HCG AND THE "SARASOTA DIET" Day 12, Continuing Our Grocery Shopping Adventure !! ROBERT G CARLSON, MD,FACS

HCG AND THE "SARASOTA DIET" Day 12, Continuing Our Grocery Shopping Adventure !! ROBERT G CARLSON, MD,FACS

Day 12: 218.8

Busy day in the office and had to drive to two meetings at the end of the day. Oh , what I would do for a run on the beach. I lost a little weight this time, but last night consumed an entire lemon pepper chicken from Publix, and a small spinach , cheese, and olive salad with Blue cheese dressing....and lost weight. Got to love this diet! Planning on checking my percent fat on Day 13 because I know my weight is relatively stable, but my clothes are fitting a lot more loose. Lets go back to the grocery trip again. I will tell you more about my Fat Burning Accelerator shots after we finish at the Grocery store. And then we will set up a sample week long schedule. Keep following with us and PLEASE add any comments or insights. I strongly believe that every day is a day at school, and I always love learning something new.

I like buying my meat in larger quantities, as this will be a mainstay for the next 4 weeks. Buy a few pounds of hamburger and make patties out of them and freeze the ones you won’t need for the first few days. Be aggressive with using cheeses, all kinds of cheese and spices to “soup-up” your hamburgers. I also get the sale steaks (any cuts) and eat them back to back using spices. A steak for dinner and a spinach salad will fill you up and you can pick up a few strawberries or my favorite cherry sugar free jello and cover it with either regular heavy whipping cream or the low sugar whipping cream options. Buy your cheese in bulk as well. Either the large blocks or go crazy when the individual grated cheese bags are on sale. Although, It is so much less expensive to grate your own cheese then to pay for the packaged kind . Also stay away from the low fat cheese or the kind made with milk. Always remember, when it says “lo w-fat”, it really means ‘high sugar”.

You can also purchase seafood options at almost any grocery deli. Recently I enjoyed eating over a ½ pound of lightly sauteed bay scallops with Parmesan and Romano cheese melt over the top. I was full after eating that meal and there were absolutely zero carbs in that meal.
The critical part of the diet or what I would like to think of as a New Lifestyle with limited carbohydrate intake, is to firmly avoid the foods restricted on the Sarasota Diet. For the first round of 28 days you can’t eat these items because the sugar cravings will take hold and your weight loss will screech to a halt.......... more to follow

HCG AND THE "SARASOTA DIET" Day 11, Lets go shopping !! ROBERT G CARLSON, MD,FACS

HCG AND THE "SARASOTA DIET" Day 11, Lets go shopping !! ROBERT G CARLSON, MD,FACS

I have been keeping a diary but have been backlogged in writing. I have put together a grouping of articles I will tie together with catching up on my scheduled recordings.

Day#11: 219.2

My energy still is good and I have incorporated my creation of B-vitamins ,carnitine , and chromium into my ANDLOS CLINIC :FAT BURNING ACCELERATOR shots( I will tell you more about these soon) which I use three times a week in conjunction with my nightly HCG shots. I have been in somewhat of a stall and I believe it is because I need to exercise more. I love it when I am losing a pound a day, but my goal is to lose 16 pounds in 28 days. My good friend in Palm Beach has exceeded that in two weeks, but he is a "little" heavier than I. Some questions I am asked daily in my clinic are: So how do I start this 'Sarasota Diet' ?" So I decided to give you a series of brief descriptions on preparing for your first sojourn to the grocery store with Low Carbohydrate approach on your mind. I will reiterate on how to do the shots again, but that is the easy part....Well in fact this whole dietary lifestyle is easy. No caloric restrictions, eat what you can, but just stay away from carbs! If you repeat slowly and often as you walk through the grocery store: "Carbs are poison. These toxins are making me fat and trying to kill me." Repeating that a few times a day will fortify your decision to avoid your previous daily onslaught of massive amounts of dangerous toxic carbohydrates. So lets go shopping....

The new "Sarasota Diet" Low Carbohydrate Lifestyle shopping experience-

Shopping in preparation for starting your low carb Sarasota diet will be a different experience. One thing you will have to do is read labels to check for how many carbohydrates are hidden in your favorite foods. The shock may be overwhelming especially when you realize that you will be allowed a maximum of 20 grams of carbohydrates a day. A cup of rice is over 40 grams. Mountain Dew is 45 grams of carbs. The foods that you would commonly throw into your shopping cart like bread, pasta, and potatoes are no longer welcome in your shopping cart. Just like diving…plan your dive, dive your plan. Your adventure in the grocery store should start with an idea of what you plan to eat for the first week. Also key to anticipating this shopping trip is the gathering of all those high carb snacks throughout your house and hidden in your desk and locking them away if not throwing them all out.

Once in the grocery store, you should shop on the periphery, like the deli, vegetables, eggs, meat, and avoid the packaged high fructose sugar items in the center aisles. Make sure you purchase many low carb options like cheese sticks, deli meats and celery to help satisfy those mid-day cravings. I find however that before you even take a bite of a mid-day snack, you should drink an entire 8 oz glass or bottled water. Then start eating your snack.

Once you arrive at the grocery begin stocking up on cheeses, meats, other high protein options and produce. This way you will purchase the primary foods you should eat for the week and not be tempted by the packaged items in the middle aisles. More to follow…..
Posted by Dr Robert Carlson of Sarasota at 8:25 PM
Email This BlogThis! Share to Twitter Share to Facebook Share to Google Buzz

HCG AND THE "SARASOTA DIET" DAY 10. Here are the facts...low carb diets work the best and are safe! ROBERT G CARLSON, MD,FACS

HCG AND THE "SARASOTA DIET" DAY 10. Here are the facts...low carb diets work the best and are safe! ROBERT G CARLSON, MD,FACS

Day 10 218.6

I am on track for my 28 day goal of losing 16 pounds. How are you doing? I spoke to a patient today, weighing in at 310 before the program, he has already lost 16 pounds in 7 days. He feels great. Using HCG, this Palm Beach patient says he no longer feels the dragging feeling he would experience on the Atkins diet. Instead he is energized, and is experiencing no hunger pangs, and no sugar cravings. He is confident he can maintain his 20 grams of carbohydrate a day goal for 28 days, and maybe even longer. I personally like to take a "break" from the HCG, maintaining a lower carbohydrate approach after the 28 days, and then two weeks later go back onto another 28 day course of HCG. This approach will help your body remain fresh and ready to continue burning away those unwanted fats.
Many people have questioned the use of the Low carbohydrate approach. I know it is the only approach that works for me. As a cardiac surgeon, I am focused on reducing the causes of heart disease. The causes are inflammation, and the low fat diet or better known to me as the HIGH SUGAR DIET will ignite inflammation in your body accelerating heart disease and cancers. So enough about what I think. What do the big boys at Harvard, Duke and Stanford say??
Stanford University Medical School compared four weight-loss diets. People assigned to follow the Atkins diet, which had the lowest carbohydrate intake, lost more than twice the weight and experienced favorable overall metabolic effects at 12 months than those assigned to follow the Zone, Ornish, or LEARN diets.


University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine, University of Colorado Health Sciences Center and Washington University School of Medicine randomly assigned participants to either a low-carbohydrate, high-protein, high-fat diet or a low-calorie, high-carbohydrate, low-fat diet. The low-carbohydrate diet produced a greater weight loss and improvement in risk factors for coronary heart disease.

University of Cincinnati instructed obese women to follow either a low fat, calorie restricted diet or a low carbohydrate diet for six months. The women lost significantly more weight and body fat on the low carbohydrate diet than women instructed on the low fat diet at three and six months. Additionally, blood pressure, triglycerides, cholesterol, fasting blood sugar, and insulin improved.

A study out of the University of Pennsylvania, compared the effects of a low-carbohydrate diet and a low fat diet on lipoprotein subfractions and inflammation on severely obese subjects. The severely obese individuals, who followed a low-carbohydrate diet had beneficial effects on insulin resistance, blood lipids and markers of inflammation.

The objective of this meta-analysis was to look at the evidence related to the association of dietary saturated fat with risk of coronary heart disease, stroke and cardiovascular disease. This meta-analysis (review of multiple studies) showed that there is NO significant evidence supporting that dietary saturated fat is associated with an increased risk of either coronary artery disease or cardiovascular disease. Fats do not cause heart disease, it is the high carbohydrates and sugars that cause heart disease.
Harvard University examined a 12 week low fat diet against two different low carbohydrate diets, one allowing 300 more calories a day (eat all you want, just don't eat carbs...now that is my kind of diet). The people who ate the higher calories with the very low carbohydrate diet were able to lose more weight compared to the lower calorie, low fat diet. And the low carbohydrate diet actually improved several risk factors for heart disease.

A Duke University study determined that a six month very low carbohydrate diet program markedly reduced body weight and improved numerous metabolic factors.
Alright, so if studies from Top University Hospital centers like Harvard, Stanford, Duke, Cincinnati, and University of Pennsylvania say that a low carb diet works better for weight loss and improvement in factors affected heart disease, than the low fat diet, then isn’t it about time to throw the low fat diet in the garbage and change to a low carbohydrate lifestyle? It is safe, effective and the best tolerated, so no time is better than the present to begin the Low carbohydrate approach to weight loss and add HCG in the Sarasota Diet to maximize your results and achieve massive weight loss. Dr C

HCG AND THE "SARASOTA DIET" DAY 9. Adding exercise to melt the fat ROBERT G CARLSON, MD,FACS

HCG AND THE "SARASOTA DIET" DAY 9. Adding exercise to melt the fat ROBERT G CARLSON, MD,FACS

Day 9: 218.4

I have been very dedicated to maintaining my diet approach, and why not? It is really easy, especially for those people who would never be able to tolerate the 500 calorie diet of the “classic” HCG approach. I would never be able to run 5 miles and eat only 500 calories. Incorporating exercise into your weight loss program is important, but timing is critical. The first few days on the low carbohydrate approach may make exercising difficult as you have depleting sugar levels in your blood stream and we begin teaching our body to burn fats for energy, not sugar. I really enjoy running and went for a 7 mile run this weekend, tolerating it amazingly well because of the addition of the HCG to the Low Carbohydrate approach. My morning weight was 218.4, but my post run weight was 214.2. I know it is mostly water weight, but I still enjoy seeing those decreasing numbers on my scales. For those who can walk, that is an excellent way to start burning that fat. If walking isn’t enough, jump into the T-Tapp mode. This exercise, nothing to do with tap dancing, is absolutely incredible, dousing the inflammation that is persecuting your body, and helping you melt the fat away and experience a disappearing waistline. Please try it! You can go onto the T-Tapp website, and the amazing Teresa Tapp has provided all kinds of FREE exercises, that she has devoted years developing. You will find the exercises easy to do, and the results amazing. So tie your low carb /HCG diet with an exercise program that burns the fat away.

http://www.t-tapp.com/index.html

Sarasota Diet:HCG and the Atkins Diet .... no the low carb Lifestyle Day 8 Robert G Carlson, MD, FACS

Sarasota Diet:HCG and the Atkins Diet Robert G Carlson, MD, FACS

Day 8: 219.4

http://www.t-tapp.com/index.html

I continue to tolerate the 20 grams of carbohydrates without too much fatigue. Saw patients in my office and performed a three hour liposuction, then ran to football practice. I continue with a cup of coffee in the morning, but moved from Coffee Mate to half and half or whipping cream, since they are lower in carbohydrates. Continue to enjoy my morning and late afternoon chocolate whey milkshake. Roll-ups for lunch with roast beef and horseradish cheddar cheese. For dinner I ate a steak after football practice as well as a salad with romaine lettuce, a few cherry tomatoes, olives, cheddar cheese and Blue cheese dressing.

I enjoyed meeting my new patient in the morning Friday. He is a very intelligent business man, struggling with weight issues. He felt he was eating well, consuming oatmeal (19 grams carbs) for breakfast and lunch, subway sandwiches (12 inch roasted chicken sandwich-96 carbs) for lunch and dinner while working out of town, but was really feeding his increasing abdominal fat with carbs. He also demonstrated high amount of visceral fat, percent body fat exceeding 36% and a percent muscle of only 29% . This gentleman was not only overweight, but severely sarcopenic…or lacking muscle. He has all the signs and symptoms of the metabolic syndrome, increased blood pressure, increased abdominal fat, increased cholesterol, and glucose intolerance with elevated sugars. The metabolic syndrome dramatically increases your risks of developing heart disease. It is the high sugars in his blood stream and his diet that were driving his whole body inflammation, causing his belly to grow even bigger, and his muscles to waste away. Balancing his hormones, optimizing his thyroid function and using the Sarasota Diet will lead to significant weight loss and restoration of his energy levels and youthfulness. I believe that “we spend the first 50 years of our lives sacrificing our health to make money, and the second 50 years of our lives spending our money regaining our health.” Don’t wait until it’s too late. Start now regaining your health and youthfulness.

HCG AND THE "SARASOTA DIET" DAY 5. ROBERT G CARLSON, MD,FACS

HCG AND THE "SARASOTA DIET" DAY 5. ROBERT G CARLSON, MD,FACS
HCG AND THE "SARASOTA DIET" DAY 5

weight 220.6

I continued to feel good and today I went for a five mile run. Previously running over 30 marathons. I know what "hitting the wall" was like. On previous attempts at the Atkins diet, I recall experiencing the feeling of "hitting the wall" when i ran more than 5 miles. Exercise is critical to achieving your weight loss goals, and when you restrict your carbohydrate intake, and exercise, your body is forced to burn fat for its energy source. That's really good for losing weight, but also for losing that persistent belly fat. I found that using the HCG, and eating less than 20 grams of carbohydrates, I didn't experience the fatigue when running 6 miles. So time to increase my mileage and enjoy a nice long run.
Today for breakfast I drank 12 ounces of chocolate flavored whey milk shake and for a midday snack repeated that with a large portion of whip cream...no carbs. For lunch. I had three of the roll-ups with turkey and Gouda cheese. For dinner I had my favorite salad with Romaine lettuce, green olives, cheddar cheese and a few slices of cucumber, cover with blue cheese dressing.

OBESITY

In the first two hours after a meal, blood glucose and insulin levels rise higher after a high glycemic load meal than they do after a low-glycemic load meal containing equal calories. However, in response to the excess insulin secretion, blood glucose levels drop lower over the next few hours after a high-glycemic load meal than they do after a low-glycemic load meal. This may explain why 15 out of 16 published studies found that the consumption of low glycemic index foods delayed the return of hunger, decreased subsequent food intake, and increased satiety (feeling full) when compared to high-glycemic index foods. Although long-term randomized controlled trials of low-glycemic load diets in the treatment of obesity are lacking, the results of short-term studies on appetite regulation and weight-loss suggest that low glycemic-load diets may be useful in promoting long-term weight-loss and decreasing the prevalence of obesity.

LOW GLYCEMIC

INDEX FOODS:

Less Than 20
Broccoli 15

Celery 15

Cucumber 15

Green beans 15

Lettuce, all varieties 15
Spinach 15

Tomatoes 15

HCG AND THE "SARASOTA DIET" ROBERT G CARLSON, MD,FACS

HCG AND THE "SARASOTA DIET" DAY 4 Avoiding the whole grains. ROBERT G CARLSON, MD,FACS
Sarasota Diet- HCG and low carbohydrate Day #4
Day #4: 221.2

This was my first real challenge. I ate dinner out and carefully only ate the grouper and the green beans. The garlic mash potatoes however were continually calling for me to "Eat me". But I endured. My breakfast consisted of bacon and eggs on a low carb wrap. The wrap did have 3 grams of carbohydrates however...the bacon and eggs none. I snacked on Macadamia nuts throughout the day, and for lunch had two rollups of ham and muenster cheese. After dinner, and no dessert, I really needed something sweet, so I piled three containers of sugar-free jello into a large bowl and proceeded to fill the rest of the bowl with whip cream....no calories.

I have had a number of questions about eating whole grain breads pastas, or even brown rice. Well i am restricting my total carbohydrate intake to under 20 grams each day. A serving of 100% whole grain macoroni has 47 grams of carbohydrates, whole wheat spaghetti 37 grams, brown rice has 45 grams of carbs in one cup,Arnold's multigrain bread-20 grams, but their sugar free carb counting only has 9 grams in one slice.....essentially half your day's intake of carbohydrates. Bottomline is whole grain or not. They are packed with carbs and if you want to be successful with the Sarasota Diet, they can't be on your menu.

So what about the Glycemic Index
Not all carbohydrate foods are created equally: in fact they behave quite differently in our bodies. The glycemic index (GI) describes this difference by ranking carbohydrates according to their effect on our blood glucose levels. Eating a lot of high GI foods can be detrimental to your health because it pushes your body to extremes. This is especially true if you are overweight and sedentary. Switch to eating mainly low GI carbs (the ones that produce only small fluctuations in our blood glucose and insulin levels) is the secret to long-term health; thus reducing your risk of heart disease and diabetes which is the key to sustainable weight-loss.

• Low GI means a smaller rise in blood glucose levels after meals

• Low GI diets can help people lose weight

• Low GI diets can improve the body's sensitivity to insulin

• High GI foods help re-fuel carbohydrate levels after exercise

• Low GI improve diabetes control

• Low GI foods keep you fuller for longer.

So the key is to avoid those high glycemic index foods!

HCG AND THE "SARASOTA DIET" How to prepare the HCG and give yourself an injection ROBERT G CARLSON, MD,FACS
I have had a number of people ask me about mixing the HCG and how to give the shot.
The approach I am using is to start out at 200 units HCG( 20 mark on the syringe), for the first two weeks, and then increase to 300 units day 15-25( 30 mark on the syringe), and finally to reduce back to the 200 units. Attached is a video to show you how to prepare it, and how to give yourself a subcutaneous injection in the tummy. Dr. C

http://www.andlos.com/videos/videos-hcg.htm

HCG AND THE "SARASOTA DIET" DAY 2 ROBERT G CARLSON, MD,FACS

HCG AND THE "SARASOTA DIET" DAY 2 ROBERT G CARLSON, MD,FACS

Day # 2 “Sarasota Diet”

223.6 pounds (down from 226.4 )

For breakfast I started with a cup of coffee and before leaving the house drink a 12 oz mixture of Jay Robb Whey Protein Chocolate (adding 12 ounces of cold water and ice to a scoop – 30 grams of powder. Total 1 gram carbohydrate. I really tried to drink a lot of water and flavored water all day long, attempting to consume a total of 100 ounces a day. (I use this as a guideline to drink about half of your weight (pounds) in ounces). For lunch I ate four roll-ups of white cheddar cheese and Boars head Londonport roast beef. (Zero carbs) For dinner I ate an entire lemon pepper chicken- zero carbs. (Most women might find that rather “gross”, but most men could probably eat an entire chicken and still be searching for dessert) This night however I didn’t feel hungry and didn’t eat any sugar free jello. I have also added two tablets of a product I created called Stop-it. This blocks all sweet flavors, even diet soda for about 45 minutes. I took my shot of HCG 200 units prior to going to bed. I was surprised that I really wasn’t that hungry. Also in the evening, when I might be tempted to forage for carbohydrates, I just wasn’t hungry.

SO TELL ME ABOUT THE DIFFERENT FAT IN MY BODY, AND WHY HCG REDUCES THE ABNORMAL BELLY FAT, AND NOT THE STRUCTURAL FAT?

In the human body we can distinguish three kinds of fat. The first is the structural fat which fills the gaps between various organs, a sort of packing material. Structural fat also performs such important functions as bedding the kidneys in soft elastic tissue, protecting the coronary arteries and keeping the skin smooth and taut, it also provides the springy cushion of hard fat under the bones of the feet, without which we would be unable to walk.

The second type of fat is a normal reserve of fuel upon which the body can freely draw when the nutritional income from the intestinal tract is insufficient to meet the demand. Such normal reserves are localized all over the body. Fat is a substance which packs the highest caloric value into the smallest spaces that normal reserves of fuel for muscular activity and the maintenance of body temperature can be most economically stored in this form. Both these types of fat, structural and reserve, are normal, and even if the body stocks them to capacity, this can be never being called obesity.

But there is a third type of fat which is entirely abnormal. It is the accumulation of such fat, and of such fat only, from which the overweight patient suffers. This abnormal fat is also a potential reserve of fuel, but unlike the normal reserves, it is not available to the body in a nutritional emergency. It is, so to speak, locked away in a fixed deposit and is not kept in a current account, as are the normal reserves.

When an obese patient tries to reduce by starving himself/herself, he/she will first lose the normal fat reserves. When these are exhausted, they begin to burn up structural fat, and only as a last resort with the body yield its abnormal reserves, though by that time the patient usually feels so weak and hungry that the diet is abandoned. It is just for this reason that obese patients complain that when they diet, they lose the wrong fat. They fell famished and tired and their face becomes drawn and haggard, but their belly, hops, thighs and upper arms show little improvement. The fat they have come to detest stays on and the fat they need to cover their bones gets less and less. Their skin wrinkles and they look old and miserable. And that is one of the most frustrating and depressing experiences a human being can have. So how does HCG help burn this abnormal fat, and to preserve the structural fats?

HCG AND THE "SARASOTA DIET" DAY 1 ROBERT G CARLSON, MD,FACS

HCG AND THE "SARASOTA DIET" DAY 1 ROBERT G CARLSON, MD,FACS


With prescribed HCG, take an subcutaneous injection of 0.2ml( 200 units) first thing in the morning.( check out my website for how to mix the HCG, and where to give your injections on www.andlos.com) Eat as often as you like throughout the day. But do not exceed 20 grams of carbohydrates! On the Sarasota diet, we will keep your total carbohydrate intake to below 20 grams for the entire 28 day course. In addition, you need to drink ½ to 1 gallon of filtered or bottled spring water throughout the day.

DAY 1-14: .2 cc of HCG or 200 units.

Day 15-25: .3 cc of HCG or 300 units.

Days 25-28: .2 cc of HCG or 200 units.

Weigh yourself in the morning when you wake up without clothing and after you have emptied your bladder. Administer the HCG injection with dosing as above.

Day #1- Beginning weight: 226.4( Yikes, I am starting this just in time) I took my HCG, .2cc at bedtime. My breakfast consisted of two cups of coffee but I am going to begin to incorporate a whey milk shake with less than 1 carbohydrate in the future. I ate three rollups (boars head brand roast beef rolled up with white cheddar cheese) for lunch. Because there are zero carbs in the roll-ups, you can eat as many as you want. At dinner I ate a steak and a salad with romaine lettuce, sharp cheddar cheese, olives, cucumber, and a lot of Blue Cheese dressing. The only carbs in this meal are from the lettuce portions. For dessert I had three containers of black cherry sugar-free jello with a whole bunch of whip cream on it. Absolutely NO carbohydrates!

HCG AND THE "SARASOTA DIET" Questions and Answers ROBERT G CARLSON, MD,FACS

CARLSON, MD,FACS

HCG Q & A:

What is HCG?

Human Chorionic Gonadotropin (HCG) hormone is a substance that occurs naturally in pregnant women. The HCG has the effect of releasing abnormal stored fat primarily from the abdomen, buttocks, and thighs, while preserving structural fat as in the face and skin.

Can it be harmful?

No. During pregnancy it is produced daily in a quantity hundreds of thousands of times the amount used for the treatment of obesity, yet it harms neither the mother, nor the child.

How does HCG work?

When Human Chorionic Gonadotropin (HCG) is used alone, injections of the HCG are provided seven days a week in combination with low carbohydrate or low calorie diet. Recently there is a Oral disintegrating HCG preparation that may provide an option for those not wanting to do injections. However I feel the injection approach achieves far superior results.

Can both men and women take HCG?

Yes. It has been used with equally good results in both.

How does the HCG diet work?

During pregnancy, Human Chorionic Gonadotropin (HCG) is believed to help insure that the fetus will have access to its mother’s stored fat supply, regardless of the amount of food she ingests. After birth, the HCG ensures the newborn will receive nutrition for the first 72 hours if not getting proper nutrition. In overweight people, HCG seems to work by the same method - namely making available permanently stored supplies of fat, as well as making it possible to adhere to the low calorie diet.

Will it affect my appearance?

Because Human Chorionic Gonadotropin (HCG) does protect the structural fat, wrinkles, if any, will be dramatically reduced. The treatment does not deplete the subcutaneous or other essential fat; therefore the face retains its freshness and natural appearance. Double chins, protruding stomachs and fat around the thighs should be the first to go. Stretching of the skin generally causes stretch marks. This can occur with weight gain, not weight loss.

Has this method been used before?

Yes. When first reported in the Medical Journal Lancet in November of 1954, it had been used in thousands of cases. Since then it has been used in many more.

What will I feel after the injections?

Usually a loss of appetite occurs and patients notice that the severe compulsive hunger disappears completely.

How long can I take the HCG?

Approaches involve programs going from 21 days to 42 days but after 40 injections, the effectiveness diminishes due to the body's ability to develop temporary immunity to the HCG. However, if necessary, subsequent courses of injections can be resumed after a Metabolic Recovery (Phase II). In some instances, 4 or more courses have been given with continued effectiveness if the Metabolic Recovery (Phase II) interval has been allowed between them.

Will I gain back the weight when I stop the HCG?

Some degree of moderation in eating will be necessary because of the tendency to gain weight after ANY type of weight loss program. However, a stabilizing program that includes counseling on lifestyle should be a part of any Weight Loss program. Stability of the normal weight is relatively easy because the weight loss has been from storage fat and not from structural fat.

What happens if an injection is missed?

This merely delays the total effectiveness of the program.

Besides fat loss, are there any other actions or side effects?

Yes, there seems to be some stimulation to the generative system. Premenstrual difficulties may be relieved. Abnormal loss of head hair in obese individuals may cease. Brittle fingernails may become normal and professional singers may note an improvement in their voices. Blood pressure tends to normalize, cholesterol readings become normal, and arthritis symptoms are lessened. No adverse reactions to the injections have been experienced.

Is HCG approved by the FDA?

HCG is approved by the FDA for various medical conditions. However, it has not been specifically determined by the FDA to be effective for weight loss. That being said, several studies have been done with conclusions of its positive effects for weight loss. One study in 1954 that was published in The Lancet, was done by world renowned A. T. W. Simeons, M.D. This data is part of the basis of the Advanced HCG Weight Loss program. Another study presented by Dr. Daniel Belluscio, also concluded HCG was effective for weight loss under specific conditions.

*The Food and Drug Administration Has Labeled HCG as Not Being Effective in the Treatment of Obesity.

HCG AND THE "SARASOTA DIET" ROBERT G CARLSON, MD,FACS

HCG AND THE "SARASOTA DIET" ROBERT G CARLSON, MD,FACS

I know there has been a lot of discussion about the HCG diet. I have found that using HCG, in conjunction with a very low calorie diet, some describe as low as 500 kcal, that effective weight loss is achieved. Of course 500 kcal sounds impossible, and is essentially a form of starvation, but using the HCG protocol, this low calorie approach is actually tolerable. I however find this approach , with a low calorie diet, to be very difficult for men. However, the Atkins diet, based on a low carbohydrate approach, is well tolerated, and many men do well on this diet versus the “controlled” starvation of a 500 kcal diet.

For men who can’t tolerate and need more than 500 kcal diet( definitely me!), I have developed the “Sarasota Diet”, which incorporates the use of HCG , making a 20 gram carbohydrate diet extending over a 28 day period feasible. So how does HCG really work? I would like to document my experience with this approach over the next 28 days, documenting my chosen food selections (low carbohydrate) as well as my dosing schedule for injectable HCG. Feel free to follow my approach, and to even make your suggestions to help me achieve my goals. I am 226 lbs, 54 years old and have never seen below 210 since I was 40. I want to get to 210…and maybe to 200. I have run numerous marathons, and completed 3 ironman’s, but still haven’t reached my goal. I have had success with Atkins, but after a week or two, begin to struggle with carbohydrate cravings. So my approach is to add HCG to the Atkins low carbohydrate approach, and to melt the fat away. So let’s get going!

But first let me explain a little more about the HCG diet. HCG or Human Chorionic Gonadotropin has been used since the early fifties to help people lose weight. HCG when used by itself, does not cause weight loss. It is the low calorie diet (or low carbohydrate diet), in conjunction with the HCG that provides an accelerated fat loss. HCG is a naturally occurring substance in the human body produced by the placenta during pregnancy in very high amounts. The reason for this high production of HCG was poorly understood until Dr. A.T.W. Simeon, a British physician, studied its effects and developed a program of weight reduction. Those who have taken HCG while dieting report that it is much easier for them to stay on the diet and they seem to lose inches rapidly from the primary fat stores, in particular, the belly, buttocks, and thighs. There have been no reported adverse side effects to this substance. Unfortunately there has been no clearly defined scientific or clinical explanation, however it appears to work at the level of the brain, specifically the hypothalamus, to suppress your appetite, and thus allow one to tolerate a low calorie or my approach, a low carbohydrate diet.
Posted by Dr Robert Carlson of Sarasota at 8:44 PM

Vitamin D Helps Weight Loss Robert G Carlson, MD, FACS

Vitamin D Helps Weight Loss

Being overweight with excess body fat and abdominal obesity represent an overwhelming threat to the health of millions of men, women and children. Obesity is out of control, and today the number of obese people exceeds 35 % and it is growing rapidly. It is a true epidemic. Closely tied with this epidemic is the high percentage of the population of the United States that is grossly deficient in vitamin D. We have been told that the sun is bad for us, and processed foods have minimal Vitamin D in them and even Vitamin D fortified milk and orange juice are a joke, with the wrong type of Vitamin D, and amounts so small that they are essentially worthless unless you drank five gallons of milk and juice a day.
Fortunately, there is hope. Vitamin D has been shown to be critical in the creation of stored fat. You can help your body burn abdominal fat and lose weight naturally by incorporating adequate amounts of vitamin D in your diet, primarily through extremely inexpensive supplementation. A Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism study showed that the lack of Vitamin D is important in the accumulation of excess body fat. In the absence of sufficient vitamin D the body increases the number and size of newly formed fat cells that will promote and accelerate abdominal obesity. Providing sufficient levels of vitamin D, will signal fat cells to shrink. This makes weight loss much easier when calories are restricted.

Research proves that Vitamin D improves weight loss. Robert G Carlson, MD, FACS

Researchers at Aberdeen University found that low levels of vitamin D interfered with the function of a hormone called leptin, which tells the brain when the stomach is full. The study also found that excess body fat absorbs vitamin D, stopping it entering the bloodstream. Unfortunately in the winter months, when exercise is difficult and seasonal depression creeps in, low vitamin D levels are epidemic and will cause weight gain. In addition, the rapid spiral worsens as the accumulation of excess body fat leads to the fat-soluble vitamin D becoming locked away in fat cells.
In another study involving 60 overweight/obese women aged 20-35 years adhering to a low calorie diet, those with higher vitamin D levels lost more weight and fat. This supports the theory that women with a better vitamin D status will respond better to low calorie diets and lose more body fat.

In postmenopausal women calcium/vitamin D supplements have been shown to slow weight gain This finding comes from a detailed, seven-year study of more than 36,000 U.S. women enrolled in the Women's Health Initiative. It clearly demonstrates that most weight gain was in the youngest postmenopausal women and that Vitamin D and calcium slowed the process of weight gain.

Researchers at the University of Minnesota have discovered that if you are struggling to lose weight or have lost weight but plateaued, that adding vitamin D3 to a high protein diet may be just be the boost you need. They found that you could lose 25 pounds of flab from your body in about 7 seconds per day, simply by adding vitamin D3 this year. So it appears that Vitamin D3 may be the "SWITCH" that turns on automatic fat burning engine.
A 2009 study conducted by researchers from the University of Minnesota found that overweight people have better success in losing weight when their vitamin D levels are increased. When combined with a reduced-calorie diet, it appears that supplementation with vitamin D helps to promote increased weight loss among those whose levels are low. For each nanogram per milliliter increase in vitamin D precursor, it was observed that an extra half-pound loss in weight occurred while on the diet plan.

To address the Metabolic syndrome and the increase in visceral abdominal fat, I believe it is critical to understand the connection between vitamin D levels and insulin resistance. Vitamin D deficiency may contribute to the wide set of disorders associated with this syndrome of high cholesterol, insulin resistance, high blood pressure and increased abdominal fat. In a study published in 2004, the authors saw a 60% improvement in insulin sensitivity in healthy, vitamin D replete adults — and determined that vitamin D was more potent than two prescription medications commonly used to treat type 2 diabetes.
Clearly, vitamin D is critical in regulating our weight, and knowing the dramatic impact on thyroid function, and optimizing metabolism, the correlation between rising rates of obesity and vitamin D deficiency aren’t a surprise. Vitamin D3 or cholecalciferol supports so many important functions in our bodies and interacts with over 2000 Genes. To believe that the only benefit of Vitamin D is to improve bone growth seems short cited at best. Focus on optimizing your vitamin D levels, and a healthy and active lifestyle will be in your future.
www.andlos.com Robert G Carlson, MD, FACS

Help Me...I know my thyroid isn't working right! Robert G Carlson, MD, FACS

Most endocrinologists. Internists and Family Practice physicians subscribe to the practice guidelines of the American Association of Clinical Endocrinologists. Guidelines that totally disregard a patient’s symptoms and place more importance on worthless reference range lab values. Why do they totally disregard a patient’s plea of classic symptoms of low thyroid function, with weight gain, exhaustion, hair falling out, dry skin and worsening memory, even depression when confronted with a “normal” TSH level??? I have no idea why. I believe how the patient actually feels is the absolute most important decision making factor in choosing therapy as well as in increasing or decreasing doses. The TSH level is absolutely, unadulteratedly worthless test! Studies have repeatedly shown the ineffectiveness and potential harm of only T4-replacement. The studies show that T4-replacement leaves many patients suffering chronically from hypothyroid symptoms and gaining weight they can't lose through dieting and exercise. I believe Synthroid may be a reasonable medication, but ONLY for someone who has no stress. T4 is inactive, and does not interact well with thyroid receptors. It has to be activated to T3, which is the only form of thyroid hormone that interacts with thyroid receptors. Stress blocks this conversion. Therefore giving a patient synthroid to a patient with any type of physical, emotional or situational stress is a worthless effort. It will not work! Patients have to use the combination of T3, and T4. The T3 will provide immediate energy. I prefer the Armour thyroid from Forrest labs, and avoid the use of generic thyroid supplements.
Now here is one more twist. When a person has Hashimoto’s (Autoimmune Thyroiditis), they have antibodies that have attacked their own thyroid. Because these antibodies “gum” everything up and block any hormone from interacting with thyroid receptors, thyroid levels are absolutely worthless. You can have high “normal “ values and still demonstrate severe low thyroid symptoms. By the way, 30 % of women over the age of 50, will have positive antibodies, and all the lab tests will be worthless. Therefore in these women, women presenting with classic low thyroid symptoms and who are often told their thyroid is “normal”, the ONLY reliable factor for adjusting the thyroid medication dose or the need for treatment is “HOW DO YOU FEEL?” The lab tests are worthless, and the ONLY way to manage Hashimoto’s Thyroiditis is by adjusting the medications to a patient’s signs and symptoms. I repeat …Lab results are worthless, and patient’s symptoms are the most important and only way to adjust medications. The only way! So, spending time speaking with patients, as well as ongoing adjustment of thyroid replacement therapies is critical to achieve optimization of thyroid management.

How Common Is Thyroid Disease? You might be suprised to see how common it is! Robert g Carlson, MD, FACS

Thyroid Disease: The Numbers
How Common Is Thyroid Disease?

When the AACE (American Association of Clinical Endocrinologists) established new TSH Guidelines (0.3 - 3.0 vs. 0.5 - 5.0, and Labcorp and your physician still insist that a level of 4.5 is normal?)) the number of people estimated to be affected by abnormal thyroid function doubled.
According to the AACE, the number of people affected by Thyroid Disease now surpasses the number of people diagnosed with Diabetes or Heart Disease.
• 27 Million: The number of Americans estimated to suffer from Thyroid Disease. (And 75 % of those patients are being treated with the worthless therapy of only T4 or synthroid alone)
• 13 Million: The number of Americans estimated to suffer from Thyroid Disease...but remain undiagnosed.( I think that this number is much higher)
• 14 Million: Estimated number of Americans affected by Hashimoto's Thyroiditis (Autoimmune Thyroiditis / Hypothyroidism). And that means that the TSH lab test , and even all the basic thyroid lab tests are worthless. And by the way, 30% of women over the age of 50 will have these antibodies, will have classic low thyroid symptoms, and will be told their lab values are normal! The lab tests are worthless, and the ONLY way to manage Hashimoto’s Thyroiditis is by adjusting the medications to a patient’s signs and symptoms.
• 8 out of 10: Patients with Thyroid Disease are women.
• 5x - 8x: Women are 5 to 8 times more likely to suffer from Hypothyroidism than men.
• 25%: Approximate number of women that will develop permanent Hypothyroidism.
So stop suffering from low energy levels (especially in the late afternoon), weight gain( despite eating right and exercising), brain fog, muscle aches and pain, poor digestion, hair loss, dry skin and depression. Just say “no” to only being tested with TSH, and demand to get the full panel. If you are NOT getting better on replacement therapy, demand that your doctor checks your thyroid antibodies. And demand that your doctor takes care of you and NOT a worthless unreliable lab test like TSH.

ARE YOUR OWN PERSONAL CARE PRODUCTS KILLING YOU? Robert G Carlson, MD, FACS

ARE OUR OWN PERSONAL CARE PRODUCTS KILLING US?
(A Xeno-Estrogen overview)
ROBERT G. Carlson, MD, FACS

I have always tried to remind people that while we can’t change everything in our environment, we can make simple daily changes that can and WILL directly affect the health quality of our future and that of our family. Of course I’m not asking you to go home and peel the paint off the walls or remove the carpet but...simply “Change What You Can”…i.e. personal care products. What, my personal care products? That’s correct!
The Sierra Club tells us that there are already approximately 200 chemicals in the average person’s body fat. It is not a question of ‘if’ we are carrying a burden of toxic compounds, but how much!
One third of all personal care products contain at least one or more ingredients classified as possible human carcinogens.
While it’s pretty scary to think about, experts tell us that most of us come in contact with over 200 toxic chemicals before we get dressed in the morning. That means we are bathing ourselves in toxins! Think about what you used this am…Got up…brushed your teeth (toothpaste), got into the shower (body soap or wash, shampoo, conditioner, shaving gels)…getting dressed (deodorant, body lotion, aftershave)…fixing hair (hair gels, styling gels, hairspray)…Not to mention facial creams, make-up, perfume. The list continues and that’s even before you walk out of the house!
So what is a Xeno-Estrogen? It is a chemical that unfortunately is often found in our daily personal care products, and will produce dangerous artificial Estrogens, not like normal healthy estrogens produced in our bodies. These Xeno-estrogens are ever present, but in some will produce dangerous side-effects. I often tell my male patients, since high estrogen levels in men is very dangerous in men, to avoid estrogens in our environment, like anti-dandruff shampoos, and the a large consumption of chicken and turkey.( They didn’t get large breast naturally?!). We are seeing young girls develop at a very early age, and should wonder what kinds of xeno-estrogens they are being exposed to on a daily basis. And women in their late 30’s and early 50’s who are plaqued with too much estrogen, and have very low levels of the amazing protective progesterone, and who now are being exposed to massive environmental estrogen, are at an increasing risk for developing breast and uterine cancers, as well as uterine fibroids and ovarian cysts.
What is the Risk Factor?
Many skin and personal care products contain carcinogens, fragrances, harmful preservatives and chemicals that can block the skin’s critical natural functions of absorbing oxygen and detoxifying the body. While these toxic ingredients may be present in miniscule amounts, some or all of these chemicals are absorbed through the skin into the fatty tissue and blood stream. Research has shown traces of these toxins are stored in the brain, liver, heart, kidneys, etc. The biggest problems occur when they are repeatedly applied over an extended period of time, which is the nature of personal and skin care products. These ingredients can impact your neurological health, create or worsen allergic reactions, and more acutely affect children and pets as the residue floats down to concentrate 12 inches above the floor where small children and our pets live and play.
According to the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, 884 chemicals and synthetic ingredients commonly found in personal care and cosmetic products are toxic and known as irritants, allergens or carcinogens. While they are not prohibited (or have only minimal restrictions) for use in personal and skin care in the United States, in other countries like the Canada, European Union, and Japan, health concerns stimulated laws to ban many of these ingredients.
Most of us think of ‘aging’ as wrinkles that begin to appear on our face. But that word applies to all the diseases and conditions that impact our health . . . breast cancer, heart disease, diabetes, obesity, depression, etc.
What few realize is that skin care products and other topical personal care items we use are significant contributors to these diseases. The products applied to our skin to help us look younger actually contain Age Accelerators.
Linda Chae , an expert dedicated to creating products that have none of these nasty Aging accelerators in them, stated that, “Every day, we apply creams and lotions, use deodorant, brush our teeth, use perfume (or products with fragrance). . . and the small amounts of toxic, carcinogenic and hormone disrupting chemicals add up. In fact, scientific studies have shown these chemicals remain in our blood and fat tissue, and some have been found in breast cancer tumors. The specific chemicals are not in the air we breathe, the water we drink, or the food we eat. They are only found in the products which are then absorbed through the skin.”
I want you to pick up your skin and personal care products and look carefully at the ingredients. See if any of the below Aging accelerators are in your daily products.
The following are the worst of the worst, toxic, carcinogenic accelerators of aging and frightfully so they are commonly found in most skin and personal care products. Below is the brief list and I will go into more depth next week.
Benzoyl Peroxide:

DEA (Diethanolamine), MEA (Monoethanolamine), & TEA (Triethanolamine): Dioxin: .
DMDM Hydantoin & Urea (ImidazolidinylFD&C Color & Pigments: Fragrances: Fragrances can indicate the presence of up to 4,000 separate ingredients including phthalates, many toxic or carcinogenic.
Parabens: (Methyl, Butyl, Ethyl, Propyl) - used as preservatives and aren’t always labeled "parabens." They’re used in deodorants and antiperspirants and have been found in breast cancer tumors. Parabens, as xenoestrogens (hormone disruptors), may contribute to sterility in male mice and humans. Estrogen-like activity causes hormone imbalance in females and early puberty.
PEG (Polyethylene glycol)
Phthalates
Propylene Glycol (PG) and Butylene Glycol:.
Sodium Lauryl Sulfate (SLS) and Sodium Laureth Sulfate (SLES): Detergents and surfactants that pose serious health threats.
Sunscreen chemicals: avobenzone, benzphenone, ,ethoxycinnamate, PABA are commonly used ingredients
Triclosan
Did I catch your attention? Go check your household personal products now and there will be more to come next week! Dr. Carlson.

Can I get enough Vitamin D from being in the sun?

CAN I GET ENOUGH VITAMIN D FROM BEING IN THE SUN?
Robert G Carlson, MD, FACS
Spending 15 minutes in the sun each day will allow your body to produce plenty of Vitamin D – that may be true if you are sitting on a beach in Florida at noon wearing nothing but a bikini, but for the vast majority of us that’s just not happening. For a Caucasian wearing no sunscreen, sitting in the summer sun in the mid-afternoon with 40 percent of their body exposed for 20 minutes will produce about 10,000 units of vitamin D. Unfortunately, once sunscreen is applied the Vitamin D production drops to nothing. If you have darker skin, the time required in the sun increases to 45 minutes a day. If you live above 35 degrees latitude, the body is unable to produce adequate amounts of Vitamin D from the winter sun. In fact the only adequate amount of sunshine in Boston occurs, between May and Sept, otherwise there’s just not enough sunlight for Vitamin D metabolism. So, the person working in Chicago during the middle of the winter will get absolutely no Vitamin D from sunlight, and vitamin D fights the common cold better than Vitamin C. So that’s why cold and flu season occurs during the winter season.
So can I get enough Vitamin D by eating a balanced diet? That won’t work, because Vitamin D is present, in small amounts, in only a handful of foods – oily fish, and eggs. Vitamin D fortified foods such as Vitamin D fortified Milk and Orange Juice are a joke containing a measly 50 units of Vitamin D2(the wrong kind of Vitamin D), not Vitamin D3. You will need about 5000 units a day to help your body fight the battle against the cold viruses, and by the way, that dose also reduces breast and colon cancer, diabetes, and heart disease. I don’t recommend Cod Liver Oil since its nasty tasting, and is full of Vitamin A, which blocks all the amazing benefit of Vitamin D. Now Vitamin D in gel cap form, sprays or liquids will provide all the necessary Vitamin D you will need, and will cost you only a few pennies a day.
For more information check-out www.andlos.com

Another Amazing benefit of Vitamin D...Stanley Cup Hockey Championship

Another Amazing benefit of Vitamin D...Stanley Cup Hockey Championship
Robert G Carlson, MD, FACS

Team physicians from Chicago Blackhawk’s Hockey team credit the winning of the Stanley Cup to Vitamin D, well some of the credit. The Chicago Blackhawk team physicians apparently began diagnosing and treating vitamin D deficiency which was identified in ALL Blackhawk players. Most players were placed on 5,000 IU of Vitamin D3 per day. After many losing seasons, two years ago, loaded with Vitamin D, the Blackhawks came out of nowhere to get to the Western conference finals, and this year captured the Stanley Cup. Improved athletic performance is only one of the benefits for the Blackhawk players, the other include reduction in the number and severity of colds and flu and a reduction in the number and severity of injuries.
There are new lines of evidence now that demonstrate clearly that vitamin D plays a role as an anti-carcinogen, aids the body in fighting infections, building and supporting bone growth, stimulating wound healing, bolstering the immune system, hindering cognitive degeneration, and promoting cardiovascular health…..and now the Stanley Cup Championship. And only for 8 cents a day!!! I personally feel that during the winter season, 5000 units may not be enough to fight off the common colds, flu’s and the depressive blahs of the winter, and 10,000 may be required. Measurement of 25-hydroxyvitamin D levels may be beneficial to optimize your dose, but don’t accept the low levels below 50. Demand levels between 60-80 ng/ml as acceptable, and if you have auto-immune diseases like Rheumatoid arthritis, Hashimoto’s thyroiditis, or lupus set your goal to be between 100-120 ng/ml
New evidence suggests that maintenance of the suggested vitamin D levels is crucial for athletic performance and keeping players on top of their game. In short, this is due to Vitamin D’s reported ability to: increase speed, improve balance, improve a reaction time, increase both muscle mass and strength, and promote the treatment and prevention of chronic neuromuscular injuries. What about bringing Vitamin D into our work places and promoting health, reducing respiratory infections, as well as all the things that promote a Stanley Cup Champion hockey player to remain in his top game. You deserve it and so do your co-workers and employees. Bring Vitamin D into work today! Have a Vitamin D party and squash the flu all winter long.
How about home? Kids can have 2000 units/day (not babies, although a Finnish study said in infants at that dose reduced the incidence of Childhood Diabetes by 8 fold). Studies have shown that children with low vitamin D levels were over 10 x more likely to develop a respiratory infections, whereas a study supplementing with Vitamin D completely eradicated respiratory infections during the six months of treatment. One study, published in February 2009 in The Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism, concludes that adolescents with higher levels of vitamin D can jump higher, quicker, and with greater power than those with lower vitamin D levels. You gotta love vitamin D and all its amazing benefits.

I Love Vitamin D, but watch out for Vitamin A in your multivitamin

I Love Vitamin D, but watch out for Vitamin A in your multivitamins
Robert G Carlson, MD, FACS


No other nutrient, hormone or even drug has gained so much scientifically supported credibility than Vitamin D, demonstrating reductions in cancer, heart disease, blood pressure, chronic inflammation, diabetes, viral infections and the autoimmune diseases( arthritis, Lupus, Hashimoto’s thyroiditis). Even though Vitamin D has been shown to be so incredibly beneficial , it is often in very low doses in standard multivitamins, and often side by side with high doses of Vitamin A. Unfortunately some forms of Vitamin A actually BLOCK the benefit of Vitamin D. So grab your multivitamin bottle and look at how much vitamin D and Vitamin A is in it. Most multivitamins have woeful amounts of vitamin D , often ranging from 200 units to 1000, but we should be taking at least 5000 units a day and now more studies show absolutely no toxicity at 10,000 units(should consider this dose in the fall/winter months) and incredible benefits. So what about Vitamin A? The preformed Vitamin A (retinols) are often excessive in multivitamins and having Vitamin A in the beta-carotene form is the form you want. “Preformed” vitamin A comes only from animal products, fortified foods, and supplements. It is most commonly measured in International Units (IU). The Recommended Dietary Allowance (RDA) for vitamin A is 2,310 IU daily for women, 3,000 IU for men, although some food products identify the recommended dose as 5000 IU. Watch out because preformed Vitamin A is not your friend. Studies have proven that too much preformed Vitamin A results in a two fold increase in hip fractures, and a 16 % increase in total mortality, undoubtedly because it blocks all the amazing benefits of Vitamin D. Keep that form of Vitamin A no higher than 1000 IU. Now if the Vitamin A is in the beta-carotene form, there are fewer issues because it is found in plant foods, especially dark green and highly colored vegetables and fruits. It is converted to vitamin A only as our body needs it. Therefore one can’t get dangerous levels of vitamin A by consuming too much beta carotene. By the way that foul tasting modern day Cod Liver oil has up to 10,000 units of preformed Vitamin A….so don’t drink that stuff!