losing hair and diet

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Replies

  • kmbrooks15
    kmbrooks15 Posts: 941 Member
    You're definitely not eating enough. I'm the same age as you (I have more to lose, though), and I eat 1400 a day on NON-exercise days. On workout days, I eat close to 1800, and I'm steadily losing (23 pounds since early October). Your body is probably not getting the nourishment it needs to keep your skin, hair, nails, etc., healthy. Try eating more, especially healthy stuff (veggies, fruit, lean meats like chicken and fish, etc.). You may be stalling your weight loss, too, by not eating enough. If your diary is accurate, there are only two days in the last couple of weeks where you've gotten adequate calories (slightly over 1200 is adequate, but you could have more). Many days you are WAY under. Your brain alone needs about 600 calories just to function, not to mention all your other organs, skin, hair, teeth, nails, etc., all need calories to maintain health.

    Good luck!
  • kmbrooks15
    kmbrooks15 Posts: 941 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!

    When it's cold outside, exercise indoors. Get a cheap DVD, run in place, do jumping jacks, anything to get you up and moving.

    For water, I've been using a lot of hot tea since it got cold (just a little Splenda to sweeten it--I opt for decaf because caffeine affects my sleep). According to Mayo Clinic and WebMD, tea and coffee count toward your water allotment. I like the Celestial Seasonings flavored teas; my current favorites are Sleepytime Vanilla, Candy Cane Lane, and Sugar Cookie Sleigh Ride (I find the last two especially help me fight off the "munchies", too).
  • lagcrg
    lagcrg Posts: 38 Member
    Hair lose, depression, and weight gain, or lack of ability to lose the weight are also signs of Thyroid disorders. I had many of these symptoms when my doc finally tested my thyroid levels they were way low. I began meds about 10yrs ago and it has helped in all areas. I started logging meals and exercise on MFP in September and through watching my food choices and a good cardio work out about 3 days a week, I have lost 10 pounds. I would suggest you ask the doc to test your thyroid, and whatever the out come, keep logging, making healthy choices and get exercise in where ever you can. It will get better in time, not overnight. Hang in there.
  • rayzerwolf
    rayzerwolf Posts: 203 Member
    protien is ONE of the building blocks of hair, eat more meat and I agree with what most others are saying
  • infamousmk
    infamousmk Posts: 6,033 Member
    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.

    Really?? Your doctor told you it was normal on ANY diet to have hair loss? And you believed her?
  • alexa137
    alexa137 Posts: 68 Member
    ok the status of my hair is the same i lose alot! i dont understand i have been eating alot more protein and fats and food that i have gained 6 lbs! stress level is the same for 2 plus years! so i dont know i got 2 inches cut off last week but i cant never wear it down! and it sucks!
  • kmbrooks15
    kmbrooks15 Posts: 941 Member
    I think I'd go to the doctor and request a thyroid check. They can do some bloodwork to see if your thyroid is functioning properly. Also discuss with your doctor what other possibilities there could be for this much hair loss.
  • grrrlface
    grrrlface Posts: 1,204 Member
    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.

    Really?? Your doctor told you it was normal on ANY diet to have hair loss? And you believed her?

    I'm also shocked by this... Your hair should be healthier if you are on a good balanced diet.
    I am a hairdresser so I learnt all about keeping hair healthy at college and I sure didn't learn that your hair falls out if you're dieting or eating less rubbish!! I was taught that it grows stronger with more protein as this is what your hair is primarily made of.

    For your hair I would definitely up your protein intake, lots of lean meats. Also try a hydrating leave-in conditioner after you wash your hair which will protect your hair cuticle and help make it look a bit more shiny and healthy.
  • bcattoes
    bcattoes Posts: 17,299 Member
    Check your med to see if this is side effect. Also, make sure you are eating enough healthy fat. Omega3 and omega6 fatty acids are good for your skin and hair.
  • suztheq
    suztheq Posts: 168 Member
    Like one user said, medications can take two months to affect hair, but it can take six months (or more) for your hair to get back to normal. However, I definitely agree that you should get your thyroid checked. I understand being low on funds, but you CANNOT put a price on your health. Besides, most places will take payment plans (I've had to do this before). Please go get get some blood work done so you can figure out what is going on in your body, Good luck!
  • alexa137
    alexa137 Posts: 68 Member
    im not on any meds, i stopped phentermine oct 15 as soon as my hair started falling out! i only wash it once a week and i dont use blow dryer or flat iron, i have tried almost everything from the beauty salons and drugstores and nothing helps- i cant afford the Morroccan stuff or wen i would love to try it though
    I also have been eating more, so much more that i gained 7 lbs the past 6 weeks :(
    I got 2 inches cut off last fri :(
    still not getting any better, i hope its better soon! it has made me so depressed that I dont go anywhere!
  • alexa137
    alexa137 Posts: 68 Member
    3 months off the medicine and eating fats and protein and fiber and hair notgetting any better!Q i hope this isnt forever! i mean im stressed over it so much i will always be stressed! on top of no job no money no life, no love life and gained all the weight i lost in sept/oct very frustrating- i have spent alot of money on everything out there(except for the Morroccan Oil) its $50 a bottle and cant really afford it- ive done treatments , olive oil, egg, hot oil, deep conditioners, argan oil, redken, every brand on the market or salon so far and its still falling out,if it continues this way i wont have any by summer :(
    its so depressing, and aggravating
    i dont know what else to do
    i dont wash it but twice a week, if i blow dry i use cool button and i dont straighten curl it, but i have to wear it up EVERyday because of it looking like i stuck my finger in a light socket!
    ugh!!!!!!!
  • jwcabell
    jwcabell Posts: 14
    Have you went to the doctor??? You really need to have your thyroid levels checked. If you've tried everything else, then GO TO THE DOCTOR :-). If it is your thyroid, the sooner you find out the better off you will be. My daughters hair has been permanently effected by her thyroid condition due to late diagnosis.
  • paulamarsden
    paulamarsden Posts: 483 Member
    this may seem slightly insensitive, but are you SURE this isnt natural shedding? what does your hair dresser say.

    longer hair sheds more when you wash it, especially if your wearing it up and not brushing as much.

    also, menopause can cause hair loss, i dont kbnow how old you are.

    have yoou seen your doctor for TSH/FT3 and FT4 levels to be checked also your FSH to establish your current hormone levels, perhaps a cortisol level check may be worth while if stress is a factor.
  • alexa137
    alexa137 Posts: 68 Member
    its definitely not natural shedding! its so out of whack i can NEVER wear it down, haridresser says its stress etc
    im guessing also age, depression and weight gain
    its the worst hair i have ever seen or dealt with in my whole life!
    ITS disgusting!
  • alexa137
    alexa137 Posts: 68 Member
    ok so went to dr and she ordered me all the blood test, so thyroid came back normal and everything else ok9except for blood sugar and cholosterol)slighty elevated)
    6 months with no meds and still hair looks like crap! i have lost probably 40% of my hair :(
    starting to bald a little also
    going thurs to get 2 inches trimmed-so sad b/c it took me almost 8 years to get it halfway down my back!
    and probably just trimming it 2 inches is not going to help because the problem isnt the ends! its everywhere! no matter what i use or do it still looks like i stuck my finger in a socket! cannot wear it down always in bun! very dry and frizzy!
    biotin is not helping
    nothing is helping
    so depressing :(
  • barbj08
    barbj08 Posts: 2
    Try adding a lemon slice to your water. The little bit of flavor really helps.
  • alexa137
    alexa137 Posts: 68 Member
    well i did my hair count test, put hair in ziploc baggies went to my dermatologist appt and the dr said its just normal and its the shedding process(cant remember the technical term) that it may take a year or 2 for my hair to go back to normal how depressing, I think i have lost at least 40% of my hair, its not even enough to put in a rubber band anymore, sucks
    nothing will help either, no biotin, no nioxin
  • graceklein
    graceklein Posts: 8 Member
    I've been losing my hair for years and since turning 40 it's speeding up. I've tried rogaine, nioxin, biotin, lots of hair loss remedies, chinese medicine, homeopath doctors. My thryoid was just checked ---all the tests (free T3, free T4, tsh, etc. ) all normal ranges. I have an appt. with another dermatologist in a couple weeks. hopeful for answers, but not counting on it. I'm losing hair all over my body. I don't have any leg or arm hair at all and my eyebrows and eyelashes are starting to thin out too. It sucks and no one has a clue. I feel for those of you out there who are suffering from similar situations. I wear a beautiful hair piece now that clips right in and no has any idea it's not mine. it was expensive but very worth it. Thankfully I have a wonderfully supporting husband who loves me for me and not my hair. (It's a good thing, because eventually I suspect I'll have none.) I'm still not giving up on my actual hair though. I'll keep searching and trying new things. maybe something will work for me!!! You never know....keeping the faith.
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