The MakeMeThinner Support Forum

[PJinCali]

Thanks Everyone!! It was a great day and I am exhausted! I don't know what 50 is supposed to feel like but I feel damn good!

More later, time to go nite nite

PJ

[PJinCali]

December 21, 2006 – Thursday – I have been a slacker for the past 2 weeks! I have not been staying on program or tracking my food or water or weight. I am back on task today. Every since my husband and I started working on each other…er um I mean working on our relationship : ) I have been getting A LOT more exercise but not staying on the food part of the program. Sometimes I forget to eat and end up eating dinner with him in the evening that is a normal L&G but not good because that is all I ate all day. I took a bunch of food over to his house so I have no more excuses when I am over there. I have been going to the gym every other day (60 min cardio and 30 minutes weight work) and walking every day for at least 30 minutes.

I have been reading everyone else’s posts daily but have not really had time to post myself. Everyone is doing so well I feel guilty not responding to all the wonderful successes everyone is talking about.

I did spend some time searching for the hidden camera Biki must have in my bathroom! That leopard lady shot she has of me is just too close to reality to be a guess. Biki, I still have not found the camera so give it up and tell me how you knew!?!?

No excuses! I went off program because I was lazy. I am back on it starting today and am working toward my forecast of 100 ponds lost by December 31.

More later ….

[bikipatra]

Oh, I just knew...something about all that horizontal tango-ing you must be doing!

[PJinCali]

January 13, 2007 - Saturday - I have not been posting much but i have been sticking to the program. I am a little frustrated because I am not losing many pounds lately. I am losing inches and am happy about that but since we measure success on this forum by the number of pounds lost I feel like am a less than successful right now.

The great thing is the exercise bug has hit me big time. I am going to the gym every morning with my son’s girlfriend and I am still walking every evening with my husband for 30 min to an hour. If anyone had told me I would like working out this much a month ago I would have laughed in their face. It helps keep me on track with my program because I don't want all that work to be for nothing.

I have been going through some medical tests as part of an entire physical which will end with a colonoscopy some time in February. The good news is my blood pressure, cholesterol, hormones and thyroid tests came back normal (actually very good tests results for all these items) the bad news is that my glucose tests came back high and have to be repeated. My father and sister had/have (my father is deceased) type 1 diabetes. I have always been concerned about having diabetes and do not know why the tests came back high.

Ok, one other thing, my hair is still falling out AND new hair is not growing. I know it is not my hormones or thyroid because of the recent test results. So what is causing it? I have been using Nioxin, taking fishoil, primrose oil, biotin and a hair & nail vitimine but there has been no improvement. The hair loss just keep getting worse and worse.

I have checked other postings on this forum regarding hair loss but have not seen an answer to WHY I started losing my hair (like many other Medifast users) after being on the program for about 5 months. I would appreciate any additional advice from anyone that knows why or has had the same problem and solved it.

Thanks all,

PJ

[Serendipity]

PJ,

I'm not sure why we lose hair on this program. My doctor says that anything that shocks your system, such as rapid weight loss or pregnancy can cause temporary hair loss.

I started losing hair at about the 6 month point in my program. It continued until about the 10th month. The only thing I did was start to use Nioxin. It seemed to start working right away, but I'm not sure if it was that or if it was just that I was done losing hair.....I'll never know, however, I continue to use nioxin.

How long have you been on Medifast? It may be that you just haven't turned the corner. I don't really know, but for me it was a small sacrifice to make to get thin.

[PJinCali]

Thanks Jo,

I have been on the program since April 24, 2006 (a little over 8 months). It is scary for me because even when I had my 4 offspring I did not lose my hair.

My doctor is trying to get to the bottom of it and started with the tyroid and other blood tests. I don't think it is stress, I have been pretty much stress free for about a year. The doc thinks it may be my body adjusting to the shock of losing the weight but says whatever it is, it is not normal and should not be happening. I am happy she is not telling me to get off the medifast program.

PJ

[Jan]

Hi PJ,
This is what Take Shape has to say
" a small percent of the people who do Medifast will struggle with hair loss, expecially ones who are on the program for three months or longer. To minimize this problem, taking supplements that contain extra B vitamins, extra zinc and the nutrient Biotin are all helpful for decreasing the problem. Some individuals may also choose more natural alternatives such as primrose oil and flax see oil. Hair loss in not permanent and re-growth typically occurs within a couple of months of going off Medifast" In my experience when one gets to transistion and maintenance the problem goes away too. Don't worry your hair will grow back.
jan

[PJinCali]

Thanks Jan,

I am already taking super B complex along with everything else I am doing. I am not willing to go bald because of this program. Should I switch to maintenace so it stops? I want to lose about more 80 pounds.

PJ

[bikipatra]

It is very difficult for a vain "little" thing like myself to face the possibility of hairloss so I understand your pain. I took birth control pills for three months and got a big bald patch (one that I could cover) but it was enough for me to stop immediately. Have you tried what Jo tried, the Nioxin or Rogaine for women? This is a difficult decision.

[PJinCali]

Hi Biki,

Yes, I started with Nioxin, fishoil, primrose oil & biotin in late August or September. I added the super B complex in November. It has not stopped the fallout. I leave hair everywhere & it is very distressing. I can't hide it because even though it is happening all over my head, it is really bad at the front of my head.

I have always had really healthy hair and am worried there is something wrong with my health and that the hair loss is a result of that problem or deficiency or whatever.

It would be really nice to get a real answer from Medifast. It may happen to only a few but why does it happen? Is it because the calories are so low? Is it because of the "rapid" weight loss? what is the deal with the hair loss??

Sorry if I am ranting but I am really frustrated today.

PJ

[bikipatra]

Oh, don't apologize! I would be frustrated too after you have exhausted all those options! I would want answers too. And I really want to be thin but I don't know if I would be willing to be bald for several months to do it. Maybe I would because I really don't have a life outside of walking to Starbucks and the jewelry store and people already know I'm crazy, so the Marilyn wig would come as no surprise. But if I had a "normal" life, it would be almost intolerable. I am very sorry this is happening to you.

[PJinCali]

I think the Medifast guide should have a warning about this and list the possible remedies (or maybe comments from others that have gone through it and found a solution to the problem). After being on the program for several months and losing the weight it is very difficult to deal with a choice of going off plan or going bald. I keep saying I'll give it another month and if it does not improve I am giving up the Medifast program but I keep hanging on. Now that my doctor is also trying to figure it out, I am going to hang on until she gives me some advice or a solution to the problem.

Thanks for the support biki!

PJ

[Nova]

PJ, I feel your pain so much. After about 7 months on the program, my hair started falling out. It got worse and worse. I started taking a B vitamin, folic acid and 3000 mg of biotin daily. Plus fish oil capsules and flax seed in my oatmeal. Nothing seemed to help. I colored my hair one day and just about had a heart attack at how much hair came out and haven't colored it since then.

That, combined with the fact that I lost exactly no pounds in 4 weeks of being compliant convinced me it was time to stop, even though I still had another 10-20 pounds I wanted to lose. I decided I'd just have to do it through good old healthy eating and exercise.

For the next 4-6 weeks, my hair loss continued, but it slowed, and last week, I noticed that I'm back down to my pre-Medifast level of hair shedding. I haven't colored my hair yet, but I'm getting brave enough to try it in another couple of weeks.

I don't have a good answer for you. All I can say is that my hair loss did stop within a couple months of stopping Medifast.

[PJinCali]

Thank you so much Nova!

I am going to talk with my doctor about a temporary healthy nutritious replacement program. I am very nervous about going off medifast because I don't want to gain back any of the weight. That is why I keep trying to stick to the program. I had a similar hair scare on Christmas day. I was sitting in a chair in the living room opening gifts with the family. I stood up to go get coffee and my daughter said "OH MY GOD!! the back of the chair is covered with your hair" She was right and I nearly started crying! I can't even style it in a way that hides the areas that are almost bald.

Thanks again I appreciate hearing that it will grow back!

PJ

[dede4wd]

PJ,
I wish I could help. In about August, my hair loss got alarming. I take the hair/skin/nails formula vitamins with 3000mg of biotin in it and an oil complex, I also do the 2 tsp of olive oil suggestion from the quick start guide (on my salad) and my hair loss seems to have gone back to pre-MF levels.

Maybe an e-mail to the TSFL nurse or get on the nurse or doctor calls Monday or Wednesday night? Definitely talk to your doc! I'm so sorry this is happening to you.

DeDe