch,out of date,misinformed posters here. Get yourself to an endocrinologist to determine insulin resistance,metabolic syndrome,etc. While you are waiting for an appointment,read Gary Taubes. Two books are
Good Calories,Bad Calories and Why we get fat,and what to do about it.

Good luck

:rate10:

I completely agree especially with the recommended reading and would add The Schwarzbein Principal to see an easy to read explanation of why the other books are absolutely right on when it comes to how we've all been steered wrong in how we deal with this.

Also, I'd like to add I recently saw Dr. Oz cover this HCG injection and the thinking seems to be that it does work and very well. There were a few cautions particularly being that it must be the real stuff, not the imitators which people can get over the Internet and it must be administered by a knowledgeable doctor. It's very expensive, but can be a help for those whose bodies just won't release fat any longer and who need that kick to get it back in gear.

[davis123]

To the OP.

Do not be discouraged by the out of touch,out of date,misinformed posters here. Get yourself to an endocrinologist to determine insulin resistance,metabolic syndrome,etc. While you are waiting for an appointment,read Gary Taubes. Two books are
Good Calories,Bad Calories and Why we get fat,and what to do about it.

Good luck

I am obviously one of the out of touch, out of date, misinformed posters here. I read that the original poster had medical tests done and she said nothing came back suggesting any problems. I guess I can only go by what I would do if I was in the same situation, if I was eating (what I think) is healthy food, and I exercised 4-5 times a week for my entire adult life but continually gained weight - I would have seen a doctor early on (in my 20's) to determine what the cause is, if the doctor told me "you're fine" and a pat on the head, although I KNEW there was some mysterious reason - I would go to another doctor and another and another until I had my answer. I would not sit back and continually gain weight to the point of obesity, and then try every gimmic diet out there. I would not stop with doctors until I had my answer. So how many doctors have you seen? What do they recommend to you when you do see them? Do you tell them NO you are wrong, there is an issue and you need to send me for more tests or to a specialist? If you are positive that you have some health issue that keeps the weight from coming off - be forceful with your doctor or find a new doctor. This is what I would do - yes you are not me, but I would also not let my weight get to the point of obesity before I decided to do something about it. You can say we are out of the loop and don't know what we are talking about, but we are relying on what the original poster has stated.