Exciting Lunch Recipes for the HCG Dieter

The hCG diet was the brainchild of Dr. AT William Simeons, an endocrinology expert from Britain. Studying the issue of being overweight and obese, he proposed a new diet regimen that became known as HCG VLCD (which stands for “human chorionic gonadotropin very low-calorie diet”) in his book called Pounds and Inches: A New Approach To Obesity.

The hCG hormone was studied by Dr. Simeons in-depth and found that under the guidance of the hormone, the fat burnt by the body is even more than when there is a calorie deficit or fat deficiency. The diet is a complex amalgam of recommendations that reveal hCG’s power in influencing a trimmer, slimmer self.

The hCG diet is a 4 stage process to ridding your body of weight and excess calories using this fantastic plan. The diet stages include loading, maintenance, and burning.

Loading comprises two days worth of fatty, carb-filled foods. Following this, there is a burning phase where you eat a five hundred calorie steady diet for a period of 26 up to 43 days, based on your goals. Finally, there are three weeks of sugar or starch free diet that follow.

It is during the burning stage that the very low-calorie diet is of benefit. During the maintenance phase, you have to avoid sugar or starches for at least three weeks.

Important points to remember while starting an HCG diet are that those with health concerns should be cautious. Women menstruating should not commence with the menu if less than ten days are left before the commencement of the next period. Menstruating women should also avoid the hCG diet.

The classic hCG diet is a 4 stage diet, namely loading, diet or weight loss, stabilizing, and maintenance. This four-part division is explained by the fact that the body needs more consecutive steps while adding something new. This diet works even better than the surgeon’s knife when it comes to shedding weight

Phase 1

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This process is also called loading, gorging, or bingeing. It is a phase where you engage in contradictory actions to lose weight. So, you need to load up on a hearty meal for a couple of days. Eat to the point where you feel so full that you may even feel nauseous. Loading the body with extra energy substrates will be used up at later points. This store of energy is particularly important in phase two when the body has not adjusted to a lack of food and needs fat reserves to sustain itself. The aim of eating fat-rich and calorie-dense foods is to trigger weight loss routine in the hypothalamus. So try pastries, fried foods, butter, mayonnaise, and hot dogs and even pizza for lunch. Pile on the pounds.

Phase 2

This is the very low-calorie phase diet stage when the real work commences. From 15 to 40 days based on factors such as the nature of the hCG oral drops chosen, the main aim is to lower your fat percentage in the body. Following a diet where you consume only 500 calories in a day is how this works. The effect is surprising because usually women should have 2000 calories per day and men, 2500. This influences the amount of fatty tissue the body will be burning to receive the necessary energy. The poundage lost will be converted into muscles. The amount of total weight loss will be much more using hCG. Without it, you will feel hungry and exhausted. The aim is to tune the body into using up the fat stored before and hCG works for this. The body is oriented towards creating fat during a time of hunger, paradoxically. It does not burn fat for energy. The hCG hormone breaks this mechanism and adjusts inner processes towards burning fat. Not only do you lose weight, but you also increase muscle mass thanks to this hormone.

Phase 2: The Essential Nutrients

You need to take two servings of the same type of proteins (fish or lean meat)
Another requirement is two identical veggies per day, two same fruit types, two pieces of a kind of bread per day (this includes melba toast and breadsticks).
Another allowance in the second phase of the diet is the water of 3-4 liters or sugar-free tea/coffee.

hCG oral drops must also be ingested. Only 500 calories need to be taken each day, no more and no less. Another critical point is that you should never skip a meal. Extra snacks are not allowed but other than that, a daily intake is prescribed and must be adhered to.
Consuming at least 3 liters per day is recommended. Don’t try overshooting it beyond acceptable limits.
Another strict no-no during the second phase of hCG is leaving out the proteins. Possible ways to cook your proteins include:

• Baking
• Frying
• Broiling
• Boiling
• Grilling

Eat the same vegetable and fruit twice per day. Use natural salts peppers, herbs, lemon acid, etc. because the seasonings purchased from the market can be calorie-dense.

Items Allowed in hCG Phase 2 diet:

• Fruits like strawberries, grapefruits, oranges, apples
• Veggies like green salads, celery, fennel, radish, cucumber, asparagus, cabbages, etc
• Two servings of protein: Veal, beef chicken, white fish, crab, shrimp, lobster.
• Two pieces of the same bread type: Melba toast or grissino (bread sticks)
• Drink plenty of liquid sans sugar.

Phase 3: Stabilizing

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This is the phase to consolidate the positive weight loss results you have achieved. The aim is a long-term result that offers more than just passing weight loss. During the stabilization phase, the oral drops must be ceased. New foods not allowed in phase 2 can be had. Another important point is that you need to eat at least five hundred calories per day.

Items Allowed in hCG Phase 3 Diet

• Veggies like broccoli, eggplants, mushrooms, red chili, jalapeño peppers, bamboo shoots
• Fruits like cranberries, pineapples, kiwi, and guava.
• Proteins like mussels, oysters, pork chops, and ground beef. (each serving should be around 100g)

Check the calorie content and adjust portions as per the need.
Remember to weigh yourself each day– this will help you to stay on track.
The final hCG assisted day is the steak day, called so because hCG VLCD diets are ceasing and you get to eat a steak (not kidding!) after abandoning all those fruits and veggies.

Phase 4

This is the maintenance diet. You increase calorific intake up to 1500 calories per day. Stay healthy and slowly introduce the sugar again. Make sure you add all those forbidden items gradually to prevent weight gain. Maintenance necessitates watching your weight and giving yourself a steak day if weight overshoots beyond a certain point.

HCG Phase 2 Delicious Lunch Recipes

There are hundreds of hCG recipes out there. These are unique because you can only work with limited ingredients. The absence of starches and too many veggies also restricts the palate. Though not restrictive, the burning phase of the hCG diet requires lean meals and lack of variety, which means these creative recipes are sure to be a big hit.

Main Course

Roasted Steak and Onions

Photo By: Mark Bonica/ CC BY

What You Need

• 100 grams of flanked steak
• One small sized onion
• Some water

Directions

• Take one hundred grams of flank steak. It can be seasoned with herbs on a medium-sized skillet.
• The steak should be browned on both sides to seal in the juices before putting it in a preheated oven for broiling.
• Add a single sliced onion and some water to the steak.
• Saute the onions till they are done.
• Your delicious roasted steak and onions are ready!

Chicken Apple Wraps

What You Need

• 100 grams of diced chicken
• Pepper and salt to taste
• Smoked paprika
• One single apple diced
• Lemon juice (2 tbsp)
• 1/8 teaspoon of cinnamon and cardamom
• Sprinkling of stevia

Directions

• Mix 100 grams of diced cooked chicken with pepper, salt, and smoked paprika.
• Then add the diced apple sprinkled with lemon juice, cardamom and the stevia in desired quantities.
• Your chicken apple wrap is ready tons serve.

Whitefish Taco Wraps

What You Need

• 100 gms of whitefish
• One-fourth cup of water
• One teaspoon apple cider vinegar
• One clove of crushed garlic
• One-fourth teaspoon ground cumin

• half teaspoon chili powder
• Salt and cracked black pepper to taste

Directions

• Bake the fish in lemon juice.
• Next, evenly coat the pieces of spices onto the fish
• Bake the fish at 350 till it appears cooked
• Once the fish is removed from the baking dish, add the iceberg lettuce leaves and enjoy your wrap.

Tomato Basil Chicken

What You Need

• 100 grams of cubed chicken
• Chopped tomato (one cup)
• Chicken broth or water (one-fourth cup_
• Lemon juice (2 tablespoons)
• Chopped onion (2 tablespoons)
• Two cloves of garlic sliced
• Oregano (fresh or dry) 1/8 teaspoon
• One-fourth teaspoon garlic and onion powder
• Cayenne for tasting
• Salt and pepper (as per taste)

Directions

• Cook the chicken till it is lightly browned in a saucepan with lemon juice. Add garlic, spices, onion, and water
• Once the chicken has been cooked, basil and fresh tomatoes have to be added
• Start cooking for five to ten minutes
• Salt, pepper, and basil can be then added.

(This comprises one serving of a single protein and a single veggie/fruit)

Barbecue Chicken Salad Recipe

This is considered one meat, veggie, and carb serving for hCG dieters in phase 2.

What You Need

• 100 grams of chicken( breast+ boneless)
• 1 teaspoon of sea salt
• Two lettuce cups
• Two tablespoons low-calorie barbecue sauce
• One breadstick

Opt for sugar-free, oil-free stevia-sweetened barbecue sauce that is available in the market for hCG dieters.

Directions

• Start by removing fat from the chicken meat. The chicken is then placed in salt water and boiled until cooked at 165 degrees F.
• Removing the chicken, set it aside to cool.
• Once the chicken is at room temperature, use your gloved hands to pull the chicken
• Tear it into shreds and then place the chicken in the small town with the sauce.
• Toss until coated
• Set this apart
• The next part is to cut the lettuce into bit sized pieces of around one-fourth of an inch.
• Any lettuce can be used.
• Wash and dry the lettuce before use.
• Add the lettuce to chicken and transfer to the serving dish with the bread stick which can be regular, multi-grain or garlic.

Peppered Steak With Tomato

This is a recipe for hCG phase 2 dieters. This counts as one serving of meat, veggies and lemon juice permitted.

What You Need

• 100 gms of steak
• One teaspoon of freshly squeezed lemon juice
• One eighth teaspoon sea salt and black pepper
• Half a tablespoon hCG pepper seasoning
• Medium size tomato

Directions

• Use extra lean steak no more than seven percent fat. The best types of steaks are:
  Top Sirloin
  Tenderloin
  T-bone
  Flank steak
  Filet mignon
  Top round
• The brush both sides of the steak with freshly squeezed lemons. Store-bought lemon is not permitted, Remember you need to use organic lemon and that too a single one.
• Make a spice concoction combining salt, pepper, and seasoning into a small bowl.
• Rub this on the raw meat.
• Instead of seasoning, you can also use red hot pepper flakes.
• Precook the grill for three to four minutes. Grill the steak till it is done.
• An outdoor flaming grill will work too.
• Slice the raw tomato and service alongside.

Lemon Shrimp

What You Need

• 100 grams of shrimp
• Homemade chicken broth (2 tablespoons)
• One minced garlic clove
• Dried Parsley (3 tablespoons)
• One eighth teaspoon sea salt and black pepper
• 8 ounces of hCG friendly sauce
• 1/2 a lemon juiced

Directions

• Use stevia-sweetened, non-oily, non-fat sauce. Make the chicken broth and ensure that you choose the homemade version because it does not contain preservatives.
• Choose pre-cooked, medium-size shrimp. Late sized shrimp takes around five to ten minutes to boil if a non-pre-cooked large variant is available. Half that time is taken if medium-sized shrimps are used.
• Pre-heat your oven to 450 degree
• In the small dish which is oven safe, mix the chicken broth, minced garlic, salt, parsley, and pepper.
• Add the shrimp, lemon juice, and broth and bake it for ten minutes
  Then add the boiled hCG friendly sauce.
• Your lemon shrimp is ready.

Steak Spinach Salad

This dish comprises one meat serving, one veggie serving, and one carb serving.

What You Need

• 100 grams of lean steak
• One-eighth teaspoon of salt and freshly cracked pepper
• A single fresh garlic clove
• Half a teaspoon onion powder
• One tablespoon hCG friendly dressing
• 2 cups baby spinach
• 1 breadstick (hCG safe)
• Two tablespoons of hCG safe salad dressing for topping

Directions

• Commence by checking you have the right steak and trim the visible fat from the meat before you cook it.
• Chop the garlic finely and use organic ones at that.
• Place the raw steak in a zip lock with black pepper, onion powder, salad dressing(hCG safe), sea salt. Marinade it for 60 minutes minimum and overnight maximum.
• The marinade should go into the meat. Pick small holes in the steak to help absorb the seasoning and dressing.
• Remove the steak from the bag and then grill or bake it.
• Don’t use oil or cooking spray
• Wash and clean the fresh spinach, which must also be organic.
• Add the dressing and top the salad with crouton-like bread stick bits.
• Add the two together and savor.

Chili

Photo By: Moyan Brenn/ CC BY

This is one yummy recipe which uses freshly ground beef.

What You Need

• 100 grams of ground beef
• Half a cup of fire-roasted tomatoes sans sugar
• A three-fourth cup of water
• One teaspoon salt+ onion/garlic powder and black pepper
• Two teaspoons of chili powder and cumin

Directions

• Brown the beef in a skillet.
• Add everything else.
• Let it simmer for 30 minutes
• You may need to add water
• Once done, enjoy your piping hot dish.

Spinach and Basil Pesto

What You Need

• Cup filled with baby spinach
• A handful of fresh basil
• Three garlic gloves
• One juiced lemon
• One-fourth teaspoon oregano
• One-eighth tbsp sea salt and black pepper
• 100 grams boneless, skinned chicken breast
• hCG approved seasoning
• Apple cider vinegar to taste

Directions

• Make the pesto by mixing the apple cider vinegar, lemon juice, salt, pepper, and oregano.
• Stir till it is adequately mixed.
• Place the basil, cloves, and spinach into a blender or food processor.
• Pulse this a few times to chop. Add the vinegar and lemon juice mixture.
• Pulse till you reach a thick pasty texture
• Set it aside.
• Now remove fat from the chicken and season it with hCG approved spices
• Bake or grill after seasoning but do not use oil or grease
• Combine the chicken and pesto (adding more salt and pepper if needed).

Veal Parmesan

What You Need

• 100 gms veal
• Tomato sauce (homemade) eight ounces
• One-eighth fine sea salt/ freshly ground black pepper/fresh or dried basil or oregano
• One breadstick

Directions

• Trim the fat off the meat and place a grill over medium heat.
• Then add the sea salt and black pepper to the meat
• Non-stick cooking surfaces are needed because no oil or cooking spray is permitted.
• Once the real is ready, take it out depending on whether you want medium rare, medium, or well done.
• Once the veal is cooked, place a pot in which tomato sauce, basil, and oregano are added.
• Use fresh spices to enhance the flavor.
• Crush the breadstick and sprinkle this on the veal after pouring the tomato, basil, oregano sauce over it.

Lemon Herb Fish With Lettuce

Photo by: ThoroughlyReviewed/ CC BY

What You Need

• 100 grams white fish
• Two tablespoons lemon juice (from organic lemon)
• One tablespoon oregano
• One eighth tablespoon sea salt and black pepper
• One breadstick
• Three to four sizeable lettuce leaves

Directions

• Cut the lettuce after washing and drying it
• Preheat the oven to 400 degrees.
• Cut a foil, lay it flat and place the raw fish in it
• Use cod for best results. Other types of fish you can try are sea bass, burbot, or whiting.
• In a bowl, mix the lemon juice, oregano, salt, and pepper.
• Stir this well and pour over the fish.
• Bake for ten minutes at 400 degrees or till flaking of the fish is observed.
• Remove and place the fish atop the lettuce on the plate.
• Pour the remaining lemon juice over it and savor the taste.

Side Dishes

Roasted Tomato Slices

You need to use one tomato, one garlic clove crushed, one Rosemary sprig, chopped garlic. Slicing tomatoes into thin pieces spread it out on the parchment paper-lined sheet, sprinkle with garlic and rosemary. Then roast this for atlas 360 minutes at 200 degrees. Your roasted tomato slices are now ready!

Cucumber Dill Salad

For this, you need to cut up a medium-sized cucumber. Add a single tablespoon of vinegar, a teaspoon of dill, black pepper and stevia to taste. Your cucumber, dill salad is ready.

Roasted Asparagus

Add a bunch of apparatus to the preheated oven at 425 F. The device should be coated in lemon juice and water, sprinkles with minced garlic clove, salt, lemon juice, black pepper and then baked for twelve to fifteen minutes till the tenderness is reached.

Soups

Chicken Broth

This comprises a single protein and veggie serving.

What You Need

• 100 grams of chicken breast boneless skinless
• A medium-sized white onion
• Two cups of homemade chicken broth
• Three garlic cloves
• Half a teaspoon curry powder
• One-fourth teaspoon Cinnamon/ pumpkin pie spice
• One-eighth teaspoon freshly cracked pepper
• Salt to taste

Directions

Boil the water on a stove.

• Add raw chicken and turn don the temperature, cook, and cover for three to five minutes.
• Once the chicken is cooked, remove it from the boiling water and set it aside.
• Discard the water used to boil the chicken and return it to low heat over the stove.
• Add the homemade chicken broth
• Dice the onion and add
• Cut the chicken into pieces and add to the pot
• Cook and stir for 45 minutes over low heat.
• Remove the heat, cooling it for five or ten minutes.
• Move this to the bowl and serve.

Beverage

For tasty treats that don’t add up to liquid calories, read on below.

Frozen Strawberry Slush

Photo By: Andrew M Jiang/ CC BY

What You Need

• 1 cup of ice crushed
• Five strawberries
• A teaspoon of vanilla extract
• Stevia

Directions

Blend all into a mixture until slush forms. Add stevia to taste and enjoy your frozen treat.

Blended Coffee

What You Need

• Stevia
• Coffee
• 2 cups of ice

Directions

Make a cup of unsweetened coffee, add ice, and blend. Use flavored stevia for better results.

Grapefruit Mocktail

What You Need

• 8 ounces of mineral water
• Crushed ice
• Orange stevia
• One organic grapefruit juiced

Directions

Mix all the ingredients and add the ice. Your drink is ready once you’ve added orange stevia to taste.

Desserts

Chocolate Cheesecake

What You Need

• Cottage cheese (low/no fat)
• One tablespoon hCG diet cocoa powder
• Vanilla extract
• Liquid stevia

Directions

Place the ingredients in a blender and add the stevia. Add some strawberries for additional taste.

Baked Toffee Apple

What You Need

• One thinly sliced apple
• One teaspoon ground cinnamon
• One teaspoon stevia
• One-fourth teaspoon nutmeg
• 1 tablespoon water
• English toffee stevia

Directions

Place all into a zip lock bag and seal with apple slices. Shake and then lay flat in a baking dish at 350F for thirty minutes.*
*Remember, all the while you need to be taking hCG drops, pellets or injections for making the diet work well.