The HCG weight loss plan can produce an amazing amount of weight loss because it speeds up your metabolism. However, it works poorly if you have low thyroid function. Your thyroid gland controls every metabolic process that is going on in your body. Each time you eat, whether it’s fat, protein or carbs, the chemicals in the cells of your body tear apart the food and turn it into energy that keeps your heart beating, your brain working and your body warm. The faster the metabolism, the faster calories are being consumed. The more you burn, the easier it is to lose weight. The slower your metabolism the harder it is to maintain your weight and even more difficult to lose weight. Your daily metabolism consists of 4 different components:

Basal metabolism: 65-75% of total metabolism: ~ 1300-2000 calories/day: This is the energy needed to breathe, maintain a normal body temperature, and maintain circulation and brain activity. Digestion of food: 10% of Daily Calories ~ 140-200 calories/day: This is the energy needed to digest, metabolize, store and process food. Daily Activities: 15-30% ~150 to 300 calories/day for people with sedentary jobs, up to 1000 or more calories for people with strenuous jobs. This is not the energy expenditure with planned exercise.

Planned Exercise: 0 to unlimited/day. This is the traditional "exercise" component.

It is not the exercise that occurs with activities of daily living, but the energy expended

by walking or jogging around the neighborhood, playing sports, going to the gym.

Many factors acting together and alone effect your metabolism. However, it’s the thyroid gland that controls how metabolism. Only disorders of the thyroid, hypothyroidism (under active thyroid gland) and hyperthyroidism (overactive thyroid gland) can actually slow down or speed up metabolism. While fairly common, only 4% of the US population has an under active thyroid gland. On the other hand, less than 0.3% of the population has an overactive thyroid gland-hyperthyroidism. Low levels of thyroid hormone causes bodily functions to slow down. If you have undiagnosed hypothyroidism, or your condition is not adequately treated by your doctor, it is almost impossible to low weight, whether you take the HCG hormone or note. So the first, essential step is to get a thyroid test, specifically the

TSH test. It’s a simple blood test and can be done by any laboratory of physician. Here are the symptoms of a low thyroid The symptoms of hypothyroidism are subtle and gradual and may be mistaken for depression. Here are some of the symptoms:

Facial expressions become dull

Voice is hoarse

Speech slow, eyelids droop and the eyes and face become puffy and swollen

Weight gain and constipation

Intolerance to cold

The hair becomes sparse, coarse, dry, scaly and thick.

Many people develop Carpal Tunnel Syndrome which makes the hands tingle or hurt. The pulse may slow, the palms and soles appear slightly orange and the side part of the eyebrows slowly falls out.

If you have any of these symptoms and are having difficulty losing weight check your thyroid status. If you are on thyroid medications and these symptoms are returning, you need to recheck your TSH again. Individuals with low thyroid problems that are caused by autoimmune process can have rapid changes in their thyroid status. The HCG diet is only effective when your thyroid status is normal.