Lapsed, getting back on but apprehensive

[Sharvo]

Hi all,
Back in '07 I lost 60lb on PP with the aid of Kathleen's Diet Planner software ("KD"). I felt very secure that I was covering all my nutritional bases but after about 4 months my hair starting falling out and in desperation at 6 months I started up-ing my carbs since that was the only thing I thought I was lacking. My hair starting growing back in (it's growing fine now) and I fell into my old sweettooth habits. Big mistake weight came back quick yada yada.

Since low carb is the only diet that I've followed that I wasn't hungry on, and since it beautifully sorted out my blood lipids, I want to give it a try again but I don't want to lose my hair (duh).

I was getting plenty of fat and calories were averaging around 1200 - 1300 so I'm wondering if there's a chance that I need more protein that the PP book calculations specified. Anyone have that experience?

Having been a long time vegetarian, I acknowledge that I'm a bit of a meat-o-phobe so I don't want to eat more than I need to. How would you know if you were eating *more* protein than necessary?

Glad to see all the regulars there for inspiration!!

Sharvo

[Belfrybat]

Welcome back. I can't speak to the hair falling out issue, but just wanted to welcome you and encourage you in this WOE. Due to another health issue, I couldn't manage at 40 ECC, but lost OK at 55-60. A bit slower, I'm sure, than if I could have dropped lower, but at the higher levels, my carb cravings were under control. So you can do PP at a bit higher ECC and still lose weight as well as rectify health issues.

Come join us at the daily challenge thread where we encourage each other, post our menus and help hold each other accountable. Lots of good friendly folks hang out there.

[laughingW]

Did you pay attention to *quality* of protein last time?

For instance, 7g of a leafy green such as broccoli or kale is a complete protein. 7g of fake soy vegetarian products is an incomplete protein - it's missing some amino acids. If you were having the minimum protein, and that minimum was of lower biological value, then i can see getting into trouble.

nowadays nutritiondata.com has a nifty graphic on most individual food pages that talks about complete amino acids in protein.

[Mitra]

Welcome :). You've had some good advice about food already, but you might also like to read a blog that Dr Mike Eades wrote (http://www.proteinpower.com/drmike/metabolism/hair-loss-and-kimkins/) about hair loss a year or two ago. He actually wrote it in relation to the low-everything Kimkins diet, but the post explains the basic cycle that hair growth normally goes through, and how it can get disrupted by stresses on your body - the good news is that even if it happens, it grows back again.

[wineaux1962]

I am trying to figure out how to do this diet/lifestyle change correctly. I tried it, got off and am now trying to get back on. I went today to Barnes and Nobles. I got the 30 day book and the Lifeplan book. Maybe reviewing the literature would be helpful? It was for me.

[gitfiddle]

Welcome in, Wineaux! Please feel free to ask questions. Enjoy your reading!

Sharvo, I think my hair is actually doing better on PP, possibly due to the recommended supplements I take. Certainly my lipid profile has improved! The protein calculation in the books is meant to serve as a minimum intake guide. You can certainly increase that level if you want to experiment. I agree that quality counts in that department.

[Sharvo]

Gitfiddle: I've heard lots of folks say that LC improved their hair so I'm hoping I'll be luckier this time.
wineaux1962: I'm pretty clear on the program, the protein calculations I did were taken straight from PP. I've re-done my calculations for this go-round using the next higher "activity category" to get my minimum protein requirement and hoping that does the trick.
laughingW: I was a vegetarian for 20 yrs so I'm pretty clear on obtaining optimal amino acid combinations by combining foods. But I have been omnivorous for the last 3 years so protein during my last weight loss was almost entirely animal source. Therefore, I doubt an amino acid imbalance was the problem.
Mitra: I found and read that article the other day but I didn't really get the jist of the Kim (or whatever) diet program. I do remember it was super low calories - not my situation. I am familiar with the hair growth cycle and how any stressor can trigger the anagen and maybe I should have just stuck with PP longer, but I wasn't ready to test the Eades' program & calculations over what looked like escalating hair loss, especially since they didn't specifically mention it in their books.
Belfrybat: I think that's good feedback and I am taking it slower this time. My induction was only really 1 week and I'm normally ranging from 40 - 50 carbs. I would like the weight to come off faster, but I'm just happy that it's coming off at all!!

Here's to your health,

Sharvo

[Mitra]

Sharvo, there was something about hair loss in the last book (Staying Power) - just a brief paragraph or two in the Q&A section, but I don't think it said anything more than the blog - except that it was written in general terms, not in response to something specific like Kimkins.

[Dutchess2009]

Hi Sharvo!

Well I have posted some health concerns myself on here - one of them being significant hair breakage and loss among other issues. I went to my doc and she was thinking I might have a thyroid issue - all the symptoms pointed in that direction. That was not the case. My doc does not believe in restricting carbs, so now she blames the diet. I asked Dr. Eades in his blog what he thought...and he said there is no way on this planet this can happen from restricting carbs. I am also restricting my calories since I am close to goal and need to to lose these last few pounds. I think that may be the issue...so I have decided to give myself a couple of more weeks to lose the last bit of weight and then stop restricting calories and see if that helps. I truly believe in this way of eating to be healthy...I think I may have just asked my body to do too much at once. That's my hope anyway.