Losing Weight, but what is blocking me up?

Soopatt
Soopatt Posts: 563 Member
edited November 16 in Food and Nutrition
This is my third week on MFP. I am finding my calorie allowance manageable and since getting my digital scale a few days in, have been logging carefully. The weight is coming off and I am happy at the rate I am losing, the only problem is that I am very blocked up. I have always had a sensitive stomach, but this is ridiculous - one bowel movement a week (and then pain and "the runs" on that day) has been the norm since I started.

It has been five days without any bathroom action again and I am getting irritated with this pattern as it disrupts my results on the scale (it looks like I am not losing and then after one of those "evacuation" days I suddenly drop more than 1kg, a clear downward trend). My stomach is a little crampy on some days, but does not cause me too much discomfort, outside of worrying about it.

Is this just a stress reaction related to my dietary changes? Do I have too many dairy products?

I think my fiber intake is fair due to my regular bran cereal and muesli, but perhaps I am off the mark. My diary is open and I appreciate any advice and observations.

I drink about 2 glasses of plain water a day, but I do not log the extra water I am taking in from tea and coffee in addition to that (between 2 and 4 glasses for the 2 x coffee and 2 x herbal tea I normally have). I also eat a lot of moist foods and a little bit of everything.

Replies

  • lessofheather
    lessofheather Posts: 10 Member
    I scanned through a few days of your diary - my initial thought would be perhaps an increase in fresh vegetables and the addition of a live culture yoghurt. I find peppermint tea doesn't "make me go", but does help me with general digestion.
  • isulo_kura
    isulo_kura Posts: 818 Member
    Eat some fresh fruit and Vegetables add some fat to your diet. You're eating relatively low carbs and fat so low fibre and fat both things that will help
  • Soopatt
    Soopatt Posts: 563 Member
    The vegetables that I eat are mostly part of packed meals from Woolworths, so although fresh, are pretty small portions (Woolworths in South Africa packs high quality convenience meals with fresh ingredients in single serving calorie measured packs - I pretty much only eat their food). I am only preparing food for myself, so buying packs of vegetables on their own leads to a lot of waste. I have just purchased a couple of punnets of raspberries and I am having some prunes with my lunch. I will get some fresh pumpkin on my way home, I always seem to get through that without it spoiling.
  • nicolef07
    nicolef07 Posts: 10 Member
    Sometimes too much fiber can cause stomach issues because instead of moving along it sits there. Try a cup of coffee and LOTS of water!
  • KellieTru
    KellieTru Posts: 285 Member
    I feel a new dietary routine can cause this temporarily (my routines were off for a couple weeks too). I agree with the posters above...it's all good advice. If time goes on and you find things aren't resolving, consult a Dr or Nurse Practitioner for guidance.
  • kmsoucy457
    kmsoucy457 Posts: 237 Member
    edited April 2015
    I have IBS, and unless I drink my 8 glasses of water per day I become very irregular (I count tea, but not coffee because I feel like the diuretic properties of the caffeine cancel out the hydration...not everyone agrees with that though).
    Believe it or not, both too much and too little fiber can block you up. When you change what your body is used to it tends to revolt. When I began eating more fiber it took me close to two months to adjust. Halfway through the 'adjustment period' I asked my doctor about it; she recommended probiotics - either in pill form or through foods such as kefir, yogurt (read the label to make sure), kombucha, or real (old-world preservation method) pickles, sauerkraut, and kimchi.
    KellieTru wrote: »
    I feel a new dietary routine can cause this temporarily (my routines were off for a couple weeks too). I agree with the posters above...it's all good advice. If time goes on and you find things aren't resolving, consult a Dr or Nurse Practitioner for guidance.
    And this ^
    I'd say it's OK to wait a couple of weeks longer unless you find yourself in worse pain, and I base that only off of how long it took my own body to adjust.

  • leggup
    leggup Posts: 2,942 Member
    Soopatt wrote: »
    The vegetables that I eat are mostly part of packed meals from Woolworths, so although fresh, are pretty small portions (Woolworths in South Africa packs high quality convenience meals with fresh ingredients in single serving calorie measured packs - I pretty much only eat their food). I am only preparing food for myself, so buying packs of vegetables on their own leads to a lot of waste. I have just purchased a couple of punnets of raspberries and I am having some prunes with my lunch. I will get some fresh pumpkin on my way home, I always seem to get through that without it spoiling.

    Frozen veggies are the best way to avoid waste but keep eating high-fibre veggies. Canned can also be a good option, just opt for low sodium. Pumpkin and squash are great for improving regularity (and solidity) in trips to the bathroom.

    Not a "healthy" recommendation, but things always move along for me in the morning when I've had a glass or two of red wine the night before. Also- french press coffee. It's super strong and means business (bathroom business).
  • kmsoucy457
    kmsoucy457 Posts: 237 Member
    edited April 2015
    Not a "healthy" recommendation, but things always move along for me in the morning when I've had a glass or two of red wine the night before. Also- french press coffee. It's super strong and means business (bathroom business).
    [/quote]

    lolololol
  • dirtyflirty30
    dirtyflirty30 Posts: 222 Member
    Mas agua! Google "hydration calculator" to see how much you should be drinking and try to hit that goal. :)
  • tesha_chandler
    tesha_chandler Posts: 378 Member
    If you have kicked up your fiber more than what you usually eat, it's causing bloating and constipation. Try eating a little less fiber and kicking up the water,then gradually take fiber back up. :) (and by kicking up the water, I mean drink it until you float away, it'll help, I promise! ;) )
  • Soopatt
    Soopatt Posts: 563 Member
    The too much fiber idea has really made me wonder, I have been increasing my fiber almost daily since this started and I might be adding to the problem from what you all describe. I am going to tone it done and I am swigging some more water right now.

    (wine works for me too, but consuming it normally results in me stuffing my face with everything else I see, so for the time being I am avoiding it.. hehe)
  • JoRocka
    JoRocka Posts: 17,525 Member
    Too much fiber- not enough fat.

    Go to five guys- drink a cup of coffee and go for a jog around the block.

    That'll fix you right up.

    nine times out of ten- people start "dieting" and go low fat- and start eating more green things- so upping the fiber and dropping the fat is an instant choke hold on your GI track.

    Just go to five guys/white castle/in and out- that'll fix you right up.
  • ASKyle
    ASKyle Posts: 1,475 Member
    I doubt this has any scientific basis, but coffee gets things going every morning for me!
  • Annie_01
    Annie_01 Posts: 3,096 Member
    Have you started taking a supplement with iron?

    If I take iron supplements I am almost instantly constipated. Iron in food does not cause me this problem.
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