Southwest Florida's Health and Wellness Magazine Health and Wellness Articles
There’s a familiar story that resonates with many people. It’s about losing and regaining weight. Diets and exercise programs work for a while and then all of a sudden, they stop working, or we give up for many reasons like lack of energy, boredom, or not honing in on the skills we need to stay the course. The failure rate is high, but the truth is, fat is a complicated subject, and it’s not all the same. The type of fat known as abnormal fat is the problem.
Abnormal fat is the “bad” fat, and it is the accumulation of this fat that an overweight person carries. It is deposited all over the body and is most frequently accumulated on the hips, buttocks, stomach, arms, and face. Although abnormal fat is a potential reserve for body fuel, it is not available to the body in a nutritional emergency as is normal or functional fat.
Fifty years ago, a physician in Italy discovered the hormone that helps keep weight off for good by treating the underlying condition, which is abnormal fat accumulation. This hormone is known as hCG.
What is hCG?
Human Chorionic Gonadotropin (hCG) is a hormone that supports and aids normal functions in both the male and female’s reproductive systems. Although pregnant women produce increasing levels of hCG throughout gestation, contrary to popular belief, both men and non-pregnant women produce deficient levels of hCG throughout their lifetime. Under direct physician supervision, your hCG injections can make you look and feel like a new person.
Dr. Tayna Metyk of Harbor Weight Loss and Beauty has extensive experience with hCG and the diet protocol that has proven highly effective for so many individuals over the past century. One of her patients, patients, Marie C., has quite a story to tell about her journey with her weight loss struggles and how she overcame the battle of yo-yo dieting.
We caught up with Marie to find out more about her weight loss journey.
Q: How long had you been struggling with your weight?
A: I’m 59 years old, and I started to gain weight and have trouble losing in my thirties. I’d tried all of the usual diets, low carb, meal replacement shakes, counting calories and points, and various exercise programs. They would work for a while and then the weight would come back. Last January, when Dr. Metyk discussed this new plan with me, at the time, I had high blood pressure and high cholesterol and was 241 lbs.
Q: What makes the hCG diet different?
A: I did a lot of research on the diet before I started. There are a lot of scientific components to it and after speaking with Dr. Metyk and her staff; I decided to try it because it is definitely different. The hCG injections, the diet, and the skillsets that are taught, all work together to make losing weight a success and to keep you going so that you can maintain the weight loss.
Q: When did you start and what is the protocol?
A: I started January 5th of last year. Dr. Metyk and her staff are amazing. The walk you through every step, and they meet with you weekly to make sure everything is going well and to give you a B12 shot for energy.
The protocol is that for the first three weeks you give yourself a daily hCG injection into a fatty area like the stomach, thighs, or upper arms. The needle is very fine, so you don’t even feel it. Dr. Metyk provides a detailed list of what you can eat, how much and at what times you should eat. It’s very restrictive at first, but easy and I was never hungry. The hCG injection helps to make you feel full. You have to be committed though. There is no room for cheating. It’s a serious weight loss program that teaches you how to keep the weight off for good.
Q: How quickly did you lose the weight?
A: The first round of three weeks, I lost 24 lbs. You have to weigh yourself every day to make sure you’re headed in the right direction. Some days I would lose four lbs., others I would lose one, but it was consistent weight loss. After the first three weeks, you go into a maintenance program without the injections, and you can increase the amount of food and add in other foods that were not on the list. This program teaches you to take control. I did the program another two times over 2018, once in June and then again in November.
Q: How much weight have you lost?
A: As I mentioned, I started at 241 lbs. I now weigh 174. My blood work has normalized. I no longer have high cholesterol or high blood pressure, and I no longer take medications. Dr. Metyk was in tears over how much healthier I have become. She’s so proud of me for changing my life.
I work in a financial investment firm, so I often only see clients once per year, and many of our clients don’t even recognize me. I look like a new person, and I feel very confident and so gratified.
My sister lives in New York, and I went to see her recently, and she couldn’t believe my transformation. I can shop in the regular sizes at the department stores now. It’s empowering.
Q: How do you maintain your weight loss goals?
A: I eat right and the right amounts of food. I do indulge in pizza once in a while, but I don’t have cheat meals all of the time, and when I do, it’s just one cheat meal for that day.
I also exercise regularly. I do spin classes and Zumba classes at the gym, and I do weight training and resistance training at home. I used to be so uncomfortable at the gym, but now I feel confident, and I understand that it’s critical to my overall health and lifestyle.
If you’d like to learn more about the hCG diet or Harbor Weight Loss & Beauty, please contact them today at (941) 613-1919.
