Common Errors during the 500 Calorie Phase…………
1. Using the wrong spices. Spcies MUST be used with extreme caution. Check all ingredients for any unallowable foods (shredded orange peel), and form of sugar (brown, white, maltose, dextrose, etc,), starch (modified corn starch), and/or any kind of oil i.e. ‘Garlic Salt’ can have sugar and modified cornstarch – not acceptable!
2. Not loading enough fat during load days (first two days of HCG). This might explain hunger and associated crankiness during the first week of HCG low calorie phase.
3. Mixing vegetables at a meal. Dr. Simeon clearly states one vegetable. While many people lose quite satisfactorily when mixing vegetables, it is a place to review if losing slows.
4. Chewing gum, mints, etc. These items are not allowed during the low calorie phase on HCG. Again, some lose quite satisfactorily when violating this directive, but it is a place to review if losing slows.
5. Diet drinks including Crystal Light, diet soda or other diet drinks are NOT ALLOWED – only water, teas, coffees, and mineral water should be used.
6. Eating too much American beef, which is noted as significantly more fatty than the beef Dr. Simeon refers to. Veal is a suggested replacement, and if you have availability to Buffalo meat it is acceptable as it is less fatty than American beef.
7. Weighing 100 grams of protein after cooking. Weight of protein is to be based on PRECOOKED weight – this can make quite a difference in the prescribed serving.
8. Eating the same protein for both lunch and dinner. Food selections are to be varied.
9. Not drinking enough water. You should be drinking at least 2 quarts of the liquids per day.
10. Weighing in significantly different clothes or at different times each morning (before eating or drinking) causes undue concern and confusion or false appearance of weight gain/loss.
11. Eating at restaurants. To a large degree the meats have been ‘juiced’ or manipulated to be more flavorful, tender or juicy, with a multitude of processes that could easily slow your weight loss, particularly chicken.
12. Taking over the counter medications that include artificial sweetners.