5lb weight gain from constipation -- any fast remedies?!

coffee_fiend
coffee_fiend Posts: 49 Member
in Food and Nutrition
I have been successfully recovering from an eating disorder where I severely restricted. Now that I'm eating a healthy amount ( and trying to put on weight! ), I'm assuming my digestive system has to get used to taking in food again -- which is the reason for my constipation.

My weight has gone up 5 lbs in 5 days, and it's a nuisance because I am trying to gain weight, and this can't be real weight gain! So it's frustrating me as to what to log, how much to be eating, etc. etc. I think I'm going to have to step away from the scale until this passes..

It's been like this for 5 days and I've been eating lots of fiber and drinking lots of water -- still nothing.
I have really bad cramps as a result, and I look pregnant!

So, I suppose I have two questions:
1) I shouldn't log this weight gain until it passes, right? I don't look like I've gained weight and yet -- 5 lbs!
2) What are some effective remedies?? Anyone have experience with this?

Thanks!
«1

Replies

  • AlsDonkBoxSquat
    AlsDonkBoxSquat Posts: 6,128 Member
    dried fruit
    coffee
    or you could take a laxative and don't make any plans


    Don't change your eating away from something more healthy, your body will adjust if you allow it. Don't worry about stepping on the scale until this passes. If you have disordered eating, you shouldn't really be stepping on the scale anyway.

    That is a whole load of **** right there!
  • kowajenn
    kowajenn Posts: 274 Member
    Despite eating plenty of fiber and drinking tons of water, I am always constipated. Exercise helps, but not nearly as much as Miralax does. Talk to your doc and see what he/she has to recommend for you.
  • ewrob
    ewrob Posts: 136 Member
    You could try eating foods that are high in fiber, like avocados or prunes.
  • JustAnotherGirlSuzanne
    JustAnotherGirlSuzanne Posts: 932 Member
    Sweet bell peppers are my secret weapon against constipation. Make yourself a "stuffed pepper" dish.
  • Lemmynade
    Lemmynade Posts: 160 Member
    Overnight Docolax. Works wonders. Expect a wake up about 6 hours in though...
  • judypriv
    judypriv Posts: 206 Member
    I've started juicing one meal a day and I no longer suffer with constipation which had been a burden to me since my oldest was born 7 years ago. The main reason I changed my eating habits was the fear i had from one too many constipation situations and seeing my mom have her colon resectioned this spring after a lifetime of eating poorly and diverticulosis. So have you tried juicing one meal? Oranges? Blueberries or flax seeds?
  • VeganLexi
    VeganLexi Posts: 960 Member
    Prune juice.
  • darkguardian419
    darkguardian419 Posts: 1,302 Member
    buttsecks :happy:
  • pinkledoodledoo
    pinkledoodledoo Posts: 290 Member
    Given your particular circumstances, I would double check with your doctor before trying any home remedies (in case your previous ED could have caused some more complicated issues) but my suggestion would be either stool softener (Dulcolax or similar) or if you're more into natural remedies then any tea with senna (many of the "slimming" teas have it or you can make your own using pretty easily with a tea ball).
  • Tessyloowhoo
    Tessyloowhoo Posts: 504
    over sweeten some herbal tea with fake sweetener... it is known to have a laxative effect
  • stealthq
    stealthq Posts: 4,298 Member
    Part of that weight gain will be from replenishing intramuscular glycogen stores. Part will be from the food you're storing.

    If you're having trouble and drinking lots of water and eating lots of fiber isn't helping, time for a laxative. If the recommended dose of that doesn't work, time to visit a doc and get something stronger.
  • stumblinthrulife
    stumblinthrulife Posts: 2,558 Member
    Make like an accountant - sit down and work it out with a pencil.

    Sorry, couldn't resist.

    Seriously though, the best thing you can do is get medical advice.

    Failing that, try a gentle laxative, like miralax. Start with a cap full dissolved in water/juice every day for a week. Then trail it off, 3/4 cap full a day for a week, 1/2 cap full a day for a week, 1/4 cap full a day a week, then stop. Drink plenty of water during the process.

    Source : this was my my pediatrician's recommendation when my daughter was suffering from chronic constipation causing severe abdominal pain. The problem was solved in about a week and a half, and by tailing off the dosage we avoided 'rebound constipation'. It's about giving your body a bit of extra help to get things moving, then gradually removing the help as your body adjusts to moving stool efficiently again.
  • igotabulletproofheart
    igotabulletproofheart Posts: 104 Member
    1. Don't log it

    2. Yoga!!
    Also:
    - Hot water (like coffee/tea minus the coffe/tea)
    - Extra fiber (my mum and I find having 3+ apples a day helps tremendously!)
    - Jogging/walking fast/exercise
    - Cut down the refined carbs and sugars
  • RobbinRL
    RobbinRL Posts: 76
    I have been successfully recovering from an eating disorder where I severely restricted. Now that I'm eating a healthy amount ( and trying to put on weight! ), I'm assuming my digestive system has to get used to taking in food again -- which is the reason for my constipation.

    My weight has gone up 5 lbs in 5 days, and it's a nuisance because I am trying to gain weight, and this can't be real weight gain! So it's frustrating me as to what to log, how much to be eating, etc. etc. I think I'm going to have to step away from the scale until this passes..

    It's been like this for 5 days and I've been eating lots of fiber and drinking lots of water -- still nothing.
    I have really bad cramps as a result, and I look pregnant!

    So, I suppose I have two questions:
    1) I shouldn't log this weight gain until it passes, right? I don't look like I've gained weight and yet -- 5 lbs!
    2) What are some effective remedies?? Anyone have experience with this?

    Thanks!
    I had some stomach issues and Metamucil (1 tbsp 2 x per day) and a probiotic pill works for me. Makes things go much more normally. With the Metamucil if you choose to try it, begin at 1 x per day for a couple weeks then bump it up to 2 x per day. I now after taking it about 6 months only do it 1 time per day. The probiotic really settled my bloating down from constipation.

    I also do power walking every day and that can assist in your body moving things around and relieving itself also.

    I hope something here works for you, sounds miserable. Don't give up and stay eating healthy things will pay off for you.

    Robbin
  • stealthq
    stealthq Posts: 4,298 Member
    over sweeten some herbal tea with fake sweetener... it is known to have a laxative effect

    Too individual and sweetener dependent. Unless the OP already knows that a particular sweetener causes them a problem, they'd have to experiment.
  • thegilly6
    thegilly6 Posts: 137 Member
    Enema.
  • deksgrl
    deksgrl Posts: 7,237 Member
    Prune Juice. Seriously, does nobody have a grandmother any more?
  • harleygroomer
    harleygroomer Posts: 373 Member
    I have added a lot of fiber to my diet BUT, Walmart has their own brand of a "vegetable laxative" that I take twice week as I don't eat a lot myself. It is non addicting and when I get icky and grumpy--I KNOW IT IS TIME. But that being said, my trainer has added a lot of fiber to my diet. My favs are the fiber one 90 cal bars I use for breakfast or a snack and they make a fiber one 80 cal chocolate cereal that I divide into the 3/4 cup baggies for a snack when I need my chocolate. Not THAT is totally worth it. But I have to check daily at the store when I get low--it has become all the rage HERE.....Keep the faith--it gets better!!
  • MinnieInMaine
    MinnieInMaine Posts: 6,400 Member
    Sweet bell peppers are my secret weapon against constipation. Make yourself a "stuffed pepper" dish.

    Agreed! There are a couple recipes in my favorites group that tend to cause a little extra bathroom time the next morning and both have 3 bell peppers included. Prune juice is a pretty common natural remedy.

    Also, something no one else has mentioned yet, make sure you're not cutting the dietary fat too much. A litle healthy fat is needed to keep these sorts of things in balance. There's a common mindset that fat makes us fat but that's just not true....too many calories makes us fat. So try to make sure you're including healthy oils in your recipes, eat whole eggs, nuts, seeds, or take a supplement like fish oil pills.
  • coffee_fiend
    coffee_fiend Posts: 49 Member
    Whoa! So many responses! Thank you all so much!!
  • gracejr
    gracejr Posts: 21 Member
    If it hasn't been mentioned yet, blueberries. Either fresh or as juice. Works like magic, every time. And doesn't taste nasty or give you cramps.
  • bellesouth18
    bellesouth18 Posts: 1,071 Member
    With a past ED, I'd stay away from laxatives, but a stool softener would definitely help. That's what I use when needed. Take a couple and wait and wait and wait. Just stay near a bathroom.

    Edit: Being totally facetious here, but since I've been struggling with the opposite problem for over a week, may I suggest finding someone with a raging case of diarrhea and drink after them. Problem solved. :drinker:
  • captndalton
    captndalton Posts: 53 Member
    how 'bout fasting until this issue resolves. I'm sure it hurts and it's probably dangerous. There are a lot of fine remedies listed, but I'd be weary of adding to the back of the problem. Coffee and walking are my best recommends, outside of waiting to eat.
  • 257_Lag
    257_Lag Posts: 1,249 Member
    If your diet has been low on fat, add some! Works wonders for me. Enjoy a full fat burger.
  • jhalton
    jhalton Posts: 85
    A healthy way to get your bowels moving is the combination of buffered vitamin C ( I prefer powder form) and magnesium citrate. Play with the amounts until you get it right. If you get diarrhea, reduce dose, etc. You can order from places like Lucky Vitamin and Vitacost. Msg me if you need more advise. I used to suffer from chronic constipation until my naturopath recommended these supplements.

    Good luck!
  • weezbagy
    weezbagy Posts: 40 Member
    Warm prune juice. Tastes like liquid Satan, works like a charm.
  • stumblinthrulife
    stumblinthrulife Posts: 2,558 Member
    how 'bout fasting until this issue resolves. I'm sure it hurts and it's probably dangerous. There are a lot of fine remedies listed, but I'd be weary of adding to the back of the problem. Coffee and walking are my best recommends, outside of waiting to eat.

    I cannot believe that anyone would suggest fasting to someone recovering from an eating disorder. That is honestly some of the most irresponsible advice I have ever read on MFP.
  • eylia
    eylia Posts: 200 Member
    Dried prunes also, to snack on. And I believe most fruit helps loosen things up, just as fruit juice can.
  • soupandcookies
    soupandcookies Posts: 212 Member
    how 'bout fasting until this issue resolves. I'm sure it hurts and it's probably dangerous. There are a lot of fine remedies listed, but I'd be weary of adding to the back of the problem. Coffee and walking are my best recommends, outside of waiting to eat.

    I cannot believe that anyone would suggest fasting to someone recovering from an eating disorder. That is honestly some of the most irresponsible advice I have ever read on MFP.

    Ugh. Totally agree. I was about to post the same thing.

    It may take some time, but your body will adjust soon. My understanding is that people with eating disorders very often have IBS. I obviously have no idea if that's your issue, but your symptoms are not unusual. Take it easy on yourself, and continue to refeed. You are doing all the right things. Recovery is a beautiful thing!

    I deal with IBS myself, and the only thing that works for me, is Milk of Magnesia. My GI doctor told me I can take it every day, for life, if I need to. If I don't take it, I can suffer for many days in a row.

    I'm sure someone mentioned this, but remember your healthy fats (nuts,oils,etc.). Sometimes lack of fat can have a constipating effect.

    Good luck, and super kudos to you, for working on getting healthy!
  • jayrudq
    jayrudq Posts: 475 Member
    As a chronic sufferer, Magnesium supplements changed my life. It is a safe and effective supplement and most of us can use the extra magnesium and it works wonders. It is also cheap. Vitamin C works much the same way, but requires higher doses. I take a 400mg cap of Magnesium Oxide twice a day and NEVER have problems. Seriously, this is a really safe and sustainable way to deal with constipation.

Categories