Back for 3rd time---Argh

[artgirl7]

Hi Everyone-

Here I am, back again, and I am in of advice & support.

Let me give you a quick review of history to help you out.

Five years ago, I started Atkins at a size 18/20 at 218lbs. In seven months, with serious exercise, I got myself down to a size 0/2 and 128lbs. I am 5'4 and 33 years old.

My husband and I started a family and with my first pregnancy, I gained 100lbs-yes-100lbs! Then, took it all off except for the last 25lbs in less than 6months.

6 months later, we were blessed to pregnant again but after 12 weeks, I MC and gained 20lbs.

3 months after that, blessed again to be pregnant, and put on 80lbs with this pregnancy and delivered at 228lbs AGAIN.

Now, here I am with a beautiful family and I started my program 4 months ago, 6 weeks after clearance from my OB/GYN, and I have gone from a size 16/18 and 228lbs to a size 12/14 and 175lbs.

I am very dedicated to working out every day with 3-5 mile walks and strict with the ladders. However, the last 6 weeks have been difficult because I have had extreme hair loss. To the point that I am considering modifying my program.

What can of tips and advice can you provide about modifying the program to fit my health needs to reach my goal of 135lbs?

Thanks for reading my blog here, I always enjoy this board and it has gotten me to my goals everytime!


Amy

[imagood1]

Welcome back -
Congratulations on your success and your family!! I can't answer your question about thinning hair (mine has been thin since cancer treatments a few years ago) but I have seen a few others talking about this subject so maybe you can do a search and see what they have been saying.

Check the STAC Second Time Around Club - Atkins Diet for additional support. Check the stickies at the top of the induction forum to refresh your memory on the plan. (BEFORE you begin the Atkins Nutritional Approach...)http://www.atkinsdietbulletinboard.com/forums/atkins-diet-14-day-induction/5781-before-you-begin-atkins-nutritional-approach.html. Make sure you are following the plan the way it was written for the best success. There are several challenges starting on the first of the month you may be interested in participating in.


The recipe sites are a helpful meal planning tool – just make sure you use Induction Recipes to begin with.

Recipe Sites
http://www.genaw.com/lowcarb/menus.html (Linda’s)
(Never ending induction recipes)(Never ending induction recipes)(Never ending induction recipes)http://www.atkinsdietbulletinboard.com/forums/atkins-diet-14-day-induction/58513-never-ending-induction-recipes.html (Induction recipes)
(Induction Recipe Basics--More recipes added)(Induction Recipe Basics--More recipes added)(Induction Recipe Basics--More recipes added)http://www.atkinsdietbulletinboard.com/forums/atkins-diet-14-day-induction/6807-induction-recipe-basics-more-recipes-added.html (Induction Recipe Basics)


If you need anything we’re here to help you!! Good luck.

[SweetCher]

Hi Artgirl

Welcome back

...and congratulations on the new additions to your family!

It sounds like you've had a lot of success with this WOE and it really works for you! That great!

I've also recently come back. The first time I went from 230 to 127/135 and I had significant hair loss... maybe I should say extreme. Every morning I'd get into the shower handfuls of hair would come out. Theirs nothing scarier than having that happen and being a woman (not to appear sexist).

I went to a couple of doctors and was told that it was because of the weight loss (not the program) that I was experiencing the hair loss. They did "not" recommend I stop my way of eating! Any significant weight loss 25+ pounds or any type of stress on the body can cause hair loss. They gave it a medical title (I don't remember) and couldn't really help except for giving me a prescription for Rogaine. My pharmacy didn't recommend my using the Rogaine, they said it would compound the problem and make it worse. I really didn't want that! But, my hair was falling out so bad, so I searched for a natural method.

So, I was told to do a few things which really turned the situation around within a month (whew). Since then, I've recommended it to a lot of friends. MSM, Biotin, A good hair vitamin and enzymes. MSM helps the hair to grow faster (to replace the loss hair), Biotin helps stop the hair loss. A high grade of enzymes helps to utilize the vitamins from the food that you eat and the vitamins that you take. A lot of people aren't processing the nutrients in their food, so if you try to take supplements they won't help unless you have something to help process the food. Enzymes do that. I don't know of anyone who has followed this format who hasn't had success.

That's what I did, I've had girlfriends starting to bald on top and it's stopped that and now they have full heads of hair. But, it also helps to stop any bleaching process (if bleaching is occurring). Chemicals are really harsh on the hair. So, once your hair is healthy again. In three - 6 months you can start to add it back again.

There may be other successful methods added here. There was a full thread about this on the forum but I'm not sure where it's located now. I know this has worked for about 30 people.

I hope that helps and my best to you!

[artgirl7]

This is all really great advice and I thank you for the thoughts... I will certainly look into the vitamins, right now I am just taking my prenatal from the pregnancy.

My hair thinned with each time I did Atkins, but never like this. I too, have huge amounts coming out every day in the shower. It is not only scary but very worrisome as a mom and woman. I have long hair and it is so thin, I could just cry. It is coming out in whole pieces from the scalp too. Hopefully, that will slow down soon.

I am really torn about the program as it really works for me and I am an excellent student. I love working out and eating right, and look forward to the day I am back where I was before pregnancies. I know I can get there, and will with hard work. It is just a matter of deciding to stay on the program.

I lost most of my weight in about two months, and have since been at a wall. My inches are still slowing coming off but I need to kick start my routine. 3-5 miles a day high impact walking with two kids in a double stroller is pretty good but I am thinking I need to go at night on the treadmill as well.

Good luck with you journey and thanks again for the advice.

[imagood1]

Originally Posted by artgirl7

This is all really great advice and I thank you for the thoughts... I will certainly look into the vitamins, right now I am just taking my prenatal from the pregnancy.

Prenatal vitamins have iron in them - you should be taking a multivitamin without iron - as you should be getting enough iron from the foods you are eating. Look at your pharmacy and if you can't find any, look at the "Silver" vitamins for older people, they normally don't contain iron.

[SweetCher]

Originally Posted by artgirl7

My hair thinned with each time I did Atkins, but never like this. I too, have huge amounts coming out every day in the shower. It is not only scary but very worrisome as a mom and woman. I have long hair and it is so thin, I could just cry. It is coming out in whole pieces from the scalp too. Hopefully, that will slow down soon.

I am really torn about the program as it really works for me and I am an excellent student. I love working out and eating right, and look forward to the day I am back where I was before pregnancies. I know I can get there, and will with hard work. It is just a matter of deciding to stay on the program.

I lost most of my weight in about two months, and have since been at a wall. My inches are still slowing coming off but I need to kick start my routine. 3-5 miles a day high impact walking with two kids in a double stroller is pretty good but I am thinking I need to go at night on the treadmill as well.

Good luck with you journey and thanks again for the advice.

Just know it all comes back but you need to stop the falling out process. I remember the doctors telling me that once it starts it takes 5 - 9 months to stop the process. That isn't true if you're feeding the body the nutrients that it needs (via the vitamins).

Also, the additional stress that you feel because your hair is falling out and you're worried complicates everything... it creates more stress. So, try to relax, know that your hair will come back. Don't worry about stopping this way of eating! But, don't try to stay in the induction phase to lose the weight (not sure if you did that or not, but just making a note). That was one of the things that I did that cause such a fast weight loss in the beginning and started the hair loss cycle. Start adding the veggies back in after 2 weeks and follow the program. You'll still lose but your hair will be healthier.

Hugs

[artgirl7]

Oh, this is really helpful... I Never thought the prenatal vitamins would be bad/not helpful. I will pick up multivitamins asap.

And, for the Induction thing... I stayed on Induction for 10 weeks to get things kick started. That may have been a trigger along with the big weight loss in a short time frame.

I have worked my way up the ladder and have nut and veggie in the program. Every now and then, I do have a little bit of Soy Milk, unsweetened for a treat.

Thanks again, all super helpful!

[SweetCher]

Staying on induction for 10 weeks and the huge weight loss was probably the trigger. I did the same thing in the beginning and was reminded by Atkins that he starts people moving out of induction after 14 days. So, I really glad you're already moving your way up the ladder

That will make a huge difference in your hair!

P.S. I wanted to add, that the Atkins clinic keeps a number of people who have a lot to lose on induction for a longer time when they are monitoring them and have them on the proper supplements. I think that's great when they are properly monitored -- I know a lot of people like to stay on induction here.

[artgirl7]

I think you may be right about Induction, time frame and large weight loss. I love Induction and it works so well for me, I hated to move on. My weight has hit a wall since I moved on and I seem to be stuck at 175 and this particular size. It was so much easier the first time around with Atkins. Since Oct of 2006, I have went from 228 to 128 to 229 to 140 to 228 to 175. My body is getting tired of the up and down see saw. I hope this time is the last.

Hey, if it were easy, we all would be thin right!

[SweetCher]

Artgirl,

I think our bodies are really very forgiving. Atkins does support staying in induction longer if you have a lot of weight to lose, and there are many people who do that. But, he told me not to stay in induction as long as I did. So, I just don't do it any more. Especially after the hair loss incident.

I know your body will be forgiving and I know you will experience the same success that you experienced before. If you are hitting a wall, take your measurements. You may be dropping inches right now and it isn't showing on the scale. But, that will break. Also, check your foods carefully. There are some foods that can stall our progress. If you're eating any of those foods, eliminate them.