I just don't have the "won't power" (as in "I won't eat this or that) to stick to a VLCD. If I did, I wouldn't be in the shape I am.
I used the hCG pellets to help me retrain my brain, as well as lose pounds. I did 40 days on the pellets and lost 20lbs. I did NOT adhere to a 500 calorie eating plan. Instead, I used the combination of feeling less hungry AND seeing the numbers on the scale change to reprogram my brain and my stomach.
I probably ate under 1000 calories five days a week and under 1500 the other two days. I'm sure it was a psychological thing, but feeling less hungry helped me to evaluate - am I really hungry or am I bored? am I hungry or is this emotional eating?
40 days on hCG and only 20lbs down might seem like a failure according to the protocol, but for me it is a huge win. I plan to do another round in October.
My long-winded way of saying - it doesn't have to be an all-or-nothing diet.