Pooping query
birdcurves
Posts: 16
Hi all,
Sorry for the TMI question and shock-factor subject line, but it is what it is. Girl's gotta poop somehow.
Background about me:
- 5'5'
- 118lbs trying to lose about 8 lbs completely for vanity's sake
- consuming about 1000cals/day which I know you will all tell me is too low but I have 1600/cal Saturday cheat days (I'm following the Cheat Your Way Thin plan, knock it if you want but that's not really what I'm asking about, is it...?)
- exercise 1-2 times a week, mix of cardio and strength training. I can't exercise too much though because I build muscle VERY quickly and end up looking more masculine than I strictly like for my own body.
- I am Gluten Intolerant
So as part of the CYWT plan I am doing a low-carb diet the first 4 days of the week and obviously as a result am getting less fiber than usual.
In an attempt to balance this I have replaced my usual egg or yogurt based breakfast with an organic protein shake (amazing meal, chocolate infusion) that has protein and fiber in it and I eat two fiber gummies a day.
Lunch is usually a salad with chicken or tuna and a lot of veggies and dinner is usually grilled chicken or salmon with a lots of steamed veggies. So, basically a lot of lean protein and veg is what I eat for four days and then I do two days where I add in things like bananas, granola, quinoa, rice, gluten-free bread. Then my cheat day where I eat nachos and ice cream and whatever else I want and then back to low-carb the next day.
This is working for me pretty well in terms of eating healthy for the better part of the week, however I find I spend most of the week totally bloated and basically not pooping much at all. (Coffee doesn't help unfortunately) As a result I'm not losing any weight which is obviously very frustrating.
Is there anything you guys can recommend that will allow me to continue my low-carb thing but still be getting enough fiber to squeeze something out once or twice a day? I feel like I'm losing my mind over here. Metamucil? Anything? Help.
Thanks so much!
Laura
Sorry for the TMI question and shock-factor subject line, but it is what it is. Girl's gotta poop somehow.
Background about me:
- 5'5'
- 118lbs trying to lose about 8 lbs completely for vanity's sake
- consuming about 1000cals/day which I know you will all tell me is too low but I have 1600/cal Saturday cheat days (I'm following the Cheat Your Way Thin plan, knock it if you want but that's not really what I'm asking about, is it...?)
- exercise 1-2 times a week, mix of cardio and strength training. I can't exercise too much though because I build muscle VERY quickly and end up looking more masculine than I strictly like for my own body.
- I am Gluten Intolerant
So as part of the CYWT plan I am doing a low-carb diet the first 4 days of the week and obviously as a result am getting less fiber than usual.
In an attempt to balance this I have replaced my usual egg or yogurt based breakfast with an organic protein shake (amazing meal, chocolate infusion) that has protein and fiber in it and I eat two fiber gummies a day.
Lunch is usually a salad with chicken or tuna and a lot of veggies and dinner is usually grilled chicken or salmon with a lots of steamed veggies. So, basically a lot of lean protein and veg is what I eat for four days and then I do two days where I add in things like bananas, granola, quinoa, rice, gluten-free bread. Then my cheat day where I eat nachos and ice cream and whatever else I want and then back to low-carb the next day.
This is working for me pretty well in terms of eating healthy for the better part of the week, however I find I spend most of the week totally bloated and basically not pooping much at all. (Coffee doesn't help unfortunately) As a result I'm not losing any weight which is obviously very frustrating.
Is there anything you guys can recommend that will allow me to continue my low-carb thing but still be getting enough fiber to squeeze something out once or twice a day? I feel like I'm losing my mind over here. Metamucil? Anything? Help.
Thanks so much!
Laura
0
Replies
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Why the hell are you trying to lose weight your bmi is already at the low end of healthy. Eat normally and concentrate on your fitness. If you're worried about your look. Find out what fitness or resistance training will help you achieve that all losing much more weight will do is make you ill. If you eat normally you'll probably find you go to the toilet more as well.0
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OK, to not be one of the tons that will tell you about your diet being harsh and unrealistic (which you obv, know anyways) I will ask how much water are you drinking? I know when I was told by doc to up fibre temporarily by using supplement like those gummies or shakes he warned me to drink as much water as humanly possible, fibre helps with digestion sure but it can also plug you up if you don't hydrate properly, I'm talking at least 10-14 cups to compensate.0
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Hi,
Thanks for replying.
It's a vanity thing, honestly. I lost a lot of weight in an extremely unhealthy way a few months ago (it was completely unintentional weight loss - depression related) and it was a very dark time emotionally for me but the ONE good thing about that dark place was that I was very happy looking in the mirror for the first time in my life. I would like to get back to that feeling but through healthier means. I did it the first time by basically eating nothing and sleeping all the time. I love food way too much to eat nothing, but I figure I can afford to eat healthier and hopefully still regain that happy mirror feeling. But being bloated does not make me happy. Hence my post.0 -
That's a good point. I drink a lot of herbal tea over the course of a normal day - anywhere from 4-7 cups plus at least 5 glasses of water but I'm SURE it's not enough liquid to keep things moving. I will try hydrating more. It's just so hard because it does temporarily make me feel even more bloated and it hurts!0
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Maybe that protein shake is messing you up. How regular do you think you should be? Right now Im low carbing at 30 grams and eat a few veggies every few days and only go about every 3 days.0
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Look into the powder Miralax0
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I use whole husk psyllium. I buy it the organic on amazon for about $10 a can. It works really well for me, and my GI has given me the thumbs up on it as well.0
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You are not building muscle eating 1,000 calories per day.0
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I use whole husk psyllium. I buy it the organic on amazon for about $10 a can. It works really well for me, and my GI has given me the thumbs up on it as well.
wife use's mirilax per GI doctor recommendation, works well0 -
Prune juice
Apple juice
Probiotics
Miralax0 -
It appears that you and your MFP friends are all trying for the same look. Good luck with the pooping thing. :flowerforyou:0
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Your body doesn't work properly if you don't eat a diet that is meant for humans. You can lose tons of weight, have a body that works properly, and you can poop solid logs on a regular schedule if you eat a diet that is meant for our species. Of course i am talking about a fruit and vegetable based diet.Is there anything you guys can recommend that will allow me to continue my low-carb thing but still be getting enough fiber to squeeze something out once or twice a day? I feel like I'm losing my mind over here. Metamucil? Anything? Help.0 -
Granted, I'm not exactly the world's best nutrition expert, but it's the "insoluble" fibre vs the "soluble" fiber that gets things moving.
What type of fiber are you taking? If it's soluble fiber, it's only adding bulk to your downstairs, but not doing anything to make it easier to 'go'. (or that's backwards. Do a quick google search. I'm dyslexic and I get those mixed up)
Chia seeds in your morning smoothie can be a way to help that along. They make the smoothie a little gelatinous though too, and adds even more protein. You'll have to adjust your diet to balance.
Also, sounds crazy, but going for a walk can get things moving.0 -
Hi,
Thanks for replying.
It's a vanity thing, honestly. I lost a lot of weight in an extremely unhealthy way a few months ago (it was completely unintentional weight loss - depression related) and it was a very dark time emotionally for me but the ONE good thing about that dark place was that I was very happy looking in the mirror for the first time in my life. I would like to get back to that feeling but through healthier means. I did it the first time by basically eating nothing and sleeping all the time. I love food way too much to eat nothing, but I figure I can afford to eat healthier and hopefully still regain that happy mirror feeling. But being bloated does not make me happy. Hence my post.
If what you said above is true, then ditch the fad diet plan. Follow the MFP plan of measuring and weighing your food, eat a reasonable calorie goal to lose 0.5 lbs per week, hit your micros and macros, drink plenty of water, and exercise. If your GI system is jacked up, the weight loss plan you are on is not a healthy method.0 -
I second the Miralax and increasing your fluid intake. The miralax works by pulling more fluid into the stool, so making sure there is fluid there will help make it work.
Also, the Miralax will help "retrain" your colon, so you can use if for just a short while and wean off of it when you are back to being regular.0 -
I suggest eating more food.0
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I lost a lot of weight in an extremely unhealthy way a few months ago (it was completely unintentional weight loss - depression related) and it was a very dark time emotionally for me but the ONE good thing about that dark place was that I was very happy looking in the mirror for the first time in my life. I would like to get back to that feeling but through healthier means. I did it the first time by basically eating nothing and sleeping all the time. I love food way too much to eat nothing, but I figure I can afford to eat healthier and hopefully still regain that happy mirror feeling.
I can't really understand why you would try and recreate the symptom of a severe mental illness. As you said, you looked like you did because you were eating virtually nothing and sleeping all the time. You can't replicate that look through healthy means because that look was a consequence of ill health in the first place. The happy feeling doesn't come from a number on the scale it comes from enjoying life and enjoying food. You can do that at your current weight (which is already on the low side anyway). Good luck.0 -
Edit: Nevermind...0
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Eat some food. Problem solved.0
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Im eating plenty of food and having the same problem, scale is going up not down, grrrrrrrEat some food. Problem solved.0 -
I lost a lot of weight in an extremely unhealthy way a few months ago (it was completely unintentional weight loss - depression related) and it was a very dark time emotionally for me but the ONE good thing about that dark place was that I was very happy looking in the mirror for the first time in my life. I would like to get back to that feeling but through healthier means. I did it the first time by basically eating nothing and sleeping all the time. I love food way too much to eat nothing, but I figure I can afford to eat healthier and hopefully still regain that happy mirror feeling.
I can't really understand why you would try and recreate the symptom of a severe mental illness. As you said, you looked like you did because you were eating virtually nothing and sleeping all the time. You can't replicate that look through healthy means because that look was a consequence of ill health in the first place. The happy feeling doesn't come from a number on the scale it comes from enjoying life and enjoying food. You can do that at your current weight (which is already on the low side anyway). Good luck.
THIS. But then, as we see over and over again, logic really has no place here.0 -
I don't condone fad diets, but that's not the issue here. You could try using a stool softener such as docusate sodium (or Colace, the brand name). I also second the suggestion of chia seeds. They are yummy and full of fiber. Good luck on getting things moving!0
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I really appreciate all the replies and support, especially from non-judgmental people with helpful suggestions! Thanks everyone! I know even those of you who are giving me a hard time about my diet mean well and for that I am grateful, but the diet itself is not the issue here considering the fact that I eat 3-5 times a day, all healthy protein and fruits and vegetables in reasonable portions. Yes, I'm very conscious of how my food is prepared in an effort to keep unnecessary omega-6's and other "bad" things out. But I'm certainly not starving myself or depriving myself. I do consume less calories than my BMR suggests (only about 200 less though) but I'm hardly on deaths door eating as healthfully and frequently as I do. So thank you all, again. I am looking into miralax and organic whole husk psyllium (sp?) and definitely drinking more water! 10 cups today already!0
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No, actually, the diet itself is the problem. You can barely get adequate fat and fiber to keep you regular with only 1000 calories daily.
You need to aim for at least about 25g fiber daily. It sounds like the tea is good as long as it is caffeine-free, but fat also aids in digestion. You need to be getting at least 20% of your calories daily from fat at that low an intake... probably closer to 30%.
I'm not sure how low carb you're looking to go, but Quest Bars have 20g protein, about 20g carbs but with 17g fiber, they're considered "low carb" for low carb diets I think. Like they're low net carbs and help with fiber intake.
But add half an avocado or something each day at least.
But actually, eat more food. For real. You can't get proper nutrition for a healthy woman on 1000 calories daily. I mean, I'd change my tune if you were a poor rural woman in a 3rd world country, but I'm thinking you're not.0 -
I lost a lot of weight in an extremely unhealthy way a few months ago (it was completely unintentional weight loss - depression related) and it was a very dark time emotionally for me but the ONE good thing about that dark place was that I was very happy looking in the mirror for the first time in my life. I would like to get back to that feeling but through healthier means. I did it the first time by basically eating nothing and sleeping all the time. I love food way too much to eat nothing, but I figure I can afford to eat healthier and hopefully still regain that happy mirror feeling.
I can't really understand why you would try and recreate the symptom of a severe mental illness. As you said, you looked like you did because you were eating virtually nothing and sleeping all the time. You can't replicate that look through healthy means because that look was a consequence of ill health in the first place. The happy feeling doesn't come from a number on the scale it comes from enjoying life and enjoying food. You can do that at your current weight (which is already on the low side anyway). Good luck.
Honestly, for me it's not that simple. It sounds lovely, though, doesn't it? If only happiness were as simple as enjoying life and enjoying food. But I have had periods of my life where I was enjoying life and enjoying food but I was never happy with the way that my body looked or felt. And really, how could I be? With the representation of women's bodies that exists (more relevant to the absolute brainwashing of my generation and younger than anyone else) it is a very difficult cycle of self-shaming to break out of. For this reason, finding a happy medium for me seems like the most realistic goal. Therapy has not been able to undo the damage done by media and false images of women's bodies, and I've now seen my own form look how I've always wished it could. This is a difficult image to wipe from my mind, and while I do truly believe I will not be able to achieve that state again through healthy means, I believe I can get closer to it than I am now by making smarter choices about what I eat, and eating slightly smaller portions of those foods than I normally would. When I've reached a place that I'm happy with, I will very slowly add calories back to my diet on a weekly basis and continue my fitness regime to maintain that place. If this all seems dangerous and unrealistic to you, then that's fine. But that is what feels right to me at this point in my life, and - AGAIN - not the point of this post. Literally just trying to poop, not be judged for my personal choices.
Thanks again everyone for commenting!0 -
And in the short term... Senokot. 3 tabs before bed. Stool softeners... and extra tea.0
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I'm not sure how low carb you're looking to go, but Quest Bars have 20g protein, about 20g carbs but with 17g fiber, they're considered "low carb" for low carb diets I think. Like they're low net carbs and help with fiber intake.
But add half an avocado or something each day at least.
But actually, eat more food. For real. You can't get proper nutrition for a healthy woman on 1000 calories daily. I mean, I'd change my tune if you were a poor rural woman in a 3rd world country, but I'm thinking you're not.
I hear you. I'm not too concerned with healthy fats, I love avocado! I make a chocolate avocado pudding that is vegan and mind blowingly good.
Do you know if the Quest bars are gluten free? I will look into them. Thanks for the suggestions. I am not planning to stay at 1000 forever, just long enough to get a little tighter and then I'll slowly add calories (by the 100) back in week by week until I'm closer to 1500.0 -
Some of the quest bar flavors are gluten free. You can order on amazon.com.0
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Most people will poop when they eat enough food.
What goes in, usually will come out.
Otherwise, increase your dietary fiber.0 -
I really appreciate all the replies and support, especially from non-judgmental people with helpful suggestions! Thanks everyone! I know even those of you who are giving me a hard time about my diet mean well and for that I am grateful, but the diet itself is not the issue here considering the fact that I eat 3-5 times a day, all healthy protein and fruits and vegetables in reasonable portions. Yes, I'm very conscious of how my food is prepared in an effort to keep unnecessary omega-6's and other "bad" things out. But I'm certainly not starving myself or depriving myself. I do consume less calories than my BMR suggests (only about 200 less though) but I'm hardly on deaths door eating as healthfully and frequently as I do. So thank you all, again. I am looking into miralax and organic whole husk psyllium (sp?) and definitely drinking more water! 10 cups today already!
Oh hell...... So you are at the lower end of your healthy weight, you starve yourself (yes - because eating so little is still starving even if you eat "good food every three hours!") and now people are telling you to take laxatives and you jump at it..... Maybe grow up a little, start listing to people (the ones who know what they talk about), learn about nutrition, do a proper strength training program and...Oh, OK, that's too much logic...Eat little and make yourself poop then.....0
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