I’ve now been on HCG drops for 31 days. My intention in taking them was to lose weight quickly (obviously), and to blog my experience to put more truth about them out there. There are a lot of people arguing against it using conventional dieting logic, which just doesn’t apply with the drops, and there are a lot of people advocating it without admitting they experienced any negative effects. I want people who are considering them to know the good, the bad, and the ugly from a person who has actually used them.
The Good:
*As of today, I have lost a total of 13.6 pounds.
*I feel energetic and am generally in a good mood. This was true before the drops, but I’m stating this to point out that it didn’t change.
*My appetite is practically non-existent any more. Sometimes I actually hate eating. I guess that could be a bad thing, but when you’re trying to lose weight, it is a blessing.
*The lack of appetite has made it pretty easy to stick to the diet, despite missing the taste of foods not allowed.
*If IÂ taste something not on my diet to keep from serving something unappealing to others, it has been very easy to spit it out after chewing. I enjoy having the flavor in my mouth but I do not feel compelled to swallow.
*My chronic yeast infection cleared up as soon as I started taking the drops and it hasn’t returned since.
*My insulin needs have decreased by more than half. Which means I’m saving money on insulin. :) Of course, that’s only temporary but it’s definitely a perk.
*My average blood sugar is now 132, down from 158 when I last checked.
The first day I started taking the HCG drops at 163 pounds.
Today, 9/28/10, after 31 days on the drops–149.4 pounds.
The Bad:
*My mouth misses the taste of the foods I’m not allowed.
*I can’t eat when I’m with others at restaurants or dinner parties, or I have to eat my own special meal that I bring. I have done both. It’s not the worst thing in the world, but it’s a little bit of a bummer. I had to eat a HCG-friendly taco salad during our annual family reunion where there is tons of great food. I love the salad I created for the diet, but it sucked not being able to eat with all my family.
*Several times I have had a very sick feeling in the morning. I have been telling people I have had not any pregnancy symptoms associated with the drops, but I suppose this could be pregnancy symptoms (I’ll explain them in a moment). Whatever it is, it sucks. I would put this in the “ugly” but since it’s only happened 5 times out of 31 days, I’m putting it in the bad.
This is what happened. I woke up, took the drops, and about half an hour later my heart began to pound. I think I clocked my heart rate at 140 beats per minute the one time I checked because it was scaring me. It feels as though most of the blood drains from my head and extremeties to pool in my torso, which gets very hot. I feel light-headed, I get pale, and my lips get slightly purple. And, this is the only part I would associate with pregnancy symptoms, I feel queasy. An overall really yucky feeling, like death is coming for me. But each time, I’ve eaten an apple and the feeling and heart pounding and blood pooling all go away within half an hour. I really don’t know what this is about and I kind of doubt this is a common side-effect, but I do think that it is related to the drops as I never had this happen before I started taking them.
The ugly:
I started getting a rash under my arms after the first week. The second week, it spread down under my arms to the sides of my breasts and then started in the middle of my lower back. The third week I was on my period and eating more carbs and the rash went away immediately. When I restarted the low-carb diet after my period, it took about five days for it to come back under my arms and a week and a half for the one on my back to come back. I started taking spirulina as soon as I started back on the diet to help cleanse my system (a recommendation I found from another low-carb rash sufferer that had success with it), along with a daily multi-vitamin to make sure I wasn’t deficient in anything, and put both Corticaid and Lamisil on the rash when it returned, since it resembled the pictures of underarm rashes I found online that were caused by fungus. (The Lamisil was recommended by my pharmicist since it is an anti-fungal cream safe for use anywhere on the body.)
Picture taken 9-11. This was the beginnings of the rash on my back and the rash under my arms looks the same.
My back rash today, 9/28/10.
As of yesterday, my rash had almost completely healed and I was hopeful that it was gone for good. But in the middle of the night, I woke up itching worse than I ever have before. The rash spread under my breasts and there are even little red dots in random places on my breasts. This is NOT OK. This is gross and I refuse to let this go on to the point where I have permanent scars.
So I have reluctantly decided that today is the last day I will take the drops. I will continue the diet for the recommended two days after discontinuing them since the HCG will still be in my system and I could gain weight from eating even healthy things that aren’t on the diet. But after that I will be eating 1,200 calories a day and including whole-grains in my diet to help the rash heal. I’m supposed to stay off sugar and starches for the next month to help stay within two pounds of my ending weight, but I’m not going to let this go on for another month. I will have to just keep the weight off while eating a well-rounded, healthy diet. It has to be possible! (I hope!)
You may be wondering why I’m apparently assuming that the low-carb diet is to blame for the rash. Well, I have previous experience with this phenomenon when I was on the Atkins diet. I had been on it three months when a rash started under my arms and it looked just like the one I have now, but less extreme. I then did a Google search and found out that this rash can be a side effect of low-carb diets. So I stopped the diet and it immediately cleared up, just like it did when I was on my period during my HCG diet.
I have not found an explanation for it, but I wonder if it’s just a side-effect to detoxing. I want to believe that as I burn the fat that had Candida caught up in it, it’s manifesting itself outside my body, but I think maybe I’m just one of the people that get a rash when on a low-carb diet. I really don’t know. All I know is that if I don’t start eating carbs again, the rash will continue.
So there you have it–the full disclosure. Despite the bad and ugly, I do recommend them because, in my oppinion, the positives outweigh the negatives and I think my experience is more rare than common. (I did find people online that had rashes while on the drops, but it didn’t seem to be prevalent.) They are especially useful if you need to lose weight fast, like before a reunion or a vacation, or if you just CAN’T lose the last 5-10 pounds no matter what you’ve tried. In fact, if I’m not able to get to my goal weight by the end of the year, I would seriously consider going on them again to lose the last 10. Of course I’d rather reach it naturally but I’ve always found that last ten crazy impossible and actually have never made it to my goal. Ever. So if that is the case again, I will probably get the smaller 21-day bottle to help jump-start the process. Crazy? Maybe. But I’m willing to put up with a rash if I can also get to my goal at the same time.
But I’m done with them for now. I wish I could finish the bottle and have them help me lose another 5 before my birthday party in a week and a half, but I’m pretty happy with how far I’ve come. And I’m ready to continue on, on my own!
Going Down 
I am glad you decided to do this naturally. Good Luck my friend!
Thanks–I feel like I need it. I’m really scared about keeping the weight off, let alone losing more on my own. eeps!
Interesting. I was JUST thinking about these drops again. I’m intrigued but I just can’t afford it at this point. I was reading about another blogger who is having success with them too. What I like the best, is the strict regimin. I think if I can last that long doing 500 calories a day, I could easily go back to doing 1200 calories a day. That is the THOUGHT behind it too. I just HATE being hungry so the fact that you aren’t overly hungry is what intrigues me about it! *sigh* Maybe someday! The neighbors just took out the fence on their side and aren’t replacing it so I have to come up with the money to get our yard fenced in again!! That takes priority!
Who was the other blogger? I’d love to follow them. Yes, we have to put things like the fence above our wants that aren’t necessary–that’s the drawback of being a grown up. Phooey! But if you want them, eventually you will find a way to get them.
You used your brain, you listened to your body. I like your honesty, your post, your thoughts and ideas.
Good luck with your new healthy habits, with you new goals. I’ll be here cheering you on all the way.
Take care and sleep well. No itching tonight, it’s bad for the skin. God bless!!
Thanks, Julie, you are so sweet! I’m trying so hard not to itch but I just took a bath in anti-itch cream and the urge to itch is still killing me! Bring on the carbs–lol!
I hope that it hteals.
I meant heal.
Thank you, Sandy. it will.
You can absolutely do it on your own, Veronica! Besides, you’re not really alone…you’ve got an amazing support system. ;) I’m glad you’re done with them!!
You’re right Faith, I do, and that helps a lot. Thank you! You’re not the only one that’s glad–in fact, I may be the only one that regrets having to quit them early!
Thank you for your honesty! I’ve never witnessed a low-carb rash before, but your reasoning, that it is Candida related, makes a LOT of sense. Although, I would think weight loss while eating carbs would continue the rash if it is, in fact, tied to fat stores. Best of luck sweety!
Well, Carla (Tucky) told me that you can get skin yeast infections and when I googled it, the pictures look EXACTLY like my rash! So I guess even though the one down there cleared up, it’s manifesting elsewhere! I don’t know if it’s because I’m burning it off, or what, but it’s really weird that eating carbs stops it in it’s tracks. I do know that this diet would be starving the candida–it thrives on sugar and carbs, so maybe it gets angry and manifests and then when I’m feeding it, it goes back into hiding in my tissues undetected. That makes sense, but I don’t want to believe it b/c that would mean I always have the Candida in my system and I want it gone!
I’m glad you’ve had so much success with the drops. It’s good though that your stopping now. It sounds like the rash would just continue to get worse and that could lead to worse things. I have faith you can lose the rest on your own. You look great now, I’m sure people will be impressed at your party! :)
Thank you, Suzie! People have been noticing that I’m losing weight but I’ve only seen one person that hasn’t seen me since before I started the drops and she was so amazed, she couldn’t stop staring at me! That was pretty cool! :)
Thanks for the recap Veronica – wow, 149! Just a tad bit jealous! :D
Thank you for sharing your experience. I was glad to find your blog, as I am having many of the same symptoms while taking oral HCG. I woke up this morning feeling so sick, just like when I was preganant. I spent hours in bed feeling like I was going to vomit. If I even sat up or moved, my heart would start to pound. I sure hope that this passes. I ate an apple and some melba toast, but I still feel a bit sick and a afraid to take more HCG. Do you have any suggestions? I am only in day 5.
I’m sorry to hear that. I would try eating the very first thing when you wake up–eat an apple and see if that helps with the sick feeling. I noticed that if I didn’t eat right away, I would get that feeling and soon after having the apple, it would go away. I chose to stick with the HCG drops for a month, despite the unpleasant side effects I experienced, but it is really up to you. There is no way to tell if the symptoms will improve or get worse until you experiment. I know that feeling like that is no fun, so I would discontinue using them if it interferes with daily life. I hope this helps.
OH, But i need to lose weight too. how can i do it
I developed a rash after only a few days on the drops, and have had it for a week. How quickly did it heal for you after you stopped taking them? I am seriously comtemplating seeing a docter within the next few days.
I def would go to a doctor. What I had was a skin yeast infection but I didn’t realize it until it had already healed on it’s own, which only took a few days after going off the drops, so if you get something from the doctor to treat it (or whatever the rash is), you can prob still stay on the drops.
I did the HCG for the 40 days and then after that i just started counting 1200 calories a day. I gained 5 lbs back immediately and not sure whats going to happen now. Have you continued to lose weight at this point? Or did you gain back by not following the after plan?
It was suggested that as soon as I weigh myself in the a.m. & see I have gained 2 lbs,,to only drink lots of water during the day – eat nothing- and at dinner have a very large steak & maybe a tomato. The next day I had lost the 2 lbs & ever since, whenever I have gained those 2 lbs back , I immediately do this & it works.
Lynda
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Hi – i’ve been trying to read as much as i can find on this HCG plan. My husband and i are really thinking about doing it. we can both lose 20+ easy but we just need a kick start.Hoping this could be it. we know the 500 cal/day would be tough but we need to do something. I enjoyed reading your information, thanks for sharing. How are you doing now, did you gain anything back after you went off the drops?
Hey guys just thought I would share a bit about my HCG drops. During the first week I had really bad headaches but that went away after about 6 days. I was surprised that I was not hungry while eating 500 calorie diet. There were a couple times that I thought I was hungry but in fact I was just bored. My energy level stayed the same if not even better on some days. I had two instances of feeling dizzy and nauseous but both times it was right after I had taken a drink of unsweetened black tea. Weird right. Into my second week I got red dots under my armpits but at first I thought it was the crystal deodorant rock I was using. I stopped using the deodorant but the rash spread a tiny buy each day. I also developed the same rash just under the waistband of my underwear which has also spread a tiny bit each day. I decided to put up with the rash it’s not too bad as long as I do not touch it. I hope it goes away as soon as I’m done with my drops. I am 5’2 and my starting weight was 140. I am now down to 127 which I have not been in years so i am happy about that. The diet works!! The key is to be prepared with your food.
I got that rash too–it’s a skin yeast infection. If you get some Lotrimin (I bought generic), the athlete’s foot cream, that should clear it up. I didn’t know what it was while on was on the drops, but a friend helped me identify it and if you google skin yeast infection, you’ll see things that look like what you have. Something about low-carb diets makes me get them and the HCG diet is low carb so I guess that’s why it happened. Glad to hear the diet is workign for you! It helped me get to a good weight too!
The happiest people don’t have the best of everything…they just make the best of everything.
I’m sorry to bother you I just wanted to thank you for all the information you’ve provided! I’m on a day 3 n my face is breaking into a rash to I don’t know what to do! Did you rash go away after discontinuing the drops plus the low cal diet! I’m scared it won’t go away after! I hope u can respond! Thank you in advance n good luck~ you look amazing already! Ttys, Jessica
Google “skin yeast infection” and see if the photos resemble the rash you have. If so, you can apply Lamisil or Lotrimin (Lotrimin is cheaper, also you can buy generic called clotrimazole and it seems to work better than lotrimin for me) to the rash topically. This helped my rash but if yours isn’t a skin yeast infection, I would either check with a doctor or discontinue the drops. My rash left marks for months, and I wouldn’t’ want you to scar your face!
I am on day 16 using HCG drops. I noticed a little rash a couple days ago but ignored it. But tonight at work I was itching like crazy, when I got home I saw the rash had spread on the top on my thigh, underbelly, and parts of the stomach. Then I remembered I had been itching behind my knees for a week not but mostly ignored it. This one is like wooow. I feel itchy all over. I put lotrimin cream on one side and another cream on the other to test if any works. Then I came online to see it this was only me experiencing it and if it had anything to do w/ HCG. It’s still itching but I’m not scratching!! Need no more scars. I’d hate to have to stop the HCG diet, since I’ve lost 15lbs already and looking forward to the 85 more. This is my first side effect, hoping for no more surprises.
hi … i just started the HCG diet and i know i’m only on day 4 but i noticed that i’m itchy right after i take the drops i know that there are so many different kind .. so i’m wondering what kind of drop[s ur taking ?? tanks for ur input
I started taking them, I just got the one with HCG gold label, found a diet techian at a mall selling them. So I tried for $40.00. But I am not sure how to do the diet. I gorged the first day, that is what I guess you do and now I am really not hungry at all. I am just eating light and taking the drops 3 x a day (10 drops).
Thank you for sharing your experience with the diet. I know that many have had the same positive results from the diet and some have had side effects not worth continuing to meet their weight loss goals. Hearing the voice of someone that have lived the good, bad, and ugly is refeshing.
Thanks
Hi
I am glad i came across your blog. Today is day 3 of my 26day diet and i am feeling itch everywhere right after i take the drops. The itching is not visible and it goes away after a couple of hours. Am worried though as to whether there is any long term side effect should i decide to ignore the itch for the next 23 days….. sigh….
If you have an underlying candida infection, it dies off when there are no carbs/sugars in your system. They freak out and start comIng out of your skin. Eating carbs of course makes the rash go away because you are giving them food. You need to do a candida cleanse to forever rid yourself of the problem.
Which brand of HGC did you use?
Hi,
I have been researching the HCG diet, and I am ready to start….my only problem is where to buy them? There are so many places that sell them, and I have heard of fake HCG, I also came across a site that sells prescription grade HCG for 280.00. I am not sure what to do. Can you give me some advise? I really like your blog about this….I needed to hear some honesty to it and I have found it with you.
THank you
Stephanie
I was very interested to read about your experience. We found that the Onmi Drops actually affected my heart only after a month. I was having problems with the heart racing thing too. I may have lost a bit of weight but wasn’t worth what they did to my body. Thank you for sharing your experience. I was frustrated with people on the site not being allowed to post their serious side effects (they get deleted and a message to contact their distributor and not their doctor!)
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