constipated and dejected!

Constipation!!

Man how did that happen?

I have been eating a whole harvest-worth of veggies every day and yet I am backed up!

I actually gained 5 lbs of poop this week, and have been fighting it! I managed to get 4lbs of it back off but I am still 1lb heavier than last week and it is getting me down!

I hope that I can shift it by tomorrow's weigh in......   man I feel dejected!

I have been working out everyday and have been watching everything I eat, I wish I knew what I was doing wrong!

grrrr... I wish I had someone here to advise me and give me a hug. 

Cut back on the vegetables a little, drink plenty of warm fluids (2 litres minimum plus extra if you're working out) and be as active as possible.   Choose wholegrain things like bread and pasta over their 'white' equivalents which tend to turn into glue in the gut.  Same applies to other processed foods and 'diet' products.   Also..... watch the fat content of your diet.  Too little fat and that can seize things up quite badly.  As a last resort an OTC laxative taken at night can be useful

Don't worry about tomorrow's weigh-in.... 1lb here or there makes no difference really.  Once your digestion is sorted out and everything is back to normal you'll be fine.

I really hope so hun! I really do - I feel awful!  I feel it all sitting in my gut!

Prunes prunes the musical fruit, eat a few of those and you should clear out.   Or try a simple product like sensokat that you  just take a tablet and it loosens things without causing any dashing.

I have found that since I have been eating healthy for the last 5 months I have suffered constipation which I never suffered as an unhealthy eater, I think its because you eat less physical food though.

Not a nice side effect of eating healthy though lol.

yes I was thinking of Senokot - and I have never had constipation in my life either! and I'm panicking! lol

Oranges are fantastic for constipation.  Stay away from bananas!  Prunes also work wonders, both of these options work just as well as anything you can buy over the counter

Ax

I can't eat citrus fruit - I have an allergy!

I might try the prunes though

I was wondering, could this be why I am not sleeping well either this week?

About three times since January I've gotten backed up.  I could not go for 2-3 days and for someone who usually goes twice a day, it was awful.  I tried fruit, I tried fiber, I tried being more active and nothing seemed to kick it into gear.  Unfortunately all three times I had to use pills to get myself moving.

You're not alone!! Try all the natural remidies first, I would not turn to medication until you have exhausted all other opprotunities...using those pills feels miserable.  Awful stomach cramps and running to the bathroom for a few hours. 

I feel like the entire bottom of my body is weighted with sand! lol

and actually I am a 5-6 times a day girl! this is awful, I feel so bad, it is making not have the energy to work out after work, I don't want this to ruin all my hard work!

As a health consultant...plz be very careful of Senokot. It is highly addictive for your body. Funny enough all of the laxitave aids are.

Its kinda on the realm that if you can take something else that will get your system to go then your systemautomatoically becomes lazy ie "Hey I don't need to do the work anymore, wahoo!".

I watch myself extremely carefully as I have had 2 Hemorrhoidectomy's in the space of my 24yrs of life, if you are eating loads of veggies then your fibre has increased, which is a great thing for your system except that fibre needs LOADS of water. Otherwise instead of being a help, it creates cement in your gut.

I would highly recommend the increased warm water intake idea suggested by gi-jane and I would eat things like dried apricots and prunes (wonder workers!).

Also when you drink alot of the water at one time, try lying on your left hand side, with knees drawn up to your tummy, kinda creates a natural enima action.

But if it reaches 5 days then, stuff all the holistic info, you HAVE to take something asap!! Huge issues for your body when it reaches 5 days.

xx

I fix the 'addictive' thing by drinking Magnesium Citrate only about twice a year when I get a backup. It tastes so repulsive that I can't bring myself to use it more than that!

I am finding that my problem was lack of liquids combined with a highly increased fiber intake. They say you should have what 10 8 oz glasses of water per day? After examining my H2O intake, I was only having 40 oz total. I now have 25oz per meal if I can help it.

For a long part of my life, I thought it was normal to only go every 8 days-2 weeks. My diet was abhorrent. My fluid intake was like 6 cans of dr. pepper a day. Now that was painful. I thought it was normal, for a long time as a kid.

Original Post by stlc:

As a health consultant...plz be very careful of Senokot. It is highly addictive for your body. Funny enough all of the laxitave aids are.

Its kinda on the realm that if you can take something else that will get your system to go then your systemautomatoically becomes lazy ie "Hey I don't need to do the work anymore, wahoo!".

I watch myself extremely carefully as I have had 2 Hemorrhoidectomy's in the space of my 24yrs of life, if you are eating loads of veggies then your fibre has increased, which is a great thing for your system except that fibre needs LOADS of water. Otherwise instead of being a help, it creates cement in your gut.

I would highly recommend the increased warm water intake idea suggested by gi-jane and I would eat things like dried apricots and prunes (wonder workers!).

Also when you drink alot of the water at one time, try lying on your left hand side, with knees drawn up to your tummy, kinda creates a natural enima action.

But if it reaches 5 days then, stuff all the holistic info, you HAVE to take something asap!! Huge issues for your body when it reaches 5 days.

xx

 

 What is a "health consultant"? Just curious, as I have never heard this term. What are your credentials?

I have always had problems, especially when I travel. I do most of the above suggestions. I especially love prunes and appricots, and growing up in Arizona, we have citrus trees in our yard! I still struggle with it about once a month. I need to be very diligent about getting enough water. That is hard since we moved to the east and I don't feel thirsty like I did in AZ. Good luck.

I agree with the comment, you may not be getting enough fat  People don't realize we need fat for many bodily functions.  Try Fiber Choice wafers.  Easy to take, don't need water and work like a charm!  Also, yogurt with active cultures or a supplement from the health food store with those type cultures.  Keeps things working smoothly all the time.  I take "pearls".  Good luck and feel better!

Have you tried the yogurts for digestive help

Karen,  I just wanted to add my 2 cents...  Okay, I have been chronically constipated for a few years now.  So I went to a herbalist and she gave me this advise and it worked for me, so here goes... 

When you first wake up in the morning drink 16oz of warm water (just like suggested above).  And eat 4 stewed prunes.  The way I eat the stewed prunes is, I put 4 prunes in a cup of water at night before I go to bed, then put them in the microwave for 1 min in the morning when i wake up.  I sometimes add cinnamon to the water, whatever you like and let them cool and eat them all at right away. Works every time!!! 

It helped me to have it spelled out just how to do it and do it everyday.  I hope this works for you and others.  I was just so easy I wished I would have thought of it earlier. 

I have never eaten prunes and so I don't have any, but I think I'll give them a try tomorrow morning

Linseeds in the morning. Put spoon in hot water and drink down when cools or put on cereal, yoghurt, etc. Also feiyan tea is good for digestion and constipation... hope you are better soon.

I use prune juice for the little ones and it works a charm as well....

5LBS of POOP???????????????????

that does not sound right

Black coffee does it every time for me.  Don't even have to drink the whole cup.

You need to take psyllium husk and drink lots of water.  psyllium husk is a natural plant fiber that does not cause dependence, I would recomend taking it twice a day for 2 weeks.  The easiest form of it is a brand called  Metamucil which can be found at any pharmacy, it will clear you out quickly and easily.