Stomach pain.... digestion issues

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Replies

  • Melizabeth84
    Melizabeth84 Posts: 128 Member
    meg....I was doing 1200 for a long time, and I had trouble eating enough too. Try adding more high calorie foods which will help you reach a more healthy caloric intake. 1200 is too low for just about anymore. I can eat an avocado, but a enormous salad worth the same about of calories? Not so much. Peanut butter (or I prefer Sun butter)....those kinds of things will get you into a normal range of at least 1400-1500 calories. I went up to 1600 tonight because my weight loss is slowing down. That always my cue that I'm not eating enough. It's still well below my TDEE. Plus, once your body has enough to process, the constipation won't be so much of an issue, either.
  • Melizabeth84
    Melizabeth84 Posts: 128 Member
    In order to loose the ten lbs I want to myfitnesspal recommended I eat 1200 cals a day.
    meg....I was doing 1200 for a long time, and I had trouble eating enough too. Try adding more high calorie foods which will help you reach a more healthy caloric intake. 1200 is too low for just about anymore. I can eat an avocado, but a enormous salad worth the same about of calories? Not so much. Peanut butter (or I prefer Sun butter)....those kinds of things will get you into a normal range of at least 1400-1500 calories. I went up to 1600 tonight because my weight loss is slowing down. That always my cue that I'm not eating enough. It's still well below my TDEE. Plus, once your body has enough to process, the constipation won't be so much of an issue, either.
  • AdaMapes92
    AdaMapes92 Posts: 1 Member
    I had my gallbladder removed about 2 years ago and had the same problems when I changed my diet. Fat is essential to your digestive system. If you're not taking in enough fat you will become constipated and bloat because your intestines can't move anything without the lubrication. Drink plenty of water and eat slightly more fat. Extra fiber wouldn't hurt. I started taking a probiotic from Melaleuca and its helped out tremendously.
  • JoanB5
    JoanB5 Posts: 610 Member
    The powdered fiber you add to drinks that is flavorless and sugarless is good. It also has the benefit of making you feel more full. I like Benefiber. It tends to work slowly, but effectively.
  • annepage
    annepage Posts: 585 Member
    Not a substitute for medical advice, but...

    What kind of high fiber foods are you incorporating into your diet? Maybe you could change them up and lower the amounts a bit? Or maybe try foods that are not known to cause as much gas? Not sure what you're eating, but maybe less beans, cabbage, cauliflower, peppers and incorporating more things like lettuce (different varieties) and other greens? Be careful with things like Citrucel because they can also cause bad cramping, but it depends on your system.
  • ndj1979
    ndj1979 Posts: 29,136 Member
    yea...see a dr...
  • misssiri
    misssiri Posts: 335 Member
    I had my gallbladder removed about 2 years ago and had the same problems when I changed my diet. Fat is essential to your digestive system. If you're not taking in enough fat you will become constipated and bloat because your intestines can't move anything without the lubrication. Drink plenty of water and eat slightly more fat. Extra fiber wouldn't hurt. I started taking a probiotic from Melaleuca and its helped out tremendously.

    This right here except you don't need to keep fat down at all. Eat a lot more fat. I promise dietary fat doesn't make one fat. Eat olive oil, nuts, nut butter, avocado, coconut oil, butter, full fat dairy, etc. If you are limiting your carbs, you need the fat. A lot of it.
  • Willowana
    Willowana Posts: 493 Member
    You, like the rest of us, probably selected that you wanted to lose 2lbs. per week and you had a somewhat sedentary lifestyle. Those kinds of choices put ALL of us at 1200 calories. Truth is, I lost some weight and then it totally stopped. I recommend you haunt these forums. There's a ton of people that stop losing weight at 1200. If it's working for you right now, then that's cool. But, it's not something you can stay at for a very long time. It's not realistic, healthy, or feasible for the long term. I see plenty of skinny, short, petite little girls running around here pounding down 1800-2000 calories a day. Do what works for you, but you will find 80-90% of the people here will tell you 1200 isn't good for you or your weightloss goals. If you have any weight to lose, then you were easily eating over 2000 calories before coming here, so you can certainly go up without sacrificing.

    When I was at Weight Watchers, I was losing about 4 lbs. per week. MFP....I've been averaging a pound here and there. When I calculated my WW points, they had me at about 1700 calories. So, I bumped up to 1600 tonight. If the weight comes off more quickly, I'll probably bump to 1700 and see how that does. :wink:
  • Hakarn
    Hakarn Posts: 62 Member
    I had my gallbladder removed about 2 years ago and had the same problems when I changed my diet. Fat is essential to your digestive system. If you're not taking in enough fat you will become constipated and bloat because your intestines can't move anything without the lubrication. Drink plenty of water and eat slightly more fat. Extra fiber wouldn't hurt. I started taking a probiotic from Melaleuca and its helped out tremendously.

    This right here except you don't need to keep fat down at all. Eat a lot more fat. I promise dietary fat doesn't make one fat. Eat olive oil, nuts, nut butter, avocado, coconut oil, butter, full fat dairy, etc. If you are limiting your carbs, you need the fat. A lot of it.

    I don't know if you have whey protein, but some people cannot process it (similar effects as lactose intolerance). Also, I agree with having some olive oil. Even a teaspoon a day would probably do you wonders.
  • courtwhitear
    courtwhitear Posts: 23 Member
    A GREAT book about diet and digestion. Called "You Are What You Eat". It's probably the way you're eating that is making you gassy and constipated. If you don't have enough fiber in your diet, or enough nutrients in general, a low carb diet is going to play bad games with your belly. Low carb diets are not healthy. They might work, but they aren't healthy. A clean diet consisting of whole grains, raw and lightly cooked veggies, fruits and some lean meats is best. Seriously, read this book. It is a game changer!
  • Bettyeditor
    Bettyeditor Posts: 327 Member
    Yes, and that BOGUS 1,200 calorie recommendation by MFP is the cause of so much grief and problems on here....

    Please know that eating that little will cause you nothing but problems and get you nowhere near your goals.

    Also be aware that MFP's other defaults are BOGUS too, such as for Sat. Fat and Fiber, etc. A normal fiber level is going to be around at least 25 grams. I average between 30-45 grams of fiber a day (from my food, not a fiber supplement).
    In order to loose the ten lbs I want to myfitnesspal recommended I eat 1200 cals a day.
  • katevarner
    katevarner Posts: 884 Member
    with 10 cups water
    Here is an example of my daily dairy : According to my fitness pal I eat under 1200 cal (i try to eat that but i can never reach it) fat 22g sat fat 6g fiber 16 g protein 72 carbs 121g
    High protein diet is doing the same thing to me too, and I usually average more than the recommended fiber....but I've realized that I need good fats in there too. I try to get at least half if not whole tbsp. of olive oil in there somewhere. That has helped a lot. Going to try adding even more fiber to my diet (slowly).
    16 g of fiber is NOT high fiber. Even on 1200 calories. I think 1200 is too low, too, but if it's working for you and you want to stay there, up your fiber to at least 24 g per day and eat some more healthy fats--not a spoon of olive oil, but nuts or avocado so you get some fiber and extra calories, too. And for the record, 72 g of protein isn't high protein either. Unless you weigh 72 lbs. I weigh 110 and I eat at least 1g of protein per pound per day, and I'm usually only at about 25%. You are using MFP's suggested percentages is my guess, and they are incredibly low for fat and protein. Change them to 30f/30p/40c and feel free to go over on protein and healthy fats. Oh, and eat more fiber.

    For the record, your numbers don't add up to 1200 calories (you said you aren't eating that much, right?). They add up to less than 1000. Eat more. And if you don't want to take any of the diet advice here, get some Magnesium Citrate. It will clear up your constipation.
  • Thedij
    Thedij Posts: 29 Member
    Add a 1/2 to 1 tablespoon of flax seed to your salads & it should help with your constipation.
  • Melizabeth84
    Melizabeth84 Posts: 128 Member
    could you give me an example of your daily nutrition dairy? I am 117 at 5"4' . I would like to get to 110 but healthily. I have been trying to educate myself on the internet but I haven't found any good info. Do you know of any good books? I eat a lot of veggies (hence the issues I am having. How many calories do you have a day?
    with 10 cups water
    Here is an example of my daily dairy : According to my fitness pal I eat under 1200 cal (i try to eat that but i can never reach it) fat 22g sat fat 6g fiber 16 g protein 72 carbs 121g
    High protein diet is doing the same thing to me too, and I usually average more than the recommended fiber....but I've realized that I need good fats in there too. I try to get at least half if not whole tbsp. of olive oil in there somewhere. That has helped a lot. Going to try adding even more fiber to my diet (slowly).
    16 g of fiber is NOT high fiber. Even on 1200 calories. I think 1200 is too low, too, but if it's working for you and you want to stay there, up your fiber to at least 24 g per day and eat some more healthy fats--not a spoon of olive oil, but nuts or avocado so you get some fiber and extra calories, too. And for the record, 72 g of protein isn't high protein either. Unless you weigh 72 lbs. I weigh 110 and I eat at least 1g of protein per pound per day, and I'm usually only at about 25%. You are using MFP's suggested percentages is my guess, and they are incredibly low for fat and protein. Change them to 30f/30p/40c and feel free to go over on protein and healthy fats. Oh, and eat more fiber.

    For the record, your numbers don't add up to 1200 calories (you said you aren't eating that much, right?). They add up to less than 1000. Eat more. And if you don't want to take any of the diet advice here, get some Magnesium Citrate. It will clear up your constipation.
  • Melizabeth84
    Melizabeth84 Posts: 128 Member
    I took milk of magnesia, is that the same thing? if so it didnt work....
    could you give me an example of your daily nutrition dairy? I am 117 at 5"4' . I would like to get to 110 but healthily. I have been trying to educate myself on the internet but I haven't found any good info. Do you know of any good books? I eat a lot of veggies (hence the issues I am having. How many calories do you have a day?
    with 10 cups water
    Here is an example of my daily dairy : According to my fitness pal I eat under 1200 cal (i try to eat that but i can never reach it) fat 22g sat fat 6g fiber 16 g protein 72 carbs 121g
    High protein diet is doing the same thing to me too, and I usually average more than the recommended fiber....but I've realized that I need good fats in there too. I try to get at least half if not whole tbsp. of olive oil in there somewhere. That has helped a lot. Going to try adding even more fiber to my diet (slowly).
    16 g of fiber is NOT high fiber. Even on 1200 calories. I think 1200 is too low, too, but if it's working for you and you want to stay there, up your fiber to at least 24 g per day and eat some more healthy fats--not a spoon of olive oil, but nuts or avocado so you get some fiber and extra calories, too. And for the record, 72 g of protein isn't high protein either. Unless you weigh 72 lbs. I weigh 110 and I eat at least 1g of protein per pound per day, and I'm usually only at about 25%. You are using MFP's suggested percentages is my guess, and they are incredibly low for fat and protein. Change them to 30f/30p/40c and feel free to go over on protein and healthy fats. Oh, and eat more fiber.

    For the record, your numbers don't add up to 1200 calories (you said you aren't eating that much, right?). They add up to less than 1000. Eat more. And if you don't want to take any of the diet advice here, get some Magnesium Citrate. It will clear up your constipation.
  • JoanB5
    JoanB5 Posts: 610 Member
    One other thought: if you are having gastric pain, often starting prevacid, or a generic counterpart and staying on it for several weeks is helpful. It reduces extra acid buildup in the stomach. I wonder if a stomach is used to a different diet, or real food, you may have a buildup of gastric juice with nothing to do but eat your stomach lining. ICK. I doubt it can hurt, but you could always run it by your Dr. It's OTC.
  • Marshie13
    Marshie13 Posts: 7
    robiotic will take a few days and some people are very sensitive to it and cannot take it. How many units are you taking? Make sure it is active and that it does not disolve until it enters your digestive tract. I take 20 Billion a day. Keeps me regular. Try warm heat and intestinal massage...good luck. that sucks!
  • Marshie13
    Marshie13 Posts: 7
    lol....love the green
  • onezeronine
    onezeronine Posts: 37 Member
    If you've gone from eating a large volume of food in a day to <1000 calories (which is a much smaller volume of food), your guts might be still getting used to pushing it through efficiently. Get more fibre and fat. You're good for fluids, I bet.

    Another thing you can do is increase your physical activity - I don't mean work out super intensely for a short period of time, but make sure you're up and moving around (ie. walking) especially if you have a sedentary job.
  • JoanB5
    JoanB5 Posts: 610 Member
    ...could you give me an example of your daily nutrition dairy? I am 117 at 5"4' ....
    [/quote]

    So, here's the thing: a 5'4" inch, 117 pound female person MAINTAINS at netting 1600 calories a day or so. If she NETTED that every day, she'd not lose. She can exercise and eat back to get to those calories. For her to get from the top of her "healthy" range to perhaps a more fit range, it's recommended to cut 500 cals per day to achieve 1 pound of weight loss per week, a healthy amount. As she can only drop to 1200 and be healthy, that means cutting only 400 per day rather than the normal dieter's 500. This is not extreme dieting for her size in terms of calories. For her size, it amounts to an expected weight loss of .4 per week, on a good week. That's less than .8 per month.

    Not many would be motivated enough to pursue it for the cost. One rule does not apply to all of us equally because we are sized so differently to begin with. We are fueling smaller machines. I wonder how many people would want to get down to a size 4, or 110 range if they knew they could only net 1400-1600 calories for the rest of their lives if they wanted to stay there?
  • tenajh
    tenajh Posts: 208 Member
    Natural Calm, best magnesium supplement according to my dietician, my chiropractor and my family medical doctor. Research this product for all the benefits, there are many, it is pricy, around $45 per month when used daily. but that is only a dollar plus change per day for all the benefits and a healthy happy digestive system. For probiotics look for Eco fermented coconut water. For an excellent book on the gut read Gut and Psychology Syndrome. Talks about the GAP diet. Extremely informative and will go over all the issues you and others have raised. I do not follow it to a T, but there is a lot of research and plain medical facts that make understanding your diet obtainable. Good Luck!

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