Phase One - Loading Days (Days 1-2)
Phase one was very easy for me to do because I had been doing it for several years and that is exactly why I became a large as I had become. Phase one only last for two days:
Day One:
- Weigh yourself in the morning after you have used the bathroom and record it. Weigh yourself without clothing before eating or drinking
- Place approximately 15 drops of HCG under your tongue three times a day. It is preferable not to consume any food or drink 15-30 minutes before or after taking the drops so that they have plenty of time to absorb into your system. Allow the drops to remain under your tongue for 30 seconds to allow them to fully absorb into your system.
- Drink at least one-half gallon of water throughout the day.
- Gorge yourself and eat as much food as you can throughout the day. This is when you go to your favorite restaurant and go "hog wild." You need to feel like you do after Thanksgiving day during this phase.
- Repeat Day One. I remember Day Two well - it included a trip to Taco Delite for lunch and a visit to IHOP late that evening for Steak-Eggs-and Pancakes!!
Your are basically "storing up for the winter" months like a bear going into hibernation. Because you are going to be restricted to 500 calories per day for at least the next 21 days, you need to fill your body with as much fat/caloric energy that you can. Dr. Simeon calls this "eating to capacity" and suggest that you eat the most fatty foods you can get down. You may well gain weight during this two day cycle but Dr. Simeon beleives that it takes at least a couple of days of dosing the drops for those deposited fats to ciruclate and become available for release into your blood stream.
Phase Two - Restricted Calorie Intake (Days 3-26 or 3-45) VLCD - Very Low Calorie Diet
Phase Two will last anywhere between 23 - 42 days; it depends on solely on how long the individual wants to continue the phase. If your wanting lose 15lbs or less it is recommended that you do Phase 2 for 23 days. If you want to lose more than 15 lbs, it is suggested to go 42 days. During my second phase, I went approximately 5 weeks (36 days to be exact) and lost 32 lbs. When you read the restrictiveness your first reaction will be, "oh my gosh, I can't possibly do that." But trust me you can - the HCG drops and the rapid results will allow you to have the willpower. During Phase Two you will be restricted to 500 calories per day. Of course you keep taking the drops three times per day, except the last 3 days or 72 hours of Phase Two, where you will maintain the 500 calorie diet without the drops. Below are the restrictions and requirement of Phase Two:
- weigh yourself in the morning after using the restroom and record it. Weigh yourself without clothing and before eating and drinking.
- Place approximately 15 drops of HCG under your tongue three times a day. It is preferable not to consume any food or drink 15-30 minutes before or after taking the drops so that they have plenty of time to absorb into your system. Allow the drops to remain under your tongue for 30 seconds before swallowing to allow them to fully absorb into your system
- Drink at least 2.5 liters or more of filtered water throughout the day.
- Try not to have breakfast, and if you must, only a small or medium sized apple.
- Consume 500 caloires per day at lunch and dinner:
Dinner: 3.5 oz. of protien; 1 serving of fruit; 1 serving of a vegetable; 1 serving of Grissini breadstick or Melba Toast
*During Phase 2, Protein Selections must come from very lean beef, skinless chicken breast, and various seafoods.
*During Phase 2, Vegetable selections may only come from the following: Asparagus, Broccoli, Cauliflower, Cabbage, Celery, Cucumber; Lettuce (any variety), Red Radishes, Yellow Onion, Spinach, Tomato, and Zuchini
*During Phase 2, Fruit Selections must come from Grapefruit, Apples, Oranges, or Strawberries.
*Never eat the same fruit and protein selections during consecutive meals.
*Two fruits or vegetables should not be consumed together.
Other VLCD notes and guidelines:
- Eggs are not recommended during this phase - but you will enjoy them immensely in Phase 3!
- If you need a sweetner, Stevia is the only one that is allowed. My wife found this stuff fast! They also make Stevia soft drinks that are allowed.
- No oil, butter, or dressing may be used.
- No dairy.
- Try to eat you last meal as early as possible and not wait until bedtime. We tried, but didn't always achieve, to eat supper between 6-7 pm.
- If you have to have a snack at night, eat half of an apple.
You may experience a period of two or three days where you stop losing weight or plateau. Do not worry, this happens and you are not doing anything wrong. At the beginning I was losing at an incredible pace and then it slowed down and actually stopped for a few days. If this happens, do an Apple Day. The apple day is when you only eat 6 and drink lots of water. I did this once, and sure enough, I lost 3lbs the next day. Follwoing the apple day resume your VCLD protocol as usual.
VCLD Sample Daily Menu
Breakfast: coffee, tea, or water
small apple
Lunch: Coffee, tea, or water
1 3.5 oz 93/7 ground beef patty
1 serving of melba toast
1 serving of broccoli
1 medium navel orange
Dinner: Coffee, tea, or water
1 3.5 oz skinless chicken breast
1 serving of Grissinni Breadstick
1 serving of romaine lettuce
1 cup of frozen strawberries (no sugar added)
Allowed Seasonings:
Sea Salt, pepper, vinegar, mustard powder, basil, parsley, thyme, marjoram, onion powder, oregano, rosemary, bay leaves, cumin, garlic and other fresh herbs and spices may be used. Check your favorite seasonings for hidden sugars and starches.
Allowed Drinks:
Only water, tea, and coffee (no sugar) are allowed. You may flavor with lemon or lime juice.
