Stalled, and going Bald

[gjhhrh]

I have been following Atkins since March '09, I LOVE the way I feel and the way I am looking, the energy I have now is amazing and I don't ever want to eat the way I used to. I have lost 42 lbs, I still have 45 to go, BUT........ I have stalled, it has been 2 months and I have been fluctuating between 3 lbs. It's frustrating, I have been doing extended induction, with the occasional glass of wine and extra veggies. I also started biking around the same time as the stall, (being aware that I might be gaining muscle) but have not lost any inches.
My other problem is that my hair has been falling out for the past 4-6 weeks, my nails when I started this GREW! I never in my life had long nails, I was painting them they looked great! Around the same time my hair started to fall out my nails started to break and are now peeling badly, all of them, not just one, all of them!
What is going on here, are the other people out there who are losing their hair just women? Is anyone else having nail problems? I realize hair and nails go hand in hand.
I'm getting my bloodwork done tomorrow. I have read everything I possibly could on this situation (hair) I would just like to know if anyone who was losing their hair had it grow back and how long was the whole process, is it worth staying on Atkins? I absolutely love this WOE and would hate to have to give it up.
Any input would be greatly apprieciated!!
Thanks!

[ErinB]

Some people experience hair loss which seems to be a result of rapid weight loss. That isn't just Atkins, however, but rapid weight loss on any eating plan.

Here are a couple of topics which may give you some ideas:
http://www.atkinsdietbulletinboard.c...oing-bald.html (HELP! I am going bald!)
http://www.atkinsdietbulletinboard.c...air-going.html (where is my hair going?)

General consensus is that the hair will come back and there are some suggested supplements which have been reported to help curb the hair loss.

[atkinsgal08]

What exactly are you eating? Are you eating enough? Maybe this is your body's way of telling you it's time to move to OWL.

[sallyseachange]

Actually, if you're having wine occasionally and extra veggies, then you already are in OWL.
I'd certainly start to follow the rungs in the correct order. Lots of people jump start a weight loss again by a move to OWL, particularly on the early rungs. You need to eat the extra veggies regularly.

Can you pinpoint what started the hair loss and nail problems?
This does happen and generally the problem passes in time. I believe it's the new hair growth that causes the old hair to fall out, which is a good thing.

Keep us posted.

[gjhhrh]

Thanks Ladies for the feedback,
This is a sample menu:
2 revolutionary rolls toasted w/ butter 1/2 a packet of splenda+ sprinkled w/ cinnamon
2 slices turkuy w/1/2 slice swiss cheese on each and mayo
2 cups lettuce w/ chicken or steak or hamburger w/2-3 TBS bluecheese dressing or cheesesteak w/sauteed onions and green bell peppers
veal cutlet coated w/ egg and ground up pork rinds and parm cheese fried
baked cabbage w/ butter salt pepper
or steak w/ broccoli rabe sauteed in olive oil
4 oz wine (occasionally)
water,water,water
when I review the list on the OWL chapter of the book it looks to me like i have done rung 1+2 I have had strawberries 2 times in the past 2 weeks, and haven't had nuts yet, and of course the wine.
I can't really say exactly when this started, but I had a few things happen. I started to have a problem w/ eggs. I was eating them every day in the beggining for breakfast, and I would also have 1 hard boiled eg for a snack at times, but they really started to upset my stomach, so I stopped eating them in that form and started to have them in the "Revolutionary Rolls"
I was losing weight up to the middle of July and then it just stopped, that was my 4 month mark. And I would have to say that my hair + nails problem started 4-6 weeks ago.
I am currently taking a multi vitamin, biotin,extra vitamin c (just started yesterday) a digestive enzyme for nutrient absorbtion, and magnesium citrate. I am waiting for my bloodwork to come in before I add any B's.
Sorry so much info, but I need some input. Has anyone else experienced this, with any positive results?
Thanks again!

[gjhhrh]

Oh 1 more thing, I am familiar with the fact that everyone loses hair, I am a hairdresser and the hair I am losing is full strands w/ the root attached, it is WAY more than normal. I remember years ago my husbands roommate at the time was on Atkins and all of a sudden she was losing her hair like crazy, I can't ask her what happened because i don't know where she is now.
Thanks again

[DarlingBri]

Looking at the ingredients on the supplements you're taking, do any of them contain chromium picolinate? It is widely used in everything from multi-vitamins to curbing carb cravings to depression remedies, but is known to cause hair loss.

[gjhhrh]

Thanks DarlingBri,
I checked and only my multi contains Chromium (as polyricotinate) 100mcg thats what the label says...........BUT, I didn't start them until after my hair started falling out. So I don't think that is my problem.
This is really mind boggling, I got my test results back and from what iIcan tell everything looks fine. I'm right in the range for everything except my cholesterol is still high. So I will wait to see what my DR has to say.
UUGH! I LOVE this WOE and I feel GREAT! I wish everything else would fall into place. Patience, patience, patience!
Thanks all

[DarlingBri]

Err, birth control pills?

Basically, I would take everything you put in your body and Google "whatever + hair loss" and see if you get anything. Someone very recently posted that she was having the same issue, went to her doctor and found that her BCPs listed hair loss as a possible side effect in the very small print.

So what I'm suggesting is that you scrutinise everything to see if you can find a source for your problem outside your diet.

Large weight loss and/or rapid weight can cause hair loss (it drows back) but that doesn't seem to be what you're reporting.