So Discouraged. Feel Like CRYING! Fiber is BAD for you?

HermosaKas
HermosaKas Posts: 17 Member
in Food and Nutrition
Sigh. Admittedly and embarrassingly, lately, I have been having a problem with constipation. What to do when you are plagued with such a problem? Increase water and FIBER intake, of course. I have done that. I have cut out ALL refined foods, but still, no relief. Then, I find a few websites that suggest that fiber, itself, is the PROBLEM and is just making it worse.

I have heard the low carb/high fat thing. Once upon a time ago, I was praying it was true as I loved meat and cheese, but then I came across reports that said high meat diets=cancer... *rolls eyes*

I fasted for three days. Cut out all refined carbs, and am now on a journey to eat clean. I was just growing to love my fruit and vegetables, even trying to eat a mango a day with all the vit C and what not, now to find out that these extremely "healthy" things aren't so healthy, well, my heart is broken. I feel lied to. Betrayed, and I honestly don't know what or who to believe.

How do I get past the feeling that eating more meat than fruits and veggies is what is healthy? What in the HELL am I supposed to eat???

How to you guys get past the back and forth, lies, and myths?
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Replies

  • liftreadphilosophize
    liftreadphilosophize Posts: 180 Member
    Who told you fruits and veggies are bad for you?! They are seriously not to be trusted. At all. Meat is awesome, as are fruits and veggies.
  • redversustheblue
    redversustheblue Posts: 1,216 Member
    I would start by not taking everything I read as truth. Especially a "few websites."
  • asdowe13
    asdowe13 Posts: 1,951 Member
    Just eat food. Especially food you enjoy eating!
  • topazora
    topazora Posts: 82 Member
    all food is good for you in moderation. a healthy diet is a diet that consists of everything, even processed foods won't kill you and can be very delicious.
  • Shropshire1959
    Shropshire1959 Posts: 982 Member

    How to you guys get past the back and forth, lies, and myths?

    That's a tricky one, even around here!!! . Y'just have t do a lot of your own research and take everything with a pinch of salt. Check the source - is it some random person on the interweb ? Is it someone with a bank balance paid for but the Food industry? (follow the money).

    Shockingly :-p The best source is often from peer reviewed medical academia NOT from Macdonalds :-p
  • thesaraaah
    thesaraaah Posts: 17 Member
    Nothing, food wise is bad for as long as its in moderation. Unless of course you have health issues that require a special diet.

    Edit- Magnesium tablets can help with constipation. I take 500 mg a day for migraines and as a side effect it helps me go to the bathroom much easier. :wink:
  • Holly_Roman_Empire
    Holly_Roman_Empire Posts: 4,440 Member
    Eat more fat. That'll take care of your constipation problem.

    Also, too much fiber can often have the same effect as too little fiber. Find a balance for you.

    Oh, and there's nothing wrong with fruits and vegetables.
  • KseRz
    KseRz Posts: 980 Member
    Do you eat yogurt?

    Digestion has a lot going on than just fiber. Having healthy flora digestive enzymes also helps in proper digestion and elimination.
  • pseudomuffin
    pseudomuffin Posts: 1,058 Member
    Eat what makes you feel good and what seems to work best with your system. High carb/starchy stuff always makes me feel terrible and bloated, so I try to avoid it. I also avoid dairy because I'm lactose intolerant and it makes me feel sick, and too much (greasy) fat makes my gallbladder act up.

    I feel the best/most energetic when I'm eating lots of fruits and veggies and plenty of protein. I can tell when I'm getting low on iron, so I up my spinach intake, eat more nuts, etc. It's all about knowing what YOUR body needs, so start figuring it out and you'll be much happier :flowerforyou:
  • HermosaKas
    HermosaKas Posts: 17 Member
    Well, if you google it, you would be surprised what information comes up. I don't know. A lot of people sing its praises, and the same with the clean "raw vegan" thing...

    http://www.dailymail.co.uk/femail/article-1325453/Everything-thought-knew-food-WRONG.html
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  • _lyndseybrooke_
    _lyndseybrooke_ Posts: 2,561 Member
    So, you're not going to eat fiber, carbs, meat, fruits, or vegetables. Good luck with that.

    Get it out of your head and any food is "bad." Foods aren't bad. Also, cut it out with the fasts, "clean" eating, dieting trends, and unreliable nutrition sources.

    It's simple: Eat the foods you like, monitor your calories and, if you please, macros. You'll be fine. You don't need to be eating low- anything.
  • GreenIceFloes
    GreenIceFloes Posts: 1,491 Member
    Moderate amounts of fiber, lots of water, higher fat intake, and exercise.
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  • HermosaKas
    HermosaKas Posts: 17 Member
    Thank you, guys! I will have to start eating yogurt or something fermented, soon. Yeah, I just have to see what works best for me.
  • ValGogo
    ValGogo Posts: 2,168 Member
    do what YOU think is best. You will never, EVER keep up with the changing opinions so just do what you feel comfortable doing. Everyone is wrong and everyone is right. Stay in the midddle.
  • HermosaKas
    HermosaKas Posts: 17 Member
    :) Thanks... Also, how exactly does your weight counter work? I can't decode it. 4 lbs to 180lbs? How much have you lost in total?
  • tinkbaby101
    tinkbaby101 Posts: 180 Member
    If you're still having constipation issues, I'd say talk to your doctor. By the way. Just... since... you know, it's the poop that brought up the whole subject.
  • OldHobo
    OldHobo Posts: 647 Member
    ... Then, I find a few websites that suggest that fiber, itself, is the PROBLEM and is just making it worse.

    How do I get past the feeling that eating more meat than fruits and veggies is what is healthy? What in the HELL am I supposed to eat???

    How to you guys get past the back and forth, lies, and myths?

    You will always be able to "find a few websites" that say any darn thing. If virtually all the experts say one thing and one guy says another, then the outlier might be a prophet, but it's MUCH more likely that he is a charlatan, a nut or, less likely, a well intentioned fellow who is just mistaken.

    Common sense and moderation will go a long way.

    That's how I get past it.
  • HermosaKas
    HermosaKas Posts: 17 Member
    do what YOU think is best. You will never, EVER keep up with the changing opinions so just do what you feel comfortable doing. Everyone is wrong and everyone is right. Stay in the midddle.

    Yeah, thanks! With my alarmist and all/nothing mentality, things like this set me off track. When I have come across a fork in the road like this before, I just said to hell with it all. This time, I decided that there is no choice and NOTHING will stop me, but I still have this one way mentality. Like, there is only one diet and a diet that isn't extreme enough isn't going to work... I just have to trial and error, finally.
  • looseseal
    looseseal Posts: 216 Member
    Cooked carrots are often helpful in getting things to, er, move.

    Drink half you body weight in water (ounces) everyday.

    Coffee first thing in the morning is also quite, um, effective in getting the plumbing all sorted out.

    If those things fail, perhaps try something like Metamucil.
  • HermosaKas
    HermosaKas Posts: 17 Member
    If you're still having constipation issues, I'd say talk to your doctor. By the way. Just... since... you know, it's the poop that brought up the whole subject.

    LOL, thanks for the laugh... yeah, I somehow decided that leaving that part out would take away from the integrity of the post...
  • DivineChoices
    DivineChoices Posts: 193 Member
    Fiber isn't bad for you, per se, but then again moderation is the key. If you're eating copious amounts of fiber, make sure you're drinking plenty of water.
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  • JoRocka
    JoRocka Posts: 17,525 Member
    dietary fat is often most over looked.

    go to white castle- clear you right up.
  • raindawg
    raindawg Posts: 348 Member
    Here's what I learned. Everything good for you will someday be "proven" bad for you by some study. Everything bad for you will be "proven" good for you someday by some study.

    Everything in moderation, hit your daily calorie goal and live your life. I don't pay attention to the good for you bad for you stuff anymore.
  • Holly_Roman_Empire
    Holly_Roman_Empire Posts: 4,440 Member
    dietary fat is often most over looked.

    go to white castle- clear you right up.

    Exactly. For me it's fried chicken. Whoo!
  • thesaraaah
    thesaraaah Posts: 17 Member
    Well, if you google it, you would be surprised what information comes up. I don't know. A lot of people sing its praises, and the same with the clean "raw vegan" thing...

    http://www.dailymail.co.uk/femail/article-1325453/Everything-thought-knew-food-WRONG.html

    Before joining MFP, I had always thought losing weight was this convoluted process and that you had to be overly strict to get anywhere. You are always going to see new "studies" and opinions pop up about what works to lose weight and what's healthy to consume. With changing opinions its hard to keep up and it becomes overwhelming and it's easy to get lost.


    I've tried the low carb thing, weight watchers, among other things and I felt miserable and couldn't stick with it long enough to get anywhere. On a whim I decided to just try to count calories just to see what might happen. To my surprise after a week of counting calories I actually lost weight. I eat "whatever" I want just as long as I'm getting enough protein (to minimize muscle loss) and don't go over my caloric total for the day.

    Also, I know plenty overweight vegans and vegetarians...
  • UsedToBeHusky
    UsedToBeHusky Posts: 15,228 Member
    Simple... I ignore anyone who tries to tell me that any food product is bad... because honestly, they are just going off anecdote and opinion for the most part.

    Trust science... that means don't believe anything that ends with a web address dotcom.
  • nancy10272004
    nancy10272004 Posts: 277 Member
    Well, if you google it, you would be surprised what information comes up. I don't know. A lot of people sing its praises, and the same with the clean "raw vegan" thing...

    http://www.dailymail.co.uk/femail/article-1325453/Everything-thought-knew-food-WRONG.html

    The Daily Mail is only good for reading about who Prince Harry is dating at the moment. It might be the worst place to get nutrition and medical information I know.

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