Diet Issues?

Updated on April 20, 2009
R.H. asks from Belleville, IL
20 answers

I have recently started eating more healthy. I don't like to refer to it as a diet, but I have been trying to eat more natural foods and less processed foods. So far, I have lost 14 pounds in the past 8 weeks, but have seen my weight loss increase slightly in the past 2 weeks. That part has been wonderful, I'm not complaining. I have also started running for at least 20 minutes a day 5 days a week and doing activities that involve exercise on the weekends. Here are my issues. I have noticed that my hair is falling out at an extremely fast pace, I have to clean the drain a couple of times while I take my shower, my nails are breaking like crazy but growing really fast, I keep getting these migraine headaches (which I never got before), I get feelings of nausea, and the most embarrassing of all of them to share is that I feel like I have turned into a walking hormone. I can't seem to get enough of my husband the past 2-3 weeks. What in the world is wrong with me?! I have thought about seeing my doctor about this, but wanted to see if any of you mamas have gone through this and what you found out first. My mom had suggested that I see an Endocrinologist (sp) but I don't know what they do or if they could help shed some light on this for me. Please help!

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S.G.

answers from St. Louis on

You need to consult a doctor. Whether any of us have experienced some or all of these symptoms, the doctor's office is where you'll get facts.

Good Luck.

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E.S.

answers from Kansas City on

well i haven't had any luck losing weight but I do want to ask if you have an IUD in? cause some of those symptoms sounds like what some women experience with Mirena. I was always in a bad mood with headaches and back aches. I wasn't loosing my hair but some women do. so if you don't have Mirena then I would go straight to the doctor.

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S.R.

answers from Lawrence on

Hi Rae,

Perhaps you might think of taking a multivitamin. Vit. A (in liver, fish liver oils & green & yellow fruits and vegies)deficiency can cause problems with hair & brittle nails (along with calcium deficiency). Other possible results of Vit. a deficiency are reproductive difficulties, skin disorder, weight loss...

The B vitamins maintain nerves, skin, eyes, hair, brain function, etc... They are mostly found in animal products.

If you have recently changed your diet recently, although you may be eating foods closer to nature (BRAVO!), you may not be getting the variety you need.

In addition, a common cause for migraines is low blood sugar. If you are eating a lot of carbs (grains & sugars, including whole grains fruits) and not so much of a variety of vegies or protein sources, this could be part of the problem. Vegies provide vitamins and minerals & protein provides more stable & sustained sugar in the blood, unlike carbs which give you a boost but are burned up quickly.

Hope this helps. Cograts on the weight loss and good luck exploring your new diet options.

S.

1 mom found this helpful

D.H.

answers from Kansas City on

Are you taking a multi Vitamin? If not you should be, when we change our eating habits our bodies tend to lack some of the nutrients we were getting before. Try a woman's mulit vitamin. You are probably lacking one of the key vitamins you need in your diet and that could be the hair loss and brittle nails, they both live on the vitamins we get daily. Hope this helps some...Good luck and God Bless.

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D.B.

answers from St. Louis on

I think you should have your Dr. check your thyroid levels.

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M.W.

answers from St. Louis on

Hello,
Well I had the same problem what you should do is go to your doctor and ask to have your thyroid checked. I had the same problems and I had mine checked and the levels were not what they should be. All they do is take some blood and then your doctor should call you and let you know what is going on and if it's not your thyroid then maybe there is something else that they can help you with.
I hope this helps you out. Take Care

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A.P.

answers from Kansas City on

Hi Rae!

First off, congrats on losing weight. I too am currently on the track for being healthier. Are you taking vitamins or multivitamins? They are a major part of weight loss and nutrients. For your hair and nails I would suggest some kind of calogen (I think I spelled that right). It will help strengthen your nails and hair. Even eat Jell-O. It has calogen in it. I would frist see my primary care physician and see what they suggest. Your body is missing out on vitamins it needs. You'll even feel a little extra boost of energy (a good boost). You'll feel more alert and ready to go. Hope this helped! Keep up the good work!

A.

M.P.

answers from St. Louis on

Hi Rae:

If I were you, I'd ask your doctor to check your thyroid. I lost over 40#, the first 20 within a 3-4 month time period and had all the symptoms you are describing and have hypothyroidism.

On the other hand, if you don't take in enough calcium and iron, you can have all of the symptoms above, with the exception of the increased libido - that comes with the territory when you exercise. You can ask your doctor to run a thyroid test and check your iron and calcium at the same time.

I suggest eating a banana and having a glass of orange juice with calcium every day first thing in the morning. You may also want to try a natural iron supplement called Standard Process Ferrofood. If you google it, you'll be taken directly to the Standard Process site. As I said, I am anemic and this is the only iron supplement my body can handle.

On a positive note, having an increased libido is a glorious thing, so don't be worried about not being able to keep your hands off your husband - and I am sure he doesn't mind! ;-)

An increase in endorphins from exercise increases sex drive. Another observation is that when we lose weight, we feel better about ourselves and we become more free and open with sex. Lots of sex does a body good and it burns on an average of 370 calories! Woo hoo!

Congratulations on becoming more healthy! I know it seems simplistic, but it may just be what you need!

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C.M.

answers from Kansas City on

Good for you! I would also go see your doctor. These are signs that you could have problems with your thyriod and other hormone imbalances. The only way to know for sure is to be checked out and the sooner the better. Try to write down everything that you have notice lately that you feel is off to take with you to the dr so that you don't forget anything.

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T.A.

answers from Wichita on

Many people have mentioned the thyroid issue, which is a definite possibility, but have you taken a pregnancy test? Many of your symptoms could be indicating you are pregnant. Either way, you need to see a doctor to check out what's going on.

M.B.

answers from St. Louis on

You could also be anemic. It causes your hair to fall out, the nail breaking, and makes you really tired, which if you are really tired, that could be whats causing the mood swings. I was anemic when I was pregnant and had to take an iron supplement, which I will warn you, if thats the problem lots of iron makes you constipated, so you may need something to counteract that too. I would just go to the doctor to find out for sure. It doesnt sound really serious, but you need to start feeling better soon! Good luck.

J.B.

answers from Kansas City on

It doesn't sound like your "diet" should be affecting you negatively - you haven't stopped eating any food group, have you? I would definitely see a dr. Good luck! Let us know what happens!

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A.R.

answers from Springfield on

Kudos to making good lifestyle changes! It is normal for you sex drive to increase when you start working out as you produce more testosterone for muscle growth. Testosterone is our sex drive hormone. The other symptoms bother me. I would make an appointment immediately. I have my BS in Health & Wellness and I am a NSCA-Certified Personal Trainer. These are not normal training symptoms. God bless, you will be in my prayers.
A.
http://littleangelsinhomechildcare.com

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C.P.

answers from St. Louis on

I would suggest seeing the endocrinologist as well. Have them check your thyroid function and your blood sugar. Also, make sure you are getting enough lean natural protein in your diet...yogurt, egg whites, etc. Low thyroid can cause hairloss, weakness, fatigue, mood swings. Also, be sure you aren't restricting yourself too much, you may want to talk to a nutrtionist. Not getting the nutrition your body needs to function will result in hormone swings, hairloss, dry skin, brittle nails low blood sugar, which in turn will cause nausea/dizziness/headache. Your body feeds what it needs to stay alive first, the outward appearance is secondary, and if you restrict too much you can cause permanent damage to internal organs.

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J.G.

answers from St. Louis on

First thought is thyroid. Check out drbrownstein.com - he is the world renown thyroid guy. The "normal" range for thyroid is too broad. Dr Brownstein thinks it should be more narrow.
Make sure you are getting adequate nutrition - a sound supplement program & quality protein. There are a few good companies. Our household uses the #1 natural nutrition company in the US - Shaklee.
J.
"Healthy & prescription-free despite an autoimmune disease"

J.G.

answers from St. Louis on

I can't explain the headaches but the hair and nails is easy. When you increase your activity level you also increase your metobolism. Your hair and nails grow faster, you also shed skin more often which tends to make your skin look better. Even since I started working out, which was four years ago, my hair falls out more but it never thins. I have the same amount of hair I had four years ago, I just have to clean the drain more often. I think it is worth it.

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L.K.

answers from Kansas City on

Hi Rae,

I agree with both of the 2 other posts. The increase in "desire" could very well be from the increase in activity which not only gives you more energy to even think about it but increase the testosterone for the desire.
I also agree you really need to have your thyroid checked. The hair and brittle nails sure sound like thyroid symptoms to me. You don't say how old you are but speaking for myself, in my late 30's I had a ton of hormonal issues. Part thyroid and part pre-menopausal too.
I applaud you for eating healthier! That's what I try to teach (and do) as a wellness educator is to decrease if not eliminate as much as possible the packaged processed foods that really have no nutritional value and just get back to nature and eat real, fresh, natural foods. I guess the only other thought I have is to make sure you're getting enough zinc. A friend of mine was losing her hair and it was related to a lack of zinc in her diet. *Now she had a gastric bypass so her weight loss issues are different than yours but something to think about.

In good health,

Lori K
www.YourKitchenCoach.net

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K.C.

answers from Kansas City on

Have your thyroid checked, my Sister had the same symptons

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B.C.

answers from Joplin on

Rae...maybe you need to take some supplements? A nice multi vitamin? There is a nail polish by Sally Hanson that is supposed to help strengthen nails...and I don't know if this is an old wives tale or not but my fam always has sworn by gelatin to strengthen hair and nails...eating it that is, but like I said that may be an old wives tale = )
Lots of luck, if I were you I would say if you have a regular doctor it wouldn't hurt to talk to him/her and see if they have any suggestions or if they are concerned
( will set your fears to rest at the very least)
B.

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M.T.

answers from Springfield on

Sounds like it could be your thyroid. Have you doctor check it.

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