I have lost 70 lbs in the past 3 1/2 months and have just started to notice my hair is shedding a lot more than normal. I am losing a lot more of it on a daily basis than I was even a few weeks ago. I know that this is a common side effect of rapid weight loss. I was just wondering if any of you had experienced this and if so, what did you find worked to halt the hair loss and promote regrowth? I have no plans of slowing up on my diet. I am doing this for my health and need to get this weight off asap. I just wanted to see if anyone knew of any good supplements, good food choices etc to help with this.
sorry i cant help you with your question but i have a question how are you loosing weight so fast if u dont mind telling me. I have to lose weight asap for my sister weeding in 4 month.
Did you have surgery? If so then hair loss is super common, because you are not getting much food and not much protein.
I was going to have WLS so I had started eating that way and drinking protein shakes. I have good hair anyway but now I have enough for 3 people. Definately find a protein shake you like and have one daily - there are some really delicious ones - and I'm not just saying that they really are yummy lol. Not sure if we can post recommendations here, but if we can I will. Its also very important to take at least a multi vitamin daily and you really should take a calcium - probably not essential to hair, but still a good idea. The protein is key.
Like the others I must ask - how are you losing so fast? I'd love to know also! And actually, depending on what or how much you are eating that could be why you are losing hair. I had lost 70 lbs (gained a bit back) and had no hair loss whatsoever - its thicker than ever. Hugs!!
No, I haven't had surgery. However, I am trying to stick to a very strict diet (almost as if I had had it.) I am calorie cycling between 1200 and 1600 cals a day and will eat up to 2000 if I am still hungry but not go over. I will never go under 1000 (and try never to get under 1200). That is all I am doing.
I will definitely look into those supplements and some protein shakes...
My starting weight was a little below yours and when I first started, I lost about 70 lbs in 3 months as well although I didn't have any hair loss. People already mentioned common things such as taking a multivitamin but I'd also say make sure you are getting some fat in your diet. I eat a low fat diet but I still get plenty of fat.
And also, your body releases a ton of hormones when you lose a lot of fat fast so it may be that your body just needs time to adjust.
Thanks, Nelie! I will make sure I am having a high enough fat content in my diet. I really never check fat grams anymore, just cals. I should start checking.
I am hoping you are right about it possibly being hormones and that it will even out I have tons of hair now so as long as this doesn't go on for a long time, I should be ok.
There are many vitamins and minerals that play a part in hair growth. Calcium, vitamins A, C, E, all the B (3, 5, 12), iron, magnesium,potassium, selenium, silica, sulfur and zinc. By making sure you are getting plenty of lean protein and vegetables, especially some of the power veggies that are loaded with natural vitamins. I have/had hairloss issues before losing weight, so I know how aggrivating it can be. I also take Alive multi-vitamins everyday because I don't absorb vitamins like I should. A good multi-vitamin would also make sure you are at least getting the recommended amount of everything each day.
I've pretty much always had thinning hair due to hormone issues, and the following definitely slows it down for me:
-I take Nature's Bounty "Hair, Skin, and Nails" vitamins
-I take Fish Oil - double strength, odorless
-I use Nizoral dandruff shampoo about twice a week...may be completely pointless, but it's rumored that the anti-fungal ingredients help hair stay/grow faster...and I don't have dandruff
I have had stylists comment in the past that they can tell by looking at my hair that there have been chunks of time when I haven't been following the above because of changes along the length of the hair shafts...some parts looking thin and unhealthy, others not -
Your doing so wonderful! Do you get hungry? Can I ask what a typical day of food is like? I need to get re-started so that is why I am curious. (I can't seem to send pm's yet or I would pm you).
Ok so for protein shakes - I LOVE a brand called Oh Yeah! - the chocolate is sinful!!! It has 38 grams of protein and a ton of vitamins. Its a pre-made shake so you can just grab it and go. For powders I love the Lean Desserts brand - wow you can do a lot with them and they blender up like an ice cream shake!! I think the 18oz Oh Yeah has 180 calories and I know a 1 scoop serving of Lean Desserts is 150 calories. Its calories well spent and surprisingly the shakes do fill you up for a couple hours. I tried to eat like I had WLS also which is why I was drinking a lot of shakes. I have tried a ton of different ready made drinks and protein powders - man there is some positively stomach turning revolting ones out there - but there is also really delicious ones - so yummy that it seems like it can't possibly be good for you. I order from netrition.com because they have 4.95 shipping and it comes to me overnight. They are in NY and I am in NH - I imagine shipping to anywhere else would be quite fast also since they seem to get it out the same day you order. I have no vested interest in Netrition except that they ship fast and have great prices - so this is not an advertisement lol.
Usually the hair loss is from not having enough fat in the diet and too fast weight loss. If you are losing more than .5-2 pounds a week, it is unhealthy and you could be losing muscle along with fat.
Actually the 1-2 lb limit is just a generalization. Dietitians actually say that it is safe to lose up to 1% of your body weight a week. So, for most people that falls at 1-2 lbs. For me, however, that started at almost 4 lbs a week and is still over 3 lbs. I have lost an average of 4.6 lbs a week so I am a little over that but not way over it.
Last edited by southernbelle102; 10-19-2010 at 02:51 PM.
I've been having trouble with this too. Strangely, it started about 6-8 weeks after I started maintaining. I never went very low calorie (doubt I had a day below 1400 -- my average was 1700-1800) and I get more protein than ever before. I tend to eat low-fat because I just gravitate toward low-fat foods, but I doubt it's ever lower than 20% of my nutrients. I've added a multi-vitamin but I'm not consistent with it. ~sigh~
Need help to stop hair loss...
I have tons of hair now so as long as this doesn't go on for a long time, I should be ok.
