Tanning on the HCG Diet

Lying out in the sun or hitting the tanning salon isn’t that great for your health in general, but it’s an especially bad idea if you’re on the Very Low-Calorie Phase of the HCG Diet because it may wreak havoc on your weight loss success.

First, tanning oils and sun blocking lotions can stop your weight loss dead in its tracks when following certain diet plans that restrict the use of oils and fats. Dr. Simeons wrote, “Most women find it hard to believe that fats, oils, creams, and ointments applied to the skin are absorbed and interfere with weight reduction by HCG just as if they had been eaten. This almost incredible sensitivity to even such very minor increases in nutritional intake is a peculiar feature of the HCG method.”

Second, when your skin is exposed to sun (or tanning bulbs) it causes your body to excrete toxins. As a result of processing these toxins, your kidneys make your body store extra water. And, when your body is storing all that water, you’ll see the number on the scale stay the same or even jump up. So, we suggest that you try to stay out of both the sun and the tanning salon – at least while you’re on the low-calorie phase of the diet.

But let’s be real. It’s not necessarily practical to expect someone to stay inside for 40 days straight. Basically, if you have to be in the sun, cover up as best you can and if you are going to be in the sun for an extended period of time, be sure to use an oil-free sun block, drink tons and tons of water (because dehydration will just make it worse), and prepare yourself for a smaller loss or slight gain the next day.

Yes, it may be a little inconvenient to stay out of the sun for a whole month (especially if you live in a sunny part of the world), but you must keep in mind that it’s only for a short time; then you can go back to sunbathing all you want. However, don’t be surprised if you notice gains any time you are out in the sun whether you’re on Phase 2, Phase 3/Maintenance or lifetime maintenance.

Have you experienced stalls or gains from being out in the sun or tanning while on the HCG Diet?