Constipation

take laxitives?

You need a stool softener or an enema. Try adding healthy oils to your diet, add some EVOO to your food. Good luck!

I spent the morning in t he hospital where they did abdominal xrays and found the bowels are completely blocked from beginning to end. They are wondering if it is because there is not enough fat in my diet. They told me the bowels need fat in order to work-like butter, salad oil, etc. Has anyone ever heard of this or had this problem? What did you do for relief?? Thanks for your help.

Yes! Your body NEEDS fat, believe it or not. Good fats...fish & nuts have good fat. In fact, almonds are a GREAT source and are tasty.


Edit:
However, I don't know if this helps with the constipation, I just know our body needs fat.

Eat high fiber food, such as F-Factor cereals or bars. My nutritionist told me told me that not enough fat will also cause your gallbladder to fail.

YES! I have had this problem before on a high fiber, low fat diet. The bulked up fiber needs fat to move it through your system. Start adding some good fats to your diet. I make sure I get 2 teaspoons of oil a day and eat two avocados a week. They are high in fat, but half a small one or a quarter of a medium one isn't that calorie dense.

I STILL have problems sometimes, so I do take Mirlax about 3 times a week. My former nutritionist says it is perfectly safe even to take daily. It's not a laxative, but a softener. I mix it in Sugar-Free grape Kool-aid.

Good luck! I know it's miserable!

And drink plenty of water. Your bowels need that too.

I have this problem too. I try to add a dash of olive oil whenever I'm cooking a protein. It makes steak and chicken taste yummy, AND helps my digestion.

Stay away from laxatives.... they won't help in the long run.

Make veggies your new best-friend!

You can try Miralax, which is milder than a regular laxative, or something like Metamucil.

Ezekiel Bread
Veggies

Occasionally I'll do a Fiber One bar or something, but usually the above handle it great for me

I had ezekiel bread for the first time today. I missed bread. It made my day. It wasn't that bad either!

Drink lots of water, use finely ground flax seed on many things like yr cereals, oatmeal, yogurts, scrambled eggs, ground meats etc..., eat plenty of fruits and veggies, use olive oil in small amounts. Drink cleansing teas found in the health food stores or better yet check out this website: www.drnatura.com They have a wonderful Kleri tea that relaxes you for a good nights sleep and will help you move yr bowels. They also have 30 day cleansing programs. There are some nasty pics too if you search them out but if you have a weak stomach I wouldn't suggest it. You can also take Colace tablets every night as it is just a stool softner - you can get yr drug store brand too which should be the same - I buy my husband the Rite Aid brand. Remember if you take anything like Metamusil you MUST DRINK LOTS OF WATER THROUGHT THE DAY - IF NOT IT WILL SOLIDIFY IN YR SYSTEM AND MADE THINGS WORSE. Hope you feel better soon as it is a miserable feeling. Take care.

I never have this problem not sure why. I am sorry you had to go to the hospital. I hope you feel better soon.

I have IBS and go between long periods of constipation and then sudden periods of painful, loose bowels. This has never been caused by diet...I've had it since my teen years...but eating alot of protein has made it worse at times. I've been blocked up like that a few times. My doctors put me on a prescription medication which was awful and made me nauseated all the time so I couldn't stay on it. The another doctor told me to simply take 500 mg of magnesium at night (I take the Phillips tablet) and it works like a charm! Magnesium is a laxative but it is not a stimulant so it is safe to take daily. It keeps me regular. Of course eating alot of fruit and fresh veggies helps and Activia yogurt helps too!

Regular fiber (the good stuff) in your diet, plus a small amount of healthy fat, and drink plenty of water. I have learned that doing this daily keeps me regular.

MFP should tell you how much fat and fiber you need based on your weight, height, age, and activity. If you include 8 glasses of water per day (or 4 16oz bottles of water) you should be fine. Water is really important. Maybe a (very little) bit of olive oil on your salad a couple of times per week. I take 2 gummy vitamin suppliments per day as well. Since eating healthy I do not go 'as often' but I still go at least once per day.

Although, MFP does a great job calculating those numbers. Its generic, and each person is different even with the calculations. Sometimes you have to change certain numbers to attune it better to your body.