What is an hcg plateau? It’s when your weight loss stalls or slows, sometimes for no apparent reason for 3 or more days.
If you have ever tried the hcg diet then you will understand how absolutely discouraging it is when you step on the scale in the morning, only to realize that there is no weight loss whatsoever. And it is during these times that we are most vulnerable and likely to throw in the towel. Imagine, consuming only 1,500 calories over 3 days and not losing an ounce.
But this is when we need to be the strongest, because most people on the hcg diet, do, in fact hit an hcg plateau at some time. In Dr. Simeons’ book – Pounds and Inches, Dr. Simeons states that many hcg dieters hit a plateau somewhere during the third week of the diet. But this is not always the case.
When I did the hcg diet, I hit an hcg plateau on day 8 which certainly didn’t fit the typical weight loss profile. Had it not been for the encouragement and support that I found in an hcg forum, I would have certainly quit. But here’s the good news – when we do hit an hcg plateau there are a number of strategies that we can employ to get us right back on track.
And here is a list of the most recommended hcg plateau busters:
- Increase water intake
- Add a glass or 2 of green tea
- Don’t eat 2 apples for the 2 fruits or cut down on the size of apple
- Check all condiments for any form of sugar
- Examine carefully the lotions or makeup that you are using on your skin for any oils or glycerin.
- If mixing vegetables, stop.
- Leave out one or both breadsticks/melba toast
- No diet drinks
If these plateau busters don’t do the trick then Dr. Simeons recommends doing an “apple day” to get things moving again. An “apple day” goes from lunch time on one day to lunch time on the following day. During this 24 hour period you can eat up to 6 apples, but only when you are hungry. And you can only drink small amounts of water – just enough to quench thirst.
When I stepped on the scale the morning following my “apple day” I was pleasantly surprised with a 2 pound weight loss! Don’t let an hcg plateau sabotage your weight loss plan!
