losing hair and diet

alexa137
alexa137 Posts: 68 Member
edited October 4 in Food and Nutrition
I'm losing my hair alot and its really frizzy and wiry and alot of breakage and i'ts driving me crazy trying to figure what is causing this problem! it looks so unhealthy i cant even go out in public anymore! I started taking Phentermine in August and I have been eating healthier the past month or so and lost 13 lbs, i used to never eat fruits or veggies and now i eat carrots, apple slices, grapes, bananas and salads. I drink lots of water and i dont drink alcohol. I just had a trim 2 weeks ago. Im guessing its stress, but how do you not stress? and my dr said that it is not a side effect of the Phentermine.
anyone else have this issue?
«1

Replies

  • foremant86
    foremant86 Posts: 1,115 Member
    if you're diet is accurate(on the days you actually logged) then you are not eating enough, so instead of keeping your hair full and shiny your body is using all that it has to keep your organs alive.

    You need to eat more, at least 1200 calories a day.
  • MissMaryMac33
    MissMaryMac33 Posts: 1,433 Member
    Losing too much weight too fast, having a major surgery, high stress situations, starving yourself -- all can effect this. I take biotin supplements to help --- but looking at your diary, you're either not really tracking your food or you're starving yourself.

    EDIT: If I knew your height, weight, goal weight and activity level.. I could give you a better idea of your calories.
  • MarlaChandlerBarton
    MarlaChandlerBarton Posts: 141 Member
    It could very well be the Phentermine. Meds are the most common for losing hair. Maybe think about getting off of it.
  • usmcmp
    usmcmp Posts: 21,219 Member
    From your diary you really aren't eating enough. Not even close. As foremant86 said your body is trying to keep itself alive and is using what little you give it for that instead of making your hair nice. You should probably stop taking Phentermine for a while, start eating twice as much as you have and it should help.
  • Jorra
    Jorra Posts: 3,338 Member
    I think the most likely reason is because you are not giving your body enough energy to keep all your bodily functions working right. Please eat more food, it's necessary.
  • cbmcphillips
    cbmcphillips Posts: 801 Member
    I agree with everyone here - you need to eat more.

    You're body is starving itself... and using what you give it to keep you alive.
  • alexa137
    alexa137 Posts: 68 Member
    well the breakage started 2 weeks ago i have been on the Phentermine since august, its the only way i can lose weight! im just not hungry as much anymore, plus depression and stress doesnt help. I dont exercise everyday so thats why i dont eat alot!
    i am 5 foot 3 inches currently weight between 160-163 lbs, i cant remember my weight in aug maybe 173 i will check when i go for a checkup on thurs.
    I also started taking biotin and vitamin c about a week ago and doing oil/egg treatment and only washing it twice a week and no hair dryer etc
    I just dont know what to eat anymore!
  • I had this problem a long time ago when I took phentermine, I will tell you that after I stopped the phentermine it started to grow back.
  • Jorra
    Jorra Posts: 3,338 Member
    well the breakage started 2 weeks ago i have been on the Phentermine since august, its the only way i can lose weight! im just not hungry as much anymore, plus depression and stress doesnt help. I dont exercise everyday so thats why i dont eat alot!
    i am 5 foot 3 inches currently weight between 160-163 lbs, i cant remember my weight in aug maybe 173 i will check when i go for a checkup on thurs.
    I also started taking biotin and vitamin c about a week ago and doing oil/egg treatment and only washing it twice a week and no hair dryer etc
    I just dont know what to eat anymore!

    If you don't feel like eating more food, eat more calorie dense foods. Eat nuts, peanut butter, avocado, cheese, and meats. It may sound counter-intuitive to eat higher calorie foods to lose weight, but honestly, your health takes top priority. I'm not saying you have an eating disorder, but your caloric intake is currently similar to someone who does have anorexia. If you think your hair is suffering, think about what's going on inside you, there are a lot of serious health consequences to eating so little.
  • sharonfincher1
    sharonfincher1 Posts: 311 Member
    Try taking vitamin A, and Zinc......
  • alexa137
    alexa137 Posts: 68 Member
    ok well check out todays food intake!
  • Jorra
    Jorra Posts: 3,338 Member
    ok well check out todays food intake!

    That's one way to up it! Sounds delicious. The trick is now to incorporate a higher intake like that into your every day life.
  • sewedo1
    sewedo1 Posts: 200 Member
    Did your MD check your thyroid levels? Hyperthyroid can cause hairloss.
  • MIMITIME
    MIMITIME Posts: 405 Member
    Did your MD check your thyroid levels? Hyperthyroid can cause hairloss.

    What she said. My hair dresser knew I had a thyroid problem before the doctor did. Would not hurt to get it checked to at least rule out as the problem. It is a simple blood test.
  • claricejean
    claricejean Posts: 4 Member
    I have done 1000 calorie diets in the past and after about 6 weeks or so I would notice lots of hair loss, too. It was always the reason I would go back to more calories (that, and the fact I could not live happily on 1000 cal a day). This time I am doing the recommended wt loss of 1-1.5 lbs a week and no hair loss at all. I would be more suspicious of too few calories.
  • This happened to me when I was about 2-3 months into another diet. I went to the doc and she said it is perfectly normal and it happens on all diets no matter how healthy they are. She said it is just your body adjusting to the shock of not eating rubbish all the time and it thinks because you are eating less that there is something wrong so it shuts off hair folicles. It is kinda fustrating at first but your hair grows back better and healthier but if you are concerned then just go and see your doctor.
  • koosdel
    koosdel Posts: 3,317 Member
    well the breakage started 2 weeks ago i have been on the Phentermine since august, its the only way i can lose weight! im just not hungry as much anymore, plus depression and stress doesnt help. I dont exercise everyday so thats why i dont eat alot!
    i am 5 foot 3 inches currently weight between 160-163 lbs, i cant remember my weight in aug maybe 173 i will check when i go for a checkup on thurs.
    I also started taking biotin and vitamin c about a week ago and doing oil/egg treatment and only washing it twice a week and no hair dryer etc
    I just dont know what to eat anymore!

    Check out a friends food diary. You can do it with out the drugs. It's not supposed to be easy.
  • Gigi_licious
    Gigi_licious Posts: 1,185 Member
    Are you getting enough protein and fats? Both are essential for our bodies.
  • Dreamerlove
    Dreamerlove Posts: 441 Member
    well the breakage started 2 weeks ago i have been on the Phentermine since august, its the only way i can lose weight! im just not hungry as much anymore, plus depression and stress doesnt help. I dont exercise everyday so thats why i dont eat alot!
    i am 5 foot 3 inches currently weight between 160-163 lbs, i cant remember my weight in aug maybe 173 i will check when i go for a checkup on thurs.
    I also started taking biotin and vitamin c about a week ago and doing oil/egg treatment and only washing it twice a week and no hair dryer etc
    I just dont know what to eat anymore!

    Check out a friends food diary. You can do it with out the drugs. It's not supposed to be easy.



    What he said. Be strong. Push yourself.
  • ilookthetype
    ilookthetype Posts: 3,021 Member
    Are you getting enough protein and fats? Both are essential for our bodies.

    This. Eat more in general, and make sure you get enough protein/fats/nutrients.
  • megz4987
    megz4987 Posts: 1,008 Member
    well the breakage started 2 weeks ago i have been on the Phentermine since august, its the only way i can lose weight! im just not hungry as much anymore, plus depression and stress doesnt help. I dont exercise everyday so thats why i dont eat alot!
    i am 5 foot 3 inches currently weight between 160-163 lbs, i cant remember my weight in aug maybe 173 i will check when i go for a checkup on thurs.
    I also started taking biotin and vitamin c about a week ago and doing oil/egg treatment and only washing it twice a week and no hair dryer etc
    I just dont know what to eat anymore!

    Check out a friends food diary. You can do it with out the drugs. It's not supposed to be easy.



    What he said. Be strong. Push yourself.

    What they said.
    You do not NEED the drugs to get the weight off, you need to work for it. There's no laziness in losing weight. Since March, I have lost 65lb and I have thicker hair now than when I was pregnant.

    Work for it, be healthy and keep going.
  • Cathleenr
    Cathleenr Posts: 332
    well the breakage started 2 weeks ago i have been on the Phentermine since august, its the only way i can lose weight! im just not hungry as much anymore, plus depression and stress doesnt help. I dont exercise everyday so thats why i dont eat alot!
    i am 5 foot 3 inches currently weight between 160-163 lbs, i cant remember my weight in aug maybe 173 i will check when i go for a checkup on thurs.
    I also started taking biotin and vitamin c about a week ago and doing oil/egg treatment and only washing it twice a week and no hair dryer etc
    I just dont know what to eat anymore!

    Hair is only alive at the root, so it does take awhile before you would notice the ends looking dry. But that would be because the root follicle isn't getting the nutrients it needs. Putting stuff ON your hair won't help. Get some quality fats and proteins into your diet and eat more. and, lol, you need to eat EVERY day, whether you exercise or not (hopefully you do it at least three times a week though).
  • marzahl68
    marzahl68 Posts: 201
    My honest opinion: throw away those pills! What happens when you reach your weight goal and stop taking the pills? You'll gain it back. Eat healthy foods. Give your body what it requires, it doesn't matter that much wether you like fruits and veggies - just eat them.
  • alexa137
    alexa137 Posts: 68 Member
    yes thats my plan-stopped the phentermine today, gonna see what happens the next month with my hair and if i can do it without it-just hope i dont put back on the 13 lbs i lost in 2 months because i had to go buy sizes 10-12! im gonna look through a few peoples food diaries and see what they are eating to give me more ideas
    now the problem with water, dont mind drinking it, but its hard especially in the winter when its 27 degrees outside!and 60 inside my apt( i ve been unemployed almost 2 yrs, so cant afford to put the heat on!)i tend to drink less because its so cold, i would rather drink coffee or a latte! i gave up my coffee for the phentermine though, which was hard!
    also i dont work out as much because i hate the winter and cold so i dont go outside but maybe twice a week to the grocery store( cant afford a gym membership) but i will continue the fruits and veggies and im going to get a multivitamin soon
    thanks for all the input and ideas
  • megz4987
    megz4987 Posts: 1,008 Member
    yes thats my plan-stopped the phentermine today, gonna see what happens the next month with my hair and if i can do it without it-just hope i dont put back on the 13 lbs i lost in 2 months because i had to go buy sizes 10-12! im gonna look through a few peoples food diaries and see what they are eating to give me more ideas
    now the problem with water, dont mind drinking it, but its hard especially in the winter when its 27 degrees outside!and 60 inside my apt( i ve been unemployed almost 2 yrs, so cant afford to put the heat on!)i tend to drink less because its so cold, i would rather drink coffee or a latte! i gave up my coffee for the phentermine though, which was hard!
    also i dont work out as much because i hate the winter and cold so i dont go outside but maybe twice a week to the grocery store( cant afford a gym membership) but i will continue the fruits and veggies and im going to get a multivitamin soon
    thanks for all the input and ideas

    I'm unemployed and we have an 8 month old, I cannot afford a gym membership either. I work out at home and believe that I get a better workout here than I ever have at the gym simply because I was always concerned what other people are thinking when they're watching me. Or the machine I want is in use or someone's waiting for the one I'm on so I know they're watching and huffing because I'm "taking too long." I do workout DVDs that I get for cheap at amazon, target or Walmart. I walk my dog, I run the stairs in the house. I use the equipment I've got-myself. When I'm feeling lazy and even my MFP friends can't get me off my butt, I repeat, "No excuses." get off my *kitten* and do it. Hardest part is starting the workout!
  • alexa137
    alexa137 Posts: 68 Member
    my hair isnt getting any better, its so hard to manage
    any tips that you did to help?
    i take biotin and prenatal vitamins
    only wash twice a week
    i have tried alot of things in the salon and drugstore shampoos conditioners etc
    still losing and hair breakage
    even tried olive oil for 30 mins
    help
    thxc-
  • MzBug
    MzBug Posts: 2,173 Member
    It is going to take a while for your hair to recover! There is no overnight fix for it. Talk to your hairdresser and see if they can recommend a good leave in spray to use after you shampoo. Something that will detangle as well as condition between washings. Make sure you are only using a wide toothed comb when the hair is wet and a natural boar bristle brush when it is dry (to help distribute the natural oils from the scalp). If you shower daily you can use just the conditioner on the days you don't wash your hair. If you chemically treat your hair it will just get worse. My hair went through a similar thing. I let it go all summer long, wore loose pony tails for months, and finally got a GOOD (2 inches) cut a couple weeks ago.
  • dirtbikegirl5
    dirtbikegirl5 Posts: 391 Member
    I have been going through this for a couple of months. My hair comes out in clumps. Luckily, I have a lot of hair.
    I have been involved in a stressful family situation that I am sure is the cause of it. Once I told myself, and voiced it to my husband, that I have zero control over this situation and the people involved are liars and crap bags (that's the g-rated version of what I call them), the losing hair has slowed down a lot. I am still losing it, but it is coming out in a few strands strands now, rather than in clumps.
  • katatak1
    katatak1 Posts: 261 Member
    yes thats my plan-stopped the phentermine today, gonna see what happens the next month with my hair and if i can do it without it-just hope i dont put back on the 13 lbs i lost in 2 months because i had to go buy sizes 10-12! im gonna look through a few peoples food diaries and see what they are eating to give me more ideas
    now the problem with water, dont mind drinking it, but its hard especially in the winter when its 27 degrees outside!and 60 inside my apt( i ve been unemployed almost 2 yrs, so cant afford to put the heat on!)i tend to drink less because its so cold, i would rather drink coffee or a latte! i gave up my coffee for the phentermine though, which was hard!
    also i dont work out as much because i hate the winter and cold so i dont go outside but maybe twice a week to the grocery store( cant afford a gym membership) but i will continue the fruits and veggies and im going to get a multivitamin soon
    thanks for all the input and ideas

    I was living in the mountains a few winters ago and had much the same issue with exercise. I couldn't afford a gym, I couldn't afford heat, my water heater put out freezing water, so showers were 1 min at max... so I put two and two together and found a pretty awesome way to do the darn thing :D Get yourself an aerobics block and do step aerobics in your apartment. You can build up a healthy sweat doing that. By doing that simple exercise, you will 1) want to drink water! 2) warm yourself up 3) delight in showers that don't feel quite as chilly anymore (mine moved all the way up to 8 min!) 4) feel better because you're working out... and 5) what we're all here for- drop some pounds and look awesome!
  • scs143
    scs143 Posts: 2,190 Member
    It takes approximately 2 months on a drug for your hair to start falling out. Once you stop the med, it takes 6 months for your hair to go back to normal. Meds put your hair in "rest" mode and they fall out. Try taking b-12 vitamins- sublingually. It helps "wake up" your hair follicles. Eat more protein and good fat. And give it the 6 months. Soon you will notice new hair growing. Good luck. Unfortunately, it takes while for your hair to get back to normal, but it will.
This discussion has been closed.