10 days in 1 bowel movement

Petskies101

Hi everyone this is kind of embarrassing to ask but I changed my diet majorly 10 days ago I have gone from a high fat hi carb diet to lots of fresh fruit heaps of veggies and lean meats.. this 360 change in my diet has seen me drop 9.9lbs in 10 days, however I have only had one bowel movement... Is this common. I don't feel constipated and bloated at all but a little concerned. I have in total about 95lbs to loose...

chevy88grl

I had major digestive issues when I first started. I went from eating crap all the time to eating food that was good for me - it took me quite awhile to adjust (and I still have issues occasionally). I think it is normal. Make sure you're getting enough water. When you eat junk food there's more "waste" than if you're eating whole, healthy, nutritious foods (it was how my doctor explained it to me when I called and was worried).

taunto

Disclaimer: Not a medical professional, this is just a personal opinion

No, this isnt normal. When I go on heavy fruits and veggies diet, I have more regular BM rather than fewer...Not sure what your situation is but you may wanna talk to a doctor or something at this point

Dahllywood

10 lbs in 10 days is not healthy, and neither is 1 bowel movement in that time period. Are you eating enough? I might recommend seeing a doctor

BaconMD

Wow. Be sure to weigh in after the next one!

Petskies101

I am eating 3 meals a day plus snacks, averaging about 1300 calories a day.. and when I say a complete 360 I mean it

BaconMD

I am eating 3 meals a day plus snacks, averaging about 1300 calories a day.. and when I say a complete 360 I mean it

I think when you say 360 you probably mean 180.

SusanMcAvoy

I was having the same problem. A friend suggested I use Benefiber and it works real well. I haven't had the problem since I started using it. Good luck.

taunto

if you JUST recently started watching what you eat and woring out then for the first week or so big weight loss is fine and normal however the 1 BM in 10 days is definitely not normal

Tempe729

Disclaimer: Not a medical professional, this is just a personal opinion

No, this isnt normal. When I go on heavy fruits and veggies diet, I have more regular BM rather than fewer...Not sure what your situation is but you may wanna talk to a doctor or something at this point

Same here. I did a similar major change in my diet and have had more regular BM... I would talk to your doctor. & 10lbs in 10days is a bit unhealthey and high too =/

Petskies101

yes 180 is what I mean, Sorry it was a long night with 2 young kids refusing to sleep... I should also add that I know the weight loss thus far is a lot and I do not expect to maintain that kind of weight loss I think my body is in shock...

trinitrate

It can take a while to adjust... If you're taking in a lot more meat than you used to, you need to make sure to balance that well with a ton of salad veggies and lots of water. When I started low-carbing I had a similar cycle, and even began describing gas as 'atkins farts' because of the effect of having to wait too long...

If your going ten days, colace for a couple days (sp?) is a pretty gentle way to induce the needed body response. If you're needing to continue doing that, I would see a Dr. or look for something else causing the issue in your diet.

(My opinion only)

TheFunBun

Just make sure you're drinking enough water. A lot of people find when they increase their fiber they get constipated since there's all that bulk and they're not drinking enough water to push it through easily. At least that's what my nurse husband just told me when I was like, "10 days no sh-- bowel movement"

led6777

This is counterintuitive, because as a previous poster mentioned it is more common to have the opposite problem when you start introducing lots of fibrous fruits and vegetables into your diet. That said, you really need to take a #2... 10 days is a long time. I recommend trying a NATURAL supplement or laxative tea before trying stronger OTC meds. Give it time, don't stress, drink a ton of water, and PUSH! LOL

mrschappet

seems odd to me if you are consuming lots of fresh fruit you should have very regular BM's

AmberFaith90

Hmmm, that's odd. I went from eating no-fruits and little veggies to eating bunches of both. I went from requiring laxatives in order to have a BM to having 1-2 BMs a day in a matter of 1-2 days of starting eating clean.

chevy88grl

seems odd to me if you are consuming lots of fresh fruit you should have very regular BM's

I am an odd one in that fruits and veggies don't seem to get me moving. When I eat them it actually backs things up for me. Weird, I know - but it has always been like that for me. The more fruits, veggies, salad I would eat - the worse it would get. *shrug*

My doctor explained it as sometimes when we're eating a lot of things that are good for us and not a lot of junk, our bodies simply don't have the same amount of waste as it does when consuming "junk" foods. I find drinking enough water helps me the most.

kaitimae

10 days, yikes! Last October, I was in so much pain from 5 days that I went to the Urgent Care and got a prescription to help move things along. I can't imagine 10 days!

Sounds like people have made some good suggestions. Do make sure you are drinking a ton of water. Try some home remedies - prune juice, OTC meds - there are lots of things you can get at your grocery store. But truthfully, I'd try to get in a see your doctor. Or at least call and talk to them. Better safe than sorry. If you start feeling sick or throwing up, definitely go in right away.

Also, as far as 10 pounds go, no that is not normal if you are in the middle of the process. However, if you are just starting out and haven't done this before - it's likely mostly water weight.

kcthatsme

Try eating 7 - 10 dehydrated apricots. I've read about them on MFP before, for this same problem. Good luck!

ElPumaMex

Hi everyone this is kind of embarrassing to ask but I changed my diet majorly 10 days ago I have gone from a high fat hi carb diet to lots of fresh fruit heaps of veggies and lean meats.. this 360 change in my diet has seen me drop 9.9lbs in 10 days, however I have only had one bowel movement... Is this common. I don't feel constipated and bloated at all but a little concerned. I have in total about 95lbs to loose...

Would be great if you share your Food Diary.

Something doesn't add up.

Here is why:
a) You were on a "high fat hi carb diet", and now are on "lots of fresh fruits, veggies and lean meats"
The fruits are high in carbs, so if you eat a lot of them you will be also high in carbs.
If that is the case, then what you did is reduce fat and increased protein (that may explain constipation).
Could you share your diary?

b) As another poster said, with more fruits and veggies you should have loads of fiber, that should help your digestion.
So it is not normal to have 1 bowel movement in 10 days !

c) weight reduction: I would not be concerned. If you really went low in carbs, what is happening can be explained:
http://www.justinowings.com/understanding-bodyweight-and-glycogen-de/

hornedone

increase your water and possibly healthy fats (olive oil).
good luck!!!!

MOS3

I would recommend pleny of water, fiber (all bran of porrige oats) keep moving - brisk walking or running and flaxseed (2 table spoons with your breakfast cereal. Also prunes - as they are a natural laxative.

Petskies101

Ok not totally comfortable with sharing my food dairy, however this is what I have eaten today I am yet to eat dinner which will be chicken breast and salad with sauteed mushrooms and onion. I think I need to increase my water intake..

Great Value - Raw Sugar, 1 tsp 15 4 0 0 0 0 I
Miricle - Cholesterol Free Spread, 10 g 49 0 6 0 36 0
Kraft - Vegimite, 10 g 20 0 0 3 348 0
Dairy Farmers - New Milk (2% Fat), 20 ml 10 1 0 1 9 0
Dilmah - Premium Ceylon, 2 g (1 bag) 0 0 0 0 0 0
Gold Max - Soft Grain, 2 slices (60g) 159 29 2 5 240 2
Add Food
Quick Tools
253 34 8 9 633 2
Lunch
Salad - Baby Mixed Greens, 2 cups 10 2 0 1 43 1
Tomatoes - Red, ripe, raw, year round average, 1 small whole (2-2/5" dia) 16 4 0 1 5 1
Cucumber - With peel, raw, 0.5 cup slices 8 2 0 0 1 0 Ico_delete
Generic - Pumpkin, Average All Types, Flesh Only, No Fat, Baked, 101 g (1piece=g) 47 8 1 3 1 2
Generic - Soft Boiled Egg, 1.5 egg 105 2 8 9 98 0
Carrots - Raw, 0.25 small (5-1/2" long) 5 1 0 0 9 0
Kraft - Fat Free French Salad Dressing, 0.5 Tbsp 11 3 0 0 73 0
Add Food
Quick Tools
202 22 9 14 230 4
Dinner
Add Food
Quick Tools

Snacks
Yoplait Orginial 99% Fat Free - French Vanilla Yogurt, 0.5 container (6 oz) 85 17 1 3 43 0
Iga - Traditional Hot Cross Bun, 1.5 bun 356 0 0 0 0 0
Real Foods - Corn Thins: Original, 4 slices (12g) 92 17 1 2 62 2
Dilmah - Premium Ceylon, 2 g (1 bag) 0 0 0 0 0 0
Great Value - Raw Sugar, 1 tsp 15 4 0 0 0 0
Dairy Farmers - New Milk (2% Fat), 20 ml 10 1 0 1 9 0
Oranges - Raw, navels, 0.75 fruit (2-7/8" dia) 51 13 0 1 1 2
Apples - Raw, with skin, 1 small (2-1/2" dia) (approx 4 per lb) 55 15 0 0 1 3
Add Food
Quick Tools
664 67 2 7 116 7

Totals 1,119 123 19 30 979 13
Your Daily Goal 2,063 283 68 77 2,500 24
Remaining 944 160 49 47 1,521 11
Calories Carbs Fat Protein Sodium Fiber
*You've earned 413 extra calories from exercise today

guamSUPERgirl90

I have lost about 10lbs since i started, which was less than 2 weeks. I too did a 180 change from fatty foofoo to healthy hobo. I did consult my doctor and all he mentioned was that I didn't give my body time to adjust to my new lifestyle. I dont mean to scare you, but then again it all depends on your diet, I went a week ,too, without a bowel movement and then just a couple days ago, if you read my previous posts, I have had really bad piles. So just becareful of what you eat. To help regulate, I usually have oatmeal and fruit in the morning, i try to incorporate beans and more vegies, then I have water based soup in the evening. If that still doesn't make you go, try some warm milk in the morning or like my fellow mfp's replied to my issue, metamucil (great fiber).

*Just an FYI, although I feel like I did have something similar to your issue, we both are different people and can react differently. So what everyone else says, consult your doc first.

I HOPE ALL GOES WELL!

ps: if u need a friend, i check in daily and love to support!

Beezil

Enema!

meshashesha2012

i think you need to give your body a bit of time to get used to the dietary change. also make sure you're drinking enough water and other liquids as others have suggested. also probiotics might be helpful

i think eventually you may find with your new diet that you'll be going almost as many times as you eat meals. stock up on TP :laugh:

guamSUPERgirl90

i think you need to give your body a bit of time to get used to the dietary change. also make sure you're drinking enough water and other liquids as others have suggested. also probiotics might be helpful

i think eventually you may find with your new diet that you'll be going almost as many times as you eat meals. stock up on TP :laugh:

LOL! yes, Now that Im a regular at the john, toilet paper has moved up to the priority list.

myxjourneyxtoxhappiness

Don't be embarrassed. I usually have a BM just once in 2 weeks. =/

Evelyn_Gorfram

First - Congratulations!!! :flowerforyou:
Good on you for taking this challenge on and making these changes! What a wonderful thing you're doing for yourself! It's hellacious hard work; but so, so worth it! Three cheers for you!!! :happy: :flowerforyou:

Losing 10 lbs in a week is pefectly normal *if* you have a hundred or so pounds to lose *and* it's your very first week of dieting after a drastic change from decidedly unhealthy eating habits. Which you do and it is, so no worries* there.

(*Lose 10 lbs again *next* week, maybe some worries. Lose 10 lb again the week after that, and it'd definitely be time for a few worries.)

Okay, I have no idea what's going on with your bowel, and think you should put in call to your doctor so he or she can decide whether it's worth worrying about. (As someone with more a hundred lb to lose, I worry sometimes that if I had a smallish intestinal swelling or something that would be easily apparent on someone of normal weight, I might not even notice because there's, er, so much of me in the way. :huh: Note that this is *NOT* a medical opinion, just my own personal fat-person's mental maunderings.)

If you're not drinking about 2 liters of water a day, doing so can help a lot of things. And oatmeal for breakfast has never yet failed me in the "moving things along" dept.

Speaking of which, I don't think you mentioned whether you'd been exercising. If not, and if you're up for a gentle 15-20 minute walk, that could also help get things moving.

Totals 1,119 123 19 30 979 13
Your Daily Goal 2,063 283 68 77 2,500 24
Remaining 944 160 49 47 1,521 11
Calories Carbs Fat Protein Sodium Fiber

IMHO, food-wise, you seem to be doing very well overall.

I hope you'll forgive me for going all math-geek over the food diary info you were brave enough to share. Since you hadn't eaten dinner yet, I'm guessing that you were probably 60 to 70% of the way through your food day. I've compared that to how far you were from your daily goals.

(Note: I'm a math geek, but not a nutritionist. The following opinions are just that - my personal opinions. Your Mileage - and that of everyone else on this message board :ohwell: - May Vary.)

Calories: 54% :happy:
So if you ate another 35% worth of your daily calorie goal at dinner (722 cal), you'd be at 89% of your calorie goal. Pretty darned good.

Carbs: 67%
Another 35% of your daily carb goal (99 g) would put you at 102%. Over, but only just barely. Pretty good.

Fat: 28% :huh:
Another 35% worth of your daily fat goal (24 cal) would be only 63%, or 43 grams. That's probably okay, but - in addition to there being a maximum amount of fat that our bodies can use or even process - there is a minimum amount of fat that our bodies absolutely need. For me, it's about 45 g/day, so I'd just be barely getting by on that amount. YM - and your fat - MV.

Protein: 39% :huh:
Another 35% worth of your daily protein goal (27 cal) would bring you to just 75% (58 gm). The way I understand this, minimum daily protein consumption for women should be at least 0.8 g per kg of goal weight. For me at a GW of 169 lb (77 kg), that's 61 grams, so I'd be getting just a little less than enough.

(I'm skipping the sodium, but you seemed to be doing fine with that. )

Fiber: 34% :indifferent:
If you got another 35% worth of your daily fiber goal at dinner (9 g), that'd only get you to 69%, or 16 g. That could be a big part of the "no No. 2" problem. Oatmeal, with raisins for additional fiber fortitude, is my remedy of choice; but you might also consider a fiber supplement like Metamucil.

Anyway, my humble two cent's worth. Hope this helps.

tabulator32

I recommend sipping a large bottle of mineral water throughout the day and, if you haven't had the urge for a BM by the end of the bottle, try a double espresso or a good cup of coffee. And, of course, a good brisk walk around the block.

The mineral water is great for getting things moving and a little jolt of caffeine can sometimes makes difference, too!

My wife and I have both used this process on various occasions.

Hope it helps!

zeeeb

i got a similar thing when i first started. when i was eating loads, my bowel movements were very regular. then when i stopped eating so much, it slowed it down. so i started eating a few dried prunes every day (3-4). that was enough to get things moving.

i also have the occasional glass of benefiber when i feel like i need a bit of a shake up.