Conflicting goals?

Hi Everyone

I’ve been increasing my level of physical activity in order to fulfill a long-term ambition of climbing a certain large rock that has been tantalising me (the Matterhorn in Switzerland).

Basically, I am weight training and running a lot more than I have in recent years and am gaining muscle strength and size as well as improving overall fitness.

The questions I am hoping for some help with are:

1. Hair needs protein for maximum growth, and hair growth is not part of protein prioritisation. So, most of the protein I eat will go on repairing and growing new muscle fibre first. If there is anything left over, the hair will have it.
As I am training with some intensity – I have had to increase the proportion of carbs in my diet
(glycogen replacement) and the amount of protein I eat has proportionally reduced.
QUESTION: Is there anything I can do to address the loss of protein now availabe to the hair
follicles?

2. Weight training stimulates the release of testosterone, the male hormone responsible for (among other things) male pattern hair loss. This is true for both men and women.
QUESTION: Am I increasing my hair loss risk by strength training?


On the one hand, I know that biologically, the fitter the animal, the greater it’s chances of survival. Hence Nature incentivizes us to be physically stong and able. This cannot in principle be detrimental to the organism.
Hair is a minor player in the survival game. The insulation advantage is not hugely significant, though some of my Scandinavian and Canadian friends would argue otherwise.

On the other hand, the emotional and social functions of hair are tangible. I do not want to compromise either the quality or quantity of my hair - or my physical health. Are these two goals necessarily in conflict?

Yes, I know I’m probably being stupid, paranoid and vain, but could someone please enlighten me with some rational thinking….?

Thanks in advance.

Hey Monica

Thanks - that's a great suggestion. I'll check it out.

Cheers Princess,

Hi uzma!
weight training and running are good for your body and for your hair since it stimulates blood flow dont worry about testosterone its not a big deal unless your taking performance enhancing drugs which u hopefully arent lol. I am also weight training its a lot of fun! and walking 10km in the morning, good luck with your goals

Hi

Erinlynn - Thanks for your input. I take measures to prevent environmental and mechanical damage to my hair, but you are fortunae in that eating unhealthily doesn’t seem to effect it. I must be particularly sensitive to poor diet because when I lower my protein intake and start on junk foods, in a week my hair shed rate increases and the glossiness is gone.


Krzysztof – Thanks for reassuring me about the testosterone. Blood circulation has definitely improved – I blush more easily now – LOL. I agree, weight training is fun, and I also find it empowering on many levels. And no – I’m not taking anabolic steroids or any other drugs. Thanks for wishing me luck. Best wishes to you with your life goals, too.

Arch94 – I appreciate your advice – thanks – but cutting my hair is not a possibility. It hasn’t got in the way of my training or climbing. If fact, when I had short hair, it used to drip sweat right in my eyes. The long hair seems to divert the sweat away from my face (and contain it) and provides an extra layer of protection for my head under my hard hat.

Thanks for taking the time to respond.

Hi Dave

Thanks - I always feel understood and protected by my favorite moderator .

Ha ha...it's a fairly big "rock", huh?
I give myself 2 years before I take on the awesome north face, with braids wrapped around my head.

If Hair Boutique had a flag, I'd take it along and plant it at the top....oh well, I guess the English flag will have to do .

Hey Uzma,

No offense intended towards you. Just me being a smart A@#. As for cheap shots, I should save those for D.D. I really don't like him. My two cents!

Hi Uzi - I weight train 5x a week and run approx 30 miles a week. I have been doing this or an equivalent of this for about 12+ years - and through 4 lovely pregancies. My hair has never suffered as far as loss or shine. My growth patterns vary due to the time of year. I make sure that I get at least .8g of protein per lb of body weight daily, whether it is by solid food or oral amino acids (which are not as easily absorbed, but still work). I know you need a certain amount of carbs a day...but bear in mind that excess protein is convertible to energey by the body, so you really can't have too much of it.

Happy growing and training!

Jacqui

arch94 wrote: Hey Uzma, No offense intended towards you. Just me being a smart A@#. As for cheap shots, I should save those for D.D. I really don't like him. My two cents!

Bummer that you don't like me. I don't dislike you... I just disagree with most (or maybe even all) of your opinions.

I still wonder -- why do you visit here if you don't like long hair?


P.S. to Uzi -- thanks! You're so sweet