Some questions answered by Dr.G

In my last post, a reader commented and had some questions:


"Congratulations! I sincerely hope it works for you!!!
Not being debbie downer, but asking to understand, and because with any "diet" this is always my main concern and biggest questions: how do you maintain? Will you always live on a restricted diet? Will you always have to take the shot? I'd be interested to know!!!!
And can you get vitamin b in pill form, not just injections? I could sure use an energy boost!". - Lizzie

I checked with Dr.G and his response is below:


Ok. As with most medical questions it is not a simple answer. However, I will try to make sense of these complicated questions:

First, the hCG protocol is not a diet. It is a protocol for metabolic management. Though it seems like you are only getting 500 calories to live on because that is what you are eating, is not true. You are actually getting (by my rough estimates) anywhere from 1100 to 1400 calories a day. How? Your fat is an energy storage system not only storing energy but vitamins, minerals and hormones and….(drum roll)… calories. Your fat is in fact, a part of your endocrine system. Many physicians do not know this. The more fat you have, the more havoc it can wreck on your body’s metabolism.

So how are you getting approx 1100 cal a day on this protocol? The theory is that the hCG and the timing of how you eat during the protocol allows for the release of the energy and stored vitamins/minerals to give you sustenance during the day. There is a big jump in thought here and I would need to write a book concerning my theory on this. For now, what I know and see is that the theory seems to work practically. I have had multiple active duty military soldiers on this protocol who worked out and even did their physical fitness test on this protocol (against my advice) and did very well. I do not fully understand why but I see it work. Yes, anyone can lose weight on 500 calories a day. But can anyone live on 500 calories a day AND after losing the weight keep it off? Well, that is what I have been seeing happen on this protocol.

I am the physician that said “no way” “stupid” “just another fad diet” when I first heard about it. The only reason why I got involved was because of family members and my military friends who did it and I saw it work despite my initial near anger response to it. As for after the protocol is over? Well, that is very individual dependant. No, you are not on the medication after. It is only for the short time you are on the protocol. You eat what you normally eat. But that is another story and is individualized. Second, B12 (much easier subject). Anything you ingest is filtered through the liver. The liver LOVES B12 for many reasons and ‘soaks’ it all up. The shot bypasses the liver and allows the B12 to be available to the rest of the body in higher doses. I want to make it clear, true vitamin B12 deficiency is rare. However, it is more prevalent than commonly thought. B12 does not ”give energy,” or “make you lose weight” or “increase life span directly” like many marketing schemes and weight loss centers proclaim. It can be a temporary help in those things. I use the shot for diagnostic purposes. Helps guide me in trying to find underlying metabolic issues with a patient. The shot is better than the pills. Sublingual liquids is a good alternative.

DrG Benjamin S. Gonzalez, MD
Medical Director
Atlantis Medical Wellness Center