Fred Bloem, MD – Holistic Physician in Maryland

Dr. Bloem’s Body Fat

Since the spring of this year I have been using a state of the art instrument that measures body fat and which is manufactured by Futrex, a company that is based in Frederick, Maryland. The model that I have is the Bod-eComm2 A/ZL which is calibrated for both adults and children started at age 5.

Compared to other competing technologies such as under water weighing, skin fold calipers, and bio-electrical impedance (e.g., some home scales), the Bod-eComm2 is much more accurate and user friendly and it offers much more detailed information about a person’s body composition. The Bod-eComm2 is able to do this because of its patented, near-infrared technology. Measurements are quick, easy, and painless. Patients welcome the additional data as pounds and inches don’t tell the whole story about a person’s body composition.

It has been interesting to see how the different types of fat that the Bod-eComm2 measures correspond with the different types of fat that Dr. A.T.W. Simeons, the developer of the HCG Diet identified in his book Pounds and Inches.

Below are the measurements that I performed on myself last month. The Essential Fat, Reserve Fat, and Excess Fat roughly correspond to what Dr. Simeons termed Structural Fat, Normal Fat Reserves, and Abnormal Fat, respectively. The Essential Fat and Reserve Fat are ideally around 10 lbs. but the Reserve Fat could be less if the person is very lean. The initial goal for a patient who seeks to get in shape should be to eliminate the Excess Fat which is linked to an increased risk for serious health problems such as cardiovascular disease, diabetes, and cancer. However, many patients also have excessive amounts of Reserve Fat and they need eliminate that in order to look their best and feel their best.

I have also determined that the total body water percentage which should ideally be 60-65% in men and 55-60% in women is typically low in patients who are obese. That improves over time as the patients eliminate the Excess Fat.

I encourage all patients who are on a weight reduction plan or who are concerned about optimizing their health to come in for periodic body composition measurements because there are therapies that can optimize these important health parameters. They include the HCG Diet, bioidentical hormone replacement therapy, and nutritional supplements such as TA-65 and others.

Dr. Bloem’s Body Composition

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The HCG Diet Has Changed My Life #HCG #Diet #HCGDiet

February 27th, 2012 | Posted by Fred Bloem, MD in Fred Bloem MD | Obesity - (20 Comments)

One of my patients wrote the following testimonial. With a height of 5′ 4″ (1.63 m) her starting weight of 195 lbs. (88.6 kg) had severely compromised her sense of health and well being. By the time she wrote this she had lost about 20 lbs.

“This is not a paid advertisement:), but an honest, from the heart testimonial. The HCG diet is amazing. It has changed my life. I have hope again that soon I will be a smaller and better version of me.

For years I thought there was no hope, I would be a size 16+ forever. I am down 35 lbs., feel better than I have in 10+ years and see the light at the end of the tunnel. I still have 35 lbs. to go to get to my goal, but thanks to Dr.
Bloem, Alecia and all of my friends and family that have supported me, I am now in a size 12 and can finally shop at Ann Taylor Loft and not worry that the outfit won’t fit, because guess what? It will!!!

So for anyone who is worried that you will be hungry. You really aren’t! If you are, it is habit, not hunger. For anyone that is worried you will be tired because of the low calories…You won’t! You will have more energy than you have had in a long time! Besides that, my aches and pains are almost totally gone and food tastes better.”

—Jenni D.

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Fast Weight Loss with HCG Pellets

September 8th, 2011 | Posted by Fred Bloem, MD in Obesity - (11 Comments)

This patient reports her incredible results after the first two weeks on the HCG Diet. She was using pellets and experienced significant loss of both pounds and inches, as well as improvement in her blood pressure and eyesight.

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HCG Diet Video Testimonial

March 7th, 2011 | Posted by Fred Bloem, MD in Cardiovascular Health | Obesity - (10 Comments)

Get the Flash Player to see the wordTube Media Player.

This patient used genuine oral liquid HCG which is not be confused with “homeopathic HCG” remedies which do not contain HCG. He lost a tremendous amount of fat and experienced improvements in his blood pressure, blood sugar, and cholesterol levels. He has felt better than he has in years.

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Are Oral HCG drops and Homeopathic HCG drops the same thing?

July 6th, 2010 | Posted by Fred Bloem, MD in Obesity - (25 Comments)

Genuine HCG (human chorionic gonadotrophin) can only be obtained from a licensed physician.

There is some confusion surrounding this topic because there are some Internet based companies that sell HCG and supplies such as syringes and needles without requiring a physician’s prescription or a face to face medical evaluation. Most of these companies arrange for shipment of HCG from Europe, India, or China in nondescript packaging for the purpose of evading customs and seizure. Needless to say that this is an inappropriate method of acquiring HCG.

There are also many companies that advertise and sell “oral HCG”, “liquid HCG”, or “HCG drops”. This is typically not genuine HCG.

This is how you can tell the difference:

Genuine oral human chorionic gonadotrophin

Dispensed in bottles with lyophilized HCG (dried by freezing in a high vacuum).
Must be mixed with a diluent prior to use.
Has a limited shelf life of about two weeks and must be kept refrigerated once mixed with a diluent.
Dosing of HCG is measured in IUs (International Units) and is twice daily.
Requires a prescription from a licensed physician.

Homeopathic “HCG”

This is a homeopathic remedy which does not contain any measurable amounts of human chorionic gonadotrophin.
Dispensed as a aqueous solution.
Does not need to be mixed prior to use.
Shelf life is measured in years and the solution does not require refrigeration.
Dosing is measured in number of drops and typically is at least three to four times daily.
Often sold by individuals who don’t have a medical license.

Most patients that I have spoken with that have used both genuine HCG and “homeopathic HCG” have reported that real HCG is much more effective.

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HCG Diet Success: Healthy Weight Loss for Fashion Models

June 26th, 2010 | Posted by Fred Bloem, MD in Obesity - (19 Comments)

Earlier this year a woman in her early thirties presented to my office with a chief complaint of obesity. She had not been able to find anyone who was willing to take her complaint seriously and treat her with the safest and most effective obesity treatment in existence today: the Dr. Simeons HCG Diet Protocol.

After reading an HCG Diet success story on my website she knew that I was able and willing to help her.

Some people will find it hard to understand why a slender young woman who is 5 feet and 8.5 inches (1.74 meters) tall and about 130 lbs. (59 kg) would seek out obesity treatment. However, when you understand that obesity is a disorder which is characterized by an accumulation of abnormal fat deposits and that it is not defined by a simple ratio between height and weight such as the body mass index (BMI), then you will appreciate that treatment of obesity in individuals with a slender body build makes perfect sense.

In the words of Dr. A.T.W. Simeons in his book Pounds and Inches – A New Approach to Obesity (pages 29 and 30):

“Not by Weight alone…

Weight alone is not a satisfactory criterion by which to judge whether a person is suffering from the disorder we call obesity or not. Every physician is familiar with the sylphlike lady who enters the consulting room and declares emphatically that she is getting horribly fat and wishes to reduce. Many an honest and sympathetic physician at once concludes that he is dealing with a “nut.” If he is busy he will give her short shrift, but if he has time he will weigh her and show her tables to prove that she is actually underweight.

I have never yet seen or heard of such a lady being convinced by either procedure. The reason is that in my experience the lady is nearly always right and the doctor wrong.

When such a patient is carefully examined one finds many signs of potential obesity, which is just about to become manifest as overweight. The patient distinctly feels that something is wrong with her, that a subtle change is taking place in her body, and this alarms her.

There are a number of signs and symptoms which are characteristic of obesity. In manifest obesity many and often all these signs and symptoms are present. In latent or just beginning cases some are always found, and it should be a rule that if two or more of the bodily signs are present, the case must be regarded as one that needs immediate help.”

The HCG Diet Protocol is the ideal treatment method for individuals who are struggling with obesity at any weight, including those whose body weight is considered normal by conventional BMI standards (BMI <25 is considered “normal” weight). As this patient explains, the HCG Diet Protocol is perfect for men and women who work as fashion or runway models. It is also recommended for actors and actresses, dancers, newscasters, and for anyone else whose livelihood depends on looking good in front of the camera or in public. Additionally, the HCG Diet Protocol is career-saving for athletes and for men and women who serve in the military and in other professions where they need to meet strict weight standards.

Here is the patient’s experience in her own words:

“Overall, I had great success with the protocol. I never once felt hungry which really surprised me. I used to eat a lot and all day long too. But there is just something special that the hcg does that makes it easy. Yes, it was difficult at times as I was pushing through some stubborn fat but getting past those hurdles was way worth it. I also had the extra benefit of detoxification. As the old fat cells were being flushed out, a lot of old toxins also got flushed away. Now I am thin but also much healthier. I can think better and I have a lot more energy.

I have been a life-long dieter and always concerned with my weight. I’ve never been naturally thin. So as soon as I hit puberty, I’ve had to work hard to stay slim. The only thing that sort of worked for me were diet pills and watching what I ate. But the minute I stopped watching what I ate, I’d easily gain again. I’ve had cellulite since I was a teenager that has never gone away and after my hcg protocol, I can happily say that it is ALL GONE! I still can’t believe it. Nothing ever worked before to get rid of it and I’ve tried it all.

Luckily even though I had to work HARD for it, I was accepted into the modeling and fashion world. I modeled internationally for magazines and the runway for 3 years. So, body image has always been important to me as well as health. In my opinion, too many models use unhealthy methods to stay thin. I know because I’ve witnessed it first-hand. I honestly think that any girl or guy that has aspirations to have a modeling career and has weight to lose or wants better muscle definition, this is by far, the most healthy way to go about it to get amazing results.

I’m now at 110 lbs, I’m 5 ft. 8 1/2 inches tall and I’m a size 2. I look and feel better now than I ever did even as a model. I’ve asked several people who know me well to guess my weight and every one guesses that I look to be about 120 lbs. I look normal and not starved because of the hcg. My face is not gaunt and my cheek bones don’t stick out either. That always worried me before. That if I got too thin, I would look anorexic, but I don’t. I am so overly thrilled with my results overall!! Thank you Dr. Bloem!”

Pictures 1, 2, and 3 (below) show the patient as she started the low-calorie phase of the HCG Diet Protocol (Phase 2). Pictures 4 and 5 show the patient after stopping the low-calorie phase of the HCG Diet Protocol and entering the next phase (Phase 3). Notable improvements include a significant reduction of abdominal fat with visible flattening of the stomach and slimming of her buttocks and thighs. Overall she lost an incredible 23.2 lbs. and 16 inches in 55 days!

When patients are following the HCG Diet Protocol under the supervision of an experienced physician and are monitored carefully, they will not only see a reduction in abnormal fat deposits, but they will often also experience an increased sense of well-being and an improvement of other complaints and health conditions such as hypertension, high cholesterol, diabetes, and joint aches.

Dr. Bloem is one of the most experienced physicians in the field of obesity treatment using the Dr. Simeons HCG Diet Protocol in the United States. He has studied with Dr. Daniel Belluscio from Argentina, a world renowned expert in this field. As a holistic physician he is able to help his patients lose weight safely and effectively and to treat a wide range of associated health conditions.

Picture 1: Day 1 (March 22, 2010) - Start of 500 Calorie Diet. 133.8 lbs. (BMI 20.2)

Picture 2: Day 1 - Start of 500 Calorie Diet. 133.8 lbs. (BMI 20.2)

Picture 3: Day 1 - Start of 500 Calorie Diet. 133.8 lbs. (BMI 20.2)

Picture 4: Day 1 of Phase 3 (May 15, 2010). 110.6 lbs. (BMI 16.7)

Picture 5: Day 1 of Phase 3. 110.6 lbs. (BMI 16.7)

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Does Homeopathic HCG Work?

January 14th, 2010 | Posted by Fred Bloem, MD in Obesity - (55 Comments)

While I know a few people who have had success using homeopathic HCG drops, I don’t have enough experience in my practice to comment on its efficacy compared to real HCG (human chorionic gonadotrophin).

I can say that I have had patients come to my practice after having disappointing results with the homeopathic HCG. Patients typically have a greater than 80-90% success rate if they follow the HCG Diet Protocol correctly and follow up with me consistently.

Here are some things to consider with regard to homeopathic HCG:

“Homeopathic HCG” is believed to contain the energetic imprint of HCG but does not actually contain HCG. It is made with a minute amount of HCG that is diluted millions of times following homeopathic manufacturing practices.
There are many websites that claim to sell oral HCG (which I am able to legally offer to my patients in my medical practice, in addition to injectable HCG, HCG cream, nasal HCG, and HCG tablets) but instead provide homeopathic HCG.
One of the most commonly sold brands of homeopathic HCG contains 16% USP Alcohol which would be unacceptable for some people for religious or medical reasons.

I recommend that people find an experienced physician who will do a thorough medical evaluation before prescribing HCG. Although the HCG Diet Protocol is very safe, it does requires close monitoring to ensure optimal results. Another benefit of working with a physician (especially one who holistically oriented) is that other health issues will be recognized and treated as well.

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HCG Diet for Skinny People? Does Size 00 Equal Anorexia?

January 14th, 2010 | Posted by Fred Bloem, MD in Obesity - (43 Comments)

After reading I am down from a size 4-6 to a size 00 a few people sent messages like these:

“This is not good news. A size 4-6 is very small..a double 00 is anorexic and shouldn’t be supported in a clinical environment. Boo”

“Size 00? Sounds TOO THIN to me!”

It is not possible to make an adequate assessment without having evaluated the patient like I have and taking into consideration a patient’s body build, size, and body composition.

In conventional circles patients are not considered medically overweight until their BMI (body mass index) is over 25. Likewise, a person is not considered medically obese until their BMI is over 30. The BMI is determined by dividing a person’s weight (in kilograms) by their height (in meters) squared (kg/m²).

I do not use this definition when I work with my patients. I consider patients obese if they have abnormal fat deposits regardless of their weight.

For example, the small framed patient in the referenced article presented to me 5 feet tall with a weight of 107.2 lbs. Accordingly, her BMI was 21 and she was not able to find any physicians willing to treat her even though she had clear evidence of abnormal fat deposits in the area of her buttocks and her thighs.

Most clinicians with little experience in the evaluation and treatment of obesity would not even consider treating her until she was “medically overweight” at 128 lbs (BMI 25) or “medically obese” at 154 lbs (BMI 30). Why should a patient have to wait so long to qualify for obesity treatment?

This patient had a very good response to the HCG Diet Protocol and quickly lost 17 lbs of abnormal and unwanted fat deposits. This returned her to her normal young adult weight of 90 lbs (BMI 17.6).

Clinical evaluation confirmed that she had maintained her muscle mass and structural fat and she did not look anorexic at all. One of the primary benefits of the HCG Diet Protocol is that it targets the abnormal fat deposits without causing muscle atrophy or disappearance of structural fat in the face and other areas of the body that is typical patients who are anorexic.

It has been my experience that once patients have eliminated the abnormal fat deposits by using the HCG Diet Protocol they will stop losing weight and muscle mass and normal, structural fat are maintained. I have not seen any patients who became anorexic or who developed an anorectic appearance while under my care.

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HCG Success: 50 Pounds lost in 4 Months

June 17th, 2009 | Posted by Fred Bloem, MD in Obesity | Testimonials - (17 Comments)

Ashley is a 24 year old woman who started the Dr. Simeons HCG Protocol earlier this year. Her height is 5’9″ and her starting weight was 230 lbs. She chose to inject the HCG (human chorionic gonadotrophin) intramuscularly daily for six weeks at a time.

After completing six weeks at the beginning of April 2009 she had lost 31 lbs and weighed 199 lbs.

At the end of May 2009 she started another round of HCG treatment and when she followed up in the office today she had lost another 20.2 lbs in 21 days. Today her weight was 178.2 lbs. She plans to complete a full six week round and then take a break for a while.

As Ashley started to lose weight she first lost most of the abnormal fat deposits in her upper body, including her face, chest, arms, and abdomen. Her hips and thighs were not reducing much initially. However, during the last round of treatment she noticed significant reductions in her hips and thighs.

Considerations for future treatment, besides HCG, include MIC injections for general mobilization and elimination of fat and L-Carnitine injections for site specific reduction of abnormal fat deposits.

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MIC Injections: Adjunctive Weight Reduction Treatment

June 13th, 2009 | Posted by Fred Bloem, MD in Nutrition | Obesity - (27 Comments)

MIC injections are among the newest adjunctive therapies that I am offering to my patients as part of their weight reduction treatment.

The primary weight reduction protocol that I recommend to my patients is the Dr. Simeons HCG Diet Protocol. Most of my patients experience great results with this protocol alone. However, some patients do benefit from additional support.

MIC is an acronym which stands for L-Methionine, Inositol, and Choline. These are lipotropic agents that are believed to support liver function and promote the excretion of fat. L-Methionine is an amino acid. Inositol and choline are cofactors. Together they are able to aid in the mobilization and elimination of abnormalÂ fat deposits.

L-Methionine is an essential amino acid, which means that it is not synthesized in humans. Therefore we must consume methionine or methionine-containing proteins. Foods that contain high levels of methionine include cheese, eggs, fish, meats, spinach, potatoes, Brazil nuts, sesame seeds, and some other plant seeds. However, by injecting L-Methionine into the muscle we can achieve high levels in the body’s tissues and this is believed to result in more effective mobilization and elimination of abnormal fat deposits.

Other reported benefits of L-methionine include improvement of liver disease, improvement of skin tone and elasticity, nails, and hair; improvement of cardiovascular and muscular functions through its role in the production of creatine. It has been used to treat premature ejaculation, chronic depression, pancreatitis, Parkinson’s disease, and AIDS myelopathy.

Inositol, also known as myo-inositol, is best described as a carbocyclic polyol and forms the basis for many signaling and secondary messenger molecules. As such it is involved in many biological processes, including the breakdown of fats and reduction of serum cholesterol, serotonin activity modulation, gene expression, and insulin signal transduction. It is not considered a vitamin because the body is able to synthesize it.

It has been shown to be helpful for the treatment of depression, panic disorder, polycystic ovarian syndrome, and fatty liver. It also promotes healthy hair growth and it is important for optimal metabolism and brain function. Inositol deficiency may manifest as symptoms of constipation, high cholesterol, vision problems, and hair loss.

Although it is naturally found in certain foods such as nuts, beans (especially red beans and kidney beans), grains, cantaloupe melons, and oranges, it is more effective in breaking down fat when given as an intramuscular injection.

Choline is a natural amine that is involved in the synthesis of carnitine, cell membrane phospholipids, and the neurotransmitter acetylcholine. It is a major source for methyl groups via its metabolite trimethylglycine (betaine) that participates in the S-adenosylmethionine synthesis pathways.

Food sources of choline include peanuts, soybeans, wheat, chicken, fish, beef, cauliflower, eggs, and lettuce.

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