Wanted to add that I did homeopathic. What really, really was key for me for not feeling weak, shaky, etc. - was loading, loading, loading - lots and lots of healthy fats - that is essential. If you don't load properly, you'll feel awful.

This. Love, love, love hcg. Looking forward to going back on and starting another round in a few months' time.

Julie, can you be more specific? Not done well, as in not lost any weight during P2? or Not felt well - as in unable to function or whatever? or Regained the weight in P3 or P4? For me - it's been the last one - regaining the weight, although certainly not all of it. But that is all my fault and I take full responsibility. That's because I have not stuck to protocol on P3 and P4. I only did P2. Other than that, hcg is my absolute favorite thing ever. Love it, love it, love it. :) I look forward to hopefully going back on it in several months' time.

Audrey, love the Southern Girl method. I can easily play that one like a violin :D ;). Thank you, all. Dd laughed at the voodoo doll pattern kit :lol:.

Cheaper Version of Medifast A friend posted this: “My friend did Medifast and had fantastic results. Since I couldn't afford to buy MF, I kept what I could of the program and made adjustments to come up with my own modified program.†Drink water all day long. Drink about 8 ounces of water before meals. Eat 6 times a day. No skipping or forgetting allowed. Eat every 2.5- 3 hours. Five meals are small: • A bar with 17 grams or less of carbs per serving • A shake with 17 or less grams of carbs per serving • 1 cup cottage cheese • 10 almonds The 6th meal is "lean and green†– which is a protein and veggie OR salad- 7 ounces of chicken or other lean protein with a tomato, zucchini and mushroom mix OR a salad. Eat within an hour of waking. If you're feeling too hungry, you can have sliced cucumber. Write down the times you eat. Nibble and eat tiny, tiny bites to make your meal last longer. This really does help! No more than 3 cups coffee - no sugar or cream allowed. You can drink tea instead. No carrots allowed. Each month, you are allowed ONE day that’s a special event where you can eat normal food – don’t stuff yourself, but you can enjoy anything on the table on a salad size plate.

Intermittent Fasting I heard about this when I used to be on the Sonlight forums. Many diets work. A good one is the one you can stay on for the long haul. The best one, however, is the one that is simplest. Intermittent fasting is a no-hassle, no-counting, no-measuring, no-eliminating-anything dietary lifestyle. This is a very easy eating plan and it does not feel like a diet. :) You fast for 16-18 hours and eat in a 6-8 hour window-as much as you are hungry for. For example, you can eat in the 11 AM to 7 PM window. You can set your own hours-it's basically eating in an 8 hour window. Others might eat in the 4 PM to 11 PM window, whatever works for you. During the fasting hours, you can have water, tea, or coffee. You will feel hungry on the first few days, but it usually stops after that. You should expect a period of adaptation, through which hunger should be managed until it diminishes. Give your body a chance to learn how to tap more efficiently into its fat storage for fuel to meet energy demand. You’ll still need to eat responsibly when breaking the fast. Eat mostly wholesome and real foods – vegetables, fresh fruits, nuts, meats, and eggs – whatever is near or in its natural state Don’t worry about the amount of fats you eat, as long as they’re mostly from good sources — naturally from meat, nuts, avocados, etc. You can cook with duck fat, pork fat, beef fat, coconut oil, olive oil, and butter. Yes, these fats do add calories, but you do not need to be concerned because with intermittent fasting, there is typically a caloric deficit through time. During your window of eating, don’t feel that you should eat more than you might be hungry for. It’s a unique opportunity to listen to your body’s signals. It also serves as a way to prove to your conscious brain that you can survive quite nicely on smaller amounts of food and that you don’t need to make up for those temporarily lost calories. Workouts Some say that their only workout has been walking and some sit-ups. Most keep formal exercise to a minimum. Just move around a lot and stay as active as you can. You can do up to 3 days of formal exercise per week – 20-40 minutes of quick and intense exercise, if you wish, depending on whether you have the time or feel the need. If you have to sit for long hours, get up frequently and do arm circles, trunk rotation, a couple of body-weight squats. Walk to the kitchen to get some water, maybe make another shot of espresso, because sitting is just plain bad. In summary: Eat mostly food close to its natural state. I fast intermittently. (But I still enjoy dessert, pizza, and wine.) Stay active with daily living — walking around more, etc. I engage in as little formal exercises as I can, keeping them simple, intense, and quick. http://theleansaloon.com/ http://theleansaloon.com/2009/10/06/my-diet-and-exercise/ http://www.marksdailyapple.com/how-to-intermittent-fasting/ "The IF is going very good. We end up fasting several times a week. My husband has lost 25 pounds (since June) but this really kick started it. He says he didn't realize how much he ate out of habit or that little voice that says, "the experts say you need to eat all the time. I am losing inches more than weight. I've lost about 5 pounds total. I don't need to lose weight just get rid of some belly fat that's accumulated over the past several years. And I wouldn't mind having some more muscle tone. I've gone down a belt hole and some days 2 belt holes. My belly is noticeably smaller to me. We have cut out most flour and sugar. And I don't really miss it or feel deprived. I bake some with almond meal and honey. We eat eggs, meat, nuts, vegis, fruit, beans and full fat dairy and we don't count calories. This is really sustainable for us. We like Mark's Daily Apple for encouragement, although he discourages dairy and beans and we eat both of those in moderation. ( you don't have to believe in evolution to enjoy his blog but it is written from that viewpoint) I fill up the fridge weekly with coleslaw (uses a tiny bit of mayo) broccoli salad, roasted vegis, yogurt, cut up fruit, uncooked vegis, homemade ranch dip, etc. So we aren't deprived at all. We eat a gluten free granola for snacks, that I add a bunch of mixed chopped nuts to. We do not have celiac but I feel better without the wheat. We take one day off a week and eat whatever we want-this works really well. And I find myself wanting the good food and not eating that much junk. I gain a pound or 2 this day but end up lower overall by the end of the week. Even my teen son that lives at home does good with eating this way (although he doesn't fast on purpose-I don't worry if he misses a meal like I used to) and he says he feels full and he rarely snacks between meals. The only other changes I have made is that we have been running some sprints. Just running as fast as you can. It feels really good to do this. I only run these about once a week-4 of them. We walk several times a week but we have been doing that for 4+ years and it's a leisurely walk at best. i don't love exercise. Ps-We plan to add back in an occasional bready item once we are at prime weight but even then we can just eat them on the break day so it's not a big deal."

This one is based on an article by Denise Austin in First magazine a few years ago 3 proteins 1 protein= 3-4 oz. lean meat or 1 egg, 1 cup dairy (yogurt, milk) or 1/2 cup legumes – space out your proteins throughout the day 3 veggies 1 serving veggies = 1-2 cups 3 fruits 1 fruit= 1 med fruit or 1 cup of cut up fruit 2 whole grains Whole grains are WHOLE GRAINS, not just bread that is darker brown than the white bread, read the label; or whole grain cereals (a small bowl of Fiber One cereal, for example with milk is 1 grain and 1 protein) 1 healthy fat Healthy fats= 1 tsp olive oil, 1-2 tbsp nut butter, 1/4 cup avocado Try to eat about every 4 hours – breakfast at 8, lunch at 12, snack at 4, and dinner at 7. Cut out all white food Days 1-3 may be the worst. Your body might crave carbs and sugar, but after the first couple of days, you’ll likely be okay. Make sure you drink all the water you can stand and then some! The article recommends 12 minutes of exercise a day. If you are starving, you can add in a tiny bit of healthy fat to each meal; although, the protein is the key to feeling satisfied for longer periods of time without going over the top. For instance, just eating fruit for breakfast while be light in calories, is likely to make you ravenous by lunch. It is better to have a boiled egg with fruit, so you are not starving by lunchtime. Someone I know lost 10 pounds in 2 weeks. :D

I'm thinking along the same lines these days. I had great success with hcg and loved it. However, it's been many months now and since we returned from our very long vacation - stress, etc. has led me to lots and lots of horrible emotional eating. I can't go back on hcg right away. I hope to go back on in several months' time if necessary. Until then, there are 3 plans that I'm thinking of trying. I need more structure. The NoS diet does not work for me. At. All. So I'll post all 3 plans in 3 separate posts - the 3 plans I'm thinking of.

Title makes me laugh :lol:. I'm slowly plodding through The Kalahari Typing School for Men. It's not as good as the other ones. Or maybe it's just me and I'm tired of the same old, same old. In Grenada, when you see a book that might remotely like, you buy it, since you never know if or when you'll see it again. I made the mistake of buying the entire series and now I feel forced to read them all :blush:. The dialogue annoys me, the way they talk, "I am going to bake a cake. I am going to get the cows from the pasture" not "I'm going to bake a cake" - sounds a bit weird and annoying. Or maybe I'm just easily irritated these days. :rolleyes: :lol:

:lol: Dd will gladly make one. I like this. I think I know the perfect child for this. While baking muffins yesterday, I thought of this. :smilielol5: Tried the best pal route. It's not that she hates me or anything. Not that I think so, anyway. She just far prefers her own friends. She would see right through the cookies/brownies route. Doesn't work too well here in that sort of situation. Very transparent. Plus everyone sees and they will know what I'm up to. :iagree: Now to get a hold of that kid. Take him to KFC first and not allow him to wash his hands afterwards. :lol: Love it. Last time we took this very kid to KFC, he started eating the Strawberry Parfait with his fingers and he used his Fries to dip into the pudding. :lol: Also a good option. I can be good with this. :D Even though I love this boy, he'd have been great for this situation. But maybe Stewie would be more appropriate for this situation.

Stacia, this is so cool. Can't wait to show it to my dd. :D Thanks for sharing this.

You can google these poses - yogajournal.com is a fabulous site with detailed instructions and tips. The regular practice of yoga and certain inverted poses help a lot in slowing down and preventing hair loss by boosting circulation. Specific Poses include: Supported Shoulderstand Downward Facing Dog Camel Big Toe Child Dolphin Extended Puppy Extended Triangle Fish Half Moon Head-to-Knee Forward Bend Intense Side Stretch Legs-up-the-Wall Plow Revolved Head-to-Knee Seated Forward Bend Side Plank Standing Half-Forward Bend Standing Forward Bend Upward Plank Wide-Legged Forward Bend

Thank you all so much. I hope I don't sound too negative by saying that there really seems to be no solution to this problem. :glare: Dh, dc, and I have all racked our brains. Nothing. It's a lose-lose - it seems. Really hate it when I can't do something about a problem like this. I can't. The boss will find out and the receptionist will only get meaner. You can't complain freely here as you do in the U.S. Then you'll only be worst off than before. This island is so small. Once you complain and burn bridges, forget it. I've tried. Not easy. I thought of this - baking something. But it's often taken the wrong way here. She would see right through it. I might try it once and see how it goes, but I'm very cautious and skeptical. The culture here is very different to that of the U.S. In the U.S. - most are sweet, nice, and efficient. Not necessarily so in other places. Very, very different. No. He flies in to this island from another island once a month. Nothing like that. He's the only one in the office. He himself is very nice. But doesn't care if the receptionist is that way. He's getting the business regardless. Doesn't affect him one iota. Or all his very frequent trips to Vegas. He's rolling in it, trust me. Love it. Yes, bribery works a lot here. We've tried that. We still do that. You're right. I hate schmoozing with her. I've tried. I can't. Makes me want to puke every time. BTW, love your siggy quote (or lack of it :lol:). You're very smart and insightful. Yep. This is what my dh reminds me of after every visit. Cannot burn bridges on small islands or in small communities. How much longer - dd - several more months. Yay! ds - few more years - :banghead:. Your suggestions are very helpful. Thank you. I have tried variations of this, but I'm going to do this, I think. The only reason that very recently I haven't, is that the office smells give me a MAJOR headache every time. So I've been forced to drop the dc off and pick them up when they're done. I cannot sit there in the office without getting a horrible headache. Plus, few chairs in the waiting room - and very uncomfortable ones too. :cursing: So true. As dh reminds me, "This is not your father's Oldsmobile". :tongue_smilie: Very, very different culture here. You cannot ever get corporate about it. :lol: She turns on Family Feud and other similar shows while we're all waiting. She and I laugh and comment together. Maybe I should stop laughing with her and start being a total pain so that she'll want to get rid of us fast. This is gold. I'm going to do this. I know exactly what to take. Very, very smelly. Me neither. I hate to kiss butt or bake stuff for annoying people and those whom I dislike. We do get there SUPER early already. I'm going to go even earlier. Thank you all so much. Feels good to vent. :grouphug:

We would never ask our dc to move out unless they wanted to. And even when they do, we'll likely go into mourning. :confused:

She's not nice at all - all smiley on the surface - but a complete and total pain. We have no choice on this tiny island where competition is scarce. She plays favorites and they don't take appointments. You sign in. It's meant to go by turns, by order. She shows favorites. My kids might be #9 and #10, but because one of her friends shows up (and this fab receptionist seems to have a lot of friends) who's #19, she gets ahead of my dc. What to do? What to do? Can anything be done? I smile and eat it ... If you complain, she gets worse. Can I get a voodoo doll or something? :lol: My dd is ready to start making one. She's good with sewing. I hate this lady. We're stuck there for HOURS every single month. These people infuriate me.

Rosie, you are one of the most open-minded people I know :grouphug:. Just quickly glanced at the Baha'i pages. Yes, looks good, comprehensive, and accurate. :)

I never understand this question :confused:. There is only one God, just goes by a different name. Call God what you will, but it's still God. I'm not a Muslim or Christian.

Chemicals, Drugs, Heavy Metals Harsh Chemicals and Hair Dyes Drugs – such as those used in chemotherapy High concentration of Metals in the body Radiation Exposure Many Medications – those to treat arthritis, cardiovascular problems, depression, gout, high blood pressure Antibiotics Anti-seizure drugs Excessive alcohol consumption Circulatory Problems Poor Circulation to the Scalp (daily scalp massage, brushing, lying on a slant board, yoga all help with this) Skin Problems Eczema Ringworm and other Fungal and Skin Infections (biotin may help here) Scalp Infections Other Causes Aging Genetic Predisposition Stress Surgery Sudden Weight Loss – yo-yo diet and years of constant dieting Tight ponytails WHEN TO SEE A PHYSICIAN If you are losing large amounts of hair, see a physician. It is normal to lose 50 to 150 hairs a day. If your hair appears to be dramatically thinning, it might be a sign of an underlying condition. While culprits can be as serious as thyroid disease and lupus, hair loss is most often caused by poor diet and stress. GOOD BOOKS The Hair Loss Cure: A Self-Help Guide by David H. Kingsley How to Beat Hair Loss by Antonio Alvi Armani, MD TO REVERSE DRAMATIC HAIR LOSS by 40 percent or more – virtualrealityhair.com helps particularly in cases of severe alopecia or cancer treatments The treatment is very expensive - $400!!! – and lasts for only a month (even through swimming, however). It can cover sparse patches with real hair that has been inserted into a nearly invisible second skin.

Try to Avoid: • Hard brushing • Tight braids • Pulling hair back too tightly can make the hair thin in the front • Pulling hair too hard when blow-drying • Blow drying if and when you can • Commercial shampoos or rinses with artificial colors, preservatives, and dyes • Any shampoo with Sodium Laureth Sulfate. It's the ingredient that makes the shampoo foam up. • Harsh chemical products and hair spray • Pantene products causes hair loss for many • Never use a curling iron on wet or damp hair. This can cause serious breakage and damage in that spot. It is best to blow your hair all the way dry and not leave any wetness, not even a little. • Avoid backcombing or teasing hair. It is damaging, plain and simple. • Do not wash your hair with too hot water. • Do not wash your hair more than twice a week. • Do not comb the hair backwards. Use a good quality brush/comb. Avoid excessive brushing. CAUSES Dietary/Nutritional Taking large doses of Vitamin A (100,000 IU or more daily) for a long period of time Poor Diet and Vitamin and Mineral deficiencies – particularly iron, protein, biotin, and other B vitamins Iron Deficiency (Up to 90 percent of women who experience hair loss also suffer from low iron levels) Eating raw egg whites Hormonal and Other Health Problems Androgens (male hormones) Discontinuing Contraceptive Pill Female Hormone Deficiency Menopause If one is experiencing "male pattern baldness" type hair loss, where the hairline begins to recede and is thin only on top and not all over, it can be caused by Metabolic Syndrome. Fat distributed around the waist can actually cause a rise in androgens (male hormones) causing this problem. It can also revert back to normal if you can get the fat off your waist. Pregnancy Autoimmune diseases – the immune system attacks the hair follicles Diabetes or High Insulin Levels High Fever Imbalance in Gut Bacteria Acute Illness Low Stomach Acid or Digestive Enzyme Insufficiency Thyroid problem – especially if you have dry skin, weight gain, and fatigue Thyroid dysfunction is a major factor in thinning hair. If you’re unable to lose weight but are losing hair (particularly in the eyebrows), consider a Tissue Mineral Analysis (TMA) test, which many have found to be a much more reliable guide to thyroid status than conventional blood tests. Using a small sample of your hair, TMA reflects how much thyroid hormone is utilized at the cellular level over a 3-month period, as opposed to blood values of thyroid (TSH, T3, T4) in the bloodstream at just one time. Your hair is literally a blueprint, metabolically speaking. Tissue Mineral Analysis is a simple, noninvasive way to determine mineral imbalances—like too much copper—that can depress thyroid function and lead to hair loss. PCOS can cause male-pattern baldness – one cause of PCOS is estrogen dominance. This hormonal imbalance is also associated with abnormal blood sugar levels, fat gain, and low adrenal function. Simply put, estrogen dominance occurs when there is more estrogen than progesterone in the system. Estrogen-like chemicals in the environment, emotional factors, stress, menstrual changes, and even lack of dietary fiber, which binds to excess estrogen to help move it out of the body, can all lead to this kind of hormone havoc. Environmental sources of hormones include parabens in cosmetics, pesticides, plasticizers, and the estrogen-laden feed given to livestock to fatten them up. The trouble is today’s factory-farmed food fattens us humans up as well! In addition to organic and grass-fed meats, a low-carb diet has been found effective for both PCOS and women going through perimenopause and menopause. Cutting out sugar and the reactive and processed carbs in grains will help immensely. Exercise helps normalize insulin and balance hormone levels, too! Severe lack of natural progesterone—which is the flip side of estrogen dominance—may be the primary culprit. Starting in the teens and 20s, a skipped period (indicating the failure to ovulate, which is somewhat similar to what happens when women begin going through perimenopause and menopause) can cause the adrenal cortex to secrete the steroid androstenedione—instead of progesterone. An alternate chemical precursor to the production of other hormones, this steroid hormone is associated with some male characteristics, one of which is male-pattern baldness.

Don’t overlook hormonal factors in hair loss. Lower levels of progesterone, particularly during perimenopause and menopause, increase the impact of androgens (male hormones) on the hair. A good natural, non-synthetic, organic, bio-identical progesterone cream, such as Emerita, is successfully used by many women to balance hormones, helping with myriad symptoms for women of all ages. By using a good bio-identical hormone cream, you can lessen hormone havoc as well as help prevent thinning hair. Not all progesterone creams are alike. Ann Louise Gittleman also has one called ProgestaKey. I don’t know much about it. Please keep in mind natural does not imply organic. Many of these creams have not only the main ingredients based on phytoestrogens, but also have the toxic xenohormones, parabens and mineral oil too. They are far from organic. So be aware and ask questions about your creams! Apply ¼ to ½ teaspoon of the progesterone cream directly to your breasts morning and evening. More progesterone is absorbed into breast tissues when it’s applied to them directly, and that’s ultimately where you want most of the progesterone to go. Do not apply it to other areas, even if the instructions tell you to do so. Progesterone receptors are only found in the breasts (and ovaries), so apply directly to the breasts to decrease vascularity. For those who turn up their nose at progesterone creams, do know that that Prempro is very different from progesterone. The former is a synthetic, the latter natural. The effects on the body therefore are much different. Also, many women who took Prempro also took Premarin, which aggravated everything. When you raise your progesterone levels with a bio-identical progesterone cream, which is absorbed transdermally in the fatty layer beneath the skin, your adronstenedione levels will gradually decline. The hair on your head may begin to grow back normally. Regardless of age, practically every woman who takes a Salivary Hormone Test has been found to be extremely progesterone deficit. An acupuncturist can help develop an herbal formula that is tailored specifically to you, in addition to using the traditional needles to help restore hair growth. Herbs have a greater synergy with acupuncture, so you may see a greater benefit if you use both. Using a satin pillowcase may help because your hair is less likely to catch and pull on it as it would on a cotton pillowcase. A side benefit is that it helps save your hairstyle for another day, so you aren't pulling out more hair in the styling process. You can get them on amazon. Use the most natural hair products you can find. Look for ingredients such as biotin, silica, Aloe Vera gel, vitamins C and E, jojoba oils, chamomile, marigold, ginseng, or passionflower. Most health-food stores carry a variety of natural hair care products. Hair is fragile when it is wet. Gently pat your hair dry and squeeze out remaining moisture with a towel. Calm a hectic schedule. Stress signals the body to produce cortisol, which elevates levels of hair-loss-promoting hormones. There are several brands of sulfate-free shampoo. Sulfate shampoos are said to cause hair loss in many people. Traite by Mastey Pureology Onesta Alter your hairstyle and part in order to avoid constantly pulling your hair in the same spot or direction. Amish women, who wear their hair pulled back tightly the same way every day of their lives, experience baldness at their part. Hair loss is often from the eternal ponytail.

OTHER TIPS/THINGS TO CONSIDER Massage Scalp 1-3 Times a Day Press the bristles of your brush on your scalp and make several strokes from your hairline to the base of your neck. Then make small circles over your entire scalp. Alternate these methods for 90 seconds. Massage your scalp with a mixture of essential oils daily for at least 7 months. Add 8 drops each of Rosemary, Thyme, and Lavender essential oils to 8 ounces of shampoo. Pour a small amount of the mixture into your hands and rub it into your hair, gently massaging your scalp. Let the mixture sit for three minutes and rinse thoroughly. Massage the scalp with a mixture of 1 tbsp olive oil and 15 drops of rosemary essential oil. This helps to improve circulation to the scalp and nutrient flow to the hair follicles. Frederic Fekkai More Nighttime Follicle Boosting Treatment from sephora.com or amazon The niacin-derived compounds stimulate blood flow and activate cell receptors that influence hair growth. After applying these compounds for 6 months, 69 percent of women with hair loss saw significant increases in fullness. The most effective among home remedies is a vigorous rubbing of the scalp with fingers after washing the hair with cold water. The scalp should be rubbed vigorously till it starts to tingle with the heat. It will activate the sebaceous glands and energize the circulation of blood in the affected area, making the hair grow healthy. Massage the scalp vigorously for 10 to 15 minutes (until you start to feel hot there) after bathing it with water. This stimulates the blood circulation and strengthens the hair follicles in the scalp. Treat your hair gently. Try not to use chemical hair dyes, use only natural products and a soft brush. Do not towel dry or heat dry your hair. Lie Upside Down Lie on a slant board OR have your head hanging off the edge of the bed for 15 to 20 minutes per day. This will cause blood to flow to the scalp. Blood flow and improved circulation are very important in preventing and treating hair loss. You an also massage your scalp while in this position. Yoga The regular practice of yoga and certain inverted poses help a lot in slowing down and preventing hair loss by boosting circulation. Specific Poses include:

D3 If you're under 50, take at least 2,000 IU per day. If you're 50 or over, take at least 5,000 IU per day of vitamin D3. Always take your vitamin D with a fat-containing meal to ensure absorption. Your need for vitamin D3 is affected by age, skin color, and the severity of any deficiency PROTEIN POWDER Hair is made of protein and adequate protein is necessary for luxuriant hair. Protein makes up the building blocks of healthy hair. Women require 60 grams, men 80 to 90, adolescent boys and girls 80 to 100 grams of protein. It is supplied by plain yogurt, tofu, soy milk, eggs, cheese, poultry, meat and fish. It’s very difficult to get enough protein from food alone, hence why many get great results from a good protein powder. IRON SUPPLEMENTS Up to 90 percent of women who experience hair loss also suffer from low iron levels. Iron is a double-edged mineral for women. Menstruating women lose iron-rich blood every month, plus pregnancy, nursing, and strenuous physical exercise dramatically increase the need for this mineral. But later in life, excess iron, which accumulates in the body after menopause, may increase women’s risk for cancer and heart disease. Iron supplements may be used by tumors to promote their growth. Iron oxidizes. If you take too much supplemental iron, it can lead to cancer. This is why there are few multivitamin formulas for postmenopausal women that contain iron. Yellow Dock drops are said to be the best and healthiest source of iron. Drops, I think, are usually better absorbed than capsules. Alcohol-free ones don't taste as foul. Spirulina – 5-10 grams a day or up to 20 capsules per day Ferrophos is an inexpensive homeopathic iron supplement Iron supplements should be taken only if you are diagnosed with iron deficiency. If you must supplement, it is best to avoid staying away from the often-constipating prescription iron supplements. If you must supplement your diet and if you aren't using iron cookware regularly, for example, try taking 10 to 15 milligrams of elemental iron a day - Jarrow Formulas IronSorb Elemental Iron From Protein Succinylate -- 18 mg - 60 Vegetarian Capsules Magnesium is needed for hormone balance. The most absorbable forms are: Magnesium Citrate Magnesium Glycinate Magnesium Taurate Magnesium Aspartate Magnesium Malate Magnesium Succinate Magnesium Fumirate

IODORAL - I get mine from amazon - you can read the reviews there. More than 90% of us are low in iodine. Today's environment makes it almost impossible to get the amount of iodine you need. 1. There's very little iodine in the soil. So unless you're eating a ton of iodine-rich foods like kelp, seaweed and shellfish, you're not going to get much iodine from your diet. 2. Many salt companies have stopped adding iodine to table salt. While commercial table salt usually contains iodine, this is not the best way to boost iodine intake. In fact, “salt iodination, which is performed routinely in many countries, may increase the incidence of overt hypothyroidism,†a new Greek study concludes. Kelp and other sea vegetables are excellent sources of natural iodine. 3. Food manufacturers have stopped using iodine in baked goods and are using bromine instead. Bromine (a halogen) competes with iodine to get into your cells. So the more bromine you consume, the less iodine you get. Unfortunately, many foods today (primarily baked goods) are loaded with bromine. 4. Our water supply contains chlorine and fluoride, both of which are halogens. Again, halogens compete with iodine to get into your cells. And you can't avoid chlorine and fluoride simply by drinking filtered water. That's because you get a hefty dose any time you bathe, shower, soak in a hot tub, or swim in a swimming pool. 5. Most conventional doctors never test for iodine deficiency. They figure there's no need to test iodine levels when they can just test your thyroid function instead. The problem with this is that the most widely used thyroid test, the TSH, is wildly inaccurate. Reason: While the TSH measures thyroid hormone, it can't tell the difference between active thyroid hormone with iodine and de-activated thyroid hormone with bromine or chlorine or fluorine. So the test shows you have plenty of thyroid hormone. But most of the thyroid hormone isn't doing its job! I think it was Dr. Nan Fuchs who wrote: “I've had women come into my office who look like the poster child for underactive thyroid. They're overweight, they're losing their hair and eyebrows, their skin is dry, and they tell me they feel cold all the time. Yet when their doctor gave them a thyroid test, it came back normal! When I put these women on iodine supplementation, their conditions improve dramatically. Their skin improves, they stop losing their hair, and they finally lose that excess weight — and keep it off.†The RDA for iodine is 150 mcg. This amount was set based on the amount needed to prevent goiter. This amount will prevent goiter but it will not prevent other problems related to iodine deficiency. The average consumption of iodine from seaweed by the mainland Japanese is nearly 14 mg. They have some of the lowest incidence of iodine-deficiency diseases like goiter, hypothyroidism, and cancers of the reproductive system (breast, ovaries, and uterus). Some forms of iodine are harmful. Iodoral is not. All of us need a combination of iodine and iodide, the two forms of iodine used throughout our bodies. Iodoral and Lugol are the only supplements containing these two nutrients. Lugol, however, tastes foul. You may need 1 to 4 tablets of Iodoral, a combination of 5 mg of iodine and 7.5 mg of potassium iodide. Additional research finds that vitamin C improves the transport of iodine in the body, so it may be best to take Iodoral with Vitamin C. Studies show that women who weigh about 110 pounds need at least 5 mg of iodine a day. If you’re heavier, you probably need more. Start off slowly over a 4 week period. Take 1 pill for 30 days Then 2 pills for 30 days Then maybe 3 for 30 days Then 1 in morning and 1 in evening for 30 days Can then go back to taking 1 or 2 a day to maintain Your body will know. Learn to listen to it. One Iodoral tablet provides 12.5 milligrams of iodine/iodide which is about the amount the average Japanese consumed in 1964 in their everyday diet. Iodoral is the best way to get the recommended amount of iodine.

SUPPLEMENTS Don’t depend only on supplements. Diet is very important. I get most of my supplements from vitacost or amazon NATROL BIOSIL is well-absorbed by the body and proven to deliver key proteins like keratin and collagen directly to the hair roots to increase growth and thickness. Great for skin, hair, and nails For severe hair loss: I would take 3 capsules per day for at least a few months. Then go down to 2 capsules for another few months. For maintenance and long-term use, 1 capsule per day should be fine. HORSETAIL is a good source of silica which aids in hair growth and makes the hair strong and shiny. The amount of silica that your body holds tends to decline with age. Take 60 mg daily. B COMPLEX – 50 mg twice a day or 100 mg once a day with meals. B vitamins are essential for the health and growth of the hair. B vitamins run low during high-stress times and are essential for healthy hair growth. Try to get a good B Complex that includes Biotin, Inositol, Choline, and PABA. Avoid B Vitamins that are less than 10 mg. It's a red flag if the B vitamins are at such low levels that they are insignificant and unhelpful to the human system in creating a strong basis for protection. BIOTIN plays a key role in forming keratin, a protein that comprises healthy hair. It helps in preventive treatment for baldness It is interesting that biotin levels fall progressively throughout pregnancy (and that is when many women lose hair). Taking a 5-10 mg supplement can thicken hair shafts and encourage new growth. Not everyone needs to take that much unless if they're concerned about hair loss. Most B-complex supplements have sufficient biotin otherwise. There are no known cases of biotin toxicity, particularly since it is water-soluble. Biotin is rapidly metabolized and excreted, so it’s easy to be deficient. CARLSON’S LIQUID FISH OIL - or any other good fish oil. Healthy hair needs essential fatty acids. ZINC protects and strengthens hair and may helps with hair loss. 15-50 mg daily, but do not supplements with more than 100 mg daily. Use zinc gluconate lozenges or OptiZinc for best absorption. L-OptiZinc is a patented form of bio-available zinc. Bio-available means best absorbed GLA SUPPLEMENTS are a type of omega-6 fatty acid that’s essential for healthy hair. They’re found in black currant oil or evening primrose oil. Take it on a full stomach in 2 divided doses, equally spaced during the day. Take up to 500 mg EPO 2-3 times daily or 2000 mg total daily. Expect to wait up to 8 weeks to see results. Don’t use GLA if you take an antiseizure Rx. VITAMIN E – improves hair health and enhances hair growth. Take 400 IU of vitamin E a day. Take d-alpha, NOT dl-alpha Vitamin E is most effective when taken with selenium.

Lack of inositol causes loss of hair. Any person having trouble with hair should eat foods rich in inositol such as yeast, liver and molasses. Research has, however, shown that women have a low requirement of inositol. Although this vitamin may help to stimulate the growth of a woman's hair, its lack is probably not a major cause of slow growth. Women are generally deficient in iodine and vitamin B1, either of which can slow down circulation to the scalp to such an extent that hair may fall out and new hair grow in very slowly. Women who keep their diets adequate in iodine, the B vitamins and iron have a better growth of hair. Essential Fats are needed for healthy hair and follicles: • Oily Fish • Nuts • Seeds Aim to eat fish 2-3 times per week and eat 2-3 tbsp of seeds per day. Take warming herbs and spices to improve circulation – such as small amounts of cayenne pepper, as well as ginger, cinnamon, and cumin. Add them to soups, stews, and casseroles. EAT LESS The Standard American Diet is too rich in foods that actually starve the hair, such as fat, sugar, and refined foods. Eastern medicine says that eating too much meat can cause hair loss. This might very well be true. Cut down on sweets. Eastern medicine says that eating too much sugar can cause baldness on the sides of the forehead. Sugar is often a contributing factor in hair loss. After sugar is removed from some people’s diets, the hair-loss process is either halted or totally or partially reversed. Sugar, refined carbohydrates, and alcohol can all raise blood sugar and insulin levels, which can have a negative effect on hair follicles. Avoid wheat bran, tea, and coffee. These can interfere with the absorption of minerals, such as iron, needed for hair growth.