Conflicting goals?
Printed From: HairBoutique.com
Category: Long Hair Happenings
Forum Name: Long Hair Support
Forum Description: Growing it long takes commitment and support.
URL: https://talk.hairboutique.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=801
Printed Date: July 19 2025 at 7:16am
Topic: Conflicting goals?
Posted By: uzma
Subject: Conflicting goals?
Date Posted: October 04 2003 at 5:20am
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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. ------------- Uzi |
Replies:
Posted By: princessmonica
Date Posted: October 04 2003 at 1:43pm
| hi uzi. this is just a thought, how about amino acids pills? they have a lot of protein in them. take those on top of you high protein diet. |
Posted By: uzma
Date Posted: October 04 2003 at 3:35pm
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Hey Monica Thanks - that's a great suggestion. I'll check it out. Cheers Princess, ------------- Uzi |
Posted By: Erinlynn
Date Posted: October 04 2003 at 7:23pm
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Usi, Hi, I really am not sure what effect might be seen but I will say this: The only thing that seems to affect my hairs overall health has been outside physical stresses such as sunlight, sal****er, poolwater and brushing. Otherwise my diet has never seemed to change my hairs health even when I have been eating unhealthily. However i have never physicaly trained to the degree you speak of. ------------- |
Posted By: krzysztof
Date Posted: October 04 2003 at 10:52pm
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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  ------------- |
Posted By: arch94
Date Posted: October 05 2003 at 2:20am
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Have you thought about cutting it short so maybe you don't get it caught in your ropes? Just a thought? ------------- We all know what opinions are like...and I've got both! |
Posted By: uzma
Date Posted: October 05 2003 at 6:47am
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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. ------------- Uzi |
Posted By: DaveDecker
Date Posted: October 05 2003 at 1:07pm
As I read arch94's "helpful" suggestion, and, being mindful that this is the Long Hair Support board, I am failing to understand how his message is supportive of long hair, or of Uzi. His suggestion is easily brushed off, as Uzi has tactfully done. Yet his message addresses an issue (ropes) which wasn't even mentioned by Uzi as a concern, as if she may find herself hiking the mountain and realize she hadn't thought in advance what to do with her hair (suggesting she's not bright enough to have thought about it and addressed it already, if it's even an issue.) Knowing Uzi from only her participation at HB, I am certain she is very intelligent. Further, he would be hard-pressed to find anybody who is more dedicated to having long hair than Uzi. So, arch94, no thanks for your cheap shot. Most importantly, to Uzi -- enjoy climbing the "rock" when you take it on! ------------- |
arch94 wrote:Posted By: uzma
Date Posted: October 05 2003 at 5:05pm
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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  .------------- Uzi |
Posted By: Gollan
Date Posted: October 05 2003 at 10:17pm
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I have been working out daily for years, including the past fifteen months of growing my hair. It has not affected my hair in any way that I can tell. My workouts consist of four intense weight training sessions per week and three or four cardio sessions on a stationary bike. My hair is growing at the usual rate of about 1/2" per month. It seems to be in good condition. I don't even have any split ends. I take a daily multivitamin supplement and include two protein supplements (for a total of an extra 60g of protein and a few hundred extra calories). The only "problems" I've encountered with my long hair due to exercise are: (a) I have to rinse it daily due to the sweat. The longer my hair gets, the longer it takes to dry (I'm not blow drying it). (b) I caught my hair under the bar during a squat. Very painful! So I started wearing in a ponytail, which lead to... (c) When I workout and my hair is in a ponytail the "lump" at the back interferes with my head being positioned on a mat or bench. (The solution would be a high ponytail but I'm a guy ;)). ------------- |
Posted By: arch94
Date Posted: October 05 2003 at 10:57pm
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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! ------------- We all know what opinions are like...and I've got both! |
Posted By: Erinlynn
Date Posted: October 06 2003 at 6:47am
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Granted, makeing sure your hair is fixed such that it wont get in the way is a valid point, but cutting isnt a solve all. As for my hair. If I dont have it braided and up in a strong clip my hair will get loose. I was never one of those "stick a pencil in your hair and it will stay in a bun all day" girls. My hair likes to fly free and escape. When learning to surf a large wave knocked me over and my hair came loose. It was still braided a bit so I didnt notice it untill I was trying to take another wave and went to push up on the board and there was my hair right under my palms...ouch! that ruined my attempt even before it started. I lost my favorite clip to that wave! Later I found half of it washed up on shore...I still have that half...Im so silly! |
Posted By: hairalways
Date Posted: October 06 2003 at 7:12am
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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 ------------- |
Posted By: uzma
Date Posted: October 06 2003 at 12:28pm
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Wow - Gollan and Jacqui - you guys are terrific examples. Thanks for your insights. I consider myself fully reassured. Erinlynn - OUCH!!! Arch - No worries and no offense taken. Sorry you aren't into Dave. I'm one of his biggest fans. Each to their own. Cheers All  ------------- Uzi |
Posted By: DaveDecker
Date Posted: October 06 2003 at 7:40pm
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 ------------- |