Question + Answers
Feel free to ask our weight loss staff any questions you may have about Green Valley Spa’s Weight Loss Program, or review question and answers below. Our weight loss staff is eager to support you with successful weight loss results. We will promptly reply to your inquiries. Look for answers to your questions here.
38 Comments
gvspa weight loss staff on October 22nd, 2008
Yes. The most remarkable thing about this program is not only will you lose those unwanted pounds but you will lose inches in the most problematic areas, such as: the stomach, thighs, and buttocks.
Holly on October 22nd, 2008
What if I want to lose more than 15 to 20 pounds?
gvspa weight loss staff on October 22nd, 2008
On the 26 day program, most patients see a loss of a pound a day. Patients needing to lose further weight will generally find they lose more than a pound a day. 40 day programs are available, and second courses of treatment may be necessary.
Anne on October 22nd, 2008
Do I need a nutritional supplements while on the weight loss program?
gvspa weight loss staff on October 22nd, 2008
No. All the nutrients your body requires are being metabolized by your own fat storage. Talk to a weight loss staff member if you feel unusually weak or tired.
Tim on October 22nd, 2008
What is HCG, and how does it work?
gvspa weight loss staff on October 22nd, 2008
HCG is a widely used human hormone called Human Chorionic Conadotropin. HCG helps the body metabolize abnormal fat stores. This hormone is produced during pregnancy to ensure that the fetus receives proper nutrition by relying on stored fat reserves. When a patient is injected with small amounts of HCG over a controlled period of time combined with a specific dietary regimen, the abnormal fat is released and metabolized by the body. Green Valley’s Weight Loss Program is based on the research by Dr. Simeons. His book “Pounds and Inches” can be downloaded from our website or viewed here. Click on “Pounds & Inches” link under the Pages tab.
david on November 10th, 2008
what about people who have type 2 diabetes?
is hcg okay?
gvspa weight loss staff on November 14th, 2008
Diabetes in obese patients is not a contraindication to participating in the HCG program. Commonly, the blood sugar drops to relatively normal levels in 2-3 weeks in Type ll diabetics. Though this is not observed in brittle or Type l diabetics, it can be managed easily by knowledgeable health care professionals.
Dr. Reynolds
Paul on November 17th, 2008
I have heard that one positive feature of this program is that the weight stays off even after the program is over. But I have also heard that to keep the weight off, one must make some pretty significant, permanent changes to their diet going forward. Is this true?
shelby on November 19th, 2008
If I want to go hiking for the whole day, or out to “Best Friends” to volunteer, will Green Valley pack me a lunch and snacks to go? What time do I have to be at the spa for the injections? How many injections do you get per day?
Regina Schieber on November 20th, 2008
I have a few questions about the new weight loss program you offer,
1)the main one being how many calories a day are allowed in this diet,
2)how much exercise can you make during it,
3) Can this injected hormone give you allergy, because I am a very allergic person ,
Thank you for your attention, Regina.
gvspa weight loss staff on November 21st, 2008
Paul,
It is true that after the program is over the metabolism should be reset and the weight loss stable. Dr. Simeons wrote that after the three week stabilization period you can eat anything you please in moderation. We have found that many of the program participants no longer crave many of the high-caloric and high-fat foods they once did.
gvspa weight loss staff on November 21st, 2008
Shelby,
HCG injections are given at the Green Valley Spa, 7:00-8:00 Monday through Friday, and 11:30-12:30 Saturday and Sunday.
One injection is given per day and duration is determined by whether a participant is on the 23 day or the 40 day program. Guests who cannot stay for the entire program are given instructions on self-injection.
If you are on a Green Valley Spa package, all meals are included. If you prefer to have your meal packed, our staff would be glad to do this for you.
gvspa weight loss staff on November 21st, 2008
Regina,
The diet is 500 calories a day and used only in conjunction with the HCG injections. The HCG is metabolizing stored fat reserves and is flushing the body with available nutrients. On the diet, you will feel as though you are eating approximately 2,500 calories/day. Many don’t feel hungry and some have difficulty eating even the 500 calories.
It is recommended to do light exercise during the program. A daily walk, ride, or game of tennis can help facilitate weight loss.
The Weight Loss Program is medically supervised. We have experienced no allergic reactions to the HCG injections, however, you should ask your physician to see if this program is for you.
Regina Schieber on November 24th, 2008
My doctor wants to know how is the hormone produced to check if it can give me an allergy reaction. Is collected from animals or synthetic? Thank you.
gvspa weight loss staff on November 26th, 2008
Regina,
Allergic reactions to HCG are very unlikely There have been no reported cases of reactions to HCG administered in small doses as defined by Dr. Simeons weight loss protocol. Extreme cases of allergic reactions in patients is not contraindicative of participation in the program.
HCG is produced by the body during pregnancy, secreted through the urinary tract, collected, and processed. The HCG used in our program is human extracted HCG.
Janet on December 1st, 2008
Last month, when I was at GVS, there was mention of recipes being posted. There is also mention of recipes on this web site but I can’t seem to find any. Is there another place to look or will you be posting recipes?
gvspa weight loss staff on December 2nd, 2008
Janet,
We recently posted a number of recipes. They include beverages, salads, soups, entrees, and deserts.
Also posted is a Shopping Guide and a list of things to avoid while on the diet.
Our chefs have just completed a 23 day menu booklet of delicious daily recipes. It can be purchased at http://www.goodmedicineshop.com
Janet on December 4th, 2008
Thanks! I ordered the book.
Ann on December 26th, 2008
You said the HCG is human extracted HCG. Any possible chance that this injection could transmit aids or another infectious disease.
anna fisch on January 4th, 2009
If I can only be at the Spa for 7-9 days, can I do the program and what can I expect? Also, is the HCG diet contraindicated for LUPUS (SLE)?
Anna
Josh on January 6th, 2009
Well, I can personally answer your second question with surety, since I noticed this today when I was filling out the paperwork for the program. hCG is contraindicated for any autoimmune disease, including Lupus.
As for your first question, from what I understand sitting next to our booking agent: Dieters who are not able to stay the full 23 days are fully informed of how to proceed with the program at home, and supplied with the hCG to complete the program for them to take home. We can provide meals for you that are flash frozen and packaged for shipping, for additional cost. We ship these weekly, I believe.
Otherwise, we do offer hCG cooking classes during your stay, so that you can learn how to cook approved foods in an approved manner. We also provide you with full documentation of quantities and qualities of foods you can eat during the diet, including a sample menu in the documentation you receive when starting the diet.
I hope that answers all your questions satisfactorily. If you have any further questions, you can post here, or send email to online@greenvalleyspa.com
I’ll be collecting questions to ask the various program runners, and will be doing interviews for my blog posts, so be sure to post any questions you may have, and I’ll do my best to get answers for them!
donna on January 20th, 2009
If a guest needs to stay on the program for 40 days, are they still sent home (after their stay) with everthing they need to finish out the program? What is the process for adding a subsequent phase (more than 40 pound weight loss required)?
Josh on January 22nd, 2009
Yes, during your stay, you are trained on how to maintain the diet, including giving injections to yourself of hCG. You will also be given a full supply of hCG for your remaining days of the diet to take home with you. As I understand it, you can start a new phase of the diet as soon as a month after the end of the last phase, in fact, we have a few current guests who are starting their second phase even now. This gives time for your metabolism to stabilize after the diet.
klg on January 24th, 2009
I am considering this program and love this info site. But, GVS has not been offering this that long and was wondering how the ones who first started this program are maintaining? Any one care to comment who has been off of this for a while now? How are you looking and feeling?
Dave on February 5th, 2009
Hi, I am really interested in this program. I attended the meeting back in October and have wanted to try this program ever since. I have a couple of concerns, though. I did a search on the web regarding HCG and found a site that shows “research” stating that HCG is worthless as a weight loss aid. The site also mentions that Kevin Trudeau got in trouble for false claims regarding the program in his book. Now I don’t know what to think. I would really like to do this program, but I would like to hear your side of the story first. Thanks.
n hart on February 28th, 2009
Can you do the program if you live in St. George without staying at the GVS? If so how does that work, how much time is devoted each day to the diet, i.e. exercise, classes, etc?
Dave on April 15th, 2009
Hello?
Jackie on April 16th, 2009
I am interested in the program but have a couple questions, can I still participate if I am only able to stay for 7 days and I have Multiple Sclerosis. I read in one of the previous messages that Autoimmune diseases may not be able to participate, but my disease is totally under control?
Josh on April 17th, 2009
Hi Dave, one of our personnel emailed you an answer to your question, but it appears that you didn’t receive the message.
In answer to your question: We have had nothing but success with hCG as a weight loss aid. Our program is patterned after Dr. Simeons’ medical research of weight loss using hCG as an aid. Also, our own data proves that it is very effective as such.
The posts you see on this blog from myself, Sharon, Kenley, and Kenneth document dramatic weight loss, and speaking for myself, I can say that I have kept the weight off, except those days that I have deviated from a healthy diet post-hCG (sometimes you can’t resist oatmeal cookies). But, even with those deviations, I have only varied from my ending weight by about 5 lbs.
As for Mr. Trudeau, he was kind enough to come to the Spa to lecture about his experience with hCG and dieting in general. He also agreed to allow us to post his lecture online. He is also a frequent guest of our Spa. We do not endorse his views, nor use the exact diet codified in his book. The diet we use is the original Simeons Protocol, with no deviations.
If you have any further questions, please email Marium Kroff at hcg@greenvalleyspa.com
Josh on April 17th, 2009
According to Dr. Reynolds, one of our resident physicians, there are no known contraindication for MS. Also, we can accommodate you if you are only planning on being here for a week. In fact, most of our guests on the hCG program are only able to stay for 5-10 days. We offer classes on cooking hCG meals, and we also offer the option of shipping pre-prepared meals to your door. Not only that, but our program runner, Marium Kroff, will be sure to call you frequently after your stay to make sure that you stay on the diet, and you can contact her any time after your stay with questions.
lana on April 18th, 2009
I know HCG is a hormone that is associated with pregnancy. Is there any data about adverse events in using it in this method? No increase risk of cancer/tumors or other complications?
Shannonphx on April 21st, 2009
I was reviewing some of your wonderful recipes, & need further info about the Lemon Lime Tilapia recipe.
It calls for
“1⁄4 salts”
Is this table salt, sea salts or some other kind of slat? Is the measurement, “1/4″ referring to a teaspoon or tablespoon?
It also calls for “1⁄4 pepper.”
Is this ground pepper? Or red/green peppers?
If ground pepper, please specify if 1/4 refers to tablespoon or teaspoon.
Thanks!
Runnergirl on September 9th, 2009
Will you please let me know how this will affect a long distance runner. I am training for a marathon in 2 months and need to lose about 40lbs to be at the weight my doctor recommends. I am concerned about the lack of carbs and calories in this diet and any effects that it may cause on my heart, lungs and muscles for training extensively.
nyscilla on November 18th, 2009
I am also interested in the question about whether use of HCG could potentially transmit HIV or other infectious disease. I don’t see an answer here.
bluebird on January 24th, 2010
Hi. I have a question that I can’t find answered anywhere. I’ve been doing the diet for 3 weeks, but had planned on continuing for 6. So, once a week, I have skipped an injection to keep from developing immunity to the hCG. I found out that I have to have oral surgery, and the pain killers and antibiotics seem to have slowed my weight loss down. Because I know I can’t chew for a week, and because I had already completed 3 weeks, I put myself into Phase 3. Now, I would like to know if I can go back to phase two in a week because I have not lost as much as I wanted to on this first round. I shouldn’t have developed an immunity because I skipped one shot a week from the start. What have others found out from having to interrupt a cycle in this type of situation? By the way, I am down 20 lbs, so I know the diet is working well for me.
Candy on October 22nd, 2008
I’ve been dieting for years and lose weight only where I don’t want to. Does Green Valley’s Weight Loss Program address these issues?