Having bathroom issues...

kmjacobs93
kmjacobs93 Posts: 46 Member
edited December 20 in Health and Weight Loss
So, I have noticed since I have started losing weight that I am having more and more trouble using the restroom, but the thing is that I take a fiber supplement everyday and yet still I find myself relying more and more on laxatives because I am uncomfortable...is anyone else having these issues? And any advise for a girl like me?
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Replies

  • MeMyCatsandI
    MeMyCatsandI Posts: 704 Member
    Are you eating "natural" fiber in the form of food too? Also, lots of water.
  • gpstrucker
    gpstrucker Posts: 930 Member
    Happened to me the first week or so, but it passed (pardon the pun)
  • Collinsclan22
    Collinsclan22 Posts: 76
    Do you feel constipated or just not having to go as often? If you are eating healthier and exercising more, perhaps your body is using more of the food your are consuming and having to expel less? Also, be careful with the laxatives. A gentle stool softener is much safer, taken every 12 hrs as needed.
  • allisonrozsa
    allisonrozsa Posts: 178 Member
    My doctor told me once that too much fiber slows down the digestive system and, yes, makes it harder to use the bathroom. She said that, until we get to an older age, we don't need a significant amount of Fiber but should still with a multi-vitamin instead of high fiber foods/supplements.
  • kim8184
    kim8184 Posts: 56 Member
    Had the same issue when we started to eat clean. The only thing I can tell you is that your body will need to adjust, eat fiber in the way of veggies and drink a lot, and I mean a lot of water, this will def. help. I didn't at first, just kept it at 8-8oz. glasses a day. Well that wasn't enough for me, so I started to drink half of my body weight in oz's of water. Hope this helps.
  • Motivation
    Motivation Posts: 64 Member
    it would help if you open up your diary so we could see if it's something in your diet. You might not be getting as much fiber as you think. Most fiber supplements only give you about 5 grams of fiber, make sure you are eating lots of the leafy green stuff and iceberg lettuce doesn't count. lol :P
  • cairoqueen27
    cairoqueen27 Posts: 26 Member
    I don't know why you have to take fibre supps, but usually if you are eating lots more healthy foods they have natural fibres in but need lots water to help them digest.So try to avoid laxatives and instead drink plenty of fluids. Its a similar problem to "holiday tummy" the change of diet causes problems for a short while. Things usually settle down on their own. Good luck on your weight loss.
  • pullipgirl
    pullipgirl Posts: 767 Member
    eat more fiber from food, that is what I did I try to get 25-35 grams at least per day: avocado, peaches, apples, red beans are good sources Also you will need to drink a lot of water
  • StarvingDiva
    StarvingDiva Posts: 1,107 Member
    More fruits and veggies. I juice green juices a lot, once drinking those I never have issues. HAHA!
  • laurastrait21
    laurastrait21 Posts: 307 Member
    1) lots of water!
    2) make sure you are tracking your fiber intake from food on MFP and see if you are high/low/meeting goal!
    3) if all else fails .. i swear by 2 tbsp psyllium husks mixed in warm water before bed!
  • kmjacobs93
    kmjacobs93 Posts: 46 Member
    I drink at least 8 glasses of water a day and lots of leafy greens..
  • DrRazamataz
    DrRazamataz Posts: 4
    As people have said: Eat more fiber. Drink more water.
  • Christine1110
    Christine1110 Posts: 1,786 Member
    Lots of water....fruits & veggies, and you'll be fine : )
  • grapeeyes1
    grapeeyes1 Posts: 229 Member
    Before MFP I was in the bathroom all the time and had constant diarrhea. Now there is less fat in my diet and at first I was constipated. Now I feel like a normal person and go less often. Your body is adjusting to getting healthy. I do not take fiber supplements, I eat fiber in the form of foods. Good luck on your journey!
  • billsica
    billsica Posts: 4,741 Member
    Maybe stop eating the fiber, and trying an enema.

    You will feel more relaxed and cleaned out.
  • 12skipafew99100
    12skipafew99100 Posts: 1,669 Member
    No but do you get enough water? More fiber needs more water or it will backfire.
  • 1Kristine1
    1Kristine1 Posts: 697 Member
    You need loads of water to flush out the fiber
    Also exercise helps :)
    Try not to rely on laxatives too much, try not to take any unless its been like 3 days.
    Stool softeners are better, but they also need water intake to work.
  • CoryIda
    CoryIda Posts: 7,870 Member
    Fiber without adequate hydration will plug you up more.

    Plenty of fiber, plenty of water, and plenty of movement.

    ETA - you do need adequate fat intake as well.
  • Heidi_M78
    Heidi_M78 Posts: 143 Member
    If you have increased your fibre then you need to increase your water
  • korsicash
    korsicash Posts: 770 Member
    LOTS OF WATER but also I found a natural tea called smooth move. I felt weird buying it but you drink a cup at night before bed and in the morning ta da no more issues. I take that and a fiber supplement because other wise I am like a snake and almost never go!
  • stronglikebull
    stronglikebull Posts: 402
    you also need to keep your fat intake up if you're increasing your fiber by a large amount. water will help lubricate things, but so does fat. gotta keep everything in balance!

    and don't forget your leafy veggies, you need 'scrubbers' to help everything move along too ;)
  • Contrarian
    Contrarian Posts: 8,138 Member
    Prunes.
  • morninglilli
    morninglilli Posts: 194
    Mine has slowed down too, but that was a blessing! I have IBS so not going to the bathroom 15 times a day is fantastic!!!! Now I just go once maybe twice :blushing: .
    I don't know if you are using anything like metamucil, but those fiber supplements wreck me!!!! I eat a cup of fiber one cereal in the morning, followed by a cup of coffee and bam!!!! Like clockwork! Try upping your daily fiber to about 30g. A day. See if that doesn't get ya going pretty regular. Eat your fiber in good food form!
  • kmjacobs93
    kmjacobs93 Posts: 46 Member
    Thanks everyone! I appreciate the advise and the non-judgement!! :blushing:
  • heatgal976
    heatgal976 Posts: 53 Member
    I have had bowel issues ever since I could remember. I always take magnesium and vitamin C everyday to help keep me regular. Extra fiber from Metamucil or other fiber supplements have never helped me. They actually make the situation worse. The vitamin C and magnesium works for me in conjuction with bananas, avocado, butternut squash, oatmeal, etc...
  • Mercenary1914
    Mercenary1914 Posts: 1,087 Member
    eat more fiber from food, that is what I did I try to get 25-35 grams at least per day: avocado, peaches, apples, red beans are good sources Also you will need to drink a lot of water

    This ^^ And you should workout...Cardio should trigger movement...
  • morninglilli
    morninglilli Posts: 194
    Thanks everyone! I appreciate the advise and the non-judgement!! :blushing:


    Girl! Everybody poops! :wink:
  • Pinoy_Pal
    Pinoy_Pal Posts: 280 Member
    ...pretty much what everyone's said so far. For me, it was LOTS of water and broccoli :o]
  • Perfectdiamonds1
    Perfectdiamonds1 Posts: 347 Member
    :laugh: I'm so glad this subject was brought up. I had that problem also. I just did not know what to do. Being a newly diagnosis diabetic I did not know what to take. Sooooo..... I just asked my pharmacist. She suggested increasing my fiber, eating more green veggies. I was already drinking 1/2 my body weight in water. I just could not get going. She also suggest that I take Miralax (what they give you for colonoscopys) to clean myself out. After that, flaxseed oil capsules daily. I have increase my fiber with eating Fiber One Cereal, eating more fruits and veggies.

    Also she said it was okay to take a stool softner daily.

    After doing all that, I must say I feel like a new person, I was just so uncomfortable.

    Thank you so much for bring up the subject. I wanted to but just did not know how:laugh:

    Oh yes, how could I forget, exercise, exercise, and more exercise. After a good walk for 60 to 90 minutes I have not trouble
  • trulycrazed
    trulycrazed Posts: 79 Member
    I had issues for about 2ish weeks. I thought, like everyone else that it was fibre and water shortage, I was wrong. After another couple days of suffering and feeling bloated I finally gave in and started cooking again with high fat things (ie butter), now everything has cleared up, so to speak. Basically, make sure you're getting enough fats and oils in your diet as well as fibre and water!
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