The HCG diet is a mix of hormones and a very specific low calorie meal plan that promises a weight loss of 1.5 – 2 lbs a day. It is believed that when combined with a strict low fat diet of no more than 500 calories a day, these drops promote not only rapid weight loss, but weight loss from such problem areas as abdomen, hips and thighs. So, ready to call your local HCG facility and get your weight loss going? After speaking with two health professionals, a very daunting light was shed on this weight loss phenomenon. According to Board certified gastroenterologist, internist and nutritionist Dr. Gerard Mullin from John Hopkins University, the HCG diet can result in rapid weight loss; however, it can also result in, “cardiovascular disorders, metabolic disorders and gallstones.” Joe Cannon, a Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist agrees. Cannon claims that in addition to the serious medical conditions that Dr. Mullin describes, the HCG diet can also lead to, “low blood sugar, fatigue, vitamin and mineral deficiencies, headaches, reduced ability to exercise, reduced energy for day-to-day activities, and overall a decrease in metabolic rate.” You are either being injected with or self-administering drops that have a hormone in them taken from a pregnant woman. “The danger of this diet is that it does not teach people how to eat healthy,” Cannon says. Dr. Mullin agrees. “Our diets are not wholesome and are high in processed foods,” Mullin adds. So what is the answer to the weight loss puzzle? Secondly, keep calories in check. Thirdly, fill your diet with healthy foods such as fruits, vegetables, lean meats, beans and nuts.