All this hard work for what? My stomach ruins it!!!

nyla2120

I find any soy, processed protein powders, bread, beer, grains, and noodles of any kind, especially wheat do to me what you are describing. I am full for 3 to 4 days if I eat spaghetti or something with a lot of gluten. My pants literally do not fit for days if I eat stuff like that. I also work out a ton.

0% fat Greek yogurt instead of pills for probiotics helps. I eat a ton of fresh veg with no issues other than the over fiber kind of veg like broccoli or cabbage....we all get issues with those in the cabbage family. Cut all carbonated drinks if you have not already. Hope you find out what's going on so you can feel better!

(Gluten is glue)

I switched to gluten free oats today & I'm going to lay off protein powder for a bit & see if anything changes. I used to eat tons of broccoli & had that um smelly issue, but since I switched to green beans & peas I feel a lot better & my family is much happier lol!!!

nyla2120

Sounds like you definitely need to look for an allergy.

I think your doc suggested what they did to save you money and the possibility of false results that wouldn't necessarily help you.

Dairy and gluten allergies are considered pretty common.

Personally, I would try one and then the other. If you do both together you won't know which one until you add one back and find out.

Exactly this ^^

I too used to have this problem, except that I would be gassy too.
I went to the doctor and she told me to cut out gluten and dairy for a little while to see if that helped which it did (BUT IT WAS HARD TO DO!!). Getting tested for allergies is not covered by health insurance (in Canada anyways) therefore I'm sure she is trying to save you money cause it costs over $200!

Good luck!

Good to know! Thank you so much! I'll figure this out some how!

zarabeth

generally doctors advise a trial month of gluten/dairy free instead of running tests because it is cheaper and less time consuming for both you and them. Without knowing what all you eat on a regular basis, I will say that I've heard a lot of people who severely restrict calories (like sub 1200 or who save 80% of their daily calories for one meal) will bloat after they eat, even if it wasn't a large meal. Something to think about. If that isn't you though then I would second the "cut back gluten and dairy for a bit" recommendation to see if that helps.

*ETA: I should have mentioned, I am one of those people who would seriously restrict in the morning and afternoon. I got to the point where a 150 calorie breakfast and some water was ballooning me up a pants size every morning. Once I balanced my meal calories out better it went away.

This could be the issue, I've been following the MFP 1200 a day diet. I'm not sure how much to add to my calories so I won't be gaining, I still want to lose around 5-10 pounds. But I also am trying to get away from gluten & little to no dairy to see if that helps.

You are trying to lose 5-10 lbs at 12% body fat? Something here isn't right. at 12% you would have most likely stopped having a period and you would be very very lean....I think the calorie restriction is what is making you bloated honestly, but it could be something else. If you aren't drinking enough water you can get bloated throughout the day as your body consumes salt too.

No I still get a period & to look at my body I don't look that small. I have lean but muscular arms & my quads are so big people call them Turkey Legs lol! I'm going by what the trainer at my gym told me my % was. Maybe he was wrong? I don't know. I just personally know I want to lean out a bit so my muscles are more defined. I do agree about drinking more water, I try to stay on top of it. I start out good in the morning & then kind of forget the rest of the day. I'm never really thirsty, so I end up going hours without drinking anything without even realizing. I actually just bought one of those small hand help jugs that hold 8 8oz glasses of water, I'm going to force myself to drink at least a full one a day.

lol I put an app in my phone (sounds like a toilet flushing) to remind me drink. It has everyone from the 3 year old grandbaby to my husband getting me water when they hear the phone.

nyla2120

My gym's BF% is a joke. It is fairly accurate- but it's not percise- meaning it will allow you to mointor if it goes up or down in relation to itself- but it isn't actually telling you the correct BF%

BUT. That being said- if you TRULY are at 12%... there is a strong likely hood that eating might make you look bloated because- well there isn't anything else left to see essentially except the abs and food. I wouldn't sweat it. And unless you are doing a competition- you don't need to hang out down by 12% all the time.

how would not eating enough lead to stomach bloat?

she's already eating peanuts- how much LESS could she possibly eat. Seriously.

that was not my question ...my question was how underrating would cause stomach bloat...Now if we are talking starvation level under eating then yes you would appear bloated..

Also, OP said she is on 1200 calorie a day...that may be low for some people but it seems to be working for her...

Eating low amounts such as 1200 can lead to problems if you are not careful, particularly when exercising and not refueling. I was fine until I lost my hair for example, and it came on relatively quickly. I was eating a load of veg every day, and took vitamins, and just had this stomach pooch I couldn't get rid of. I considered myself healthy, because I felt better then I did when I started. But really when put into perspective I felt better eating 1200 then I did eating far to much. The deficit was the change my body needed, not the 1200 number. I felt good until I really really didn't. Same thing happened with my sister. The problem with eating low cal is when you cut off what you're eating from your energy expenditure you have to cut it from somewhere, obviously. So you choose your poison. Which are either a mix protein, which helps promote lbm, fat, which helps nutrient absorption, or carbs, which help repair your body after workouts. Cutting those things out by a lot can lead to problems. You need so much protein and fat to be healthy. And there are many nutrients that people cut out when cutting carbs. It appears that OP choose the low fat problem, which can lead to vitamin deficiencies, which can lead to the problems she is having now. And if someone is at a very low body fat such as the OP, and under eating by allot, the chances of something going wrong on a low cal diet gets closer and closer.

Huge calorie restrictions can be quite a serious thing that shouldn't be taken likely and decided on a whim. You need to know the dangers you can get yourself into.

I totally take this seriously because there was a time when I was eating only a few hundred calories a day because of depression from losing my mom & grandfather. I lost a lot of weight & I did stop getting my period, I had no energy, I was always cold etc. It was a really bad time in my life. But, I started learning about eating a clean healthy diet, lifting heavy weights & not doing hours of cardio & I rebuilt my entire body. I'm only eating so low because I do want to lean out to show more muscle & to get my legs down a bit. But, if I can do that & eat more I'm all for it. I just don't want to gain any fat, muscle yes

nyla2120

Some of the reasons stubborn fat is stubborn can be found below.
http://www.bodyrecomposition.com/fat-loss/why-is-stubborn-fat-stubborn.html

Thanks! I'll check it out!

nyla2120

generally doctors advise a trial month of gluten/dairy free instead of running tests because it is cheaper and less time consuming for both you and them. Without knowing what all you eat on a regular basis, I will say that I've heard a lot of people who severely restrict calories (like sub 1200 or who save 80% of their daily calories for one meal) will bloat after they eat, even if it wasn't a large meal. Something to think about. If that isn't you though then I would second the "cut back gluten and dairy for a bit" recommendation to see if that helps.

*ETA: I should have mentioned, I am one of those people who would seriously restrict in the morning and afternoon. I got to the point where a 150 calorie breakfast and some water was ballooning me up a pants size every morning. Once I balanced my meal calories out better it went away.

This could be the issue, I've been following the MFP 1200 a day diet. I'm not sure how much to add to my calories so I won't be gaining, I still want to lose around 5-10 pounds. But I also am trying to get away from gluten & little to no dairy to see if that helps.

You are trying to lose 5-10 lbs at 12% body fat? Something here isn't right. at 12% you would have most likely stopped having a period and you would be very very lean....I think the calorie restriction is what is making you bloated honestly, but it could be something else. If you aren't drinking enough water you can get bloated throughout the day as your body consumes salt too.

No I still get a period & to look at my body I don't look that small. I have lean but muscular arms & my quads are so big people call them Turkey Legs lol! I'm going by what the trainer at my gym told me my % was. Maybe he was wrong? I don't know. I just personally know I want to lean out a bit so my muscles are more defined. I do agree about drinking more water, I try to stay on top of it. I start out good in the morning & then kind of forget the rest of the day. I'm never really thirsty, so I end up going hours without drinking anything without even realizing. I actually just bought one of those small hand help jugs that hold 8 8oz glasses of water, I'm going to force myself to drink at least a full one a day.

lol I put an app in my phone (sounds like a toilet flushing) to remind me drink. It has everyone from the 3 year old grandbaby to my husband getting me water when they hear the phone.

I'm going to carry my little jug everywhere with me & I won't consider my day done until it's empty. Not drinking enough water is my worst habit.

pgmayer

"That's possible. There are so many reasons that could be causing it. I feel like it's going to take me forever to figure it out.
[/quote]"


You will figure it out........ but in the meantime......enjoy your new found health and fitness. You are in a great place....... enjoy it!!

Phil

nyla2120

"That's possible. There are so many reasons that could be causing it. I feel like it's going to take me forever to figure it out.

"


You will figure it out........ but in the meantime......enjoy your new found health and fitness. You are in a great place....... enjoy it!!

Phil
[/quote]

Thank you! I definitely will!

MistyEE

I just wanted to mention, that Rice can cause some people(me) to bloat. Just in case your shake, or granola bars had it. If I only eat a very small portion, it is not as noticeable, but it is still there.

also, small portion is about 1/4 cup.

I hope you find the answer and keep us all updated. I have been lowering gluten myself to see if I would feel any better. It sounds like the advice is to cut it completely. Darn.

NonnyMary

I'd love to know what the sensation is of being so trim that when i would eat food, i would see it form in my stomach.. i mean.. wow i dont know the last time I was that skinny, maybe when i was 10 years old. wonder what that feels like.

ginagirl4259

never thought about that. My 6 year old shows off his stomach after he eats a good meal.
He's sooo skinny.

sharonfoustmills

generally doctors advise a trial month of gluten/dairy free instead of running tests because it is cheaper and less time consuming for both you and them. Without knowing what all you eat on a regular basis, I will say that I've heard a lot of people who severely restrict calories (like sub 1200 or who save 80% of their daily calories for one meal) will bloat after they eat, even if it wasn't a large meal. Something to think about. If that isn't you though then I would second the "cut back gluten and dairy for a bit" recommendation to see if that helps.

*ETA: I should have mentioned, I am one of those people who would seriously restrict in the morning and afternoon. I got to the point where a 150 calorie breakfast and some water was ballooning me up a pants size every morning. Once I balanced my meal calories out better it went away.

That is good to know. I do the same thing because I'm not hungry in the mornings, but I also am bloating bigger and bigger throughout the daytime. I have noticed I am burping a bunch at night, and I used to never burp. I am wondering if I am swallowing lots of air drinking all this ice water? Going to try some kind of anti-reflux or antacid otc med, because I am having some obvious to me reflux issues now. Hope this all changes, going to suck if this is what eating healthy does to me.

sabified

bump to read for later.... not that I have this issue but seems to be lots of good advice for checking out intolerances