What Could be Causing Extreme Bloating?

brandnewlady
brandnewlady Posts: 10
in Food and Nutrition
I recently quit low carb after three weeks of induction (just wasn't for me - didn't feel I was as healthy as when I ate more carbs), but even before that I had a lot of bloat.

Since quitting I've gained back 4 lbs (I'm assuming water weight) then as of Tuesday dropped 2 lbs. So I'm sitting at 143 lbs (5'4). The problem is I look heavier than I did when I reached 150 lbs last month. My stomach is protruding horribly, I look almost 5-6 months pregnant.

The only things I can note I've added to my daily diet since the bloating started would be wheat bread/whole wheat tortillas (low carb on both just for the fiber), lots of cottage cheese (1 cup daily at least), lots of cream cheese, and nuts. I always stay within my calorie limit, and I also drink at least 1 to 2 Liters of water a day.

Also, I can say I've been having a lot more fiber in my diet because I figured it would be good for me to get more fiber. I'm averaging 35 grams and more of fiber for a week or so. Also I'm lactose intolerant... so I'm wondering if that could be the problem? The bloating did start around 4 days prior to me quitting low carb, so I'm considering all the cheese as a problem.
It's just really worrying me that I'm so close to my goal weight yet I look heavier than the day before each morning.

Replies

  • ladymiseryali
    ladymiseryali Posts: 2,555 Member
    How is your sodium intake?
  • nashsheri33
    nashsheri33 Posts: 225 Member
    i have terrible bloating and other unfortunate consequences if i eat dairy...so i use lactose free milk and cottage cheese. also sometimes i use enzyme tablets to help digest lactose from dairy products that i might eat when i'm not at home.

    my nutritionist told me that rice is the only grain that doesn't cause gas. if you've been carb-free for a while, it could be the whole wheat that is giving you a problem. the body produces an enzyme to digest carbs, and if you don't eat carbs, eventually the body stops producing that enzyme. so when you start eating carbs again, your body has to learn to make that enzyme again. it will take time, so it's temporary.

    maybe you could google 'what foods to eat when bloated'. i heard papaya is good for that, for example, but i have not tried it.

    hope you feel better soon.
  • brandnewlady
    brandnewlady Posts: 10
    How is your sodium intake?

    Averaging around 2300 grams. But I do drink plenty of water, which is supposed to reduce the effect of excess sodium right?
  • brandnewlady
    brandnewlady Posts: 10
    i have terrible bloating and other unfortunate consequences if i eat dairy...so i use lactose free milk and cottage cheese. also sometimes i use enzyme tablets to help digest lactose from dairy products that i might eat when i'm not at home.

    my nutritionist told me that rice is the only grain that doesn't cause gas. if you've been carb-free for a while, it could be the whole wheat that is giving you a problem. the body produces an enzyme to digest carbs, and if you don't eat carbs, eventually the body stops producing that enzyme. so when you start eating carbs again, your body has to learn to make that enzyme again. it will take time, so it's temporary.

    maybe you could google 'what foods to eat when bloated'. i heard papaya is good for that, for example, but i have not tried it.

    hope you feel better soon.

    There's lactose free cottage cheese? Please tell me where you found it! :) Would love that...
    I was under 20 grams of carbs for three weeks. I did go buy probiotics but that isn't really helping the bloat.
    And thanks, I will look for those!
  • MoreBean13
    MoreBean13 Posts: 8,701 Member
    1) Sodium- try upping your dietary potassium to balance and reduce bloating
    2) Could be a wheat sensitivity.
    3) If you're using fiber products that contain Inulin/Chicory Root, that causes digestive issues and belly bloating for many people
    4) Could very well be lactose intolerance. Might want to try lactaid pills or lactose-free dairy products.

    I would probably consider taking a course of probiotics right away too.
  • renitawalker9
    renitawalker9 Posts: 108
    A sudden increase in fiber can definitely cause bloating. If you were low carb for a while your fiber decreased as well. Now you've added carbs back in and increased your fiber suddenly instead of gradually (unless I'm reading wrong) and your body has to process all that. Also...food intolerances are linked in some ways. many who are lactose intolerant also find they have a hard time digesting wheat products.
  • kapoorpk
    kapoorpk Posts: 244 Member
    Could be sodium. Ultimately, you should try to reduce it to around 1500 gms a day (as recommended by dietitians). While you take it though, its a good idea to offset it with potassium.

    Also, though, if you are taking too much fiber, you will have a similar reaction. Everyone is different, but generally, anything over 30 gms a day starts getting to be too much.
  • firstsip
    firstsip Posts: 8,399 Member
    As someone who's just gone through various "dietary" tests at the orders of a GI doc...

    Girl, if you're lactose intolerant, that can totally be it. Going off dairy made a surprising difference in my bloating, though I've introduced it slightly (with other changes) and it's not *as* bad.

    The major change has been upping my fiber much more WITH lots of water. Months and months ago, I upped my fiber (not gradually) with just my normal 6-8 cups of water. I was incredibly bloated--I even made a post about it here.

    Gradually upping my fiber (I aim for 25+, but tend to be 15+ on average), with just adding fiber powder to water or coffee in the morning, from 1 tsp gradually up to 1 tbsp with increase water, has made a huge difference for me in terms of bloating, and... uh... bowel movements.
  • mattagascar
    mattagascar Posts: 708 Member
    1CG always makes me bloated
  • geekyjock76
    geekyjock76 Posts: 2,720 Member
    Not farting when you should.
  • Guamybear
    Guamybear Posts: 1,061 Member
    the fiber did it for me. .. I was trying to hit my fiber macro and I actually think it is too much for me.. about 3/4 and I am good..anything more has me bloated and gassy..
  • DontStopB_Leakin
    DontStopB_Leakin Posts: 3,863 Member
    1CG always makes me bloated
    Mexican will do that to ya.
  • firstsip
    firstsip Posts: 8,399 Member
    1CG always makes me bloated

    Get a room.
  • 1ConcreteGirl
    1ConcreteGirl Posts: 3,677 Member
    1CG always makes me bloated

    That's because I forget to wear a condom and keep getting you knocked up. Sorry, babe.
  • SatchGallamax
    SatchGallamax Posts: 549 Member
    Not farting when you should.

    That's always uncomfortable.
  • shorty35565
    shorty35565 Posts: 1,425 Member
    Could be the gluten in the wheat.
  • flatbellybella
    flatbellybella Posts: 303 Member
    honestly most of my time at work I'm bloated. (sucks) I eat a lot of clean fibre rich foods... so you get the idea lol
    I'm also lactose intolerant and my body is super sensitive to certain foods.
  • DonnaLeeCattes
    DonnaLeeCattes Posts: 492 Member
    Not farting when you should.


    oh my...thank you so much...I needed to laugh.....to funny
  • lisainsf
    lisainsf Posts: 2 Member
    It is most likely lactose intolerance it cause bad bloating in me as we'll. just pic up some lactaid pills and take one befor you eat cottage cheese, cream cheese or any other dairy and it will eliminate bloating and gas. If you still have it after trying this then it will take some more trial and error with other items in your diet....but I am pretty sure lactose is your culprit
  • brandnewlady
    brandnewlady Posts: 10
    Wow, thank you all. Great information, gives me options.
    I will just cut out these few things for a week and see how I feel.
    I've actually bloated before from wheat bread and another time from oatmeal (old fashioned oats), but I thought I was simply being paranoid and maybe it was ovulation water weight or something. So now I will have to reconsider that.
  • firstsip
    firstsip Posts: 8,399 Member
    Wow, thank you all. Great information, gives me options.
    I will just cut out these few things for a week and see how I feel.
    I've actually bloated before from wheat bread and another time from oatmeal (old fashioned oats), but I thought I was simply being paranoid and maybe it was ovulation water weight or something. So now I will have to reconsider that.

    You can try gutting it out to see if you have a gluten intolerance (some oats have gluten from cross-contamination), OR, try upping water intake. Really, two weeks of one, followed by two weeks of the other, will give you the best gauge of which may be triggering bloating (if it's either; lactose intolerance can really throw a wrench in there).
  • brandnewlady
    brandnewlady Posts: 10

    You can try gutting it out to see if you have a gluten intolerance (some oats have gluten from cross-contamination), OR, try upping water intake. Really, two weeks of one, followed by two weeks of the other, will give you the best gauge of which may be triggering bloating (if it's either; lactose intolerance can really throw a wrench in there).

    That's a great idea, thank you. lol now I just have to figure out what to eat instead my usual cottage cheese and wheat tortillas.

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