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nearly 7 months progress
"There is also a few new hairs growing around the crown of my head."
@yh Thanks for sharing this write up. I was interested to read this line sinceI suffer with MPB. Would you mind elaborating on this line a little? Are you speaking about an area where hair loss has occurred and you noticed new terminal hairs where there was previously vellus hair or do you still have hair in the area but believe you see more density?
They are new terminal hairs. About a year ago, I developed a small mole right by where my hairline ends, with no visible hair around it. Now, the mole has been losing color, and new hairs are growing around it. I also have several lone hairs growing where my hairline used to be. I think it has something to do with depleting carotenes or Vitamin A, because there used to be some modest discoloration of the skin in the areas I began losing hair. Now that the skin is clearing, the hair is slowly growing again.
Just wanted to add a few other benefits. In the last week, I've been feeling some occasional pressure in my thyroid gland when I wake up. This is followed by bursts warmth around my heels and extremities. Additionally, I've been feeling some pressure on my left cheek bone. My beard used to grown in unevenly, heavier on the right side. It is now filling out evenly. There were some bald patches around my chin that are now filling out completely. My mustache is also getting thicker, with more symmetrical growth. The rate at which my beard is growing is much slower, and the hairs are much softer. This means that if I do shave, I get zero razor bumps or ingrown hairs. I used to suffer from this so bad, but I now realize it's because my beard was growing too fast before.
Quote from YH on March 18, 2019, 3:08 pmJust wanted to add a few other benefits. In the last week, I've been feeling some occasional pressure in my thyroid gland when I wake up. This is followed by bursts warmth around my heels and extremities. Additionally, I've been feeling some pressure on my left cheek bone. My beard used to grown in unevenly, heavier on the right side. It is now filling out evenly. There were some bald patches around my chin that are now filling out completely. My mustache is also getting thicker, with more symmetrical growth. The rate at which my beard is growing is much slower, and the hairs are much softer. This means that if I do shave, I get zero razor bumps or ingrown hairs. I used to suffer from this so bad, but I now realize it's because my beard was growing too fast before.
That is a great update, I am looking forward to some of these benefits!
YH, your progress is so inspiring, thanks so much for keeping this updated!
Can you share what you eat in a typical day?
It's really easy to put together meals when I was on a higher A diet (lots of colorful stirfries, omelettes) but now that I'm trying for low A, I don't know how to cook tasty meals... or does everyone just put random things together?
Hey @peachy
My diet varies depending on what is available and the time of year. When I was strict, I'd mainly focus on eating clean starches and some protein to appetite.
For breakfast, I would have deli meats(roast turkey or roast beef) or leftover meat, and a starch(bread or rice). If I wanted something sweet, I'd have a rice porridge with raisins, nuts and honey(no milk or butter).
Lunch would be sandwiches with whatever meat I had cooked before. If I was eating lunch out, I'd have roast beef sandwiches, pastrami, plain hamburgers, french fries, and I'd have iced tea or lemonade to drink.
Dinner at home would be a simple "pottage." I place in cauliflower, chestnuts, onions, or garlic at the bottom of a pot. I'd place lean beef stew meat on the top. I'd pour some water on the bottom. I'd cook this dish on low for about two hours, adding water as needed At the hour mark, I'd throw in some medium length white rice to soak up all the juices from the meat and let it cook more.
I also ate snacks in between, and never went hungry. Some other foods I included were raisins, potato chips, almonds, hazelnuts, chocolate, coconut milk, coconut water, sodas, beans a few times a week, all lean meats including deli meats(no ham though), vegan cookies, pears, apples, grapes, and pineapple. I'd try to limit fried foods since they'd cause me to breakout.
I was pretty flexible, but for the most part I focused on eating meals with protein and plain starches. Sometimes I ate more meat, sometimes less. I found it best not to overthink the food, beyond avoiding Vitamin A and keeping fat intake relatively low.