Hair Loss?
 

I was wondering if anyone else is having hair loss with their weight loss. I started noticing this about 1.5 months ago. I have an appt with my GYN doctor next week and I am going to ask about it. Does anyone have any suggestions on how to stop it? I lost 71 pounds since October. Most of it has been from exercise, not food restriction although I have changed my eating habits. I normally have thick hair, but it is thinning. Any suggestions are appreciated!

It's a major stress change to your body to lose a lot of weight and that sometimes sends hair running for the drain. It's something that happens to me and I do eat very healthily. The bad news is, it's normal (and more noticeable) for some people. The good news is, it grows back eventually.

I found that either too low calories or too low fat caused thinning hair for me. Although it was worse when I was doing really low fat eating. I try and keep my fat levels around 25% and it doesn't seem to be a problem at the moment.

I had the opposite. After about 9 months of eating better my pre-existing hair loss started to reverse. I have these hairs that are about 2 1/2 inches long - they're driving me a little crazy right now because they stick out and make me look frizzy. Some spots look like I did a botched bang job (I haven't cut any bangs in over a year). But I'm thrilled my hair is filling back in.

It's hard to say exactly what made the difference. I guess it could just be general nutrition, exercise, better sleep, and not being obese/overweight anymore. But it seemed to me to correlate with increased good fat intake (taking omega 3, vitamin D, and being more liberal with the olive oil, avocado and nuts). Come to think of it, it was also a few months after I became vegetarian.

I lost hair as well, especially when my rate of weight loss was more rapid. I was told to increase my protein a little. But since then, I've hit a long-term plateau and I've stopped losing hair altogether.

Georgia

Thanks for the input ladies. I am going to re evaluate my diet. I am not doing a lot of healthy oils, I have been eating nuts.... but another thread said that is what stalled their weight loss b/c of the fat. I guess I just have to "play" and see what happens.

Thanks again.

I agree, it's probably not enough fat in your diet. Good luck!

I also lost a GOB of hair. Fortunately, the hair loss seems to have slowed as my weight loss has slowed. I have always eaten--from the beginning--healthy fats. Luckily, I had a GOB of hair to begin with. Make sure you are taking a really top-notch Multi-Vitamin. You will most likely be a okay.

I am taking an Equate Weight Smart. Do you all think this is suffice?

ladyrider, I know some here will argue but the point but I do not take chances on vitamins. If I were you I would head to a Whole Foods or a top notch healthy food store and inquire. I do not buy generics or cutrate vitamins. They are just too important to chance it. Be sure to specify any concerns you might have to them. Whole foods or better health stores will most likely have a certified nutritionist.

besides the diet, biotin and MSM supplements are very good for hair. the good fats also help... fish oil, flax oil. whole grain breads, oatmeal..overall eating healthy.

When I first started this lifestyle change last August I lost a lot of hair at first. Enough that I was starting to get really worried. And I was doing Atkins, very high fat (good fats) and tons of high-quality supplements. I was losing weight very rapidly and I think it just stressed my body out.

Hair loss stopped after the first 4-5 months and isn't a problem now. And my hair seems as full, thick and healthy as it did before I started. I think your body's just in shock. Keep your diet healthy and it should self-correct pretty soon.

I am very fortunate that I have not experienced any hair loss, as my hair was quite thin to begin with. In fact it's gotten a bit thicker - oh and get this curlier and with more body. I attribute it to my extremely healthy diet. Though it's a fairly low fat one, but the fats I do eat are all the healthy ones - nuts, avocado, olive oil, fish.....

Hopefully this is just a temporary situation for you. Keep on eating in a healthy manner. Though it's definitely worth mentioning to the doctor.

I eat a fairly low fat diet and haven't experienced hair loss. It could be a number of factors including stress and hormones.

Stress? I have none..... I have a 15.5 year old and a 19.5 year old who is on the verge of going to Kosovo...... for war..... oh, and I just got married.

Stress? :D

Thanks for the suggestions!