Diet Clinics that give injections?

[Lisa0825]

They seem to be the craze in the greater Houston area, and judging by the discussions I have found online, they seem big around the country, too.I know 3 people going to one of 2 local clinics which give injections of "lipotropic" B12, B6 and a variety of other optional treatments. They sometimes do HCG, human growth hormone, or AMP. They also sometimes prescribe phentermine or other weight loss drugs.

The reports I have read on similar clinics on a couple sites have been very favorable.

http://www.topix.net/forum/health/TLL4C98LM26BLPIKG/p1

http://www.medhelp.org/forums/WeightLoss/archive/Weight_Loss_Drugs1.html

I am thinking about trying this. Anyone heard about it or tried something like this?

[Lisa0825]

1. So I went to my first appointment today, and here's the scoop....

They give you several diet plans to choose from. I chose to stay on South Beach because the food choices are familiar enough to me, that I don't find I have to think much about planning my meals.

The injections all include B12-complex for energy. She usually does AMP one week and HCG the next, but there is also a combo shot. The AMP shot is a high concentration of amino acids that are supposed to decrease your appetite and increase metabolism on the mitochondrial level (this part gives me nightmares about my days studying the energy cycle for college Anatomy and Physiology class! :scared: )

hCG stimulates the pituitary gland to produce natural human growth hormone. This causes your body to increase muscle mass and decrease fat mass. Studies she cited showed an increase in muscle and decrease in fat without exercise over a 3 month period. Of course, results are better with diet and exercise.

The doc started me on the B12 with AMP today. She also prescribed me phentermine, plus a low dose water pill, because she said I had some swelling in my feet, and my blood pressure was a bit high. So, I expect to drop some weight tomorrow just from the water. So, I won't actualy count that weight as "weight loss." I'll start tracking my progress after I have already leveled out on that.

Prior to starting this, I have lost about 10 pounds in just under 2 months, and a total of 25 inches over 12 measurement sites. So, lets see if this rate improves with the program, since I had already been back on a healthy eating program and re-started exercising.

[Broken_Hero]

2. Thanks for the update, it sounds interesting...nt

[Longhorn]

3. I did a preliminary search and couldn't find anything in Austin.

Please let us know how it's going -- I'm very interested! Thanks and good luck! :hi:

[Lisa0825]

4. I didn't find much in this area either, other than postings on message boards.

I heard about the clinic by word of mouth. If I see anything posted about Austin, I will make note of it.

I had my second visit on Monday. I lost 7 pounds, BUT keep in mind that I started on BP medication, which is essentially a water pill. I am hoping I won't need that once I drop another 10 or 15. So, I assume 4-5 pounds was probably water weight. I am going to look at this week's weight as my starting point, and judge this program on the next few weeks. If I do not lose faster than I feel I have been doing on my own, I probably won't continue. If it is more than 2 pounds per week, I will probably keep it up.

I have decided I most definitely like the B12 shots. I don't know if the other components are doing what they are supposed to do, but I have had a LOT more energy the past two weeks. And that has made a difference in how many days I have made it to the gym, as opposed to coming home to take a nap. I haven't had the late afternoon yawns lately either. After this program, I figure I will start trying the super B complex pills and see if those make nearly the same difference.

Since I started walking and seriously dieting Jan 5, I have now lost 16.5 pounds and over 30 inches off my 12 measurement sites.

[lavenderdiva]

7. your results are indeed impressive!

thank you for keeping us posted on your progress- Are the shots expensive? And do you take them every week? Are you having to make any dietary changes in addition to the injections? I'm interested to hear more! :hi:

[Lisa0825]

8. Sorry I missed this reply....

The clinic I am going to charges $60 for the first doctor visit, which includes any prescriptions she decides to write for you (but not the drugs themselves) and the first injection. Office visits for the shot only are $20 each week.

From what I have read, hCG doesn't technically cause weight loss, but actually stimulates muscle growth, because it causes your body to increase the amount of human growth hormone it releases. This is supposedly much safer than actually getting HGH shots. So, the increase in muscle and the energy required for your body to build muscle also tends to cause you to drop weight and inches.

All that being said, it won't overcome a bad diet and sedentary lifestyle. The patients are still expected to diet and to get some moderate excersize liek walking. Myself... I am trying to make as much progress as possible before my vacation in May, so I am hardcore dieting, lifting weights 3 times a week, and I am up to jogging a mile and walking two at least 3 times a week. even doing all of that, losing 3 pounds per week is difficult (at that rate, you are talking about a 10,500 calorie deficit needed). So, if I actually CONSISTENTLY lose that much, I will be pretty sure the meds are helping.

I can say for sure that the phentermine is working GREAT for me. No hunger, and I am satisfied very quickly. Also, regardless of the hCG or AMP, the Vitamin B shots certainly give me energy, and I figure I am able to work out better and more often than if I did not have them.

[Virginian]

12. Did they ask you for a copy of your last physical,

An EKG, and a lipid panel before giving you phentermine?

My doctor does.

[Lisa0825]

5. 3rd Appointment, 3 more pounds!

I've lost 3 pounds in a week on my own before, but if this pace keeps up consistently, I will be convinced that the meds are helping me along.

[Longhorn]

6. Congratulations!

Thanks for the update! :yourock:

[prole_for_peace]

9. i went to one in the beaumont area.

i got weekly shots that had b-12 and other stuff in them and an rx for adipex (phentermine). i lost about 10 pounds in 1 1/2 to 2 months. i quit going cause my work schedule made it hard to get to my weekly appointments. but as soon as this crazy tax season is over and i can work normal hours again, i will be going back.

also been hearing about something called PCS capsules (i think they are compounded). I have a doctor client who's wife is taking them and loves 'em and a co-worker of mine is also on them. i may try those instead of the adipex.

[Lisa0825]

10. I missed my appointment this past week, but

wouldn't have shown any weight loss due to holding water anyway. I dropped 2.2 pounds finally after losing the water. So, I lost 17 pounds in about a month (plus 2 days), and that is probably at least 7 pounds more than I would have lost going it alone. So, I will continue to stick with this for another month. After my vacation, I will be content with slow and steady weight loss, so I will probably ask for a refill of the phentermine, and stop going to the clinic.

I have lost a total of 26 pounds since January 5th. My BMI has gone down from "severe" to "moderate", my waist to hip ratio went from "very high risk" to "moderate risk," and I have lost 40.6 inches off of the 12 measurement sites. According to MyBodyComp.com, I have actually lost 30 pounds of fat and gained 4 pounds of muscle. My BP has also gone down from 153/93 to 127/63.

I'd like to know what the PCS capsules are.

[Lisa0825]

11. Update

(excuse any repetition. I am c&p this from a weight loss board I posted it at, and didn't stop to edit out any details I already posted above)

OK, so I started trying to lose weight "on my own" January 5th, and started keeping weight and measurement stats. On Feb 26th, I started at a clinic that does hCG and AMP shots with Vitamin B.

Prior to that, from Jan 5 through Feb 26th (52 days), I'd lost about 10 pounds. From Jan 26 through today (50 days), I have lost another 24 pounds, for a grand total of 34!:-D. I have also lost a total of 45.7 inches off of the 12 measurement sites, my BMI has gone down 5.2 points, and my waist to hip ratio has gone down from "very high risk" to "moderate risk." I have 3.5 more weeks until my vacation, and I would love to lose another 10 lbs by then!

Now, I have said before that I was undecided about how much the shots have to do with the weight loss, and said I would hold my judgement for later. I have also been checking the scientific studies on Medline. I had not found any really positive study about hCG for weight loss, but found several that were inconclusive, and several that said there was no difference compared to the placebo. On the other hand, I have been seeing now info about herbs that increase the amount of AMP in your system resulting inhigher energy levels and weight loss, so it seems plausible to me that the AMP shots could be effective. So, I went for my checkup last week, and asked the doc. She said that she feels that the hCG is not necessarily effective at causing pounds to be lost, but that it effects *where* you burn fat from, and tends to result in inches lost in key places like waist, abdomen, and hips. She also said that for people who cannot take hCG and who take AMP every week, she eventually sees a slowing of the weight loss and stalling, whereas with the hCG and AMP alternated, the progress continues longer.

Now, I am still undecided about what effects the shots have and what effects the phentermine has, but I will say this much: Being on this plan has enabled me to lose 2.4 times as much weight in the same amount of time as I was able to do on my own. In my opinion, it has more to do with the vitamins giving me extra energy, the phentermine chelping with metabolism and appetite, and then third some effect from the AMP/hCG. I probabbly work out more now than before because I don't feel like a slug anymore, not just because i am more motivated.

So, while I won't conclude that hCG is a wonder drug, I absolutely feel that the program I have been on has been extremely successful for me overall, and I woud recommend it.

[Broken_Hero]

13. Thanks for the update, and to be completely honest

(I'll update my own thread) My doctor got me on Byetta this past friday....its a diabetic drug, that one of its side effects is weight loss....and my results since my first injection on Saturday morning has been rather good...I was 370 Saturday, and today I'm down to 362.6...damn near 8lbs lost....thats about three times as much as I'm use to...I'm use to 2-3lbs a week....

I haven't been on this for a whole week yet, but the doc wanted me to try it for a month, to see what will happen. I go back to the doc on the 21st of May for a checkup/and my regular blood test...

Keep up the good work there, it sounds like you are doing well. Since I started my latest run around the 5th of March, to this day I've lost 32.4lbs and I think this is my 11th week.

[helderheid]

14. I've been considering hcg sublingually - any updates?

[Lisa0825]

15. I have not been on the program for several months now.

I maintained pretty well the first few months, and have been up and down 10 pounds since. I'm not very god at maintenance.I think that hcg can probably help some as part of an overall program, but like I said, I wouldn't give it all the credit.

[helderheid]

16. I am starting Monday. I'm scared as hell but also hopeful.