Support

I just decided to change - diet and after more than 5 years let my thick, wavy hair grow out. My first goal is an earlenght bob with bangs. I know this combination is not the best for my hair, but as I doubled my weight it is a must. And I don't want to wait until I lost weight to let my hair grow out. I'm eating normal food, just smaller portions, take my vitamins and will do some sports as well (swimming and riding my bike). If someone has any tips for me what to take care of, do's and don'ts I would highly appreciate it. Any support is more than welcome.ThanksKay

> I just decided to change - diet and after> more than 5 years let my thick, wavy hair grow> out. My first goal is an earlenght bob with bangs.> I know this combination is not the best for my> hair, but as I doubled my weight it is a must.> And I don't want to wait until I lost weight to> let my hair grow out. I'm eating normal food,> just smaller portions, take my vitamins and will> do some sports as well (swimming and riding my> bike). If someone has any tips for me what to> take care of, do's and don'ts I would highly appreciate> it. Any support is more than welcome.> Thanks> KayKay, Congratuations on deciding to take control of your life! I, too, am in the process of losing weight and growing out my hair. It's not easy, but I found support to be paramount to success. I am a regular exerciser, but it wasn't till I started eating right that the weight started to come off. Diet and exercise is also good for growing out your hair-I found mine will grow a bit faster when I exercise-I don't know why. Make sure you exercise regularly, at least 5 days a week for at least 20 minutes and keep track of what you eat. Take your vitamins, too. Doing this, I've lost 25 lbs and become healthier for it. If you cut back to much you'll start losing hair, too.I've heard certain diets will do that. I figure by the time my hair gets to the length I want, my weight will be where I want it too! Please feel free to e-mail me if you want-I know exactly what you're going through. Lori

Congratulations on your life style change. I am trying to do the same thing. Getting my hair in shape, and my body. I have been pretty good about exercising, but the food thing is pretty difficult for me. One thing that has gotten me in trouble in the past is eating too many meals out. Now I am preparing most of my meals myself, using almost all organic products, for usually less money than I spent eating out so much. So that has been an enlightenment for me. And I have total control over what goes into my food. The net has been a good source for recipes for foods that I like to eat out. I am already starting to feel better as well. I have (at least temporarily) quit drinking coffee. I am definitely trying to say goodbye to large amounts of caffeine. Good for my body, and hair. Well, good luck and keep us posted on your progress.Regards,Clare> I just decided to change - diet and after> more than 5 years let my thick, wavy hair grow> out. My first goal is an earlenght bob with bangs.> I know this combination is not the best for my> hair, but as I doubled my weight it is a must.> And I don't want to wait until I lost weight to> let my hair grow out. I'm eating normal food,> just smaller portions, take my vitamins and will> do some sports as well (swimming and riding my> bike). If someone has any tips for me what to> take care of, do's and don'ts I would highly appreciate> it. Any support is more than welcome.> Thanks> Kay

> I just decided to change - diet and after> more than 5 years let my thick, wavy hair grow> out. My first goal is an earlenght bob with bangs.> I know this combination is not the best for my> hair, but as I doubled my weight it is a must.> And I don't want to wait until I lost weight to> let my hair grow out. I'm eating normal food,> just smaller portions, take my vitamins and will> do some sports as well (swimming and riding my> bike). If someone has any tips for me what to> take care of, do's and don'ts I would highly appreciate> it. Any support is more than welcome. Good if want to do something for yourself! I have read the responses to your post and I would just add, try to eat as little red meat as you can. Your arteries and your hair will love you for that. Do not deprive yourself if you are hungry. Eat plenty of great food throughout your day. Get rid of the junk if you eat it. The saying eat to live and don't live to eat is the best advice.> Thanks> Kay

Well Kay, you have definitely come to the right place for kind and generous support! These gals are wonderful! And I'd just like to pitch in my two cents worth and say good for you! Three kids and three C-sections in four years time put me on the path to plumpness too and I'm still fighting that battle so you hang in there. The previous responses all gave great advice and will certainly help you. You might want to try some vitamins too, a nice anti-oxidant complex for the free radicals released while losing weight and as was mentioned DON'T get crazy and try to drop it too fast, you CAN actually start losing hair that way. Have you tried the new metabolism boosters? Be careful, but in moderation they can really give you a nice energy lift and make you want to do other things besides eat. They've been helping me recently get back on track to finally drop these excess pounds. The best of luck in your quest for self improvement. The first step is always the hardest!Hello to all!Dawn

Hi, Dawn,I am curious, but what metabolism boosters do you use, and how do you use them??Thanks, Clare> Well Kay, you have definitely come to the> right place for kind and generous support! These> gals are wonderful! And I'd just like to pitch> in my two cents worth and say good for you! Three> kids and three C-sections in four years time put> me on the path to plumpness too and I'm still> fighting that battle so you hang in there. The> previous responses all gave great advice and will> certainly help you. You might want to try some> vitamins too, a nice anti-oxidant complex for> the free radicals released while losing weight> and as was mentioned DON'T get crazy and try to> drop it too fast, you CAN actually start losing> hair that way. Have you tried the new metabolism> boosters? Be careful, but in moderation they can> really give you a nice energy lift and make you> want to do other things besides eat. They've been> helping me recently get back on track to finally> drop these excess pounds. The best of luck in> your quest for self improvement. The first step> is always the hardest!> Hello to all!> Dawn

> I just decided to change - diet and after> more than 5 years let my thick, wavy hair grow> out. My first goal is an earlenght bob with bangs.> I know this combination is not the best for my> hair, but as I doubled my weight it is a must.> And I don't want to wait until I lost weight to> let my hair grow out. I'm eating normal food,> just smaller portions, take my vitamins and will> do some sports as well (swimming and riding my> bike). If someone has any tips for me what to> take care of, do's and don'ts I would highly appreciate> it. Any support is more than welcome.Well here's my advice:1. Exercize, it's good for your weight, your mood and I'm convinced that the improved circulation is good for your hair and complexion. I get some exercize pretty much every day anywhere from a 20 minute workout tape, to strenth training to 2 hours of rollerblading. Find things to do that you like and that are fun.2. Don't crash diet! I've had several run-ins with obsessive dieting and I can tell you for a fact that superlow calorie, liquid or other fad diets WILL make your hair fall out, your skin get all sallow and pasty, your naild will get thin and they may cause other medical problems. Yuck! Not to mention you'll probably gain the weight back.3. Eat healthy wholesome food when you're hungry. Don't starve yourself (see #2), if you're really hungry then eat something, just try to stay away from the junk food. A wide variety of healthy food is important for your hair and body. Don't absolutely eliminate all fats in your diet... you need some fat and fat soluble vitamins for healthy hair and skin.4. Have patience and go easy on yourself. Growing your hair out and dieting have a lot in common. They take time and patience. Sometimes you'll make mistakes, sometimes things won't be perfect... just forgive yourself and perservere. You're right to say that you don't want to wait to grow your hair until you lose weight... don't put your life on hold until you reach a certain weight or your hair is a certain length, or whatever... Your life is worth living to the fullest TODAY.-jennifer Who is not having much patience with her hair today... but I'm trying to forgive it! :-)

Hey Clare!I'm a loyal Twinlab person, but there are a number of brands whose products contain the same basic ingredients and you may want to experiment a bit. I've long taken an all around vitamin regime of at least 1 gram of vitamin C, at least one B-100 cap, 20,000 milligrams of A, an all around mineral supplement, and at least 400 milligrams of E per day, (which is based on the Pearson and Shaw free radical Life Extension research that was quite popular a while back) but I've also recently started adding the Twinlab Metabolift caps which contain Ma Huang (for the ephedra alkaloids), Guarana (which contains caffeine but I don't get caffeine from coffee or sodas or anything else in my life so I don't think this small amount is harmful) and Chromium picolinate which is the substance said to help "turn up" the body's metabolic rate. Be careful. I only take one cap in the morning, and maybe one later in the day, but the dosage says two caps three times a day. That makes me WAY too jittery, whereas the minimal doseage really gives me nice little lift and makes me less apt to just eat because I happen to be feeding the kids. I LOVE food and am a yummy cook which is my family's unending pleasure and my absolute downfall so cutting out meals is really out of the question, but the Metabolift has been helping me to just put down that gooey cheesy stuff or rich sweets. In fact it makes them feel TOO gooey, TOO sweet and I find myself really able to truly enjoy a salad or (my favorite) tomato sandwich, without feeling like I'm depriving myself or being left out. Eating light is feeling really good and eating heavy is not. That's a breakthrough for me. I feed the family really well, rarely red meats, only unsaturated oils, fresh garden veggies, a mean spinach lasagne, even my brownies contain no saturated fats but its always been portion control thats my enemy and the Metabolift has given me a little edge there that is helping me finally get a grip. One caveat: READ THE WARNING LABELS ON THESE PRODUCTS! THEY ARE NOT FOR EVERYONE, PARTICULARLY PREGNANT WOMEN!Wow! That was too much information! But you asked for it!Best of luck and I hope that helps.Take care!Dawn

Thank you very much! I feel very good with both decisions made. So far I lost 6lbs - without starving or any other problems. I use stairs instead of the lift, ride my bike and will start some weightlifting for my arms and chest. I'm positive and if I need some encouragement I will check this board for sure.THANXKay