Hair falling out...

2»

Replies

  • Theo166
    Theo166 Posts: 2,564 Member
    averaging 11lbs a month for 7 months is some serious weight loss.

    Maybe try eating at maintenance for 1-2 weeks and see how you feel, some call it a 'diet break'
  • JaydedMiss
    JaydedMiss Posts: 4,286 Member
    eat more fat in your diet its necessary and good for you.
  • jdog022
    jdog022 Posts: 693 Member
    I would go straight to maintenance calories . like right now. if malnutrition is the cause of hairloss then you cannot afford to slowly reverse diet. This is serious and why take a risk its something else. diet break aka eating at maintenance has great benefits after long periods. resets hormones,adapted metabolism etc.

    You will gain a few pounds. it's not fat. dont freak
  • PHXLoser
    PHXLoser Posts: 6 Member
    Hair loss is very common when you lose a lot of weight. If you look at any of the weight loss surgery blogs, it's one of the biggest side effects. It grows back once your body adjusts. That's assuming that you're otherwise healthy. Check with your doctor if you're concerned.
  • JaydedMiss
    JaydedMiss Posts: 4,286 Member
    PHXLoser wrote: »
    Hair loss is very common when you lose a lot of weight. If you look at any of the weight loss surgery blogs, it's one of the biggest side effects. It grows back once your body adjusts. That's assuming that you're otherwise healthy. Check with your doctor if you're concerned.

    no. its not common. nor is it okay. Its a malnourished body telling you theres trouble.
  • rhps84
    rhps84 Posts: 26 Member
    Mine is also falling out. Figured maybe it's because I'm getting older.
  • NEOHgirl
    NEOHgirl Posts: 237 Member
    My endo told me that even though I was losing at a healthy rate (about 6-7# per month at that time), it puts stress on the body, so while you might not be feeling emotional stress, your body is under physical stress from adjusting to the changes. Definitely increase your protein & fats and calories. The doc told me that hair is mostly made of protein so that should help. I wouldn't increase your supplements, you are also on a very high dose. My doc told me that the thinning hair should resolve once I went to maintenance. I've increase my protein and it has at least slowed, although it hasn't thickened back and I suspect it never will.
  • LKArgh
    LKArgh Posts: 5,178 Member
    edited April 2017
    mirelaavdich wrote: »
    I have been eating 1200-1400 calories per day since September. On days that I am active a lot I eat about 1500 calories.

    I started exercising slowly (walking, Pilates, 7 minute workout) but for the last 4 months I have exercised 6 days a week (alternate running and strength training).

    I do have Hashimoto's, and PCOS (insulin resistant). I was pre-diabetic at my August 2016 check up. Just had the labs done in March. My thyroid levels are great and no longer pre-diabetic (A1C is 5.6). Doctor said I am doing great.

    I could be protein deficient as I eat mostly plant based and looking at my food diary protein intake is usually around 20%-30%. I am not vegan and do eat eggs daily. I am not a fan of meat (texture issue) but do eat a lot of beans and legumes.

    Go back to your dr. It could be that you now have a thyroid problem again (it can change suddenly, it has happened to me) or it could anemia if you are not getting enough iron. Also your dr might want to check for pernicious anemia, it is more common for people with Hashimoto
  • AnnPT77
    AnnPT77 Posts: 34,607 Member
    One side comment that I think is relevant:

    What's happening when you lose hair? When it's weight-loss-related, one major reason can be that on a too-low calorie level, your body has less fuel, and starts to prioritize where to use its energy (speaking metaphorically). Growing hair is usually somewhat low on the body's priority scale.

    Think of your hair (again, metaphorically) as a tiny tube made out of protein that's being sort of extruded from the follicle on your head, i.e., it grows from the base. When you have a period of low growth, that can result in a thinned strand at the base. If it's too thin, it is fragile enough to break off when you wash, comb, move against the pillow while sleeping, etc.

    One implication is that a severe calorie restriction, even if it's fairly short, can cause hair loss by creating that thin area in the strand. (For a timeline perspective, some kinds of chemotherapy that cause hair loss take effect so fast that the hair loss happens in around 3 weeks. Of course, that's a more severe stressor - but it gives you an idea of how fast a stressor can cause this problem.)

    Everyone's body is a little different. Some people will experience hair loss faster at a less-extreme calorie restriction, compared to others.

    But, as someone above said, the hair loss is a warning that you're underfueling your body more than it can make up simply by burning body fat - a "canary in the coal mine" moment. It's possible that the hair loss is the only problem, but it's far more likely that other bodily functions are suffering as well.
This discussion has been closed.

Categories