I didn't take the time to read all of your replies but... I have heard that the injections are more effective, drink loads of water - about a gal but not more than a gal and a half, take a potassium suppliment, and don't cheat because it will cause you to gain weight. Follow up with 3 weeks of adkins or the (I recommend) South Beach Diet. This will re-set your hypothalamus and help to keep the weight off.

My Mom has researched this extensively and I am now on day 4! 8+ lbs lost so far (with little sleep last night, and that makes a big difference).

The idea here is this: your body is using all the stored energy so if you eat more than 500 cal then you'll have more "energy" than you can use and it will store as fat.

I also haven't read previous replies but my mom did just the diet, no injections or pills and lost a lot of weight. It worked really well for her.

But anytime you reduce your caloric intake, you lose weight, I guess! :)

I saw a dr today and I'm starting the Hcg shots and diet tomorrow.  I'm excited and nervous.

Amy - thanks for the tip about the potassium.  

Brandie, just wondering what you have decided to do about hcg. Have you started? What has been your experience so far? Interesting thread. Excited to hear how things have turned out. 

Heather I started today.  The first two days you are supposed to eat and eat and eat.  I am having a hard time stuffing my face.  You have to drink so much water that it is hard to consume a ton of food too.  I will keep you all updated on my progress!

Part of the diet talks about "re-setting" your metabolism.  It re-set my friends, alright.  And not in a good way.  The diet calls for eating 600 calories a day.  EVERYONE will lose weight only ingesting 600 HEALTHY calories a day.  I would absolutely STEER clear of the diet.  It really does mess with your hormones.  Now, my friend did not do a complete round.  She quit after a week because she was SO hungry (she did injections) and she ended weighing MORE than she did when she started once she started eating normally again.

I did it and i LOVE it.  You only keep the weight off if you change your life style- just like anything else.

But this diet helps you lose it in the right places and you feel relatively great while doing it.  

My husband and I did the shots and both lost all that we wanted. It is now time to do it again (a year and a half later)

As far as re-setting your metabolism - you are not eating any dairy or gluten or sugar for the time you are on the diet.  You gradually introduce those items, thus resetting your metabolism.

I lost belly fat, bad fat.  Not the kind of fat you lose in when you are starving yourself.

The first 5 days of the diet are the hardest because you still have your cravings and habits.  It isn't easy and you will be tired the first several days.  Studies have shown that if you are changing your patterns you are wearing yourself out- just by making the change.  The second week on is MUCH easier.  Be prepared though for a hard first week.  Some doctors will even give appetite suppressants for the first week.