Today, I came across a thread about HCG potency and want to see if I can get some clarification before seeing my clinic on Wednesday for my weigh-in. When I started this protocol 30 days ago, I was given 5000 IU of dried HCG and a bottle of bacteriostatic water. I was told to put 5 ml of water into the hcg (with the needle they supplied). Then I was told to give myself an injection of .125 per day for the 40 odd days, skipping one day per week on the injections. I have been doing this, and I counted my syringes last night and I have 12 left - so two more weeks. But the thread I read earlier said that it shouldn't last longer than 23 days in the fridge after it was mixed.

I'm on VLCD30 and I've lost a total of 18 pounds, which I'm not really unhappy about, but the last couple of weeks, I've lost 1 pound a week, which cannot be normal. I've not noticed any abnormal hunger issues but I can't help but wonder - if the HCG has lost it's potency, am I potentially losing muscle now instead of fat? I do my measurements once a week and this past week, when I measured, I'd actually gained inches rather than lost them. Not a lot but anywhere to 1/4" to 5/8" in every area except my thighs. I'm sure I could put some of them down to 'tape measurer operator error' but surely not all of them. I'm not nearly to goal, so it's not like my weight loss has slowed down because of that. I've not cheated one single day, so it's not that.

Do I need to ask questions at the clinic on Wednesday? The clinic just recently started this protocol, so after reading all the wonderful advice, stories, etc...on this forum, I'm wondering if they need to go back to HCG school.

Others on the forum have said that the mixed hCG starts to lose it's potency at about 30 days but as long as you are not having hunger issues than you are still okay and you are still losing the correct fat. If start to notice major hunger than you need to get back to the clinic for additional hCG to complete your round.

Oh I get hungry sometimes mid morning and mid afternoon but I have my fruit then. It's not a ravenous hunger either, just that stomach growl a little empty feeling and the fruit as snack then helps a lot. I don't even have to do that everyday but that is still an option.

I do my first fruit about midmorning, but my second one I save for dessert - I think it's the only thing keeping me from going to bed hungry. Honestly, I was mostly worried about gaining inches, when I'd been losing inches so steadily, and it was the saving grace when I only lost a pound in a week! I really appreciate the support! And of course - HOOK 'EM! I'm a huge fan from way back!

I've not been eating the melba toast at all. I can deal with the hunger - but I've always been able to do that even without HCG.