Jan. 3, 2012

The FDA has issued seven warning letters to companies marketing HCG products labelled as homeopathic for weight loss.

The FDA threat has already affected the availability of HCG drops from a number of manufacturers fearful of being fined by the FDA for “false claims” that homeopathic HCG helps in weight control.

I won’t go into all the details here, but the effectiveness of HCG drops, at least those from recommended companies, is unquestionable. I have seen dozens of successes with people I’ve coached through the HCG diet using drops. I know it works. I also now these drops are safe when used in conjunction with a sensible diet — in my mind that is a minimum of 700 calories a day — as outlined in my book, The Super Simple HCG Diet.

The FDA warned that “The HCG products marketed over-the-counter are unproven to help with weight loss and are potentially dangerous even if taken as directed,” said Ilisa Bernstein, acting director of the Office of Compliance in FDA’s Center for Drug Evaluation and Research.

There are a multitude of reasons not to trust the FDA and my personal opinion is that the FDA exists to protect drug companies. There’s a new pharmaceutical anti-obesity drug in the FDA’s pipeline (Qnexa by Vivus) that lists heart problems and birth defects among its side effects. It’s also not coincidental that the FDA’s December warning letters were issued at precisely the time of year when many Americans begin diets.

If you are using HCG drops, you may still find them to be available, but as a precautionary measure, I suggest to you buy as much as you think you will need to reach your goal weight–just in case the brand you know is effective for you disappears.

I’d also like to hear about your successes with specific brands of drops. You’ll see the ones I recommend because I know they work, but I am sure there are many others out there that can help fill in any gaps caused by FDA threats. Since this situation is very fluid, please keep visiting my HCG website for the latest information.

The holidays seem to go inevitably with eating and packing on a few pounds. This doesn’t have to be the case if you follow a few very simple rules.

Food should be pleasurable, but for many of us, the “stop” mechanism is broken. What’s wrong with a little cream puff or Swedish meatball? Nothing in itself. But can you stop at just one? I know that is extremely difficult for me and I suspect it may be for many of you.

If that’s the case, read on. Here are a few ways to keep off that “traditional” holiday five pounds:

1. Eat before you go. Have a salad or better yet, some soup, to fill you up before you’re faced with temptation.
2. Bring your own. What hostess would reject your offering of a beautifully prepared veggie or fruit tray? It’s a sneaky way to get yourself something healthy and keep you away from the high-calorie goodies.
3. Avoid the cheese and crackers (and the potatoes and gravy). At parties and dinners, skip the highest calorie and fat foods. Fill your plate with turkey and some veggies and enjoy the party!
4. Drink club soda. Alcoholic beverages can be very fattening, especially eggnog and other sweet drinks. Be satisfied with one glass of dry wine and then switch to club soda for the rest of the evening. You’ll feel and look better in the morning, since excessive alcohol intake also promotes wrinkly skin.
5. Indulge: Eat just one. By yourself. It’s the holidays, right? OK—Have just one. Put it on a plate and walk over to the corner by yourself. Conversation tends to foster mindless overconsumption. Enjoy your treat. Savor every morsel and be satisfied. Then re-join the party.
6. Stay away from the buffet table. I mean stay as far away physically and you can get and still be part of the party. That will quell the temptation.
7. Use tapping to stop cravings. If you’re not familiar with EFT (Emotional Freedom Technique), go to http://www.thetapping solution.com and learn the basic technique. It’s a combination of acupressure and affirmation that shifts cravings and other physiological and emotional challenges (includes destructive self-talk) quickly.
8. Skip the hors d’oeuvres. At dinner parties, quietly abstain from those high-fat, high-calorie appetizers and enjoy your pre-dinner glass of wine or club soda. You can even a cheat a little by putting a few things on your plate and then ignoring them as you become engrossed in the conversation.
9. Pick yourself up and get back on the horse. If you slip and overindulge, don’t beat yourself up. Recriminations are the biggest diet saboteurs, so don’t indulge in them. Get back on your healthy eating plan the very next day. Don’t wait until the holidays are over. The damage will be far less.
10. Don’t punish yourself. The goes hand-in-hand with #9: If you go overboard, don’t try to survive on carrots and water the next day. That will just spark more cravings feelings of guilt and urges for stealth eating. Get back on a sensible eating plan, make some broth-based veggie soup, eat a salad for lunch and affirm that, yes, you can control your eating and keep your weight at the right levels for your entire life.

Kathleen Barnes is a natural health writer and health advocate. Her most recent book is The Super Simple HCG Diet (Square One, 2011). Find more of her weight management advice at http://www.supersimplehcgdiet.com.

Join me for a no-cost teleseminar at 7 p.m. EST
Wednesday, November 16.

Reserve your teleseminar seat now by e-mailing me: kathleen@kathleenbarnes.com.

I know. The holidays are coming and this time of year is a traditional time for overindulgence. Even our best intentions sometimes fall by the wayside.

I’ve done it and you can, too.

I got rid of 100 pounds of unwanted fat in 9 months with HCG and the accompanying diet. You can read all about it in my book, The Super Simple HCG Diet.

I’m now maintaining my weight with a program of sensible eating and exercise.

Whether you have 20, 40 or more pounds to shed, you can do it with The Super Simple HCG Diet.

Let’s get through the holidays, but it’s not too early to start thinking about the aftermath. If you’ve always wanted to shed those excess pounds, think of making a New Year’s resolution that will really work, that you can keep and that will have a positive impact on your health and longevity.

I’ll be starting new coaching groups and individual coaching sessions in early 2012. More info . . .

Start planning now, get everything ready and blast out of the box in 2012 with a weight control program that will surprise you with its simplicity, the health food you’ll eat and that fact that IT WORKS!

If you’ve searched HCG diet online and been daunted by how strict it is, not to worry. Kathleen has developed a simplified version that allows you stick to a healthy low-calorie, low-fat low-carb diet and achieve significant weight loss quickly and without strenuous exercise.

The HCG Diet works for men and women and is especially effective for women over 40.

Learn all about what you need to do to be successful and manage your weight for the rest of your life with the Super Simple HCG Diet.

If you’ve already done the HCG Diet, I welcome your participation. There will be time for questions.

During the teleseminar, you’ll get information about upcoming group coaching sessions and special pricing for those who attend the live webinar. There will be one replay of the recording scheduled a few days later.

Please feel free to pass this e-mail on to others who might be interested.

Register now by e-mailing me: kathleen@kathleenbarnes.com. I’ll send you back the call-in number right away.