[Lose2Win]

Okay, so I used to skim right over the posts about hair loss, considering myself lucky not to have this issue. Well, that stopped a couple weeks ago, and now I am literally scared to wash my hair bc it is just falling out like crazy. I have a LOT of hair to begin with, but it's getting concerning now. I am trying to decide what to do, I know I won't stop until I reach goal. This diet is working so well for me otherwise....no cheats and kicking butt . But, I was curious about those of you that have phased off....can you still lose on phases 2, 3, or maintenance, and if so, is it just really slowly ( which is fine with me). I have about forty pounds to go, and I was thinking about continuing on phase 1 until I got down to 170, and then phasing off for my last 20 pounds getting me to 150. Has anyone else done this instead of doing phase 1 all the way to goal? Thanks for any input....no decisions yet, just thinking about things, and not wanting to go bald...lol!

[IP43]

There is a post right now on hair loss in the 100% (p4/5/6) and an older one "I'd rather be fat than bald" and both have lots of info on the hair loss. Biotin seems to be the answer. Here's some info from the 100% thread (Nolawhodatchic I believe):

My advice to anyone worried about hair loss would be consider taking biotin when you start the diet. From what others who have experienced hair loss say and what I've read in archives, it tends to hit around 3 1/2 to 5 months on the diet. Once the hair loss starts, there will be a lag time between when you start taking the biotin and when it starts to work of about another month. A lot of damage is done in terms of hair loss during that month. Biotin is inexpensive. I wish I had started taking it as a preventive measure. Hindsight is 50/50. Maybe only one in 10 or 20 experience hair loss, but if you are that one, it's pretty awful. Lots of people say they think the biotin worked, including my hairstylist who also takes it. Hair extensions are always an option in the short term, but I understand they are expensive and maintaining them is a pain.

As for the maintaining question: again, there is a "Maintainers" thread. They're the experts. Maybe read there a bit and get some insight from the people "livin' the dream"

[scorbett1103]

I have done a lot of reading - there is SOME weight loss in P2 and P3, but not 20lbs worth. I expect to lose another 5-6lbs in the whole 4 weeks of P2-P3, and may or may not gain some back in maintenance. Maintenance is just that, MAINTAINING your weight not losing more.

If you plan on phasing off early, I would suggest waiting till you are at least at goal or within a few pounds of it. Or, phase off temporarily with a plan to return to phase 1 - IPDivaJen did this because she was joining a running club to run a particular race, and couldn't do the training runs on IP. She phased off, did the run, then hopped back on P1 again until she is at goal.

[IP43]

The key I will stress is "phasing off". If you just stop IP and think you'll just "eat healthy", let me tell ya from experience, and 20 pounds, that it doesn't work. You need to go through the process of phasing off to get the insulin thing working properly and then move into maintenance. If you just stop IP, the weight comes back.... oh, REALLY fast.

[Chloe222]

Re hair loss, I noticed how thin mine had become around month 3 and suspect it started falling out around 6 weeks into this. I started the biotin right around month 3. Today my hairdresser commented on how many randomly located, isolated strands I have that are the same length - about 2 inches long. My hair cut has hair from 3.5 inches to maybe 7-8 inches. So, it does grow back.

You will probably also find that your skin becomes very soft on IP. Mine has and it's interesting in that I can't quite place my finger on why it happened. My hair is silkier too. It isn't directly correlated to biotin since I forgot to take it since last fall when I drifted away from IP. Back now since last week of December and the same softness/silkiness has returned.

[patns]

There are also threads about hair loss on the WLS section of 3 fat chicks.