Slender Wonder
Slender Wonder is a medical weight loss programme that treats patients who struggle with being overweight or obese. We, at the Fat Loss Clinic, run by Dr N Petropoulos are a Slender Wonder accredited doctors practice. With Slender Wonder, we treat the cause of obesity and not just the symptoms. The multifaceted approach with a low GI eating plan, Slender Wonder Products (protein shakes and supplements) and a series of injections and together with the close monitoring of the health team, provides an environment for success. Depending on the patient's starting weight, most individuals lose up to 4 - 7 kg's in the first month. Once you reach the maintenance phase, your Leptin sensitivity will have been restored and this will help you to maintain your new weight provided you continue to follow a healthy lifestyle!
Please visit the Slender Wonder Website for more information.
What is HCG?
HCG or human chorionic gonadotropin is a hormone naturally produced in women during pregnancy. It was originally found in pregnancy, yet it is a normal hormone of the body in both men and women. Since its discovery, a number of medical applications have been developed, most commonly, weight loss.
HCG Weight Loss Program Overview
A series of daily HCG injection with a calorie restricted diet provides the framework for weight loss. Typically 4- 7 kg is lost in the first month. Thereafter 0.5 to 1.5 kg per week could be expected.
How does HCG work?
The diet’s founder, Dr ATW Simeons, an article in 1954, believed that the HCG diet “reset” the hypothalamus (central hormone control station in the base of the brain) improving metabolism and allowing the body to release “bad” or “excess” fat stores and use them for fuel. Subsequent research has found it interacts with a number of receptors in the body, which can improve your Leptin (sense of feeling full).
What You Can Expect From HCG Injections
The weight loss stage begins with the first injection and includes a “forced feeding,” or consuming as much fattening food as you can for 2 days to increase the body’s fat reserves. These reserves are lost within the first 3 days and help limit discomfort during the initial phase of the diet. Patients can expect to have normal energy and activity levels during the diet, but should not engage in unusually strenuous exercise. The self-administered injections are given in the mid-thigh, buttock or abdomen daily. Patients are closely monitored with bio-impedance analysis (body composition test), lab tests and bi-monthly meetings with the doctor. At the end of week 6 of the HCG injections, patients follow a low-carbohydrate diet for an additional 2 weeks, then either restart the HCG cycle if your desired weight loss has not been reached or begin the stabilization/maintenance program to help them maintain their ideal body weight for life.
Who is eligible?
Men and women who have excess weight to lose are eligible. Patients with significant chronic diseases will be under more strict observation with the doctor.
Are there any side effects?
The most frequently experienced side effects are a pain at the site of injection and bruising. Headache, irritability, fluid retention, breast tenderness and depression may occur infrequently. Allergic reactions are possible but very rare.
A word about this program:
HCG in this program is being used “off label” for the treatment of obesity, which means it was originally not intended for weight loss (but can be used legally by any physician who feels it is clinically effective). We have found HCG to be an effective tool for our patients desiring significant weight loss. However, it is important to note that results may vary between patients.
Keeping the Weight Off:
Losing weight is exhilarating and brings with it a new found confidence and optimism for the future. But it is also an accomplishment that must be treasured and protected. Learning to maintain your ideal weight is an important skill, and an effective maintenance program is just as important as an effective weight loss program.
We ask you at the beginning of the HCG diet, to let us help you maintain your weight loss when you are done. Our lifetime maintenance program is called “First Line Therapy”. It is a healthy eating plan that reduces inflammation, optimizes insulin and blood sugar levels, and decreases the risk of developing chronic disease.