low carb but feel my hair thinning/look crappy

kimber0607

I lost weight after my second baby (13 years ago/..LOL) doing low carb
since that time, I gained back about 20 pounds i want to shed (be 44 in a week..it is much tougher this time around)
the only way I can keep my diet in check and not binge on sweets etc is to eliminate them and do low carb
I feel because I'm getting so much protein my hair etc would be better..but it seems to thin out and i feel my face (even though ive only lost 7 pounds) looks unhealthy/thin...gaunt?

I'm I the only one?
kim

lorrpb

How many calories have you been eating and for how long?
You know you can eliminate sweets and still eat other carbs?

kimber0607

yes it's just a slippery slope for me though...
im eating about 1400-1450 cals
I admit I'm impatient and by going strictly low carb I tend to shed 1-2 pounds a week

i dont know what im doing wrong or if its age..but the process is so slow
I have about 20 I want to shed but it seems like it will take forever!
kim

borninthenorth

Please get your thyroid checked. Hair loss is a very big sign of a problem. It only takes a simple blood test.

stanmann571

kimber0607 wrote: »

yes it's just a slippery slope for me though...
im eating about 1400-1450 cals
I admit I'm impatient and by going strictly low carb I tend to shed 1-2 pounds a week

i dont know what im doing wrong or if its age..but the process is so slow
I have about 20 I want to shed but it seems like it will take forever!
kim

Are you getting enough fat? or are you going low carb high protein?

For some, the face is the first place they lose weight, for others it's the last. It generally evens back out once you get into maintenance.

borninthenorth

Kimber0607. I-2 pounds a week is great!!! That is the healthy way. A crash diet may help you loose it fast but you will gain it back quicker. Slow and steady will help you learn how to eat healthy for life. When I was loosing 30 pounds I would only loose. .5 etc and some weeks I would gain. I did not get discouraged. You are heading in the right direction and taking control of your health.

fitoverfortymom

Are you eating that many calories before or after any exercise? If before, there's a chance you could be not getting enough nutrients, such as vitamin D, which will also cause hair loss. It's worth a visit to your doctor to have your thyroid and other vitamin levels checked.

emmamcgarity

I'd definitely suggest a doctor visit. Hair loss can sometimes mean malnutrition.

AnnPT77

How's your micronutrient consumption? Sometimes people going low carb end up limiting micros by accident. I assume you're getting enough fats. How is your stress level? Is there any chance you're hypothyroid, or something like that? Have you had blood tests for micronutrient deficiencies or hypothyroidism? Talked with your doctor? Hair loss is a bit worrying.

The thin/gaunt face thing can be transitional. Some people drop facial fat fairly fast (or inflammatory puffiness, or glycogen-related water (the latter especially on low carb)). The skin is often slower to catch up, so one can temporarily look haggard. My face looked kind of bad after weight loss, but improved over time (weeks to months, not days, just to be honest - but I was 60 at the time, not 44).

rheddmobile

Definitely get your thyroid checked!

Have you considered slow carb rather than low carb? For me that helps with cravings since my blood glucose stays within healthy range (I am diabetic) but without the nutritional downsides of a low carb diet - I get to eat carbs to power my workouts, etc.

WholeFoods4Lyfe

What are your macros? If you aren't eating enough fat, you may be inhibiting the absorption of the fat soluble vitamins A, D, E, and K. Vitamin deficiencies can cause many issues, including hair loss.

kimber0607

borninthenorth wrote: »

Please get your thyroid checked. Hair loss is a very big sign of a problem. It only takes a simple blood test.

Thanks for the rec..I just did 2 weeks ago
I had nodules and surgery on my thyroid 10years ago ...Im not on any medication
Ive mentioned to the Dr the hair loss but they do b/w and say my levels are good

kim

kimber0607

Thank you, everyone!!! I read all the responses...but I'm confused
I need some guidance to make sure im doing this correctly....for me low carb works...If i eat sweets at all I tend to binge...better, for me, to cut bread, pasta etc out of my diet all together...processed sugar

so (for now) I'm sticking with white meats, nuts, atkins shake, eggs, cheese, some berries, ..not a huge fan of green veggies..but I like string beans...so it's very limited for now
I just find it easy to minimize what I eat and keep a strict schedule..
Im eating roughly more like 1500 cals a day
i work out at home, but its nothing crazy...some strength training videos or treadmill..no more than an hour max a day

thanks for any insight
kim

toxikon

Assuming it's not a medical issue...

Being in a prolonged calorie deficit alone can be stressful for the body and can cause hair loss. Once you reach maintenance, your hair should bounce back.

It can also be caused by vitamin/mineral deficiencies. It doesn't hurt to take a multivitamin to ensure you're not missing out on anything. Fish oil and Vitamin D are also good supplements. The jury is out on Biotin supplementation, but it wouldn't hurt to try.

Be gentle with your hair, try not to shampoo too often. Don't brush your hair when it's wet and go easy on heat styling and tight hairstyles. A short haircut can also make your hair appear fuller.

singingflutelady

Are you getting enough iron? That can also make your hair fall out.

nvmomketo

kimber0607 wrote: »

borninthenorth wrote: »

Please get your thyroid checked. Hair loss is a very big sign of a problem. It only takes a simple blood test.

Thanks for the rec..I just did 2 weeks ago
I had nodules and surgery on my thyroid 10years ago ...Im not on any medication
Ive mentioned to the Dr the hair loss but they do b/w and say my levels are good

kim

As far as I know, low carb should not cause hair loss. Too low a calorie level will, but reducing carbs does not.. It would have been seen in cultures like the Inuit, Masai, or First Nations otherwise.

If you calories are adequate, my guess was thyroid or autoimmune issues too. Even when my free T3 and 4, and TSH are in the normal range, I still get symptoms of fatigue, dry skin, hair loss and constipation. My normal and healthy is at the higher end of the normal range... Not many doctors would accept that I needed more medication once I hit"normal" though.

If you are sure your thyroid is fine, you may want to add back some calories, and perhaps
make sure your protein is at least on the higher side of moderate.

HoneyBadger302

How long has the hair loss been an issue? If all of your tests are coming out good, and it hasn't been a very long time (couple weeks or so), I know I tend to go through a "shedding season" once or twice a year (usually about the time my cats are also shedding LOL).

If you are wanting to stick to low carb, other than the lack of veggies, sounds like you're pretty well balanced in terms of proteins and fats. Might be lacking some needed vitamins though? Do you take any supplements along that line (especially considering your lack of veggies/plants in your listed diet)? They aren't as good as getting them through food, but definitely better than nothing at all. Even with a veggie heavy diet (I just like them), I found my hair and nails really responded after I started taking a women's vitamin and magnesium supplements.

As for the weight loss, well, sounds like your body pulls from your face first. Nothing you can really do about that, but there's a really good chance it will start looking less gaunt after you start to lose elsewhere and things balance out a bit more, and the skin tightens back up.

lizziebeth1028

Sorry...but that all sounds just miserable. I have a sweet tooth and I have to be very mindful of triggers that will make me 'binge'. But I worked very hard to overcome it and so glad I did. I can eat a variety of things in their correct portion and enjoy food! It's not the enemy! Are you giving up sweets forever? Eventually you will have to learn moderation in order to maintain and/or gain the weight back. As a woman of certain age (me - almost 60), I definitely agree it gets harder to lose weight as we age. Strength training/weight lifting is a woman's best friend! I wish you all the best. I would encourage you to practice moderation! It's hard but it can be done!

Diatonic12

No, you are not the only one. I watched my hair circle the drain when I did what you're describing. I stopped all of it. I lost handfuls and handfuls. It's taken almost 2 years to get back to normal. Try some collagen peptides, they helped.

SFJULES66

Totally normal to lose hair after pregnancy. One of the nice things about pregnancy is getting a beautiful thick head of hair. Unfortunately, hormones change and it thins. Hang in there, you’ll feel like yourself again. Just eat right and TRY to sleep when you can.

LoveJoyFood

Do you take supplements? Good quality B complex vitamins, Nutritional Yeast, etc. It might help your hair. Stress and too much cortisol can cause temporary hair loss.