Hair Loss ( Its A Reality)

[eclectikat]

Re: Hair Loss ( Its A Reality)

I hope my starting this thread I have freaked anyone else out about this topic.

I DO NOT belive it is a low carb issue. My skin is better, my hair is actually healthier, Mybody feels good. I do think it is stress related. IT MUST BE STRESSFUL for the body to be giving up its stores of energy... I can see my fat cells in a panic actually... but I don't care. I AM SO COMMITTED TO getting my body to function effeciently that I am prepared to deal with my hairloss, it is a small price to pay for ultimate health.
I am morbidly obese and if I quit now I would gain it all back... I would not maintain this weight. the person commenting that thay have maintained their weight I am thrilled for... but I know this low carb life is the way I am supposed to eat. I will not quit.

I thank everyone for their support. I hope this thread does not stop anyone from pursuing this LC lifestyle. In all the reading I have done about hairloss the general consensus is that it is temporary.

I guess If I lose alot of hair I can look forward to having a new style of hair to flatter my new figure!

Kathy

[Elsie150]

Re: Hair Loss ( Its A Reality)

Great Attitudes! I am here to stay also whether it is hair today or hair tomorrow...LOL!!!

[puppysnducks]

Re: Hair Loss ( Its A Reality)

I'm terrified too. I may have never watched my weight in life. Or ever cared much too till now. I have always loved my hair. So far my hair seems stronger than before.. Thankfully. But I EAT alot of veggies in my meals and take iron/vitamins.

[Barbee]

Re: Hair Loss ( Its A Reality)

This is a very informative thread and I thank whomever started it. I, too, am losing my hair at a very slow rate. I don't find hair all over but I am seeing way too much scalp and have to comb my hair over (trumpstyle) too. So far I've been good at hiding it but what scares me to death is when I see women in stores and stuff who are really and truly BALD.

My hair has always been gorgeous naturally curly healthy hair. Now it's thin, brittle and straight. How can that all be due to Atkins?

I have not lost a lot or lost it fast. I started May 1, 2008 and have only lost 16 lbs. but I feel better. I have developed bowel incontinance (I'm 65) and this diet keeps my stools harder and thus no leakage. If I go off the diet I will have problems as carbs make my stools loose. So I really have to stay on this diet for life. I also have low blood sugar.

I tried to think of what vitamins we are missing by not eating junk... can't figure that one out. I eat more protein now than ever before and my hair has no body at all.

Could the problem not be connected to Atkins at all but to thyroid? What do we all have in common here? We are all overweight (obviously)... so maybe we all have a thyroid problem. I read an article once that said you can't go by the numbers given to doctors to qualify whether or not someone has a slow thyroid. Everyone is different so the number by which indicates thryoid problem may be different with everyone.

I think that's our problem... now if I can just get a doctor to go along with it and give me thyroid meds maybe I could stop the hair loss.

How many of you losing hair are taking blood pressure meds?

[Parouz]

Re: Hair Loss ( Its A Reality)

This is a really good thread thanks Electikat.
I have your attitude as well.If I have a hair problem (I'm almost 4 weeks on Atkins)I'll don a scarf and wear it similarly like Audrey Hepburn in Breakfast at Tiffanys.And just look SWELLegant!
A small price to pay for health,vitality and a life changing way

[ravengal]

Re: Hair Loss ( Its A Reality)

When I first low-carbed in '03, my hair thinned in the front. I never experienced hair loss on any other weight loss plan, so I believe that this type of hair loss may be specific to women who low carb. I don't take BP meds, or have PCOS, so that possibility was ruled out. My hair never grew back, either.

Thinning hair aside, I still believe that low carbing is a Godsend. I've switched to a higher-fat woe this time, and I'm having wonderful results. Hitting goal seems more possible than ever!

[Elizellen]

Re: Hair Loss ( Its A Reality)

Hi Ravengal

I just noticed this is your first post

Welcome to the family

[Sibylle]

Re: Hair Loss ( Its A Reality)

I experienced the same thing last year after having lost a considerable amount of weight (50 lbs.) on Atkins. Following the advise of experienced low-carbers on this board and other low-carb boards I started taking Biotin (5000 mg.) on a daily basis. In addition, I supplemented with B-6 (100 mg.), B-12 (1000 mg.), a vitamin B-complex from Trader Joe's and a good multi-vitamin.

It helped me tremendously. I can say that after about 6 weeks the hair loss is in the normal range. I also restarted a very high-fat version of Atkins on January 2009 after regaining more than 20 pounds by the end of last year when I thought that I would now be fit for a "healthy diet" (meaning lots of carbs daily). LOL! After three weeks I am down 7 lbs. and feel so much better, both in terms of hair and weight. Hope this might be of help to anybody.

[aquaryus]

Re: Hair Loss ( Its A Reality)

I have the hairloss thing too, however, it's hard to say if Atkins is the cause because I'm on meds for MS. Unfortunately, no matter how healthy I get, I will still need my injections and nerve meds. I have long, curly hair that's thinning around my hairline in the front. My Mom has a widow's peak and being that I'm 30, I think it just might be my genes too. Either way, I am taking biotin and will be purchasing some hair growth treatment next payday. I've already discussed the treatment with a pharmacist (I work on the pharmacy help desk for a major chain here in the US) and she said it does work. So, we will see.

[Kathi22]

Re: Hair Loss ( Its A Reality)

What do you consider hair loss? Each morning when I comb my hair after I shower, I grab it and slide my hand down it to get about a half of handful. This has been going on for me for a long time. Is this not normal??? I naturally have thin, baby fine hair and I certainly don't want it thinner!

[wackielady]

Re: Hair Loss ( Its A Reality)

I agree that this has been a very informative thread. I never put 2 and 2 together about the hair loss and atkins. I just chalked it up to age.
My daily hair loss varies. Maybe I have not noticed it because I take a lot of supplements...lots of B vitamins and an iron pill...since i am anemic and my ferratin was below normal at one time. Seems like the vitamins do help.

[Barbee]

Re: Hair Loss ( Its A Reality)

How can so many Atkins people be losing hair? Why would cutting the junk out of your diet be bad for your hair and scalp?

Anyone?

[tangotori]

Re: Hair Loss ( Its A Reality)

I believe it's more about losing a good deal of weight somewhat quickly, not about the Atkins plan or way of eating. I've also heard that the increased hair loss goes back to normal loss at some point. Just be sure that you take your vitamins... even consider increased Biotin and B12.

The hair loss thing happened to me the first time I lost a lot of weight... but I managed through it. And you know what? If it happens again this time I'm not worried. It'll grow back AND I'll be a healthy body weight!

[metalslugx]

Re: Hair Loss ( Its A Reality)

People say my hair is so soft that they feel it like baby hair. but the only thing haunting me is the hair loss issue. i've been losing so much hair. i've mentioned this at the other hairloss thread.

it feel really bad. i'm really afraid that someday my hair will drop so many that i can see through the skin. just like my eldest sister.

but i guess that's in our gene. the women in our house losses hair.

[Barbee]

Re: Hair Loss ( Its A Reality)

Well I feel like I'm between a rock and a hard place... If I stop the ATkins I'll gain weight which I don't want, if I stay on it I'll be bald. Hmmmmm decisions decisions. I'm 65 and don' t have a lot of time left to wait for it to grow back.

If I was losing my hair due to heredity, I think it would have happened before this age.