sudden fiber increase

butterfly10398
butterfly10398 Posts: 176
in Food and Nutrition
will a sudden increase in fiber intake cause weight gain even if I am within all limitations?

Replies

  • 2bFitNTrim
    2bFitNTrim Posts: 1,209 Member
    No it won't. But a warning: if you are not used to eating a high fiber diet, increase it slowly. Otherwise, you might experience some very unpleasant side effects since your body is not used to it. Bloating, gas, constipation/diarrhea....you get the idea. And drink plenty of water!
  • butterfly10398
    butterfly10398 Posts: 176
    I've already increased the fiber drastically because of a challenge I signed up for... Now i've gained 4 lbs since last thursday, but I haven't been eating more, just eating more fiber, while staying within my dietary limits... its disheartening to have gained 4 lbs back from what I lost.
  • ablykins
    ablykins Posts: 200 Member
    How are you getting your extra fiber? From food or from a supplement?
  • mel128
    mel128 Posts: 81 Member
    Same here. I have increase 6 pounds since I start to take Benefiber a month ago....
  • butterfly10398
    butterfly10398 Posts: 176
    I'm getting my fiber naturally through foods that are higher in fiber.... I'm trying to get it more from fruits and veggies, but I have a couple of fiberone items that I eat also. So I'm def getting it all from food.
  • ablykins
    ablykins Posts: 200 Member
    Many high fiber foods are pretty calorically dense- such as beans, grains, and fruits. Increasing fiber intake is a great idea, but can also sometimes translate into an increase in sugars (especially in fruits) or a surge in calories (beans and whole grains). Certainly it is OK, but if you don't adjust your activity level, exercise diligent portion control, or eat them at the right time of day (such as post-workout for fruit or pre-fuel for beans/rice), then they can sometimes cause weight gain. Fiber is also only found in carbs- carbs restore glycogen in the muscle, which holds water. Some of your weight gain could be natural water weight, which is perfectly fine. An increase in the scale does not always mean an increase in fat. Have you gained/lost inches?

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