Thread: If coconut oil and other fats block the hormone, why do we use HCG on loading days?

I've read through many of these forums over the years and keep seeing the answer that fats, like coconut oil, block the hormone. So why do we use HCG on loading days? Isn't that a waste of hormone? And it works both ways... If fat does block the hormone, why even load other than to satiate cravings before starting the diet? I've done this protocol a few times over the past 8 yrs and the question didn't occur to me until this last round. Am I missing something?

Since the forum lost posts, I thought I would repost what I had in answer to a question about the hcg and calorie intake

I said I wouldn't really worry about the calories, but I like this exerpt here from Dr. Zach book, even though I follow Original Protocol. The loading is the same for both

Eat as much fatty food as you want during these two days. In fact, overload yourself on fats. Still be cautious of sugar and carbs. These are not forbidden in the loading phase of your diet, but the focus should be on fats. Try and get a good mix of Omega 3 fats (healthy fats such as avocado, fish and nuts) and Omega 6 fats which are your animal fats and dairy. Enjoy yourself; this is your last hoorah! This isn’t to say that you’ll never again eat any of your favorites, but you’ll eat them intelligently, balanced with a healthy whole food diet.

Beginning - The first two days that you begin taking your HCG supplement, it’s necessary to overload on fatty foods.
This may seem counter-productive, but it serves three purposes. First, the sudden fat overload causes your hypothalamus to spring into action by alerting the body to begin attacking fats, essentially jump starting the diet.

Secondly, the excess fat provides an immediate calorie reserve to mediate your hunger during the early stages of the diet, allowing the HCG ample time to tap into your fat stores, which can take up to 5-7 days.

Finally, as we discussed earlier regarding Set Point Theory, keep in mind that human physiology exists for our long term survival and any sudden decrease in calories can alarm the body into “starvation mode.”
During starvation mode, your body actually becomes more efficient with its calories and more determined to store away fat, assuming that there is a scarcity in food supply. This is why dieting is so difficult. Not only are we battling our own poor eating habits, but a physiological pre-disposition to retain fat.

Loading on fats for two days causes your liver enzymes to spike which is theorized to prevent the body from entering this starvation mode. By the time your liver enzymes return to normal levels, the HCG has already tapped into your fat reserves and is providing you with supplemental calories thus bypassing starvation mode, which facilitates more rapid weight loss.

It’s quite possible to gain 2 to 3 pounds during the loading phase. Don’t let that discourage you. It will be lost quickly.