DOES CONSTIPATION...

ellipsisbla

Does constipation slow down weight loss? I've been having it for weeks perhaps due to too much fiber.

I've only lost 2 kg the past month, perhaps because I'm eating too much or all the waste is still trapped in my body so the scale numbers don't change (ew.. xD) Feel free to check my diary!

Anyhow, please give me the scoop on my poop really appreciate the help!!

Rachel7575

Activia yogurt helps with that, if you eat one for breakfast and one before your dinner meal it will help with digestion.

rheddmobile

Yes, it sure can, on a temporary basis. Fiber should help not hurt if you are getting enough hydration, but sometimes it has the opposite effect. Try magnesium citrate in the short term and tweak your diet (adding fats can help) in the long term.

bbell1985

Yes. I have IBS and will not weigh myself if its been a few days.

nutmegoreo

I see two things that could certainly be causing constipation. First, your fat intake is really low, and second, your calorie intake is also really low. You aren't eating nearly enough. Less in = less out. Then there are all the potential health complications that come with undereating. Hair loss, muscle loss, difficulty concentrating, dizziness, fainting, bone loss (leading to brittle bones, higher risk of fractures later in life). Aim for more reasonable targets.

JeromeBarry1

Other than the day you had the cabbage, your fiber hasn't been particularly high. Do some research on your fiber inputs to see if you can figure what your ratio of soluble/insoluble is. If soluble is too high a portion, it slows the traffic in your gut.

Maybe supplement with magnesium. Maybe find a way to add a few grams of chia seeds each day. Maybe have oatmeal with breakfast more often. Maybe work 1/3 cup or so of some legume into your diet for a few days. Maybe just drink more water. In extremis, consider mineral oil.

bbell1985

I used to think my fiber was high (not in recent weeks if anyone is looking), until the GI doc made me open my eyes. It wasn't. I added fruit and fiber one cereal and was fine the next day. I just have a hard time keeping that up.

JeromeBarry1

nutmegoreo wrote: »

I see two things that could certainly be causing constipation. First, your fat intake is really low, and second, your calorie intake is also really low. You aren't eating nearly enough. Less in = less out. Then there are all the potential health complications that come with undereating. Hair loss, muscle loss, difficulty concentrating, dizziness, fainting, bone loss (leading to brittle bones, higher risk of fractures later in life). Aim for more reasonable targets.

That, too. I wasn't even looking at calories the first time I went through it. Although bok choy and your potato leaves are highly nutritious with vitamins and such, you still do need energy.

CynthiasChoice

Are you taking calcium or B vitamins or antibiotics? Are you drinking enough water?

DIET:
More fat in your diet will help, plus 1/2 cup lentils or beans every day, plus insoluble fiber like All Bran cereal.

SUPPLEMENTS:
What's working well for me right now is a combination of Magnesium Oxide, Inulin and Lactobacillus Reuteri.

The oxide form of magnesium isn't as easily absorbed by the body and goes to work in the colon to increase water.

Inulin is a prebiotic powder you can mix in beverages. It's almost flavorless. Intestinal probiotic bacteria consume inulin, and in turn produce the short-chain fatty acids that nourish the cells lining the colon.

Lactobacillus Reuteri is a probiotic that has been shown to help with constipation. After a ton of research, I chose Jarrow Formula's Fem Dophilus. In addition to reuteri, it also has Lactobacillus Rhamnosus, which has shown promise in helping with weight loss. Jarrow markets this as a feminine product, but it serves other purposes just as well.

Since I began this trio of supplements, I'm functioning again!

Christine_72

ellipsisbla wrote: »

Does constipation slow down weight loss? I've been having it for weeks perhaps due to too much fiber.

It sure does, not as in you don't lose weight if you're constipated, but all that compacted food inside you will show on the scale and will mask any weight loss. I do everything i can to ensure i go every morning, usually while I'm waiting for the kettle to boil first thing or half way through my first cup of coffee. If i don't happen to go in that time, then i don't bother to weigh myself that day.

Christine_72

I just had a look at your diary...

You are incredibly deficient in:

Calories
Protein
Fat
You don't have Fibre listed, so cant say how high/low you are there.

No wonder your body isn't operating at it's optimal level, you need to UP your levels in everything you're consuming.