Lizzy's Experiments

Conditioning Only instead of Shampooing

Group Experiment

Created by Lizzy Feb 21, 2011 | Category Beauty/Style

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Overview I am trying the "conditioning only" method for washing hair which means no shampoo, just using conditioner to cleanse the hair. The idea is that shampoo dries hair and prevents the hair's natural sebum from doing its job. Conditioner is able to clean hair without the harsh chemicals in shampoo. I will watch to ... See experiment

Comment

Lizzy It's been a month of using conditioner only to wash my hair and I love the results. My hair is getting less dry, it's growing faster (which is also related to vitamins) and it has tons of body and volume. My routine is to wash daily using a silicone free conditioner. Blow dry without any hair styling products (I don't need any at all, which is a miracle!). After blow-dr... See more

Mar 29, 2011

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Kathy Cuddleback Just joined today - can't wait to see how it goes.

May 18, 2011

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Improve Hair Growth and Strength with Biotin and Silica

Created by Lizzy Feb 27, 2011 | Category Health/Medicine

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Overview Hair grows at an average rate of 1/2 inch a month. My hair may grow in at a slower pace, and it's quite fine/thin. I read from many sources that supplemental Silica and Biotin will help with hair, skin and finger nails. And many report improvements within two weeks. Biotin and Silica twice a day. See experiment

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Matthew Cornell Really amazing, Lizzy. I love your experimental attitude. Thanks for sharing!

Mar 19, 2011

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Lizzy This experiment has been hard to measure. I have been on Biotin for a month and a half. It does seem like my hair is growing faster and fuller. But I still have the weigh gain issue. Stopping the Silica seemed to help but then the weight came back which could mean its the Biotin or my Thyroid medicine. First I will stop the Biotin for a week and see if that makes a diff... See more

Apr 13, 2011

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Conditioning Only instead of Shampooing

Peer Experiment

Created by Lizzy Feb 21, 2011 | Category Beauty/Style

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Overview I am trying the "conditioning only" method for washing hair which means no shampoo, just using conditioner to cleanse the hair. The idea is that shampoo dries hair and prevents the hair's natural sebum from doing its job. Conditioner is able to clean hair without the harsh chemicals in shampoo. I will watch to ... See experiment

Comment

Lizzy Conditioning only has been going great. My hair feels very clean, thick, and healthy without being limp the way one would expect from conditioners. I believe its because the conditioner is silicone free. I will keep doing this as part of my routine.

Mar 13, 2011

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Matthew Cornell What a nice result! Low-impact and no side-effects to boot. Good work, Lizzy.

Mar 14, 2011

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Change Thyroid Medicine to a Compound

Created by Lizzy Oct 26, 2010 | Category Health/Medicine

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Overview After taking a prescription of Naturthroid, natural desiccated thyroid for a year, I am going to switch to a new medication. Naturthroid reformulated about six months ago and I haven't felt quite as good on the new formula. A compound pharmacy told me that the FDA allows pharmaceuticals a 10% margin of error with prescr... See experiment

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Lizzy Started the new meds today, and so far so good. I feel good, head is more clear. Energy and mood are up. It's hard to know if the effect would be this immediate so I will try to track every day.

Oct 26, 2010

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Lizzy Morning body temps running cold, below 97.7. But midday body temp is 98.1. Seems good. Overall hypo symptoms seem fine. Important note: I am taking 180 mgs of the new meds (up from 162.5 on the old meds). Will watch for hyper symptoms. Almost a week now and I feel good overall.

Nov 01, 2010

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Increase Iron and Ferritin

Created by Lizzy Jun 14, 2010 | Category Health/Medicine

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Overview Try a new brand of iron supplement in order to increase my iron and ferritin levels which are very low (common with hypothyroid). In the past few months I've noticed my hair seems more fine, and losing more noticeably which I read is likely related to low iron. Also hoping it will help continue to improve energy and mi... See experiment

Comment

Matthew Cornell Make sure they use a rusty nail to draw the blood. That way you get your results *plus* a little iron boost.

Jul 19, 2010

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Lizzy It's been ages since I updated this experiment. But hair growth is a slow process. I will get my lab results next week, but since July I have diligently been taking iron supplements. It takes month of iron supplementation to actually get the levels up. I am happy to say that my hair is coming in fuller now, which is super exciting. I think the omega-6s are helping too. ... See more

Oct 26, 2010

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Coconut Oil for Weight Loss

Created by Lizzy Oct 20, 2010 | Category Diet

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Overview Take 2 TBS of coconut oil every day to see if it helps with weight loss. I've read many reports, especially in the thyroid community, about the health benefits of coconut oil, but also that it aids in weight loss and Alhzeimers prevention, and possibly reversal. See experiment

Comment

Matthew Cornell Great experiment, Liza! I thought of a bonus: It might even taste good :-) Another possible bonus: It might make you smarter: http://www.kk.org/quantifiedself/2010/10/will-butter-make-you-smarter-i.php . Looking forward to it!

Oct 26, 2010

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Try Evening Primrose Oil for Omega-6 to improve Dry Hair

Created by Lizzy Jun 22, 2010 | Category Beauty/Style

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Overview Try supplement of Evening Primrose Oil to get more Omega-6 in my diet. I have read this is especially good for Hypothyroid people like me. In particular for hair texture, and growth. Mary Shomon wrote about it, and she is one of the Hypothyroid patient experts so giving it a try. See experiment

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Lizzy Thanks :-) The EPO and Fish Oil seem to be working well. It will take a few months to really see a difference.

Jul 19, 2010

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Lizzy This continues to work well, and helps with new hair growth and split ends. It's just slow going!

Oct 14, 2010

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Increase Naturthroid Prescription to 2.75 Completed

Created by Lizzy Aug 17, 2010 | Category Health/Medicine

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Overview Increase my meds for two weeks. See experiment

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Lizzy 3 pm body temp was 98.6. This is good, first time in weeks my temp has been normal. Now watching for hyperthyroid symptoms to appear.

I spoke with a compound pharmacist the other day and he said with prescription medicine, the FDA allows a 10 % margin of error by the drug company. This seems huge! And explains why prescriptions medicines can work fine with o... See more

Aug 19, 2010

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Lizzy Concluded this experiment. I definitely become more hyperthyroid on the higher dose. And interestingly, my body temp dropped rather than raised. 2.5 pills a day seems to be the best dose.

Oct 14, 2010

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Increase Naturthroid Prescription back to 2.5 Completed

Created by Lizzy Jul 21, 2010 | Category Other

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Overview Increase thyroid medicine back up to 2.5 pills a day (tried decreasing to 2 1/4) but noticed body temp dropped to 98.0-98.2 and 2 lb weight gain. See experiment

Comment

Lizzy Body temp still seems low. And weight fluctuates. I am going to increase my meds in a new experiment.

Aug 17, 2010

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Matthew Cornell Good work, Liza. I admire your tireless self-experimentation.

Aug 19, 2010

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Reduce Naturthroid Prescription by 1/4 Completed

Created by Lizzy Jul 12, 2010 | Category Other

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Overview Reduce my thyroid medicine by 1/4 pill See experiment

Comment

Lizzy Body temp at 5pm is 98, that's on a 90 degree day, and after running 2 miles. Also, I've noticed about a 2 lb weight gain which doesn't seem to be improving. Going to increase back up to 2.5 pills a day and see what happens.

Jul 21, 2010

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Matthew Cornell You are a master at self-experimentation and body tracking. Keep it up!

Jul 24, 2010

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Lizzy

  • Member Since
  • 07/01/09