I used to eat very healthfully, and had full thick hair. In the past year I have had a lot of personal tragedy, and have reverted back to my childhood eating habits. All I want to eat is sugar.
My daily diet includes about 3 yogurts, a scoop of peanut butter, some ice cream, potato chips, mashed potatoes, fruit smoothies and string cheese. I'm getting a lot of sugar and calories that keep me going, but after a year I'm seeing that my body is falling apart. I've got constant yeast infections, greyish skin, bags under my eyes, and the worst is the constant loss of my hair.
A little over a year ago I weighed 160lbs. I now weigh 125lbs. The majority of the weight was lost in one month when I lost my father. My doctor has said that I am not anorexic, and that all of my eating issues are anxiety based and symptoms of my grief. But, I am really freaked out about the hair loss.
At this point I don't feel like I can start eating full meals, and I mostly only eat liquids and soft foods. I also do not take pills.
Is there anything anyone can suggest that will at least stop my hair loss? Thank you!
First, I'm sorry for what happened for you and for your loss. Something similar happened to me after months of a poor diet due to terrible anxiety; I felt like my body had turned to mush. My hair started to break off and I knew I had to do something. First, I was severely anemic, and that contributed not only to my grey skin but also my overall exhaustion. It left me unmotivated to eat or make healthy changes. Taking a slow-release iron tablet made a huge difference. Next, I got serious about protein--that was the major factor with my hair. If you can tolerate soft foods, can you do cottage cheese or Greek yogurt? These foods pack a LOT of protein. You can also add protein or silken tofu to your smoothies to make them healthier. Also, can you do soup? And lastly, can your doctor recommend someone for you to talk to? You deserve to not be defined by your tragedy. I really hope this gets better for you!!
ReplyIt looks for me like the hormone (especially testosterone) imbalance.
ReplyTake good multivitamins and minerals, a lot of proteins, some testosterone boosters (i.e. TL T-Bol) should help.
I cross my fingers for you.. I know what is like to lose..
I wouldn't recommend anything to do with testosterone when you don't know whether or not the poster is male.
ReplySee your doctor and have your thyroid checked out.
ReplyI'm sorry for what you're dealing with. I do understand about dealing with stress.
Honestly, I'd suggest you seek some medical help - meet with a therapist, possibly get some medication to help you deal with your emotions. There's no shame in anti-depression or anti-anxiety meds.
You know what the answer is to your hair loss and overall bad health - your diet is dangerously low in nutrients. And that's not something that can be fixed with a pill. If you want your hair to grow back healthy and not get sick and your skin to look better and all of that you HAVE TO EAT. Not sugar. Not junk. Not crap. You have to eat real food with real nutrients - protein, veggies, healthy fats.
There is no magic bullet that will fix that, unfortunately.
ReplyAll of these people who are saying "take testosterone" and "have your thyroid checked" ... did you actually READ the post or are you just spouting off?
Because ... seriously? Are you really that stupid? Proper nutrition is the problem here as the OP knows and said she knows.
Good grief.
ReplyThey're also taking into account that she knows she's not ready to move on from where she is right now. It's not just as simple as saying, "Eat properly." Right now, I think she's looking for damage control.
ReplyYou're right - which is why I suggested something that is actually useful and pertinent to her situation, which is talking to a therapist and maybe getting meds to help her with her situation and help her be able to move forward. Getting her thyroid tested or taking testosterone supplements is NOT the answer here.
Sometimes the advice on this board just blows my mind.
ReplyI just realized when I read your first comment, I thought you wrote "nutritionist" rather than "therapist". That makes a lot more sense, now.
ReplyIf you want something that will at least get you going in the right direction, I would first recommend you start taking a good multivitamin. Lack of nutrients is what your body is missing and it is starting to break down. Vitamins can help you get going in the right direction. If you mostly drink juice and eat soft foods, how about getting a juicer and then you can still stick with liquids but will be getting more nutrition. There are literally thousands of recipes for juicers that will definitely make you FEEL a lot better and will do a lot to get your body back in a good place.
Best of luck to you.
ReplyThank You for this comment. I feel like it is the most helpful to me.
ReplyI am seeing a counselor and I do not take pills, but am totally open to natural nutrients if they are in a soft or liquid form. I got some of tose viactive soft chews that taste like candy and will just melt in my mouth. I also drink Odwalla smoothies which have nutrients and Vitawater with vitamins. I tink my biggest problem is that Everything has too much sugar and I'm not getting enough protien. I have a doctor who I check in with weekly. I do not have a tyroid problem nor do I need anti depressants. I just need to continue trying to take baby steps towards my health and deal with my grief in a natural and healthy way.
Why do you limit yourself to "natural" medications? Why do people think that "natural" is better than proper meds. If you were diagnosed with thyroid disorder as someone above suggested, would you refuse to take artificial thyroid meds because they're not "natural"? If you were diagnosed with Type II Diabetes, would you refuse insulin because it isn't "natural".
But you won't take anti depressants or anti anxiety meds? By your own admission you can't bring yourself to take care of yourself properly, but you don't need those things. Really?
And btw, natural doesn't equal safe. Belladonna is natural. It'll kill you. Arsenic is natural. It'll kill you, too.
ReplyClearly you're going through a lot of stuff. I agree that proper nutrition would be of great help. But it sounds like you could also do with a little bit of counseling. Start slow, going one step at a time, once you feel comfortable with that, go to the next step, and so on. Maybe decide to include more fruits and veggies as a first step, then improve your protein intake, and once you're comfortable, start decreasing the less nutritious foods while continuing to increase the more healthy items. In the mean time, maybe try to see someone to help you with cope with your anxiety and stress. Your changes to your body and mind won't happen over night, but it will happen. Good luck.
ReplyI am so very sorry for your loss and feel for what you are going through. I think that you are correct in believing that you need protein in your diet. Maybe you could try some of the high protein shakes that are sold in health food stores and drug stores. You can even add some skim milk rather than water for an extra boost of both calcium and protein. I don't mean for you to go on a diet exclusively consisting of these shakes but rather add a couple of them to your diet so your body can absorb the extra protein and hopefully begin to repair itself. It might be a start for you.
Good luck to you and I wish you improved health and spirits in the near future.
Linny
ReplyThe comments above have some great advice. A friend of mine went through a terrible time and she lost a lot of hair and went completely grey at 24! She recovered, as you will! Once she was able to feel her normal self again her hair came back but she always stayed grey.
ReplyYou and your spririt and your health will recover. I wish you luck on this journey.
Well, I have the same problem too after my poor diet to lose some weight. I have a poor nutrition intake too. And I lost a lot of hair too.. I am scared reading your comments about your friend's hair turning grey. Can you tell me how she succeed to overcome it?
ReplyHI I am sorry for your loss, losing my dad is something I am not looking forward to, it will be devestating.
But this problem which is causing you hair loss, is connecting to eating the way you do, which is connected to your loss of your father.
Have you had any counselling for you to deal with your grief in a better way? A few suggestions are journelling, get a book and write out everything you do and feel, as i feel your are internalising your grief, and using the food as a coping tool perhaps.
I dont know anything that will grow hair back immediately, except getting a wig, I dont know how bad it is perhaps a hairdresser could give better information than this forum, for you. But loss is hard, but you do need to be able to eat and function to deal with your grief. otherwise your situation might get worse, and stress could be a big part of it, I was on Biggest loser diet, now I am on something else, but we all need food, to be healthy, so good luck
ReplyI also experienced hair loss after losing a lot of weight but then when I ate a more balanced diet it grew back. It is from not eating enough protein. So even if you are dieting and restricting foods like carbs, don't cut back too much on the protein.
ReplyEat healthily and take a good multi-vitamin supplemen. Also remember that we all lose between 50-100 strands of hair each day!
ReplyAlso recommend to read "Myhairway" book, about hairloss problems