Is it normal to get this bloated?!

noobletmcnugget

I'm 5' 6", about 130 pounds. By the end of the day most days my stomach is very bloated (as in the picture). At other times (especially in the mornings) my stomach can be pretty flat. At least half the size of what it is in the picture.

I didn't even eat a ridiculous amount or particularly unhealthily today. I just ate at maintenance.

Any tips on what to do to reduce the bloating? This seems to happen whatever I do, whether I eat mostly veg and lean meats all day, or whatever else. The only way to lessen it is to just eat way less, but that's not sustainable at all (it means going below 1000 calories at least).

Help!

summers09jo

Hi I'm sorry I can't help you as I'm having the same problem too it's the end of the day I always seem to be bloated also and I've eaten chicken and vegetables and not large potions either .. Very strange

MrCoolGrim

Drink alot of water and watch your sodium intake

Christine_72

I get like that after eating a big meal, usually dinner. I thought it was normal??? Annoying, but normal

noobletmcnugget

MrCoolGrim wrote: »

Drink alot of water and watch your sodium intake

Even when I do that, and make sure I get lots of fibre, it doesn't particularly help.

noobletmcnugget

christinev297 wrote: »

I get like that after eating a big meal, usually dinner. I thought it was normal??? Annoying, but normal

Hm, maybe it is normal then. That's a reassurance!

daniebanks

i always feel bloated by the afternoon too, worse time for progress pics lol

Christine_72

noobletmcnugget wrote: »

christinev297 wrote: »

I get like that after eating a big meal, usually dinner. I thought it was normal??? Annoying, but normal

Hm, maybe it is normal then. That's a reassurance!

My tummy is alot flatter in the morning. By bed time i can look 4mths pregnant

MrCoolGrim

christinev297 wrote: »

noobletmcnugget wrote: »

christinev297 wrote: »

I get like that after eating a big meal, usually dinner. I thought it was normal??? Annoying, but normal

Hm, maybe it is normal then. That's a reassurance!

My tummy is alot flatter in the morning. By bed time i can look 4mths pregnant

Me too

maroonmango211

This happens to me often, especially when I eat more inflammatory foods around "that" time of the month. I do find that drinking water all day with meals and in between helps a lot, not just chugging it a few times a day when I forget more often. I also find that if I'm not.... regular... its more of a problem (for obvious reasons) which with IBS is an ongoing problem.

crfeen

possible you have IBS or some kind of inflammatory disease? I have IBS and I CANNOT eat kale or spinach--my stomach gets SO bloated.

Christine_72

I wish i knew the difference between normal bloating and medically induced bloating. I don't think i have any IBS issues, i drink alot of milk and haven't cut anything out of my diet. I'm sure i would know if a food was bloating me, right? As surely there would be other symptoms other than bloating??

maroonmango211

christinev297 wrote: »

I wish i knew the difference between normal bloating and medically induced bloating. I don't think i have any IBS issues, i drink alot of milk and haven't cut anything out of my diet. I'm sure i would know if a food was bloating me, right? As surely there would be other symptoms other than bloating??

Which foods cause IBS symptoms to arise are different for everyone. For me, too many raw vegetables (brassicas in particular) and wheat are huge triggers. My main symptom is bloating and gas but if I am too inflamed it can also cause major digestive upsets. For my MIL its spicy foods or dairy that cause issues, she could eat as much raw cabbage and broccoli as she wants.

For the most part it's trial and error and in the end what symptoms you are willing to deal with in order to eat certain things.

knittnponder

I have IBS too and cauliflower is a big trigger for bloating for me. I'm also sensitive to garlic and if I have too much milk or milk products I'm bloated. A little bit of bloating isn't abnormal but if you're getting REALLY bloated, especially if you're uncomfortable, then you might want to pay close attention to what you're eating when you bloat.

arditarose

I'm always bloated. But I love the foods I eat and feel okay so have never changed it. I notice my fiber being on the very high side and wonder if that's it.

beachlandia

I get really bloated at night too, I just try to ignore it because this has always happened to me and I know it's not "real" weight gain and it'll probably be gone in 12 hours.

arditarose

I hope I'm not out of line but...that is some serious bloat, OP. Can we see a before bloat pic?

TheVirgoddess

arditarose wrote: »

I hope I'm not out of line but...that is some serious bloat, OP. Can we see a before bloat pic?

+1

HeySwoleSister

christinev297 wrote: »

I get like that after eating a big meal, usually dinner. I thought it was normal??? Annoying, but normal

Same here, my mother as well...my stepfather always calls us "the boa constrictors" because if we eat a big meal, we might as well be pregnant.

We both have rather slight frames....I think we just don't have room to contain our innards when they are full of food. By morning all is right with the world again. I'm in the neighborhood of OPs height and weight, so I kind of get that....you are likely pretty small framed to begin with, one big meal and you're like....

hstull82

Align probiotics, fiber gummies, lots of water, & low sodium/gluten free help keep my bloat in check. Have you checked with your doctor?

Justygirl77

Try excluding wheat and dairy from your diet for a week. You'll probably find those are problem foods for your body, unfortunately.

angelexperiment

I think you need to see a doctor, a g.i dr. You may have some food intolerances. I think being that bloated is not normal. I used to get so bloated like 6 months prego bloated! Try to take a gas pill or phazyme after you eat it may be gas buildup in your tummy. That worked for me when I eat something to trigger it that bad. I have ibs c so I know about it a bit.

kikichewie

Yeah that doesn't seem normal to me. I'd take measurements at specific times of the day for a few weeks and keep an accurate food diary with the times you ate each food. And take that info to the doctor. Maybe also take daily pictures. The doctor can help more if shr or he can see exactly what's happening.

BeginnersBootcamp

Some foods make me bloat, like raw carrots! Check your food diary and look for a pattern

Kymmu

Look into FODMAPS to work out what isn't agreeing with you. I can't tolerate fructose and end up like you then IBS too.

noobletmcnugget

arditarose wrote: »

I hope I'm not out of line but...that is some serious bloat, OP. Can we see a before bloat pic?

Of course you're not... I literally look as though I could be 6 months pregnant hahaha. I'll post a pic tomorrow when/if it's gone down.

Liftng4Lis

It goes down right?

noobletmcnugget

kikichewie wrote: »

Yeah that doesn't seem normal to me. I'd take measurements at specific times of the day for a few weeks and keep an accurate food diary with the times you ate each food. And take that info to the doctor. Maybe also take daily pictures. The doctor can help more if shr or he can see exactly what's happening.

I'll try and keep track of my bloating on my diary for a while and will arrange a doctor's appointment. I have no idea how I'd narrow down the foods causing it if it is IBS though - it feels like this happens most of the time, irrespective of what I eat.

noobletmcnugget

Liftng4Lis wrote: »

It goes down right?

Lol it usually goes down significantly by the morning. But then as soon as I eat something I get bloated again. Today was pretty extreme though haha.

noobletmcnugget

Thanks for the replies guys! I think I'm going to keep track of when I bloat worst and see a doctor to see if they think it could be IBS or something. Ugh.

jennifershoo

Do you bloat like this every day or have you noticed it happens 1 week per month? Some women bloat right before their period. I bloat for a week before my ovulation.