losing focus

It has only been 11 weeks and nearly 47 pounds lost and I am losing focus. Life is so busy - Kids Husband work home life.....  Somehow I have lost myself again. My hair loss has begun  - so I am trying to get my proein up. But is is difficult - I am struggling to eat foods high in protein. I am noticing I am eating way too may carbs. As for my water it has not been to great either. I have been cold so I drink decaf tea about 4-5 glasses but very little pure water. I purchased liquid protien to supplement but is that enough? I am feeling anxious I want to do this write and forever and if I am already feeling like a failed dieter.. I have never been good about getting back on track when dieting. Eating meat has been a challenge - I get sick often. Don't get me wrong I have been feeling great but I know I am not doing all that is required of me. I would love some suggestions, directions...

I know that individual therapy and weekly (for 1st yr then monthly after) support groups helped me tremendously break down the barriers to self sabotage. Taking care of ourselves has to come first or we will not be there for others in the long run. If our lives are too busy to take care of self then our lives need a refocus is m\y new view. You can do it one small change at a time! Jamie

I am glad you made the comment about the individual therapy.    I have been searching hi and low to try and find someone who does counseling in this area and I can not locate a therapist anywhere who specializes or deals with Weight loss surgery patients.     Guess part of it is living in a rural area, but I would consider driving to Buffalo but can't find anyone there either.     What do you recommend since there is no one who specializes in this area?   Sally

Sally:
call your insurer and see if anyone specializes in eating disorders, this is close as our issues are not that different (body eating, stress eating, guilt/shame etc). It all comes down to mood/anxiety I feel. Soliciting referrals from Bariatric surgeons, PCP who hve had WLSeers and support group members online and in person may shed a therapist your way! Who did you see preop? Is that an option!? Jamie

Marie, hang in there.  Your weight loss has been awesome, but as you very wisely point out, we have to deal with everyday life too.  It's hard.     You are not a failed dieter, you are human, and you're reaching out for help!   Don't think you're failing because your hair is falling out--almost everyone's does, even when we get plenty of protein.  Some people swear by taking biotin, some by extra protein, but nobody really knows the cause, and it does grow back! Does your doctor's office have a support group?  Can you meet with the nut in the practice? Your relationshp with them doesn't end with the surgery; it's just the beginning--kind of like getting married. I have found that tracking my food intake on fitday.com to be very helpful.  Then you can see exactly how much protein, carbs, etc you are eating. BTW, your decaf tea does count toward your fluid intake. Hang in there,

The post on thearpy are RIGHT ON THE $$!! Here's something you should read about the hair loss--despite what others think it is NOT based on protein consumption--HE*L I eat more protein now that ever before in my life--but I still had major hair loss...so here's something I think will help you...

This was given to me by my NUT so I thought I'd pass it along....

Will I Lose My Hair after Surgery?

Abbe M. Breiter, MS, RD, LD/N

One of the most commonly asked questions during the preoperative period is regarding hair and potential hair loss. Many patients want to know if it will definitely happen to them, if so when and how much AND more importantly will it come back. In order to understand why someone might lose hair following weight loss surgery and what can be done about it, it is important to first understand the basics about your hair.

The hair growth cycle 
Each individual hair is formed inside a hair bulb deep in a hair follicle. The follicle is a tiny but powerful factory, which throughout many people's lifetime hardly ever stops working. From a baby's birth for many decades, the follicle continues to produce hairs. At any given time, a random number of hairs will be in various stages of growth and shedding. Each hair grows for many years: during this time it will be shampooed, conditioned, cut, blown dry, exposed to sun and wind, colored or bleached or permed. None of these treatments affects the growth of the hair in the hair bulb, even though some may seriously damage the hair shaft. Finally the hair spontaneously falls out. The follicle rests for a little while, and then starts to produce yet another new hair. This is the hair cycle. 
 
Stages of the hair cycle 
Between starting to grow and falling out years later, each hair passes through three distinct stages: anagen (the growing phase), catagen (the intermediate phase) and telogen (the shedding phase).  

Anagen (the growing phase)  
Anagen is the active phase of the hair. The anagen phase of a new hair starts at the moment it begins to grow. At that time there is very active growth in the hair bulb. This usually lasts for some years, generally between three and seven, without interruption. Hair on the scalp grows about .3-.4 mm/day or about 6 inches per year. Hair may grow more quickly in winter than in summer. Hair growth varies with the season as a result of a change in the difference between hair follicles in the growing and shedding phases. Pigment (melanin) is made in the hair bulb throughout this phase of the hair cycle. Less pigment is made in the hair of older people. This is why white hairs start to appear, even though the hair itself may still be growing strongly. In some older people the hair cycle becomes shorter, the follicles gradually give up producing long, strong hair, and the hairs become thinner and shorter. The result may be a general thinning of the hair, or even a degree of baldness

Catagen (the intermediate phase)  
The anagen phase is followed by a short resting phase. The catagen phase is a transitional stage and 3% of all hairs are in this phase at any time. This phase lasts for about 2-3 weeks. During this time growth stops and the outer root sheath shrinks and attaches to the root of the hair, No pigment is made during that time, and the follicle stops producing hair. The base of the follicle moves upwards towards the surface of the skin. 
 
Telogen (the shedding phase) 
Telogen is the resting phase and accounts for 10-15% of all hairs. This phase lasts for about 100 days for hairs on the scalp and much longer for hairs on the eyebrow, eyelash, arm and leg. This is the time at which a new hair begins to grow from the hair follicle. As it grows upwards the old hair will be shed naturally or may be pulled out, which happens easily and painlessly with telogen hairs. These are the hairs that come out when you shampoo or brush your hair. About 25-100 telogen hairs are shed normally each day. 

Shedding is part of the normal process of the replacement of old hair with new. At any one time, around one in ten of the follicles on an individual's head are in the shedding phase. The new hair emerges from the same opening at the surface of the skin as the old one, and the hair cycle begins again.

What controls hair growth? 
No one can answer this question with certainty. General health and nutritional factors are increasingly believed to be important for healthy hair growth. We do know that serious anemia affects hair growth. So too does starvation and/or malnutrition. Some minerals may be particularly important for hair growth. For example, some people who lack zinc in their diet produce only fine, sparse hairs and even lose their hair. Vitamin B also plays a part in hair growth. It also improves the physical properties (elasticity, strength and gloss) of the hair shaft. The hair cycle for each individual hair is influenced by the levels of various hormones in the blood. Thyroid hormone speeds up growth in resting hair follicles. Steroids taken by mouth slow it down, though steroids inhaled for the treatment of asthma do not affect hair growth. The hair of the scalp is, however, most sensitive to the effects of male hormones (androgens), which are in the blood of people of both sexes (only in different proportions in men and women). Androgens are the most important factor regulating hair growth, and also the thickness of the hair shaft. Female hormones (estrogens), which both sexes have too, slow down hair growth during the growing period but also make that period longer. Many women notice a difference in their hair growth during pregnancy. At this time women have vast amounts of estrogen in their blood, far outweighing their male hormones. It is the balance between the male and female hormones which decides the growth of the hair.

There is not one factor that will single handedly determine whether or not a person will lose their hair following weight loss surgery. Only if you are found to be deficient in a single vitamin and mineral should you consider added supplementation. The bottom line is that a well balanced diet with adequate calories and protein as well as vitamins and minerals will minimize the risk for hair loss. As for carbs they are ok but MODERATION is the key. I've never given up my potatoes if I want one I have one granted I have a fingerling potato now rather than a pounder baked and stuffed with sour cream, butter, bacon, cheese, etc... As for a tip on the water try Water Sensations-it's wonderful and got me over my water fears now I take in 3 to 4 liters a day with no issue. Remember this is about a lifestyle change & it starts with surgery but has to be completed in our minds, it's not easy but it's so worth the battle. All the best!!

Hi Marie -- I'm sorry you are having difficulty ... but it sounds like maybe you are thinking about this as the same as your previous dieting attempts.  They were never completely successful (same for all of us here on these boards) and you are sort of waiting for this to not be successful.  BUT THIS IS DIFFERENT!  You are doing GREAT ... you have LOST 47 LBS IN 11 WEEKS.  That is amazing!   I think our Dieters' Mentality was always that we have to be PERFECT, and when we would "cheat", we would tell ourselves "this will never work" and then revert back to our old bad habits.   Look, this time you are AWARE of what you are doing (eating too many carbs, not enough protein) and you are asking for suggestions/support.  And you know you will get it here.  That in itself is a big step in the right direction.  And the truth is, you don't have to be PERFECT.  Be aware of what you are doing or not doing and know that this time you have the TOOL (and the support) to change that behavior.   You are doing and will continue to do wonderfully.  You'll work all of this out. Hope you can go to the meeting on the 11th at Dr. C's. (Oh, and by the way --  when I feel like this sometime after my surgery, can  you please remind me of all this wisdom that I have right now??) Hugs,  Maria          

Thank you Maria and everyone else. I will go to the support group I went this weeki oops so I bought a shake and went for a walk. See you tuesday

Don't give up....you just need to put yourself first for a while again. (yes, its ok)  I am terrible about my water too.  I have switched to hot tea.  I seem to drink it better.  You might want to try lowfat cottage cheese (I like Friendship whipped) or eggs to up the protein.  I am a "carb-hound" too...but, I find they "overfill" me so I have been lucky that they kind of turn me off.  Good luck and keep us posted--we are here for you! Rosemary

I know where you are coming from. I have had moments recently that I just want to eat & eat & I am never hungry at all... that darn head-hunger takes over!! I have been careful not to stumble down that path again but I can see this is going to be a battle!!! I have decided to put a call  into the psych that did my eval - he told me that I could call any time day or night - I'll spare him the middle of the night call but I will give him a buzz!! I don't think I can win this without some outside help!! Good luck & don't give up!!! Take some time for yourself - your family will be rewarded in the long run - you will be a better person for it!!! Cece