How to get things "moving" again?

Childfree1991
Childfree1991 Posts: 145 Member
edited November 16 in Fitness and Exercise
I drink a minimum of 70 oz of water a day (this does not include water during exercise).
I exercise at the gym 5 days a week (specifically strength training, plus lots of brisk walking around on college campus).
I eat fruits, vegetables, and other high fiber foods daily such as whole wheat/grains, beans, bran etc.)
I’m not much of a dairy person.
Despite all of this, I’m still not “going” regularly. Maybe once or twice a week. Yes, I already tried an Enema and Dulcolax. No results. A family member of mine said it’s normal for the way I eat because I eat very healthy and there’s little “garbage” to “dispose" but I still find it wild that it would take almost a whole week, healthy food or not. I seem to be doing everything right. What’s going on? How can I get my bowels regulated again?

Replies

  • blankiefinder
    blankiefinder Posts: 3,599 Member
    Are you meeting your fat macros? Your body needs the fat to keep things moving smoothly and to aid in the absorption of nutrients and vitamins.

    Too much fiber is constipating btw.
  • Childfree1991
    Childfree1991 Posts: 145 Member
    edited April 2015
    blankiefinder wrote: »
    Are you meeting your fat macros? Your body needs the fat to keep things moving smoothly and to aid in the absorption of nutrients and vitamins.

    Too much fiber is constipating btw.
    Yes I'm getting enough fats (if you mean fats by avocados, bananas, nuts, olives and fish).

  • rainbowbow
    rainbowbow Posts: 7,490 Member
    How much fat is enough fat in your mind? I know for certain that i had this problem until i 1. cut down on the fiber and 2. ate atleast 30% fat.

    Although, to be fair, if you are going once every 2-3 days as you suggest most doctors will suggest that if it's not causing a problem, then it's fine.

    I would recommend you eat more fat, add a digestive enzyme, and troubleshoot your diet.
  • Childfree1991
    Childfree1991 Posts: 145 Member
    rainbowbow wrote: »
    How much fat is enough fat in your mind? I know for certain that i had this problem until i 1. cut down on the fiber and 2. ate atleast 30% fat.

    Although, to be fair, if you are going once every 2-3 days as you suggest most doctors will suggest that if it's not causing a problem, then it's fine.

    I would recommend you eat more fat, add a digestive enzyme, and troubleshoot your diet.
    I eat mixed nuts and seeds every single day of my life and a few bananas per week, a couple avocados per week and eat fish on occasion. I use olive oil for most of my cooking.

  • livingleanlivingclean
    livingleanlivingclean Posts: 11,751 Member
    Banana.... Fat? What? Bananas definitely don't contribute to your fat intake, sorry!

    How many grams of fat do you get a day?

    Too much fibre causes just as many issues as too little. Perhaps try reducing that?

    Coffee also helps me :)
  • blankiefinder
    blankiefinder Posts: 3,599 Member
    Bananas are constipating, that's why they are recommended when you have diarrhea.
  • BodyByBex
    BodyByBex Posts: 3,685 Member
    edited April 2015
    blankiefinder wrote: »
    Bananas are constipating, that's why they are recommended when you have diarrhea.

    Bananas help replace the potassium you lose during diarrhea and also provide significant amounts of fiber, manganese and vitamins B-6 and C. It's not that they necessarily constipate you, but they help replace electrolytes.
  • BodyByBex
    BodyByBex Posts: 3,685 Member
    livingleanlivingclean wrote: »
    Banana.... Fat? What? Bananas definitely don't contribute to your fat intake, sorry!

    How many grams of fat do you get a day?

    Too much fibre causes just as many issues as too little. Perhaps try reducing that?

    Coffee also helps me :)

    This. And coffee helps me too. 1 cup and 30 minutes later, poop. Then I have a glass of water. Mission accomplished. :grin:
  • jennifer_417
    jennifer_417 Posts: 12,344 Member
    If it's not causing you any discomfort, I wouldn't worry about it.
  • MKEgal
    MKEgal Posts: 3,250 Member
    You're doing everything right - exercise, water, fiber.
    If this is not a change from your long-term normal, stop worrying about it.
    If this is a recent change, and you haven't changed anything in your eating or exercise habits which would account
    for it, talk with your doctor.

    My doctor said it's OK to take a fiber supplement & laxative once or twice a day for a week or even 2 weeks if the
    backup is causing problems or pain (esp. hard stool), just to get things back to an even keel.
    But she also said that 'normal' varies - for one person, twice a week is normal, for another it might be twice a day.
  • dakotababy
    dakotababy Posts: 2,407 Member
    I was experiencing the same thing. I could easily last 2 week without going once (no pain, no discomfort..I just had no need to go!) Dr. ran a bunch of a tests, nothing. He told me to increase my fiber (which was already above the recommended amount).

    I actually have 20-30grams of raw almonds every day and that is the only thing that keeps me going on a regular basis! If I stop eating almonds, I stop going.
  • Childfree1991
    Childfree1991 Posts: 145 Member
    Thanks. I guess it's nothing to fuss over then. I'm not experiencing pain, cramps, or discomfort. I just rarely need to go and that was getting me concerned. When I did research it said this is not normal and also, a few friends/family and my boyfriend mentioned that they go everyday (ironically my boyfriend does not eat healthy).
  • Dragn77
    Dragn77 Posts: 810 Member
    Check your fiber... I was having issues, then opened up the fiber tab to see my intake of that on here, and was shocked to see I was getting less than half the requirement. So now its something I try to focus on and have been very good with...and what do you know? Im regular again! Well, better than before...at least every other day wheras before I was at about a couple times a week.

    Even though I didn't feel *bad* per se, just worried that I wasnt going...I have to admit, I feel *so much better* now.
  • Sabine_Stroehm
    Sabine_Stroehm Posts: 19,263 Member
    For me part of the key was cutting BACK on grains (whole grains, bran etc.). Things started moving well, then. For some of us grains BIND. I also added a magnesium complex supplement.
  • JuliaWoods84
    JuliaWoods84 Posts: 8 Member
    I Have to take probiotics. I eat completely clean and exercise six days a week plus I'm a server at a high volume restaurant. I recently went 7 weeks without a bm (I have issues anyway because my ob/gun perforated my bowel during an emergency csection), but that was a long time even for me. I added a tsp of organic coconut oil-yes I melt it in my mouth and swallow (so gross), probiotics, and benefiber daily...and I mix it with black coffee! Now I'm going almost day. :)
  • deluxmary2000
    deluxmary2000 Posts: 981 Member
    Hmmm... I've always only gone about twice a week and just figured it was normal for me. Is this really a cause for concern if it's not making you uncomfortable?
  • Christine_72
    Christine_72 Posts: 16,049 Member
    I'm doubled over in extreme pain if i go longer than 2 days.

    I don't know quite how to put this... But my husband can tell (if we are intimate, he can feel it) if i haven't gone that day. This is an embarrassing reason enough to make sure i go everyday! It took him years to get the nerve to tell me this :flushed:
    So Ladies keep that in mind too...
  • cheshirecatastrophe
    cheshirecatastrophe Posts: 1,395 Member
    Childfree1991 wrote: »
    Thanks. I guess it's nothing to fuss over then. I'm not experiencing pain, cramps, or discomfort. I just rarely need to go and that was getting me concerned. When I did research it said this is not normal and also, a few friends/family and my boyfriend mentioned that they go everyday (ironically my boyfriend does not eat healthy).

    If it's not making you uncomfortable, and if you are fully capable of having a BM when you feel the urge (even if it's not so frequently), you're fine. Don't mess around with things trying to make your GI system something it's not--that's a great way to trigger problems you're not already having.
  • Christine_72
    Christine_72 Posts: 16,049 Member
    But if you're only going once a week or so isn't that a crap load of fermented food sitting in your gut and bowel?? How can this possibly be deemed healthy?
This discussion has been closed.

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