SALT LAKE CITY -- If it hadn't been that my doctor recommended my husband and I go on the hCG diet, I would've cast the idea into the "freaky fad diets" bin.

I couldn't quite believe that something involving pregnancy serum and starvation-level daily portions could be good for anyone.

But I stand today surprised, 25 pounds lighter and — at least temporarily — free of the daily insulin shots I was taking for diabetes.

And yes, in the future, if the scale starts tipping too much toward the high side, I will go on it again, despite the fact that at times I vowed "never again."

Let me explain. The hCG (human chorionic gonadotropin) diet is an interesting mix of denial and reward basically based on convincing your body that it's all right with only 500 calories of food a day for 21 days followed by heaping on the protein for three weeks so it doesn't go into panic mode.

There are critical phases, and if they're done correctly, the pounds fall away. That's the reward part, and it's somewhat addictive to start seeing the weight level drop an average of one to three pounds a day.

The first phase is the loading phase, or setting the fat thermometer for your body. You don't necessarily pig out, but you eat a lot of fat calories. Enjoy while you can.

Next you begin taking the hormone, either by drops under the tongue or by injection. We did the injections because I was used to taking insulin with the little short-needle syringes, and my doctor (who's been on the diet himself) said it feels kind of weird to put a pregnancy hormone in the mouth.

Related:

hCG: Miracle diet or unreliable weight-loss craze?

Many claim hCG a miracle diet: It curbs hunger and the weight just falls off. But as it continues to grow in popularity, some doctors don't think it does anything to assist in weight loss.

The hormone costs around $25 to $65 for a monthly dose. My doctor gave it to us at cost: $50 for enough for the two of us. The syringes can be bought at a pharmacy.

Every morning, you take the hormone, weigh yourself and eat: a typical breakfast of one of three things — half a grapefuit, a handful of strawberries or a concoction of baked apples with flavored fake sugar.

You weigh your food and keep a log so you hit the 500-calorie mark precisely. Too little and the body gets unhappy. Too much and you're defeating the purpose.

For lunch you can feast upon a piece of chicken and some lettuce or slices of orange.

For dinner you can have fish, asparagus and Melba toast.

For snacks, a smoothie made with fruit, water and the fake sugar helps soothe.

The food portions are small, but amazingly you're not really hungry. The hormone convinces the body you're fine, as if you were pregnant and feeding a baby in the womb. (My husband loved that comparison!)

The first couple of days are odd ones as you wait to see what happens. Then suddenly the body kicks into gear, and you had better note where the bathrooms are. The body flushes away the fats, basically, so drink a lot and rejoice at the frequent trips to the restroom.

Then it's an endurance stretch to go the full 21 days on the 500-calorie regimen, especially since you can't have breads or sugars. But don't cheat. The body quickly catches on if you do.

Hang in there.

We found comfort in doing this together, so when others were enjoying a company buffet, we were both making do with a Melba Toast chicken sandwich.

We learned to heap the vegetables and fruits onto our plates, and we made it through. We found some good chicken meatballs online and kept plenty of the acceptable foods, like raspberries and strawberries, around.

However, here's the big no-no. Don't assume you are done at the end of the 21 days.

Now comes three weeks of feeding the body proteins. Everything meat and fat is one way of looking at it. My husband liked the KFC "chicken sandwich" made of nothing but cheese and chicken.

At the end, again, there's a three-day comedown phase as you gradually add back some "normal" foods. (We bought a book called "hCG Diet Made Simple" by Harmony Clearwater Grace that has some handy lists for the different phases).

Then it's forever maintenance, which is surprisingly simple because you've just spent the past two months teaching yourself how many calories are in what and how much portion control matters.

It's great to fit into formerly tight clothes and look in the mirror and see thinner cheeks and necks. It's wonderful to back off the diabetes symptoms. It's fun to rediscover foods of all kinds.

And best of all: The hCG diet is not forever.

Sharon Haddock is a professional freelance writer with 30 years experience, 17 of those at The Deseret News. Her personal blog is at sharonhaddock.blogspot.com. Email: haddoc@desnews.c

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