Will the HCG diet work better than an intensive running regimen? I’ve decided to find out with a diet bet.
Since I’ve written about how I refuse to try HCG (Human chorionic gonadotropin) for my “Five Days on a Diet” experiment, it’s a good “diet” bet that I won’t be the one trying HCG. But I found a willing adversary who will try her best to stay on the HCG diet for 26 days while I’m on the running plan.
My close friend decided to try the HCG diet after many of her nursing colleagues started losing a lot of weight. She recently went on vacation and has decided to start her HCG regimen that includes taking sublingual (under the tongue) drops and eating just 500 calories a day after she returns.
The bet will last 26 days because my friend is on the 26-day plan with a 26-day supply of Human chorionic ganadotropin drops.
She will follow the “Simeons” protocol named after research doctor A.T.W. Simeons who came up with the idea to use the pregnancy hormone (also used as a fertility drug) to help people lose weight without hunger.
I thought no exercise was allowed on the HCG diet, but she clarified dieters are allowed “light exercise.”
We are the same body shape and size – although I am a few years older – which means we are starting with an even playing field for our diet bet.
Here are a few of the “rules” for our HCG versus running diet bet:
No. 1:
We will be looking at three factors: overall weight loss; how many inches lost around the belly button area of the stomach and body fat percentage. There are so many other measurements and factors we could look at, but I think those three things will give an accurate depiction of success after 26 days of the diet bet.
No. 2:
She will follow the Simeons diet as best she can – writing down any cheating or times she strays from the 500-calorie diet and I will do my best to stay on the running plan. Part of a plan being successful is whether a person can even stick to it.
No. 3:
I will not have a set eating plan (other than to be sensible) but will jog/run at least five hours a week, and more if I can do so comfortably. She may do some walking.
No. 4:
Success will be determined only after the 26 days are up – not based on who lost the most weight in the first week.
Who will lose the most body fat after 26 days and who will lose their mind? Is it better to challenge your body and mind by running or better to follow the HCG diet?
Which approach do you think you could handle? I invite you to comment on our adventure in the HCG fad diet versus strenuous exercise war.
And now it’s time for me to lace up my running shoes and hit the pavement!