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I have just seen a doctor who specializes in anti-aging solutions which includes weight loss. Along with other things she has prescribed a product called Releana which is supposed to be a natural fat burning hormone referred to as HCG. I am wondering if anyone else has used this and what your results have been.
I haven't used it, but the claims for this product are dubious at best. In general, anytime anyone tells you they've got this super-special extract that you can't get fit/lose weight/protect your bones/protect your heart/etc. without, they are selling you something with the first priority of making a profit with little or no consideration to whether or not it is effective or the best solution for you. HCG has not been demonstrated to be effective adjunctive therapy in the treatment of obesity. There is no substantial evidence that it increases weight loss beyond that resulting from caloric restriction, that it causes a more attractive or "normal" distribution of fat, or that it decreases the hunger and discomfort associated with calorie-restricted diets.
I found the following for you on Quackwatch.org:
Human chorionic gonadotrophin (HCG) is a hormone found in the urine of pregnant women. More than 50 years ago, Dr. Albert T. Simeons, a British-born physician, contended that HCG injections would enable dieters to subsist comfortably on a 500-calorie-a-day diet. He claimed that HCG would mobilize stored fat; suppress appetite; and redistribute fat from the waist, hips, and thighs. There is no scientific evidence to support these claims. Moreover, a 500-calorie (semi-starvation) diet is likely to result in loss of protein from vital organs, and HCG can cause other adverse effects.
Gabe Mirkin, M.D., has noted:
At one time, HCG was the most widespread obesity medication administered in the United States. Some doctors liked it because it assured them of a steady clientele. Patients had to come in once a week for an injection.
Negative studies and government action reduced the use of HGC injections for weight control close to zero. However, their promotion by infomercial king Kevin Trudeau may cause their use to increase. His 2007 book, The Weight Loss Cure They Don't Want You to Know About, claims that "an absolute cure for obesity was discovered almost fifty years ago" but was "suppressed" by the AMA, the FDA, and "other medical establishments throughout the world." Trudeau further claims that until now, "this miracle weight loss breakthrough has been hidden from the public so that drug companies can make billions of dollars selling their expensive drug treatments and surgical procedures for obesity." The alleged cure consists of HCG injections plus 50 to 60 required and recommended do's and don'ts.
In September 2007, the FTC charged Kevin Trudeau with violating a court order by misrepresenting the contents of the book. In infomercials, Trudeau falsely claimed that the book's weight-loss plan is easy to do, can be done at home, and ultimately allows readers to eat whatever they want. Previous FTC action had led to a court order banning from using infomercials to sell any product, service, or program except for books and other publications The order specified that he not misrepresent the content of the books. The FTC is now charging that he violated that narrow exemption.
From much of the silliness of what Kevin Trudeau has to say, you could devise a reasonable health plan simply by doing the opposite of what he proposes. Human biology is quite simple and unscrupulous people keep looking for shortcuts, tricks, and workarounds to simple biology. They will continue to search in vain.
Jonathan Ross, National Body Challenge Fitness Expert
www.AionFitness.com
Make my blog one of your Favorites!
http://community.discoveryhealth.com/~Jonathan/blog/
I had actually mentioned to this doctor that I was not impressed by Kevin Trudeau and heard he was a quack but she indicated this was not his product merely that he endorsed it which did not matter to me one way or another. But then later on gave me a cookbook with the Dr. Simeon dieting tips. Generally it says to cut out oils and complex carbs which again anyone woould lose weight on without the supplement. I have to admit I figured anyone could lose weight on only 500 calories since usually I would have between 1000-1200 for my height and bone structure. I was not looking for an easy way out for weight loss but merely trying to get my body back in balance, this was just an added feature or a kick start to the rest of my plan. It was optional to continue after one month so it sounds like I will be opting out of this prescription. I declined the appetite suppressant.
thanks again for the information
Determined, I am currently using Releana to control my weight loss. I have tried reducing my caloric intake, exercising, other weight loss programs, etc., none of them were long term results. I have lost close to 40 lbs with no side effects. I will say the first week was a challenge but since that time I have been able to follow the plan closely. Releana burns the fat without lossing any muscle content. I am more energetic, I don't have that sagging skin look you those who have had the gastro by pass surgery. My skin is tight and not artificial looking. I still have 30 lbs more to go but it is coming off. I started off wearing a size 16 and now I wearing a size 10 (I can wear a size 8 but it is a little tight). I have had no side effects what so ever. After a few months of being on the program, I don't have the same cravings I would have when I was on other programs or trying to lose weight with watch what I eat and excersing. I do work out more than before and feel great. If I were you I would go back to my doctor and ask more questions to find out what are the results. My doctor specializes in weight loss and she highly recommended it to me. She has watched me go on these diets with no long term results. Like I said, I do not crave those things that caused me to gain my weight back.
Jonathan, I hear what you are saying however, I would disagree with you regarding Releana. My doctors who has spent many years as Chief Anesthesology and now weight loss management, spent years studying what products work long term and which ones do not. Releana has good long term results. I must say, I have worked out with personal trainers for years. My muscle mass increased which caused my weight to go up. Consistently, I would tell my trainers that I wanted to lose weight not gain it. I have seen the end results of those who are body builders or spent endless years in the gym building up muscle mass. Once they stop for any given period of time, the bodies look bad. That is not what I wanted. I wanted to loss the weight and keep it off forever. Releana is moving me in the right direction by removing the body fat without removing the muscle mass and I can exercise on my own, feel good and look good without bulking up. Releana is not an injection. I take it twice a day under my tongue and proceed with my day. I would highly encourage you to take to doctors who are using the product to understand the long term results. People are looking for long term results, not quick fixes nor are they wanting to spend large sums of money on personal trainers who are limited to the medical aspect of weight loss. Personal trainers are very expensive and the end results are not long term.
Clearly, you've done your homework and found something that works for you. I applaud you for making an informed decision as this is something few people do. They respond directly to the marketing messages, and are seduced by the intoxication of seeing the numbers drop on the scale.
There is such diversity in the human species that something that does not work for one person, will get great results for another. There's what research shows, and then there is always someone's experience that runs counter to research. I did a very preliminary bit of research (clearly much less than you have) on Releana to hopefully give you some general feedback from an outside source. I hope I was clear that I don't know enough to make a judgment on Releana, but some of what I found raised an eyebrow.
I will keep an eye out for others that use it, and would like to get a doctor's take on it. But, in personal search for truth, I would give low credence to information from a doctor who sells it. It doesn't mean they are wrong or lying, just that you can't verify the integrity of a message when there is profit to be gained from the message (this is the same wise approach journalists and scientists take when examining research - a study funded by the tobacco industry finds that -surprise! - it's not as harmful as believed.)
The one absolute truth is human biology and the millions of years it has followed its genetic code. Products and miracle cures come and mostly go, but the one truth that there is no one compound/vitamin/drug or other single thing that is the end-all be-all of health and weight loss. If it was, we'd have become extinct a long time ago due to such fragile biology.
And, many trainers are little more than overpaid workout partners who train many of their clients the same way they train themselves. I wish those trainers would get out of my industry because they make life harder on the rest of us who take a truly personalized approach and endeavor to help clients get they results they want and live healthier at the same time.
To your continued success,
Jonathan Ross, National Body Challenge Fitness Expert
www.AionFitness.com
Make my blog one of your Favorites!
http://community.discoveryhealth.com/~Jonathan/blog/
Jonathan, thanks for your response. I can truly appreicate someone who is sincere about the service they provide. I have used personal trainers in the past and the last one was a nightmare (a few years ago). I pulled my muscles to the point that at times when I stretch my left arm there is some slight pain. I reported the issue but of course, the company offered my some free services. Well, at this time, the longer term effect is the pain I experience from time to time. I have resulted to other exercises that don't include weights and using the Releana to help me with the weight loss. Like I said, Releana does work. My doctor actually is a long time friend of mine (we grew up together) and she could easily push this product to many people. However, I know for a fact that she has turned patients down because they are not willing to make the life style change to losing weight. She too has study hard and long to make a difference in the lives of those who have been on the yo-yo diets to lose the weight for good. She is very detailed and errors on the side of caustion when it comes to practicing medicine. I have sent people to help and the results they are seeing are far greater than what they have experienced in the past. Yes, it takes a lot of discipline for this program. The reduced caloric intake is challenging but overcomeable. It is my sincere hope that you as a professional and others will take what they do seriously and not get into it for the money. Please get hurt and those involved walk away. Again, thanks for your comments.
I appreciate the thoughtful comments on this site regarding Releana and hCG weight loss. I am a physician specializing in non-surgical aesthetic treatments including skin resurfacing, laser hair removal, and non-surgical face lifts. I also have treated many people with non-surgical liposuction and weight loss.
I have twelve years of clinical experience as a nutritionally based and complementary health care provider. Since Oct. 07, I have treated over 170 patients using hCG liquid sublingual known as Releana with great results. I appreciate the comments regarding the lack of "scientific" studies that show its efficacy, however, clinically I have seen consistent results over 90% of my patients that have been through at least one session of active fat burning with this program.
In short the program works because the combination of a Very Low Calorie Diet (VLCD) along with the hormone accomplish the following:
1. Consistent weight loss of .5 to 1 lb/day without lean muscle wasting. This runs contrary to any other weight loss/fat burning program I have ever encountered.
2. No side effects. In fact many symptoms unrelated to the weight loss improve during the program. I believe this is due to the improved blood sugar levels and the anti-inflammatory diet.
3. Fat reduction in the hard to treat areas that don't respond to other diet and exercise programs. This includes the abdomen, hips, thighs, under chin, arms, low back, love handles, buttocks, etc.
4. Patients that adhere to the program and the maintenance keep the weight off.
This program is not for everyone. It does not solve the problems of compulsive eating, emotional eating, or people that are too busy to eat properly or travel extensively on business and can not control their diet. The VLCD is very restrictive and patients that do not follow it closely will only lose 6-10 pounds with each session. Also, each patient should be screened for additional nutritional support to optimize the program.
For more information you can check out http://web.mac.com/hcgweightloss or
www.hcgobesity.org
Thank you for the opportunity to share my experience.
W. Nelson, NMD, NPBAM
Chandler, AZ
Hey Jonathan. Do you all there at DHC staff think it might be apropos to issue a formal disclaimer to Dr. Nelson's comment? Something along the lines that Discovery Health Channel Weight Loss Challenge does not in any way endorse or promote a program that promises a half to a FULL pound weight loss per day on their product, along with a 500 calorie/day "diet"? The mere fact that this comment appears on your site may cause some folks to think there is implicit approval of this method or of Releana.
And thank you for remaining professional, and keeping your cool, when confronted with this issue. It must have been difficult to remain calm! Appreciate all that you and Jen and everyone do.
So glad I'm here.
Laurel
Thanks for brining this to my attention. As far as I know, Dr. Nelson has no official role in the Challenge so is free to comment like other community members. That said, I didn't see a mention of a 500-calorie per day diet in his post, just a "very low calorie diet." That gives me pause enough. He also mentions how hard it is to follow. I'll do my best here to steer folks away from this VLC nonsense.
Anything with "very" in it when it comes to nutrition is dysfunctional, and very low calories is conceptually simply asinine. If you had a zero calorie diet, you'd lose even more weight. But at what point are we forcing the issue and making our biology do something it doesn't want to and is deleterious - with who knows what consequences, none of which will be good.
People's attitudes about food are already unhealthy enough with using a "VLC" diet. Anybody out there following a VLC diet listen up:
Move your body - and feed it to fuel it!
It would be so much easier for those of us out there who seek fitness truth and have a desire to share it with others if we didn't have to spend more than half our time dispelling myths and logical and biological fallacies put out there by quacks, hacks, and snake oil salesmen.
Enough already...and if anyone reading this gets annoyed, it is probably because you are edgy from your calorie intake being too low. Go eat a nice healthy meal, and reread when you aren't cranky from underfeeding yourself. The voice of reason is no match for a growling stomach!
Jonathan Ross, National Body Challenge Fitness Expert
www.AionFitness.com
Make my blog one of your Favorites!
http://community.discoveryhealth.com/~Jonathan/blog/
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