What's really wrong with using the HCG diet?
(Or any other diet for that matter.)
By Michelle M Pearson
So, just in time for the largest dieting season in the world, I'm dusting off an article written in October of 2007, but never publicly released in print until today. It is on the controversial topic of dieting, specifically the wildly popular – and now illegal – "HCG diet".
Dr. Ray and I have put countless hours into study and research on this weight loss drug and dieting in general. And for more than 4 years now, this research has been stored, and growing, on my external hard drive waiting for such a time as this.
Why now? One of our mentors, Dr. Clarice Fluitt, taught me that God will let you believe what you need to believe until He gets you in the right position to receive greater measure of truth. Much revelation is held back by God until people are in position to hear.
This past weekend, a long-awaited release happened. After recent media coverage confirmed what we have been privately discussing with patients and teaching in our classes since 2007, Dr. Ray and I both knew the time had arrived and we are prayerful that many will have now developed ears willing to hear.
There are so many layers to this revelation that I must ask you to bear with me as I endeavor to bring it out of my spirit and onto the paper. Can you hang in there with me over the next few days and weeks? So that we can get people some help and answer the question…
What's really wrong with HCG and with dieting?
Because we teach on health and wellness, we are frequently asked questions about this diet or that diet. We get asked things like, "Which diet works best?" "What diet do I use to lose weight the quickest because I need to see some results so I won't get discouraged?" And "What exactly should I eat for breakfast (lunch, dinner)?"
When people begin to feel the unction inside to make some healthy lifestyle changes, these are the most common questions and to be expected from folks without any background in the subject. That is one of the reasons God brought us back from the missionary field in Mexico twelve years ago. He ministered to my husband's heart that God's people were sicker than the world and it should not be so. Actually, I believe Dr. Ray told me that God said, "I'm not having it."
From that move back to the States and that simple Word from God, "The Picture of Health" was birthed. First in our own lives and then in our patients' lives as they witnessed our personal victories. You see, I understand how hard it is because I was a serial dieter. I knew no other way to stay slim and pretty like all the folks I compared myself to back then! And Dr Ray, well, he was a smoker and loved the sweets.
But God had a better way, His way. The way of health. The way of freedom. The way of true grace.
So the conversation about now sounds something like this…
But wait… isn't HCG natural? Doesn't the body produce it anyway? Don't I need to reset the hypothalamus in order to keep weight off? Didn't Pastor Famous and Preacher Well-known used it? I'm using Scripture with it and well, it works! They all lost weight on the HCG diet. What about all that?
I can tell you that I know more than 20 people personally that used HCG and they all lost weight. We have family members who have businesses that carry the HCG product and promote the diet. We also have many ministry colleagues and elders in the Body of Christ who have used the method to achieve weight loss "successfully". I have two gorgeous ministry friends, whom I love, who promote the HCG program professionally.
So we are not coming out against any of these fine people – not at all. I've preached for pastors using HCG across the table from me. Some asked questions, some did not. So who has and has not used HCG is not the topic here. God has led us in wisdom and love, and due respect for differences, to refrain from the discussion unless someone asks us for our leading on the matter. That is, until God gave us the release to say more, say it powerfully, and say it publicly for the protection of the entire Body.
So, people who have dieted with HCG are not our topic of discussion. Dieting is.
Dieting, including the HCG diet, is deception; it is destructive; and it is deadly, spiritually, mentally, and physically. And now, HCG is also illegal. The only real argument in favor of HCG is that "it works". So let's address that.
It works, yes, people do lose weight, but at what price?
Just because a thing causes weight loss – just because a process technically "works" – does not mean it is good or godly for you! Yes, the HCG diet can produce weight loss. So can starvation – and it does on the HCG diet. It does produce weight loss. But so does cancer. Anorexia and bulimia cause weight loss. So can death.
It seems we need to redefine the definition of "it works"!
Dieting is not harmless. It is not a justifiable means to an desirable end. It is the bait of satan to kill, steal, and destroy.
Plain and simple, if it is a diet, the changes are only the “wrapping paper”, so to speak, making it attractive to your flesh because it is fast and temporary. It doesn’t matter if it is pills, diet shakes, stimulants, fat blockers, injections, lap-bands, or old-fashioned counting calories. Every one of these ways is of the world, not of the Word.
Yes! There is a legitimate, righteous move in the Spirit toward reclaiming health in the Body of Christ. Possessing the health He redeemed for us will enable our bodies to carry us all to complete our tasks with strength and longevity! But we must possess that in the power and the pattern of God.
God knows the measure of what we are doing that is because we don’t really know any better. But, He also knows the measure of what we are doing in rebellion to His voice. He’s calling this out for our own protection no matter which category we fit into because He loves us.
I, like any man or woman of God, could certainly miss it, but, because of Him, because of God’s plans and purposes alone, nothing of my own account, this one thing I do know about and am fully persuaded of:
This thing – HCG and dieting in general – has far-reaching, long-term, heavy, perhaps immeasurable side effects, physically, yes, and spiritually.
Medically and naturally, it is a disaster waiting to happen, a ticking time bomb. Now with it's illegal status by the FDA, there are even more reasons why you need to steer clear. And, while all of that that could be catastrophic, the greatest danger, I believe, is that every one of these methods breaks or ignores every biblical, scriptural, instruction as to The Way to true and lasting health.
Here is the bottom line: there are still thousands, no, tens of thousands of Christians who are either blindly or defiantly trying to achieve Kingdom benefits using the world’s methods. They are comparing their wisdom to His and presuming it is not only sufficient, but somehow acceptable to Him.
IT MATTERS – the source matters. Dieting fools the body and the mind. It takes being led completely out of the equation. Unless one counts being led astray.
Do not be fooled. This is not minor. As long as there is no difference, and no deference to His Word, the destroyer will continue to steal away lives before their expected end.
There is some very powerful revelation flowing these days that we are in, so I hope you are paying attention and not taking things for granted. A great shift is happening. The Mystery in all things is being revealed. Receiving it requires less talk, more mindful listening to wisdom, less arguing, insisting, and resisting, more acute sensitivity to the subtle shifts of the Spirit in all things.
Next time… how HCG became so popular in Christian circles and how it got past "The Watchmen and The Cupbearers."
(Well, why not? I'm pretty far out on The Branch now anyway.)
Know someone who is struggling with dieting or weight issues?
Of course you do! Please share this with them.
Believe. Choose. Activate. Achieve. (Repeat.)
Michelle Pearson is a dynamic wellness coach, speaker, author, and the Founder & President of Picture of Health Inc. (http://thepictureofhealth.com). On a personal health journey for the past 17 years, Michelle’s mission is to educate, activate, challenge and equip others to live a full, satisfying life through the use of state-of-the-art educational resources to produce significant and lasting health breakthroughs.
Picture of Health Inc
1212 Eugene St
Harrison AR 72601
(870) 204-6960
Did you learn anything? Leave me your comments and questions below!
Dr. Michelle's mission is to educate, activate, challenge and equip others to live a full, satisfying life, ever-growing in the Kingdom of God.
Michelle is a mountain-taker in all expressions of her calling. Sometimes it is on literal mountains leading ladies on spiritual adventures in faith. Other days, it is consulting with Kingdom-minded businesses and ministries to develop professional website platforms and social media strategies. Still other times, you will find her training mountain-takers to possess their physical land - their health, spirit, soul, and body - teaching classes and doing wellness evaluations for churches and corporations large and small, as well as providing "secret service" concierge wellness services for other speakers and ministers.
Wherever the call of God takes her, she firmly believes it is time for Christian businesses, entrepreneurs, and ministry leaders to be diligent to ‘write the vision and post it so plainly upon tablets that everyone who passes may be able to read it easily and quickly as they hasten by.’ And then ACT on the vision.
Read more About and Experience here: http://thepictureofhealth.com/michelle-2
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Great article! Focusing on the truths of God lead us and guide us. I prayed for God to lead me to information that will be helpful, but God is my healer. He is the one leading and guiding. It just seems he led me down a path where I found The Picture of Health where I learn new truths. I still pray and ask for guidance with each step I take. Putting God first is the only way!
Thank you SO much for sharing this article!! The Deciever tempted me so hard and so long to try HCG! I wanted the results so very much!! My friend and her husband went on the diet and both of them lost 50lbs in about 6 wks!! But sadly, now, they have gained back 75!!!! I am so glad I found The picture of health to teach me God’s way!! I am so much more healthy now and conscious of what’s “right and “good” for me and my family!!! I can’t wait for the next chapter!