Who Does Your Health Belong To? Ask Yourself that Question as You Begin Your HCG Protocol Tomorrow.
- Dr. Zachary Laboube
- Aug 31
- 5 min read
Today would’ve been my mom’s 72nd birthday. I lost her when she was just 38, a tragic car accident that also took my 12-year-old sister. It was a one-in-a-million event—completely unpreventable. But here’s the cruel irony: my mom was the most health-conscience person I’ve ever known. She was a runner, constantly training for 10Ks. She was clean-eating before clean-eating was cool—always focused on real, whole, organic food prepared with love. I should know - I used to stand on a chair so I could watch her in the kitchen. I don't think she loved it, but I'll never forget.
Because of her, I developed healthy habits that have lasted a lifetime. I never had to re-learn how to eat. I love vegetables. I enjoy being in the kitchen. I don’t have much of a sweet tooth. Food, for me, has always been fun - even an adventure. My mom taught us how to eat with chop sticks even though Asia might as well have been Mars - Just another place that a kid from a small midwestern town would never go. Like I said, I was very fortunate. I spent almost 10 years on Asia.
I know that’s not the case for everyone.
Not everyone grew up in a household where vegetables were celebrated, where family meals were sacred and attendance was required. But here’s the truth: if you're reading this, it's not too late to change. And more importantly...
Your health doesn’t belong to you alone. It belongs to your kids. Your partner. The people who love and depend on you.
When you’re careless with your health, it doesn’t just affect you. It creates ripple effects—on your family, your future and the future of your family. So as you begin the low-calorie phase of HCG 2.0 tomorrow, I encourage you to think beyond the numbers on the scale.
Think beyond your 30 or 40 day HCG protocol.
Ask yourself: Do I really want to spend the rest of my life counting calories and carbs? Or do I want to build a lifestyle that makes health feel natural?
That’s what this round can be for you. Not just a good round—but the round that changes everything.
You Can Follow Rules for 30 Days. But Then What?
I love the structure of the HCG 2.0 protocol. It gives you boundaries. It’s simple, it’s effective, and it works if you follow it. In fact, it works really well. Join our private Facebook group and ask for yourself. Honestly, anyone can follow rules for 30-40 days. That’s not to say it’s easy, but it’s straightforward—there’s a roadmap.
But what happens when the 40 days are over?
That’s when the real work begins.
I want you to succeed on the scale, of course. But I care more about what happens after. I want you to develop habits that stick. I want you to stop counting calories not because you gave up, but because you no longer need to.
Weight loss is tactical. Lifestyle change is philosophical.
Meals Shouldn’t Be Rushed. They Should Be Respected.
Let me ask you something—how often do you eat in your car? How many meals have you "finished" while walking out the door?
Food has become a casualty of our obsession with convenience. It’s not even about taste anymore—it’s about timing. And when convenience becomes the top priority, nutrition is the first thing to be eliminated.
Compare that to the way Italians or the French dine. Meals are an event. They last hours. They’re social. They’re joyful. They’re intentional.
Make your kitchen feel like a trattoria, not a cafeteria. Light a candle. Pour a glass of sparkling water. Put on music. Invite your kids into the kitchen. Teach them what food looks like before it’s packaged and processed. Sit down in front of the television and watch cooking shows. My niece loves them. Then we go to the grocery store, shop the perimeters, then come home and prepare the meal. She's 9.
Taste Is an Acquired Sense—Train It.
People often say, “I just don’t like vegetables.” I get it. But taste is trainable.Try blanching. Try grilling. Try roasting with olive oil and a sprinkle of sea salt. One of my go-to’s is blanched asparagus. It’s so simple, it’s meant to be eaten cold, and it stores well in the fridge. If you keep veggies prepared and accessible, you’re way more likely to grab them over chips.
Growing up, my mom would prep Tupperware dishes full of raw vegetables for road trips. We didn’t eat chips—and we never felt deprived. Because we had developed a taste for real food.
Use Indulgence As a Tool, Not a Trap
Indulgence isn’t the enemy—habitual indulgence is.
When I was in chiropractic school, I had a ritual. I’d hit the coffee shop, study hard for a few hours, then walk across the street and grab a couple beers with the guys. That was my reward. I earned it, and it never derailed me. It became a healthy indulgence—one that added joy to the process rather than sabotage.
Find your rhythm. Let indulgence work for you, not against you.
Hack the Science of Food
Let’s be honest—some things are hard to give up. That’s where food science can actually help you. Use it intelligently:
Got a sweet tooth? Try Truvia or even aspartame as a transitional tool.
Craving pasta? Try zoodles using a spiralizer.
Love burritos? Use zero-carb tortillas or, even better, lettuce wraps.
Need rice? Make cauliflower rice in seconds.
These aren’t gimmicks—they’re training wheels for a better lifestyle.
Carbs Are Fuel. But Do You Need That Much Fuel?
Here’s something to chew on: Carbohydrates are chemically similar to gasoline. Literally. Both are made of hydrocarbons—chains of carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen. The only difference is in the chain length and structure.
Kids need that fuel. They run, they play, they grow. Adults? We’re more sedentary. We simply don’t need as much fuel. What we do need is nutrition—and most carbs don’t offer much of that.
The reason HCG works is because it allows you to tap into your unwanted fat reserves so that those fat calories can be burned as fuel - energy.
Feed Your Body What It Actually Wants
Being healthy isn’t just about cutting things out—it’s about giving your body the right things.
Protein – to build and preserve muscle
Healthy fats – like Omega-3s (salmon, walnuts, flax) and Omega-9s (olive oil, avocados)
A 1:1 ratio of good fats to bad fats – Aim to reduce Omega-6s (vegetable oils, processed snacks) and increase the Omega-3s and 6s.
Phytonutrition – plant-based food. Nutrients from plants: leafy greens, berries (the more colorful the better), cruciferous veggies, herbs
When you fuel your body with what it needs, you’ll notice something amazing:You stop craving the garbage. You feel satisfied. Your body starts trusting you again.
Your Diet Budget = Your Life Budget
I know money’s tight. I know groceries are expensive.But what else do you do three times per day, every single day of the year?
You don’t need a new car. You don’t need a new phone.You need to eat. And you owe it to yourself to eat well.
Make the investment—in yourself and in your family.
In Summary: Think Bigger Than the Scale
I want you to crush the HCG 2.0 plan. I want you to see those numbers drop. But even more than that, I want you to come out the other side with a new outlook on food, health, and lifestyle.
Don’t spend the rest of your life counting calories. Spend it being smart. Plan your meals. Prep your ingredients. Budget for quality. Make your home a place where food is valued, shared, respected - and most importantly enjoyed.
And teach your kids to do the same.
We only get one body. And we only get one life. Let’s make both count.
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