No foods around the world are eaten thoughtlessly and quickly as fast foods from a drive-thru window. Drive-thru foods and fast foods can be prepared and served quickly. It’s particularly popular because it’s convenient, inexpensive and it tastes good. However, these foods are often made with ingredients that are high in calories, high in refined grains, high in fats and added sugar.

Are drive-thru foods bad?

There’s no such thing as bad foods but there are foods that you should not eat regularly because of its unhealthy ingredients. Eating too many of unhealthy foods for over a long period can lead to health issues like heart diseases, high blood pressure, and unwanted weight gain. The unhealthy ingredients can quickly add to the calorie burden for the day. This everyday build-up of unwanted calories is converted into belly fats and is deposited around your body. Without a proper weight loss plan, you could end up being overweight or worse, obese.

Currently, obesity has become a public health problem for almost all nations as it is liked with several health conditions and illnesses. Studies have shown that the rise of obesity is attributed to physical inactivity and an increase in calorie intake due to wrong food choices and drive-thru eating. Obesity is a complex disease that is not simply caused by physical inactivity and poor diet but also of complicated environmental and lifestyle factors such as eating out and drive-thru eating.

Why drive-thru foods cause obesity?

There are basically 4 reasons why fast foods and drive-thru food is linked to obesity.

1. Unhealthy, not HCG Diet-friendly ingredients

Drive-thru foods, as well as fast food, contain a large amount of sugar, carbs, fats with lesser vitamins, minerals and other nutritional value.

• Sugar– The suggested calorie from added sugar is only between 100 to 150 calories a day or 6 to9 teaspoons of sugar. However, fast food drinks alone contains around 8 teaspoons of sugar.
• Fat-The so-called manufactured fat “Trans fat” created during food processing are commonly found on pizza dough and fried pies. This unhealthy fat can increase bad cholesterol and lower the good cholesterol in your body.
• Sodium– The sodium content of drive-thru foods and fast foods is higher than home-cooked foods. When combined with sugar and fats, foods can become tastier but can also make you gain weight. The high sodium content of the drive-thru foods you’re eating can lead to water retention making you feel bloated, puffy and swollen after eating fast foods.
• Lower cost

It’s one of the main reasons why many people can’t stop eating at fast foods or can’t stop buying from a drive-thru. It cost much lesser than a normal diet of healthy calories making it more affordable than going in for healthy foods.

• Larger portion

The unhealthy ingredients on drive-thru and fast foods are further intensified with an increased portion. The portion sizes are becoming larger but you will still eat the complete meal regardless you’re full or not leading to weight gain.

• Convenience

Drive-thru and restaurants are much more convenient than cooking at home. You can always find one near you or have it delivered to your place. Fast foods and drive-thru foods have increased at alarming rates for the past decades and are the leading cause of obesity not only in the US.

Tips when eating drive-thru foods and fast foods after the HCG Diet

• Drive-thru foods and fast foods are food meal on the go and many will eat while on their cars. The first step in beating the odds is to get out of the car and go inside the restaurant. Sit down on the table, pay attention to the calories on each meal before ordering and enjoy your meal.
• Go light on the toppings by not overdoing your salad dressings. Avoid creamy salad dressings such as ranch or blue cheese which are high in saturated fat. Use ketchup or mustard instead of special sauces and mayonnaise.
• When ordering pizza, choose vegetables for toppings instead of meat and get a thin crust.
• Use veggie toppings for your sandwiches instead of extra cheese or bacon.
• Do not add salt to your ordered meal.
• When eating out, know what you order. Choose steamed, broiled or grilled foods over fried ones. Choose soups that are not cream-based. Avoid ordering foods labeled as pan-fried, deep-fried, breaded, creamy, scalloped, basted and crispy as they are usually high in calories, sodium and unhealthy fat.
• Practice portion control when eating out by ordering smaller portions. Instead of ordering large sandwiches, try the small one with low-fat dressing and a side salad or a piece of fruit.
• Pack half of your meal in a to-go box for your next meal. Setting it aside can keep you from picking at your meal when you are already full.
• Choose water, diet soda or low-fat milk instead of regular sodas, milkshakes or fruit drinks.

 

Why does my weight fluctuate on the scale?

Weight loss fluctuation happens for a variety of reasons even on the HCG Diet. Well, because your body works in complex ways. This explains how some days you do not lose weight even when you did not cheat. Fluctuations are normal. No matter how much you adhere to the protocol, fluctuations happen and will happen. Here’s what Dr. Simeons got to say about weight loss fluctuation:

After the fourth or fifth day of dieting the daily loss of weight begins to decrease to one pound or somewhat less per day, and there is a smaller urinary output. Men often continue to lose regularly at that rate, but women are more irregular in spite of faultless dieting. There may be no drop at all for two or three days and then a sudden loss which re-establishes the normal average. These fluctuations are entirely due to variations in the retention and elimination of water, which are more marked in women than in men.

The weight registered by the scale is determined by two processes not necessarily synchronized under the influence of HCG. Fat is being extracted from the cells, in which it is stored in the fatty tissue. When these cells are empty and therefore serve no purpose the body breaks down the cellular structure and absorbs it, but breaking up of useless cells, connective tissue, blood vessels, etc., may lag behind the process of fat-extraction. When this happens the body appears to replace some of the extracted fat with water which is retained for this purpose. As water is heavier than fat the scales may show no loss of weight, although sufficient fat has actually been consumed to make up for the deficit in the 500-Calorie diet. Then when such tissue is finally broken down, the water is liberated and there is a sudden flood of urine and a marked loss of weight. This simple interpretation of what is really an extremely complex mechanism is the one we give those patients who want to know why it is that on certain days they do not lose, though they have committed no dietary error.

What does it mean?

Weight loss fluctuation happens due to water retention. The fat you lose by adhering properly to the HCG Diet protocol is obscured both on the scale and in the mirror by the additional water your body is holding. As your body burns down those fats in the fat cells, it retains fluid in place of the fat that has rapidly been metabolized under the influence of the HCG hormone. Since water is heavier than fat, the scale may show no weight loss even if sufficient fat is finally metabolized and consumed to make up for the deficit in the 500 calorie diet. The calorie deficit will systematically reduce the body fat level but the overall reduction in body weight is counter-balanced by water retention. This process is normal as water acts only as a place-holder for the lost fat until the structural tissue is broken down and eliminated. When the tissue is finally broken down, water is released and there is a sudden flood of urine and a marked loss of weight.

This process may not show up in daily weight loss however, fat loss will show up in smaller measurements around your waist and other areas of your body. The fat you loss only becomes visible when the excess fluid is removed out of your body.

Why is this happening?

The answer has to do with the cortisol hormone, the same hormone that your body produces in response to stress. Research shows that prolonged calorie deficit can dramatically raise the cortisol level causing an unwanted effect in the body such as water retention. How to lose water weight?

1. Don’t starve yourself– or you will lose muscle instead of fats. Maintain at least 20% to 25% calorie deficit when dieting to lose weight.
2. Eat a large amount of food occasionally– Have a cheat meal when dieting but do it correctly
3. Don’t do hours and hours of cardio every week– Do 1 to 2 hours of cardio exercise per week when cutting back on fats or no more than 3 to 5 hours of weightlifting. This is enough to burn a large amount of fats at the same time preserving muscle and minimizing water retention.
4. Adjust your sodium intake-because sodium can bring water into cells causing water retention. Increase your potassium intake because potassium pumps water out from the cell.

Weight loss fluctuation: Dietary Error

Dietary error while on the HCG Diet can lead to weight loss fluctuation. If you eat a very high carbohydrate meal your body weight is likely to increase due to water retention because, for every gram of carb that you eat, your body retains about three grams of water so it can store the fuel source.

Weight loss fluctuation: Menstrual Cycle

Most women experience some degree of bloating from fluid retention before or after menstrual period. It usually peaks on the first day of the menstrual flow and at its lowest during the mid-follicular period. If you happen to have your menstrual cycle while on the HCG Diet, it is advisable to stop having your shot on heavy days and resume after 2 to 3 days.

 

Caffeine is healthy and it can help you lose weight. Yes! You heard it right, caffeine can help you lose weight in addition to the HCG hormone you inject intramuscularly each day. From “Pounds and Inches”, you are only allowed to drink coffee and tea while on the HCG Diet. Why Coffee? It’s because of the caffeine in it!

Caffeine on Coffee During the HCG diet

Coffee is the main source of caffeine worldwide and its safety has been established by several coffee studies. Caffeine is a natural stimulant also found in tea, cola and other products. It’s commonly used to improve mental alertness by stimulating the brain and the central nervous system. Caffeine helps control the appetite but what makes it good during the HCG Diet is that it can increase your metabolic rate.

The caffeine in the coffee you drink mobilizes the fat from the fat tissue and speeds up your metabolism. It does this by stimulating your nervous system so it can send a direct message to your fat cells leading to the breakdown of the fat. This helps the HCG on your system to promote faster weight loss. The high metabolic rate speeds up the fat-burning process during your diet.

Coffee contains very little calories. A cup of black coffee gives you only 2 calories so you can have as much coffee as you want or as your body can take. Coffee does not violate the HCG protocol. In fact, it’s one of the unlimited drinks that you can drink during the HCG Diet.  However, just like other beverages, too much coffee with caffeine (you can have a coffee without the caffeine in it, I am talking about decaffeinated coffee) can lead to something else. Consuming too much caffeine may give you the caffeine jitters. It can make you irritable and may even trigger anxiety. So, you must consume caffeine moderately besides there’s no evidence that increased consumption results in permanent or significant weight loss.

Further studies also have concluded that caffeine can prevent weight gain or slightly boost weight loss that’s why it’s a stable ingredient in many weight loss or fat-burning pills and supplements. It’s the darling of all intermittent fasters who drink coffee for breakfast.

Benefits of Caffeine

Aside from helping you lose more weight caffeine has tons of other benefits too.

1. Increases fat-burning activity during exercise

Consuming at least 3 mg of caffeine per body kg can shift calorie burn towards fat burn. Caffeine will not cause you to burn a lot of calories during exercise but it will shift your calorie burn to use more fat. Instead of the usual carbohydrate, your body will burn stored fats. This sounds even better when you are on the 500 calorie diet. You’re on a low carb so your body will have to use the stored fat as a source of energy instead of carbs

• Caffeine may help prevent weight gain after losing them.

The caffeine in coffee or supplements will not cause you to lose weight without any diet or exercise changes but caffeine can help you prevent regaining your weight after losing them.

• Caffeine helps you eat less

We all know that over time, we tend to get tolerant to the effects of caffeine so the likelihood of losing more weight using caffeine may stop. However, there is still a possibility for caffeine to blunt appetite and this can help you eat less. The appetite suppressant effect depends on your weight. There is a stronger effect for those who were obese than those who are at a healthy weight. It has an appetite reducing effect particularly to men which makes them likely to eat lesser at a meal following caffeine consumption.

• Promotes faster weight lose

Caffeine increases your metabolic rate by 3- 11%. For leaner people their metabolic rate increases by 29% and only 10% in obese. Over time, you become tolerant to its effects. If you’re using caffeine for the sake of weight loss it’s best to cycle your coffee drinking habit. A cycle of two weeks on, two weeks off is best.

• Reduces cravings for comfort foods

Caffeine is a stimulant that makes you feel good thus improving your overall mood. Considering that low mood is a major cause of cravings, caffeine can help reduce cravings by reducing their desire for comfort foods. So, instead of reaching out for that comfort donut in the box, why not grab a cup of coffee and enjoy your moment.

• Reduces headache

Caffeine is a mild pain reliever that helps relieve headaches when on and off the HCG Diet. Caffeine helps constrict the blood vessels in the brain when pain comes. It helps boost common headache remedies such as ibuprofen, aspirin or paracetamol by 40%.

• Reduce the risk for diabetes type 2

Caffeine contains antioxidants called polyphenols that help improve insulin sensitivity thus reducing the risk for diabetes type 2. It also contains the mineral chromium and magnesium that have been linked with a lower rate of diabetes. Consuming at least three cups of coffee with caffeine a day can decrease the risk of having diabetes by 11%.

• Caffeine keeps you alert

Caffeine tricks your brain to help you combat drowsiness. It temporarily blocks chemical adenosine to prevent fatigue.

Indulging in junk food craving is lovely. Whether it’s a bag of salty chips, old-time favorite French fries or a mountain of bite-sized snickers but once the guilt kicks in, the joy quickly turns into self-loathing and disgust.

You know that junk foods and processed foods are bad. They are unhealthy but cravings can still drive you to eat them. This is because junk food is designed to be appealing to your appetite such as the crunch in the potato chips or the soft cookie. It’s designed to be addictive so that you keep purchasing them. The sugar, salt, and fat are carefully selected to make them appealing and addictive. They can cause salivary responses, yet they don’t satisfy your hunger the way natural healthy foods do. Junk foods can hijack your brain chemistry and causes food cravings. When you indulge in unhealthy foods, the “feel good” chemical is released and the memory center begins to associate the treat with the pleasure it produces.

The HCG Diet can help eliminate junk food cravings

Fixing your food cravings can be difficult but it is possible with the HCG Diet. As nutritionists say, the more junk foods you eat the more difficult it will be to eliminate them because they are addictive. The less you eat them, the easier it will be for you to deal with the cravings. This is when the HCG Diet comes in. The HCG Diet eliminates all the junk foods for the whole duration of the diet, that’s between 23 to 46 days. This period gives your brain a time to readjust to healthy whole foods. You’ll be eating healthy, natural foods and your brain will adjust and you will start to crave natural foods. The HCG Diet can work wonders at eliminating unhealthy food cravings on a long-term basis.

What causes junk food cravings?

Food cravings are more physiological and psychological causes that originate from the reward center of the brain.

1. Your hormones are out of balance

Food cravings are brought by the imbalances of the hormones that make you feel good and hormones that calm and relax you down. This is true for women who are menstruating because the cycling hormones throughout the month can drive hunger and cravings.

2. You are stressed, sad or anxious

Your cortisol hormone increases whenever you are sad, stressed or anxious which in return increases your appetite particularly for sweets and carbs.

3. You are dehydrated

Dehydration is one of the most common causes of sugar cravings. When you lack body fluids, your body finds it hard to metabolize glycogen for energy so your body craves sugar to provide you with a quick source of energy when what you actually need is a little more water.

4. You have nutrient imbalances

When you lack the necessary nutrients, you can experience cravings because your body wants something that is lacking. So make sure to eat a balanced diet, take supplements to cover your essential minerals and vitamins.

5. You are tired

Your body can drive you to eat more sweets and salty foods to keep up your energy level when you are tired. Your cortisol level also increases when your body is tired. So, make sure you get a good quality of sleep to have renewed energy.

6. Your blood sugar is low

Low blood sugar level triggers junk food cravings. This craving is often for sugar because sugar raises the blood sugar level and improves energy the fastest.

Tips that can help you say NO to junk foods

If you’re trying to cut down on fatty, sugary and salty foods to help you lose weight and to improve your overall health, these tips can help you say NO to junk foods.

1. Know your triggers

What makes you crave for junk foods? What junk foods do you usually crave for? Maybe you are craving for a chocolate right when you get home from work or maybe a pint of chocolate ice cream. Once you have identified your trigger, plan ahead. Go to the gym first instead of heading home right away. You can also have a healthy snack before you get home.

2. Be stress-free

Stress can trigger junk food cravings so keep your stress level down. The science behind stress eating is simple. When we are physically, emotionally and mentally stressed, our body releases the stress hormone called cortisol. Excess cortisol together with the hunger hormone ghrelin can lead to heightened cravings. Consider doing an exercise or a daily meditation to help you combat stress.

3. Meditate

Meditation is one of the most effective ways of resetting your body out of the flight and fight stage of stress. Swap your unhealthy snack time with a meditation session. You will not only beat cravings but you become more mindful of your snacking impulses.

4. Raid your pantry

Get rid of any convenient snack foods which are usually high in sugar but nutrient-poor. 

5. Substitute sweet and salty foods

Substitute sweet and salty foods with HCG approved herbs, spices, and fruits.

• Cinnamon- Add cinnamons to your coffee, tea or smoothie. You may sprinkle some on your apple slices or over roasted veggies or stir into plain yogurt. Cinnamon naturally helps stop cravings. The potent polyphenols in cinnamon can reduce sugar cravings by controlling the blood glucose levels.
• Ginseng- It’s one of the most widely-used herbs. This helps boost the immune system, relieve stress and reduce the risk of certain cancers. It’s also an effective blood sugar stabilizer.
• Cloves- Helps boost numerous health benefits and regulate blood sugar levels.

6. Avoid processed foods

Processed foods are the worst enemy in the HCG Diet. Processed foods can increase junk food cravings which can make you gain weight right away. To stop your cravings, indulge in the HCG Diet approved fruits instead of processed foods.

7. Stay hydrated

Fill your tummy up with water whenever you crave for sweet treats. Water can help flush out the toxins in your body from eating unhealthy foods.