Is a 3 day fast safe?
Relaxingmind
Posts: 55 Member
I'm very constipated and haven't gone in over a week 
I'm wondering if fasting for a few days or so will fix this issue since there will be no other incoming food to digest. If I just fast and keep drinking water, will it all eventually have no choice but to come out? Please don't suggest an enema. I've tried them but they only work a little bit. I need to be fully cleaned out. My stomach hurts
I'm wondering if fasting for a few days or so will fix this issue since there will be no other incoming food to digest. If I just fast and keep drinking water, will it all eventually have no choice but to come out? Please don't suggest an enema. I've tried them but they only work a little bit. I need to be fully cleaned out. My stomach hurts 0
Replies
-
Fasting will not help you go to the toilet.
What does your doctor say about the frequent constipation?12 -
@RelaxingmindRelaxingmind wrote: »I'm very constipated and haven't gone in over a week I'm wondering if fasting for a few days or so will fix this issue since there will be no other incoming food to digest. If I just fast and keep drinking water, will it all eventually have no choice but to come out? Please don't suggest an enema. I've tried them but they only work a little bit. I need to be fully cleaned out. My stomach hurts
I hesitate to make too many suggestions since I don't know what the cause is. I'll share a few things but only you know if it's something that warrants a doctors visit.
As tiptoe mentioned above fasting for this isn't the way to go and could actually make it worse. Have you considered increasing your water intake? Your fiber intake? Some medications can cause this problem as a side effect. After surgery I needed to be on painkillers for a short time and found apple sauce to be a great relief for constipation. It's works fast, it's cheap and all it contains is apples. I get the no sugar added since apples are sweet on their own.
Also veggies and fruits high in fiber, nuts, chia seeds & ground flax seeds are da bomb and also work quite fast as well! Click around on Google and you'll find many foods high in fiber that can help you out.
But with all that being said... a week is quite a long time to be constipated I imagine you are quite miserable & feeling quite bloated! Since I don't know your situation I'll suggest you check in with your doctor if you haven't already in case it's a GI issue that's far more serious than simple constipation from meds or not enough fiber intake.
In the meantime.. apple sauce, with chia seeds and ground flax seeds if you can find those easily. Many stores sell them in bulk and you can buy a few tablespoons of chia seeds at a time..
Come back and let us know when you're feeling better or if you head to the doc, how it went.
All the best!2 -
Fasting would make constipation much worse due to lack of fiber, less water, less fat, less bulk to help push and less magnesium. Take a last resort over the counter something, like magnesium sulfate, if it isn't a recurring problem. If you are getting enough fiber, fat and calories (you should) but are constantly constipated see a doctor.7
-
Careful, sometimes too much fibre can cause constipation.
Similarly, too much fat can too.
Are you on a high fat diet, perhaps?4 -
Fasting helps me. I eat a lot of salad and steamed vegetables, and that ends up causing problems for me unfortunately. When I fast, I drink a ton of water, take a supliment, and give my body a break from constantly digesting food. Fasting has changed my health entirely.2
-
Gross warning...
The bigger concern would be a bowel obstruction or a fecal impaction. See your doctor please, a week is far to long. Fasting will not clear it and at this point ruling out dangerous gastrointestinal conditions is more important than a home remedy that could potentially worsen your issues. If the doctor clears you (no pun intended) then continue with stool softeners and laxatives and lots of water. I hope you feel better!11 -
msalicia116 wrote: »Fasting helps me. I eat a lot of salad and steamed vegetables, and that ends up causing problems for me unfortunately. When I fast, I drink a ton of water, take a supliment, and give my body a break from constantly digesting food. Fasting has changed my health entirely.
Did you actually read the OP's post? It's about constipation. Are you saying fasting helps with your constipation?6 -
tiptoethruthetulips wrote: »msalicia116 wrote: »Fasting helps me. I eat a lot of salad and steamed vegetables, and that ends up causing problems for me unfortunately. When I fast, I drink a ton of water, take a supliment, and give my body a break from constantly digesting food. Fasting has changed my health entirely.
Did you actually read the OP's post? It's about constipation. Are you saying fasting helps with your constipation?
I would highly doubt that, since constipation is one of the most prominent side effects of fasting. I have no problems with occasional fasting (and yes, 3 days is generally considered safe) but not for constipation.3 -
Can you open your diary? I'd like to see how your fiber, fluid and fat consumption is...1
-
tiptoethruthetulips wrote: »msalicia116 wrote: »Fasting helps me. I eat a lot of salad and steamed vegetables, and that ends up causing problems for me unfortunately. When I fast, I drink a ton of water, take a supliment, and give my body a break from constantly digesting food. Fasting has changed my health entirely.
Did you actually read the OP's post? It's about constipation. Are you saying fasting helps with your constipation?
Did you read mine? Her subject asked about fasting. Her post talked about constepation. I responded with 1. what happens to me in regards to fasting, and 2.how I handle constepation personally because of the highly dense fiberous food I eat that gets me that way.
Do not need your permission to tell her what I do to treat my similar issue. And how fasting has improved my health.
ETA- OP, you asked two questions, which are completely different. So it's difficult to answer them both. Fasting is fine and healthy even. But it is not used to treat constepation. If you have other health concerns, fasting has many health benefits it may be appropriate for, but constepation is not one of them. But because you combined the two questions, I let you know what I do when I have your issue and I'm fasting. But it is already my lifestyle, and not something I'm using to treat your singular issue.
So your two questions posed at once really don't work well in a single comment as you see.
2 -
Have you spoken you a pharmacist. They might recommend you something
Not sure how a fast would solve constipation3 -
This content has been removed.
-
Hey lovie. Fasting will not help with constipation. It may indeed make it worse. Drink plenty of water, some pear juice if you have any and try to get some vegetables into you.
Please see your gp about it as there may be something causing it that we don't know about.2 -
msalicia116 wrote: »Fasting helps me. I eat a lot of salad and steamed vegetables, and that ends up causing problems for me unfortunately. When I fast, I drink a ton of water, take a supliment, and give my body a break from constantly digesting food. Fasting has changed my health entirely.
Why do you think your body needs a break from digesting food.... That's what it's designed to do. Does your heart need a break from beating?20 -
The less in the less out so nope it won't help constipation and unless you have a serious GI disease your body doesn't need a break from digestion.1
-
If you have had a recent change in diet and are eating different things, then this can cause a temporary disturbance.
I usually have no trouble with constipation if I eat plenty of dark leafy greens and take a magnesium supplement and vitamin C.
However as others have mentioned, until your body adjusts to the fiber, you might paradoxically experience bloating and constipation.
I occasionally (not often because I find it harsh) will drink a slimming tea. It has senna in it. This can cause cramping if you drink too much. I would take it only if I was extremely constipated. I was on the toilet a long time though, so don't do it if you have to go to work or travel or anything necessary.
Do get checked out by a physician because there are other reasons such as blockage or medical complications as another poster already mentioned.1 -
Look ... if you feel very distended and painful in your stomach because of the constipation, then a break from adding more food is what I would, and have done ... but please super hydrate yourself with lots of water.
When this happens to me, I find that drinking some prune juice helps, also taking a stool softener. But please do consider at least calling the nurse line at your doctor or health insurance office and speaking with a nurse about it. They might very well suggest an office visit or tell you which over the counter treatment to take to get over this.
This can be a serious issue ... once I ended up in the hospital because of passing out while trying to pass stool in the over-constipated state and the treatment they gave me immediately was an enema to clear me out pronot. ... er,, that's pronto! And, with caution to add hydration and fiber to my diet as well as reduce foods that tend to put me in that state.1 -
No, fasting won't help because you need something to stimulate the colon to move things along. I rarely get constipated but if I go 2 days or god forbid 3 days, I chew about 2 whole packets of Extra gum-spearmint, the one with the 15 sticks/pack, one after the other.
The sorbitol sweetener has a laxative effect by drawing water into the colon. It works even faster when I also at the same time eat a pint (or even 2) of regular fat plain vanilla ice cream. Things should be happening in just a few hours. You will be very gassy so do this at home. Other sugar free candies with sorbitol or xylitol have a similar effect.
0 -
msalicia116 wrote: »tiptoethruthetulips wrote: »msalicia116 wrote: »Fasting helps me. I eat a lot of salad and steamed vegetables, and that ends up causing problems for me unfortunately. When I fast, I drink a ton of water, take a supliment, and give my body a break from constantly digesting food. Fasting has changed my health entirely.
Did you actually read the OP's post? It's about constipation. Are you saying fasting helps with your constipation?
Did you read mine? Her subject asked about fasting. Her post talked about constepation. I responded with 1. what happens to me in regards to fasting, and 2.how I handle constepation personally because of the highly dense fiberous food I eat that gets me that way.
Do not need your permission to tell her what I do to treat my similar issue. And how fasting has improved my health.
ETA- OP, you asked two questions, which are completely different. So it's difficult to answer them both. Fasting is fine and healthy even. But it is not used to treat constepation. If you have other health concerns, fasting has many health benefits it may be appropriate for, but constepation is not one of them. But because you combined the two questions, I let you know what I do when I have your issue and I'm fasting. But it is already my lifestyle, and not something I'm using to treat your singular issue.
So your two questions posed at once really don't work well in a single comment as you see.
The OP didn't ask two questions. The OP asked if Fasting will help with constipation.
They didn't ask if Fasting is good, and then ask for help with constipation. So your first post is probably very confusing since you originally said fasting helps you.
7 -
TavistockToad wrote: »msalicia116 wrote: »Fasting helps me. I eat a lot of salad and steamed vegetables, and that ends up causing problems for me unfortunately. When I fast, I drink a ton of water, take a supliment, and give my body a break from constantly digesting food. Fasting has changed my health entirely.
Why do you think your body needs a break from digesting food.... That's what it's designed to do. Does your heart need a break from beating?
Our hearts get a break at night, when we sleep, right? Since our metabolisms shut down while we're sleeping (which causes us to gain weight when we eat right before bed), our hearts must be taking a break.5 -
TavistockToad wrote: »msalicia116 wrote: »Fasting helps me. I eat a lot of salad and steamed vegetables, and that ends up causing problems for me unfortunately. When I fast, I drink a ton of water, take a supliment, and give my body a break from constantly digesting food. Fasting has changed my health entirely.
Why do you think your body needs a break from digesting food.... That's what it's designed to do. Does your heart need a break from beating?
Our hearts get a break at night, when we sleep, right? Since our metabolisms shut down while we're sleeping (which causes us to gain weight when we eat right before bed), our hearts must be taking a break.
Our metabolisms don't shut down when were sleeping. It's also a myth that we gain weight because we ate right before bed (one I used to believe) We gain weight because we eat more calories than we burn, regardless of the time of day.
5 -
TavistockToad wrote: »msalicia116 wrote: »Fasting helps me. I eat a lot of salad and steamed vegetables, and that ends up causing problems for me unfortunately. When I fast, I drink a ton of water, take a supliment, and give my body a break from constantly digesting food. Fasting has changed my health entirely.
Why do you think your body needs a break from digesting food.... That's what it's designed to do. Does your heart need a break from beating?
Our hearts get a break at night, when we sleep, right? Since our metabolisms shut down while we're sleeping (which causes us to gain weight when we eat right before bed), our hearts must be taking a break.
No to both. Your heart slows due to less activity, but it still continues to work. And I have no idea why you think we gain weight when we eat right before bed. Meal timing is irrelevant to weight loss. You continue to digest food and do everything else your metabolism does while sleeping. It's also the time your muscles do a lot of repairing.
2 -
TavistockToad wrote: »msalicia116 wrote: »Fasting helps me. I eat a lot of salad and steamed vegetables, and that ends up causing problems for me unfortunately. When I fast, I drink a ton of water, take a supliment, and give my body a break from constantly digesting food. Fasting has changed my health entirely.
Why do you think your body needs a break from digesting food.... That's what it's designed to do. Does your heart need a break from beating?
Our hearts get a break at night, when we sleep, right? Since our metabolisms shut down while we're sleeping (which causes us to gain weight when we eat right before bed), our hearts must be taking a break.
Our metabolisms don't shut down when were sleeping. It's also a myth that we gain weight because we ate right before bed (one I used to believe) We gain weight because we eat more calories than we burn, regardless of the time of day.
Yeah - she knows that. It was tongue-in-cheek.9 -
TavistockToad wrote: »msalicia116 wrote: »Fasting helps me. I eat a lot of salad and steamed vegetables, and that ends up causing problems for me unfortunately. When I fast, I drink a ton of water, take a supliment, and give my body a break from constantly digesting food. Fasting has changed my health entirely.
Why do you think your body needs a break from digesting food.... That's what it's designed to do. Does your heart need a break from beating?
Our hearts get a break at night, when we sleep, right? Since our metabolisms shut down while we're sleeping (which causes us to gain weight when we eat right before bed), our hearts must be taking a break.
Our metabolisms don't shut down when were sleeping. It's also a myth that we gain weight because we ate right before bed (one I used to believe) We gain weight because we eat more calories than we burn, regardless of the time of day.Tacklewasher wrote: »TavistockToad wrote: »msalicia116 wrote: »Fasting helps me. I eat a lot of salad and steamed vegetables, and that ends up causing problems for me unfortunately. When I fast, I drink a ton of water, take a supliment, and give my body a break from constantly digesting food. Fasting has changed my health entirely.
Why do you think your body needs a break from digesting food.... That's what it's designed to do. Does your heart need a break from beating?
Our hearts get a break at night, when we sleep, right? Since our metabolisms shut down while we're sleeping (which causes us to gain weight when we eat right before bed), our hearts must be taking a break.
No to both. Your heart slows due to less activity, but it still continues to work. And I have no idea why you think we gain weight when we eat right before bed. Meal timing is irrelevant to weight loss. You continue to digest food and do everything else your metabolism does while sleeping. It's also the time your muscles do a lot of repairing.
It was absolute sarcasm.10 -
Drink a couple of glasses of prune juice. If that doesn't help, see a doctor.1
-
TavistockToad wrote: »msalicia116 wrote: »Fasting helps me. I eat a lot of salad and steamed vegetables, and that ends up causing problems for me unfortunately. When I fast, I drink a ton of water, take a supliment, and give my body a break from constantly digesting food. Fasting has changed my health entirely.
Why do you think your body needs a break from digesting food.... That's what it's designed to do. Does your heart need a break from beating?
Our hearts get a break at night, when we sleep, right? Since our metabolisms shut down while we're sleeping (which causes us to gain weight when we eat right before bed), our hearts must be taking a break.
Our metabolisms don't shut down when were sleeping. It's also a myth that we gain weight because we ate right before bed (one I used to believe) We gain weight because we eat more calories than we burn, regardless of the time of day.Tacklewasher wrote: »TavistockToad wrote: »msalicia116 wrote: »Fasting helps me. I eat a lot of salad and steamed vegetables, and that ends up causing problems for me unfortunately. When I fast, I drink a ton of water, take a supliment, and give my body a break from constantly digesting food. Fasting has changed my health entirely.
Why do you think your body needs a break from digesting food.... That's what it's designed to do. Does your heart need a break from beating?
Our hearts get a break at night, when we sleep, right? Since our metabolisms shut down while we're sleeping (which causes us to gain weight when we eat right before bed), our hearts must be taking a break.
No to both. Your heart slows due to less activity, but it still continues to work. And I have no idea why you think we gain weight when we eat right before bed. Meal timing is irrelevant to weight loss. You continue to digest food and do everything else your metabolism does while sleeping. It's also the time your muscles do a lot of repairing.
It was absolute sarcasm.
I think you needed to use a more obvious sarcasm font....9 -
This content has been removed.
-
I've done several 3 day fasts for religious reasons.
Bowel movements always stop, even when I know I haven't *ahem* disposed of all my final meal yet.
So no, I'm gonna go out on a limb and say that fasting will not cure your constipation.
Talk to your doctor about it.3 -
From personal experience...the less I eat, the less I go. So most likely fasting won't help and may make your issue worse. An over the counter laxative (store brand of ex-lax) works wonders for me in 8-12 hours....just make sure you're going to have access to a bathroom after you take it! My less severe go-tos are Taco Bell and Soda.2
-
maybe try a stool softner? Or talk to a doctor if it's been happening for a while.1
This discussion has been closed.
Categories
- All Categories
- 1.4M Health, Wellness and Goals
- 393.4K Introduce Yourself
- 43.8K Getting Started
- 260.2K Health and Weight Loss
- 175.9K Food and Nutrition
- 47.4K Recipes
- 232.5K Fitness and Exercise
- 424 Sleep, Mindfulness and Overall Wellness
- 6.5K Goal: Maintaining Weight
- 8.5K Goal: Gaining Weight and Body Building
- 153K Motivation and Support
- 8K Challenges
- 1.3K Debate Club
- 96.3K Chit-Chat
- 2.5K Fun and Games
- 3.7K MyFitnessPal Information
- 24 News and Announcements
- 1.1K Feature Suggestions and Ideas
- 2.6K MyFitnessPal Tech Support Questions