The use of HCG injections during the HCG diet has been proven to be effective in helping obese and overweight people shed pounds and inches off their bodies. But many are still wondering how long can they use the HCG injection and how long they can stay on the HCG Diet.
Dr. Simeon’s original HCG Diet manuscript
“Patients who need to lose 15 pounds (7 kg.) or less require 26 days of treatment with 23 daily injections. The extra three days are needed because all patients must continue the 500-calorie diet for three days after the last injection. “
“When a patient has more than 15 pounds to lose the treatment takes longer but the maximum we give in a single course is 40 injections, nor do we as a rule allow patients to lose more than 34 lbs. (15 Kg.) at a time. “
Regardless of how much or how little weight you want to lose, the minimum required number of injections are 23 injections while the maximum number of injections required is 40 injections, including the loading days. In his manuscript, the “23 injections” include the 2 injections during loading days, and 21 injections while on a very low-calorie diet. That would give you 3 weeks in the weight loss phase plus another 6 weeks in the maintenance phase.
On the 40 injections, 2 injections are used on loading days, while the 38 injections are on the weight loss phase. The weight loss phase can last for 44 days because of the “once a week no shot day”, plus another 2 days of a very-low-calorie diet without the injection. That gives you a total of 46 days doing the very low-calorie diet phase plus 6 weeks on the maintenance phase.
The diet can end up even longer for women with menstrual cycles because no injections are allowed during menstruation. The low-calorie intake must continue but as soon as the menstrual cycle is over, they may resume with the injection.
Can you go beyond 40 injections?
As a safety guide, most recommend a maximum number of 40 injections per treatment. Although receiving more than 40 HCG injections in one period does not pose any significant risk, some problems can develop over time, which can affect your energy level and weight loss. It’s possible that you can experience adrenal fatigue which can lead to prolonged tiredness and mood shifts. Moreover, adrenal fatigue can make you crave high-calorie foods for energy, undoing the good work you have done with your weight loss program so far.
What if you have more weight to lose?
If you have more weight to lose, you can always do another round rather than going beyond 40 injections in one round. After completing your round, there is a waiting time of 6 weeks before you can start another round. Add 2 weeks for every successive round. Observing breaks in between rounds is very important for many reasons.