Constipation?

alexisbonnell
alexisbonnell Posts: 3 Member
edited November 27 in Health and Weight Loss
After a few years of fertility treatments I found I had gained 30 pounds I starting exercising quite a bit this last week and switched to eating many more veggies, lean protein, etc and have been horrifically constipated! I thought exercise and fiber rich healthy diets wee supposed to help constipation, not cause it?
Help!!! All suggestions welcome!

Replies

  • dhimaan
    dhimaan Posts: 774 Member
    Drink more water.
  • RodaRose
    RodaRose Posts: 9,562 Member
    It is possible that you need more fats and oils.
  • MelaniaTrump
    MelaniaTrump Posts: 2,694 Member
    edited December 2015
    Are you getting your 25 grams of fiber a day with plenty of water? Wish your diary was open. When I get a little constipated I take extra vitamin C which can cause loser stools at amounts over 2 or 3,000 mg. I take this with my one a day women's.
    Bananas and antacids make me constipated. Even painkillers, dairy, allergy meds, chocolate.
  • Yi5hedr3
    Yi5hedr3 Posts: 2,696 Member
    Cut down on insoluble fibers, as they will stop you up! Soluable fibers, like Inulin, are fine though. Start taking one each magnesium citrate capsule two times daily, morning and night. You ll be cured!!!
  • angelexperiment
    angelexperiment Posts: 1,917 Member
    It may take time to readjust your body a couple weeks. Also you should only increase fiber in increments or you will end up constipated.
  • Bonny132
    Bonny132 Posts: 3,617 Member
    angelexperiment wrote: »
    It may take time to readjust your body a couple weeks. Also you should only increase fiber in increments or you will end up constipated.

    This, and for constipation, try adding some prunes etc to your diet to help loosening things naturally.
  • Christine_72
    Christine_72 Posts: 16,049 Member
    Magnesium citrate often does the trick. I take magnesium every night before bed which keeps me regular.
  • bigsicklittlesick
    bigsicklittlesick Posts: 55 Member
    dhimaan wrote: »
    Drink more water.

    Yes.. This. Also if you are taking a multivitamin with iron or a stand alone iron supplement, that can cause constipation as well.
  • thereshegoesagain
    thereshegoesagain Posts: 1,056 Member
    Get a Squatty Potty. Check the reviews on Amazon, they're hysterical, but it really does work.
  • srecupid
    srecupid Posts: 660 Member
    dhimaan wrote: »
    Drink more water.
    I drank 5l of water one day and didn't poop at all the next day
    thereshegoesagain wrote: »
    Get a Squatty Potty. Check the reviews on Amazon, they're hysterical, but it really does work.

    Yeah if you can get started. It's not a miracle worker though. If nothing wants to come out nothing is gonna come out. I personally have been getting a little constipated lately but, am lucky enough to at least be able to go most days. But, the last couple of days have been hard despite doing my best to eat more fiber. FFS I ate 2 bowls of dry raisin bran yesterday and drank 4l of water and was rewarded with a hard stool this morning. But, the squatty potty at least made it easier. Heck I'm having tooth aches lately and am afraid to take ibuprofen because that for sure will work almost as well as immodium
  • cindytw
    cindytw Posts: 1,027 Member
    edited December 2015
    srecupid wrote: »
    dhimaan wrote: »
    Drink more water.
    I drank 5l of water one day and didn't poop at all the next day
    thereshegoesagain wrote: »
    Get a Squatty Potty. Check the reviews on Amazon, they're hysterical, but it really does work.

    Yeah if you can get started. It's not a miracle worker though. If nothing wants to come out nothing is gonna come out. I personally have been getting a little constipated lately but, am lucky enough to at least be able to go most days. But, the last couple of days have been hard despite doing my best to eat more fiber. FFS I ate 2 bowls of dry raisin bran yesterday and drank 4l of water and was rewarded with a hard stool this morning. But, the squatty potty at least made it easier. Heck I'm having tooth aches lately and am afraid to take ibuprofen because that for sure will work almost as well as immodium

    If raisin bran and water aren't working maybe it is the raisin bran causing an issue, just saying.
  • cindytw
    cindytw Posts: 1,027 Member
    I take baths in epsom salts and use Calm Magnesium whenever I have an issue. amazon.com/Natural-Calm-original-16-Ounce/dp/B000OQ2DL4/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1451286835&sr=8-1&keywords=magnesium+calm+16+oz
  • Pawsforme
    Pawsforme Posts: 645 Member
    Christine_72 wrote: »
    Magnesium citrate often does the trick. I take magnesium every night before bed which keeps me regular.

    ^^This.^^ Magnesium does wonders for constipation. It doesn't have to be magnesium citrate, which is the most expensive type. For help with constipation inexpensive magnesium oxide works just as well.
  • niniundlapin
    niniundlapin Posts: 327 Member
    From what I know, constipation is a result from physical and neurological changes of stimuli (please correct me if I'm wrong). It could happen because of the consistency or the amount of food. Some food tend to physically stimulate the peristalsis and some tend to result in sufficient amount of waste that would both make you feel like to go (there's actually a "low-residue diet" for patients to follow for specific medical conditions & it will result in less solid defecation). Sudden change of diet could be, but not necessary, a cause of constipation. Stress, irregular habit, busy lifestyle, lack of sleep, cold temperature, or mood swing (and maybe more) could all be the cause. If taking specific food/ supplement works but it only helps when you take them, it might be the time to check if other things happen in life might play a role in it.

    It also differs from individual. Some people call it constipation if it doesn't happen "everyday," but others feel just fine if it happens 3-4 times per week. For me, I personally prefer to go everyday and I tried very hard to stick to my daily schedule. My gut has its own clock that I can only go around the same period of time under stable mood, sleep, & diet.

    I'll throw some other food choice that people haven't mentioned here yet (& these work 90-95% whenever I tried)... Kiwi and cactus fruit (or dragon fruit) are good but expensive compared to the others. Tamarind candy (you can find them in Asian grocery stores) is something new I tried for the past 5-6 months. It actually works too well for me that I have to stop eating them (so I won't have diarrhea). I also find pineapple to be a good choice if it doesn't upset your stomach (but definitely watch the calories when you have those).

    It's been a few days since OP you came here to ask about this, so hopefully there are some good progress. If it continues to be like this even with the OTCs, I'd really suggest you to seek for professional help...
  • tara_means_star
    tara_means_star Posts: 957 Member
    angelexperiment wrote: »
    It may take time to readjust your body a couple weeks. Also you should only increase fiber in increments or you will end up constipated.

    This. My husband had the same problem when he started changing his diet. With time, water, and a probiotic it was righted in a week--week and a half.
  • Christine_72
    Christine_72 Posts: 16,049 Member
    Pawsforme wrote: »
    Christine_72 wrote: »
    Magnesium citrate often does the trick. I take magnesium every night before bed which keeps me regular.

    ^^This.^^ Magnesium does wonders for constipation. It doesn't have to be magnesium citrate, which is the most expensive type. For help with constipation inexpensive magnesium oxide works just as well.

    Crap, thanks for the correction @Pawsforme .. Oxide is what I meant, i knew it looked wrong!! lol
  • AnnPT77
    AnnPT77 Posts: 34,629 Member
    srecupid wrote: »
    dhimaan wrote: »
    Drink more water.
    I drank 5l of water one day and didn't poop at all the next day

    One day of extra water may not be enough to change the situation, even if water *is* the problem.

    I was diagnosed with IBS/C (Irritable Bowel Syndrome with constipation) a few years back. The things my doctor told me (fiber supplements, mostly) didn't help. I'd been vegetarian for years, and already got plenty of fiber.

    What did help - but it took some time! - was a combination more water every day throughout the day, and exercise. I think it may also have helped to add probiotic food (yogurt with live cultures), but water and exercise were the biggies for me.

    Your experience may differ - but I'd guarantee that one day of more water isn't enough to know that isn't the answer. I'd be surprised if you needed as much as 5 liters - I do fine with a couple of liters of water plus whatever water is in my food on a daily basis. But everyone's different.
  • Christine_72
    Christine_72 Posts: 16,049 Member
    I second the probiotic. Most will do a great job, I always go for the refrigerated versions tho. You can get brands with strains that specifically target constipation.
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