Sorry folks but constipation question

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Replies

  • JanessaDC
    JanessaDC Posts: 8 Member
    Personal observation (not a recommendation): A crash and burn, way over daily calories, high fat, high alcohol steak dinner fixed me up this weekend.

    lol. This usually does the trick.

    Also, though, this problem is my life's problem. Some people just don't poo a lot, I think? I hope?
  • craft4fun
    craft4fun Posts: 76 Member
    Almonds help me go.
  • In your post you said you eat lots of salad and vegetables and no sweets... are you eating fruit? If you are concerned with the natural sugar in them, berries are the way to go. Also if you have a protein with your fruit it will balance the sugar and you shouldn't have the highs and lows. Fruit has fiber but you also need lots of water. Also, Quest protein bars help because they have lots of fiber. They are gluten free and 1 gram of sugar. The Vitamin Shop and GNC have them. Good luck.
  • emc2fit
    emc2fit Posts: 16 Member
    Does anyone else suffer from constipation whilst trying to shed the weight. I am currently on 1200 calls per day and walk for at least 2.5 to 3 miles per day. Eat lots of salad and veg, not eating sweet stuff and also off the booze. Anyone got any tips how I can " get things moving again" please. Sorry for the ew of this xxxx

    Sounds familiar! I wasn't feeling all that great in the digestive system either when I was on 1200. I checked and my fibre intake was generously over the recommended allowance (thanks veggies!) and I drank water like a fish. My conclusion is that eating 1200, even with the cleanest high volume foods you can find, there just isn't enough 'bulk' in your system to keep it all moving.

    I've since increased to 1400 and the problem has pretty much resolved itself. However within upping my calories I've kept my macros the same, so I think a small increase in carbs has assisted. If I'd have added another 200 of protein for example I'm not sure it would be as effective but that's just a hunch.

    If you're not willing to up your calories I'd suggest coffee on an empty stomach first thing in the morning (nature's laxative!) or a herbal tea with Senna as one of the main ingredients every now and then. Don't get into the habit of relying on laxatives long-term, it's not healthy, but every now and then if it makes you feel comfortable I don't think there's any long-lasting effects. Senna is a well known leaf used in Oolong/Feiyan tea to help with digestive issues. It can be potent though so I'd suggest trying it at the weekends! It doesn't make magic BS claims like green tea with fairy dust for fat loss, it's a genuine product and not expensive.

    Good luck, hope that helps. If you want a link to a specific tea let me know - or if you're in the UK go to Holland and Barretts and try their 'slimatea' it's got Senna in it.
  • KaelaLee88
    KaelaLee88 Posts: 229 Member
    When following the 1,200 Calorie per day structure, my IBS went haywire and I had exactly your problem. After visiting a dietician, she suggested a greater fibre intake. It's easier than you think it'll be, if you aren't mega into fruits and Veg, try a high-fibre grain bar to get the process rolling. You want to look for a cereal or grain bar with around 5 grams of fibre, you'll be surprised how many low fibre bars are marketed as 'high-in-fibre' and 'good for you', normally the sugar content of these bars is out of this world! I also recommend staying hydrated and if all else fails, try some prunes. They are delicious and low-calorie. If still no relief, go see a Dr xx
  • tekkiechikk
    tekkiechikk Posts: 375 Member
    By any chance, did you start taking a multi-vitamin with iron? I simply cannot take iron in pill form- it binds me up terribly. Other than that, sounds like you are eating well and getting enough fiber. I do take stool softeners a few times a week just to 'keep the mail moving' lol. Hope you find a solution.
  • tekkiechikk
    tekkiechikk Posts: 375 Member
    Stay very hydrated and Smooth Move tea works very well! All natural and very gentle

    Agreed! Smooth Move works very well.

  • snarlingcoyote
    snarlingcoyote Posts: 399 Member
    Coffee on an empty stomach usually moves my morning mail.

    On the very rare occasion I am backed up in a big way, I buy a bag of sugar-free jellie bellies from CVS, wait until I am home and don't need to be anywhere and eat the whole bag. The artificial sweetner in that stuff is, ahem. Well. It will completely clean you out.
  • luckypony71
    luckypony71 Posts: 399 Member
    I am happy to of seen this post. Major problem for me too. I drink a gallon of water a day. I am going to try the water before my coffee.
  • rosiorama
    rosiorama Posts: 300 Member
    Fat and fibre. Even if I get 45g of fibre everyday, if my fat grams are low things don't run as smoothly!
    Why is it always us women who have this problem??? I never see these threads started by guys....

    They don't talk about it! It's a little odd how often I've had poop conversations with my female friends!

    I too have noticed this! So frustrating!
  • momtolose15
    momtolose15 Posts: 5 Member
    Try psyllium husks. I have the same problem . It has worked wonders. I have tried water/veggies...nothing helped me like psyllium husks.
  • gabrielleelliott90
    gabrielleelliott90 Posts: 854 Member
    Well my friend had a problem like this, one of our mutual friends said hot water and honey or hot water and lemon, he said one of the two. I personally just drink a bottle of water and have some fibrous fruit like an apple and banana.
  • gabrielleelliott90
    gabrielleelliott90 Posts: 854 Member
    You can also do this, which can help sometimes, I just use my knuckle: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N39GIWquhWg
  • nicolaferris420
    nicolaferris420 Posts: 17 Member
    Try hot water with a slice of lemon first thing in the morning and another couple throughout the day on top of your usual waster intake. I agree with the other posts about fat too, avacado works well. Good luck!
  • Katerina9408
    Katerina9408 Posts: 276 Member
    Coffee on an empty stomach usually moves my morning mail.

    On the very rare occasion I am backed up in a big way, I buy a bag of sugar-free jellie bellies from CVS, wait until I am home and don't need to be anywhere and eat the whole bag. The artificial sweetner in that stuff is, ahem. Well. It will completely clean you out.

    Coffee is in the top of my food piramid...it is life
  • cebreisch
    cebreisch Posts: 1,340 Member
    fiber is the key. I use Chocolite protein bars or Chocolite Chocolate Crispy Caramel things.

    I get them from www.healthsmartfoods.com, and get coupon codes from www.retailmenot. The protein bars (1 to a package) are about 100 calories and have 10g protein and 10g fiber (for the package). the Caramel things (2 pieces to a package) have 6 g fiber and 30 cal each so for the package, it's 12 g fiber and 60 calories.

  • RoxieDawn
    RoxieDawn Posts: 15,488 Member
    Big problem for me. I cut out caffeine and I stopped and it lasted 4 - 5 days in a row... Talk about moody, and just a crappy feeling...

    I have re-introduced caffeine and it is top of my food pyramid too!
  • Try putting fiber supplement in your drink or Miralax in your drink. My uncle is a GI doctor and swears by Miralax
  • snarlingcoyote
    snarlingcoyote Posts: 399 Member
    Coffee on an empty stomach usually moves my morning mail.

    On the very rare occasion I am backed up in a big way, I buy a bag of sugar-free jellie bellies from CVS, wait until I am home and don't need to be anywhere and eat the whole bag. The artificial sweetner in that stuff is, ahem. Well. It will completely clean you out.

    Coffee is in the top of my food piramid...it is life

    Oh yes, absolutely. The first thing I drink in the morning and the last thing I drink at night.
  • Brittany91389
    Brittany91389 Posts: 32 Member
    I've got a funky stomach and even when I'm eating right my system doesn't always work well. A half dose of miralax every 2-3 days works perfectly.
  • MoiAussi93
    MoiAussi93 Posts: 1,948 Member
    psyllium husk in water is the only thing that works for me. I take it every day. It has the added benefit of making me feel full longer so I don't get hungry.
  • Arliah
    Arliah Posts: 266 Member

    sodakat wrote: »
    jgnatca wrote: »
    When I was eating 1200 a day my bowels slowed to every other day. There just wasn't enough bulk to keep everything moving.

    Exactly. Are you sure you're constipated? Maybe you're an every other day or every third day pooper now.



    That's kind of my problem right now. I am on 1200, and I go every three days. It can get a bit annoying because after the third day I feel really full and I don't even want to eat until all the stuff is back out. I am getting enough fiber/water/fat, but I may try prunes (don't like the juice) to see if that helps me. I don't want to resort to laxatives if I don't have to.

    Good luck! :D
  • lthames0810
    lthames0810 Posts: 722 Member
    Arliah wrote: »
    sodakat wrote: »
    jgnatca wrote: »
    When I was eating 1200 a day my bowels slowed to every other day. There just wasn't enough bulk to keep everything moving.

    Exactly. Are you sure you're constipated? Maybe you're an every other day or every third day pooper now.



    That's kind of my problem right now. I am on 1200, and I go every three days. It can get a bit annoying because after the third day I feel really full and I don't even want to eat until all the stuff is back out. I am getting enough fiber/water/fat, but I may try prunes (don't like the juice) to see if that helps me. I don't want to resort to laxatives if I don't have to.

    Good luck! :D

    Me too...every three days. If it goes longer than that, I start looking for a cure.

    On the other hand, if you are an every day weigher, if the second or third day your weight is the same as the day before, you can consider it a victory since you must have lost actual weight while retaining an increasing amount of poop.