Having trouble losing weight or did you just give up? All you have to do is burn more calories than you take in-so what’s the problem? The problem is it’s hard to do that. And that’s why there is an obesity epidemic in America. We have reached the point where overweight is normal and those who are at ideal weight are viewed with suspicion.

Being a surgeon, I have a different take on obesity than most people. I’ve experienced firsthand how difficult it is to take care of the obese when they need an operation. Surgery is technically harder to do and the postop complication and mortality rates are higher. I performed laparoscopic gastric bypass on the morbidly obese for several years. That operation is technically demanding and the risks for the patient are great(even death) but the patients have reached a point of desperation. The surgery was extremely gratifying. I saw people drop their excess weight and throw away medications for blood pressure, diabetes, arthritis and breathing medicines and start a whole new life. It was almost as good as telling someone they were cured of cancer. After a time, I reached a point where I couldn’t devote the time and energy necessary to obesity surgery and do the other parts of my practice.

About this time my wife, Laura, and I became more interested in the concept of healthy aging. She is a Personal Trainer and Surgical First Assistant so she shares my passion for surgery. Even though we stopped performing gastric bypass, we continued seeing obesity take its toll among our patients. So we began searching for a good medical treatment for obesity. After much study and attending many seminars, we have developed a balanced approach to medical weight loss. We offer a meal replacement plan- Medifast, whole food supplement-Juice Plus, and HCG. Rarely do I recommend appetite suppressants because of the side effects plus patients quickly regain the weight loss and more.

The HCG diet consists of daily doses human chorionic gonadotropin (the hormone of pregnancy) and a very low calorie diet. HCG causes mobilization of stored fat. Since the patient is on a 500 calorie diet his/her body uses the mobilized fat for energy. Each pound of fat burned yields 3500 calories so you typically have plenty of energy and no hunger. Men typically lose weight easier than women and HCG is safe for both sexes. No you’re not going to grow manboobs. The protocol was first described by Dr. A.T.W. Simeons who discovered the weight loss effect while treating children with delayed sexual development. It required daily injections which some still prefer although HCG is now available for oral, topical and nasal spray delivery. The treatment cycle lasts from three to six weeks according to patient need followed by a six week maintenance phase. The cycles can be repeated as needed to reach desired weight. The key to success here is while losing weight you learn a new life style and healthy eating habits so your brain resets your bodies “normal” weight. It thinks you should be at your new weight and doesn’t drive you to eat your way back to your old weight. The program requires close attention to detail. Those who follow the diet carefully typically lose a half to one pound a day.

Adequate protein intake and good nutrition are important so we monitor our patients closely. At the initial visit we take a complete medical history, perform a physical examination and do blood tests including metabolic and hormone evaluation. It is not unusual to find hormone imbalances that hinder weight management. Our patients return at frequent intervals for weigh ins and support.

The HCG diet is not easy. You have to follow the rules or it won’t work. But if you are carrying around extra weight that you just can’t get rid of check it out. It’s worth the effort to improve your health and to look and feel good again.