I'm 18 years old, 5'5, 105 pounds. Having lost 30 pounds over the course of 1 year.....
I lost the weight by eating 1300-1400 calories for a few months, gradually lowering it from where I started off.
Now I'm maintaining and eating 1500-1700 calories a day for a month now.
I've noticed my hair's falling out in CLUMPS! In the shower, it clogs up the hole, and it seems to be dry, brittle and not nice at all...
My question is, how long will it take for it to stop falling out? I know I'm not restricting anymore, and eating enough... will it take another year?
My hair's thinning and I'm scared!
You're underweight for your height and not eating enough, that'll be why you're losing hair.
Original Post by rckgrl:
You're underweight for your height and not eating enough, that'll be why you're losing hair.
Ditto.
Gain at least 10 lbs to be borderline healthy weight. Gaining 20 lbs would be a better idea.
You are under weight and probably under eating. What is your diet like? You will not stop loosing your hair until you gain weight and eat properly. Not just calories but a balanced diet that includes enough fat,protein, dairy, carbs, etc.
I agree with the above posters. You are underweight and that is messing up your hair but the season changing could also have some influence in it. Every year from summer to autumn (around this time) my hair falls a lot. I think it's mainly due to the damage it gets from the sun and the beach...
Don't take the hair loss as a change of seasons. You are undereating. You may have been undereating for a long time, I don't know. And it's not only the quantity of calories, but the quality that counts. Now for someone like me, a 40-something who's trying to lose weight, your caloric intake is ok. But for someone like you, your age, height and weight, it's not enough. You are still developing. And if you've been restricting during your developmental years, you might have already set yourself up for a lifetime of health issues. I knew someone who struggled with an ED during her teen and early 20's. She was recovered, but dropped dead of a heart attack shovelling snow at 27 years of age. The ED had permanently damaged her heart.
Loss of your period is a major warning sign! I cannot stress this enough. There is a lot of talk on this site about 'starvation mode'. Well, losing your period is the real deal. You really are starving if your body doesn't have the resourses it needs to preform one of it's natural, vital functions.
I want to get better and be healthy and don't wanna drop dead!
I am eating 1500-1700 calories though, definitely...sometimes even more. I've been doing this for the past 3 weeks since deciding to quit "dieting".
I usually eat:
Breakfast- Oatmeal, Peanut Butter, Fruit, Yogurt
Lunch- Rice, vegetables, soup, maybe some fish
Dinner: Fish, tofu, beans, soup
And I usually eat fruit for snacks and sometimes treats.
I want my hair to stop falling out and for me to be healthy, but I think I'm eating enough cos i don't exercise at all at the moment. i spend all my time studying.
am i not eating enough red meat??
thank you all you for replying, i really thank you
Listen, you know you're not getting all the nutrients your body needs. That said, your hair isnt going to just stop falling out with weight gain. Im sorry but weight gain isnt the magical answer to everything. I know from experience after gaining back 35 pounds after anorexia. I can also tell you that the more you gain, the more your hair will probably fall out as the body's way of finally healing itself. But you should still see a doctor. There are other possible reasons for your hair loss.
So my hair's never going to stop falling out?
And I'm eating enough right now, I'm sure...
Original Post by flee04:
So my hair's never going to stop falling out?
And I'm eating enough right now, I'm sure...
If your hair is still falling out, are you really sure?
I think your body is disagreeing with you.
I think previous posters mean that it won't stop falling out immediately. If malnutrition is the cause of your hair falling out, it will take some time for your body to recover enough for your hair to become healthy again, and for your period to return. The malnutrition did not happen overnight, so you can't expect your body to recover that quickly either.
And, going to the doctor and telling him/her what you've told us is a REALLY good idea! :o)
There are plenty of reasons to lose hair, could be hormonal, investigations are needed like blood tests and stuff.
Original Post by flee04:
So my hair's never going to stop falling out?
And I'm eating enough right now, I'm sure...
Don't worry, eventually your hair will stop falling out. However, it's not going to stop because you have been eating well for three weeks. I have been eating well for about two months and my hair is still shedding more than it should. When I first noticed my hair loss, I freaked out too and came on the forum asking questions. From what I have heard from several people on this site, hair usually stops falling out about 3-4 months after you start eating well and start gaining weight. Now, your hair loss may last a longer or shorter duration, I'm just giving you an average based on what I have been told by numerous people who have gone through the exact same thing. It's going to take some time. I know it's scary. There are days when I still have meltdowns about it. But all you can do is keep eating and wait. Try to be patient and keep your anxiety level down. This isn't permanent.
On another note, even though your hair loss is most likely due to being underweight, you still need to go to the doc to have bloodwork done to rule out any other possibilities like an autoimmune condition. Again, it's unlikely it's due to anything other than your weight loss, but you want to be sure.
