If you search the forum you will find that the hair loss question comes up a LOT. Because it's VERY common - it's actually a side effect of the rapid fat loss.
In a nutshell, estrogen is stored in your fat cells, so when you lose fat rapidly, you release quite a bit of estrogen into your system. This is why some people notice PMS-like feelings and irregular periods, why birth control medication is ineffective while on Phase 1...and why hair loss occurs. In a nutshell, the excess estrogen causes hair follicles to "hibernate". It is NOT permanent, the hairs begin to come back a few months after you begin maintenance and are no longer losing or in ketosis.
Your blood work will likely come back just fine, if hair loss is the only thing going on that was of concern.
It's pretty common to continue to lose in Phase 2, because you are really only adding about 200 calories to your day. Phase 3 is when many see an uptick in weight on the scale, because you begin eating complex carbs again and replenish your glycogen stores.
The #1 success factor in maintenance comes from tracking your daily food, and being extremely conscious of what you are eating - including limiting yourself to a fun day/fun meal once per week and not stretching it into multiple fun days. If you haven't already, start using a tracking tool like My Fitness Pal to get in the habit of recording everything you eat for the day. Stay active on this forum even in maintenance, so that you can navigate the murky waters of maintenance with support.
Ultimately you are the only one who can decide if you're really ready to phase off, or if you want to push forward. The hair loss is temporary and normal, so consider what your goal weight is and how active you plan to be once you phase off, and determine if it's a realistic weight for you to maintain. This forum is an invaluable resource at EVERY phase, so keep the conversation going here - the collective experience on this board will get you through any bumps in the road
Time for Phase 2? WDYT?
