Constipation?

Okay . . maybe I'm the only one, but I always seem to get really constipated when I first start a new "diet" plan.
Be it Weight Watchers, counting calories myself, etc.

I'm just wondering if anyone out there can relate? It's been about 7 days since my last normal *ahem* and I
usually go at least once a day. I've been taking stool softeners, eating properly and drinking a ton of water . .
so I just don't understand? This always seems to happen to me and it's discouraging because I feel kinda
yucky and bloated, especially today.

Ok, I am going to tell you a personal story of mine about fiber! I experience this just the past week. I was having large bm's and decided to up my fiber to about 20 grams a day. well, nothing was happening for 10 days and I started to feel very larthargic and weak, bloated, and tired. so I went to the doctor after 1 month of having a movement once a week. she said that is too many toxins building up in my body so she gave me a colonoscopy prep kit. didn't work! still once a week. then a laxative once a week, nothing, then psyllium husks for a week; still going only once a week and not very much at that. So this last visit after once month I ended up having 3 enemas to get all that build up out and i know there is still plenty in there.
After all of this the doctor tells me to stay on the psyllium husks for fiber but to make sure I get A LOT OF WATER. Fiber gives you the bulk, but if you don't have water to get it moving, you could be in the shape i am in.
i am going to need a colonoscopy and am scheduled to see an internal medicine doctor.
So all that said... GET PLENTY OF WATER AND PLENTY OF EXERCISE TO GET IT MOVING!!
GOOD LUCK

I had that problem and started 2 Citrucel tabs every night. Perfect every morning! It is not a bulk forming fiber so you don't have to worry about constipation they sometimes cause. You may need a laxitive for the first time to get out what's blocking you.

If you are trying things like magnesium citrate, and miralax, etc. and still not going, then i would suggest an enema, because you just softening the stool that is higher up in the intestines, and the "stuff" thats lower down is just getting harder and harder. In the hospital one sure fire method that has never failed (and i have done on myself at home after not going for a week) is milk of molassess enema!!!! You mix equal parts milk with molassess in a fleets enema bottle (buy at cvs) warm up to help mixing it. Results in 15-30 minutes!!! we use it alot with kids that get constipated!!

2 Fiber One Bars a day and you will need more spray for the bathroom!!! :blushing:

Beans + Bran = Bowels

ive been having this eh.. problem, myself for a week or two. i eat a bowl of bran flakes with semi-skimmed milk everyday and this usually has me regular - daily atleast once, often more. this one night last week i was feeling particularly bloated, but nothing terrible. i was doing so mild exercise in my room, a few minutes of vigourous jumping jacks. a bit TMI, but i could actually feel my intestines jiggling about. not half an hour later, i was coming out of the bathroom, feeling quite relieved :laugh: i think it was the movement that ah... 'shook it loose'. gross LOL

but ive been doing not so hot this past week, been painful. keeping to my bran flakes and water to try and help. would the acid in grapes and pure orange juice help at all? i have them in my fridge.

rubbed vasaline on my pooper

..:laugh: :laugh: :laugh: that just made my night!

I follow Marcus Samuelson's blog. (he's a chef for the non foodie peeps). Today's post was all about that.
http://marcussamuelsson.com/?s=digestion

He also advocates eating clean, something I have been doing with great success. Not just in weight loss, but my skin is better, my hair is healthier. This time last summer I had a horrible problem with swollen ankles and feet. thing is I don't like salt and never add it to my food. However processed food has loads of it. I wear a size 9 and ended up having to buy size 12 mules because it was all that I could fit. I stopped eating processed foods and my feet returned to normal in 3 weeks time. the other thing I did was really cut back on the amount of gluten in my diet. even for those who don't have a gluten issue, wheat gluten has been shown to cause digestion problem. When the doctor advices me to cut back on gluten I was skeptical. But now I use brown rice pasta and don't even miss it. I'm not saying my way of eating is better than others, but this worked for me. Between those 2 changes and quitting sodas I'm so regular I "go" 2 3 times a day.

The mag citrate will per say blow you out lol .. On a low calorie diet i believe your body is more restrictive on what it let's go. We increase our protein, fiber and cut out as much fat as possible. Yesterday i ate per say heavy and had a big bowel movement this morning. Now on days i eat less i move less or not every day. Water and fiber help. I think Miralax as doctors auto recommend is not good advice unless nothing else works. Eat beans, prunes, flax seed, psyillium. I've even purged my system by doing a salt water flush which like the mag citrate blows you out lol (best way of putting it). Change of diet has a major impact on your bowel movement. Most people don't eat enough healthy fats and that too plays a part.

I am having the opposite problem today. Fiber One bar yesterday and today - plus spinach and navy bean soup. The combination really has me going!