HCG diet protocol is pretty simple. Every day you get two servings of protein, two servings of fruits and vegetables, and two carbs. Because of these restrictions, a lot of vegetarians wonder if it’s possible for them to do the HCG diet.

The answer is-YES it’s possible! If you are a vegetarian, you can safely do the diet. Your protocol doesn’t require you to eat meat.  But how… well, there are few modifications only. Since most of the calories in the original protocol doesn’t come from meat sources. One of the modifications is to substitute your meat choices into other HCG approved protein source.

Protein shakes for meat

This is the best option for you. Drinking one or two protein shakes each day will provide your body with all the protein requirements you need on your VLCD. The highest quality substitute that you can use on the HCG diet is the whey protein.

Recipes without meat on HCG diet

There are lots of HCG recipes which don’t include meat that you can try. No matter what modifications you make, be sure that you’ll include fruits and vegetables in your meal plan. Be careful too with the number of calories you take every day. Do not exceed the 500 calories whether you eat meat or not.

It’s easier than you think

The vegetarian version of HCG may even be easier for you. Aside from the filling fruits and veggies, you need to take whey protein. This will ensure that you will get the maximum amount of protein each day.

Increase your veggie serving

You need to increase your veggie serving to compensate for the lack of protein in your diet. Vegetables like spinach and asparagus are high in protein. And these vegetables will be your major source of protein while on the HCG diet. You can drink skim milk as recommended by Dr. Simeons. But the whey protein replacement is far better.

Do not use protein powder that isn’t sweetened with Stevia

There are several protein powders that aren’t sweetened with Stevia. They use ingredients like aspartame and sucralose that causes metabolic issues which can affect your weight loss.

Though you are only eating 500 calories during P2 of HCG diet, there’s no reason for you to feel hungry at all. Not unless there is something wrong along the way. You are not supposed to feel hungry on the HCG when it is done properly. There are few possible causes why you are hungry.

Hunger during VLCD varies from person to person. If you experience a slight hunger before mealtime, this is natural. But if your hunger is significant-then you need to consider your dose. There should be no hunger with the right dose of HCG.

Check the following before adjusting your dose:

1. 1. Are you eating enough? It is essential to give your body the nutrients it needs to function well during your VLCD.
2. Are you drinking enough water? Be sure you’re not dehydrated. Dehydration will not only slow your weight loss. It can also make you feel hungry.
3. Double check your menu plans if you’ve eaten something with sugar or carbs. Sugar and carbs are trigger foods that can send hunger signals to your brain. I would suggest that you need to cut-out the grissini stick or the Melba toast. And if you are eating 2 apples a day, eat only one. Your second fruit must be lower in sugar like strawberries or grapefruits.
4. Are you constantly hungry on HCG diet? Your HCG may have lost its potency or it’s not potent from the beginning. Try replacing it.
5. Are you taking your HCG shots at the same time every day? If not, you need to adjust the when part of the protocol. Not taking your shot at the same time every day can affect the hormone levels in your body making you feel hungry.
6. Check your dosage. Your dose can either be too low or too high that is why you feel hungry. When on a good dose you are not hungry most of the day except at mealtime. But then you are satisfied after you take your meal. You are no longer hungry for several hours after that. Check this article on how to find the right dose of HCG.

Maybe not this round or the next and hopefully not in any other rounds. But chances are, somewhere along the way you make mistakes. And now what? Should you start- over hcg injections or stop because you cheated? Or, do a stall breaker to fix a cheat?

A lot of times HCG dieters want to do an Apple day when they’ve cheated. You don’t have to do this. When you cheat you should not use an Apple day to fix an issue.  Because Apple days aren’t for cheats. They are for stalls. The primary purpose of Apple day is to help the body break a natural weight loss plateau. Dr. Simeons found out that by consuming a lot of apples and limiting your water intake for a day you can break your weight loss plateau.

Unfortunately, Apple day has been mistaken for a quick fix for cheating. Well, this is not a good idea. Whether it’s a small-time cheat like eating a taco one afternoon or a big time cheat like binging on a plate full of party foods during a wedding, Apple day is not the answer. If you have gained some weight out from cheating would you consider eating something high in sugar and carbs?

Consider this one, the amount of carb and sugar in 4-6 apples are more than what’s allowed on your VLCD day. During an Apple day, your body consumes a lot of sugar and carbs than your normal VLCD. Say for example you eat six medium size apples. You will be consuming around 115 grams of sugar and about 124 grams of net carb. During your normal very low calorie diet, you consume only 38 grams of net carbs and 32 grams of sugar. That’s a big difference, right?

So, technically, an Apple day will not fix your cheat. Eating nothing but all sugar and carbs will not help you get back on track. There are other ways to fix a cheat. Check this out Cheat day, what’s Next? If you find out that your weight loss stall few days after cheating then that’s the time you can do an Apple day. Click here to know more about the basics of Apple day.