Is there any validity to the hcg diet? It appears that you go on a 500 calorie diet for 3.5 weeks and then up your calories after this. The HCG apparently causes mostly only fat to be lost. It just doesn't seam possible or even probable especialy with over the counter oral tablets that aren't even prescribed by a doctor. If there is validity to this, what would be a comparable Beverly product ? Thanks.

This diet is another scam aimed at people looking for the "magic pill" to lose weight. No diet that recommends 500 calories would ever be considered a valid approach and could be considered very dangerous. This is well below anyone's, regardless of age or weight, Basal Metabolic Rate. The HCG has NOTHING to do with fat loss and any weight lost on this diet would be mainly lean tissue and water due to the dangerously low calories. The body would literally consume itself to survive, even for "only" 3 weeks. I have read the "good" Doctor's spill on this diet, and NO WHERE does he offer valid, research proven evidence that HCG burns fat. Simple answer: People lose weight on this "diet" because they are literally starving themselves. There is a huge difference in "weight" loss and "fat" loss. The first question to ask yourself of any diet is "Can I maintain this way of eating for the rest of my life?". If the answer is no, then why even consider it. I suggest you research HCG yourself, as I have a feeling you really don't know what you are considering. I think you will be shocked to find out what it is and what it's actually used for. For one, HCG is NOT available as a pill. It is administered by injection. A homeopathic form is advertised in pill form, but it is not HCG and has been proven to have NO effect as a replacement.