Embarrassing problem

hey guys, not sure if anyone else has this problem when they start a weight loss program but ever since i have started calorie counting i feel constipated...i am still eating plenty of fibre (weetabix for breakfast, wholemeal pitta for lunch, fruit and veg throughout the day...are there any foods that ye could recommend that would have a natural laxative effect? i havent gone to the toilet properly in four days now and i dont think this is normal??

thank

What's your carb/fat/protein ratio?  If you're not eating enough fat, you could encounter such problems.  Same goes if you're not drinking enough water.

I'm just getting over a bout of constipation. I still don't know where it came from, I might have been from too much fiber or vitamins. At first I went walking, used stool softeners and drank coffee in the mornings and it would give me some movement, but that eventually stopped working. Then I bought some "Smooth Move" tea and it got things flowing. I'm hoping it's over, but well see over the next few days. Good luck!

Edit: I just read the previous reply and I added fat and water as well. I couldn't tell if they made the difference though. I had already been drinking a lot of water, but adding some fat was fun!!

If it's 4 days you're going to need some over-the-counter medication to help you out.  One that works overnight is usually enough.  But, if not, do go to see your doctor rather than struggling.

Natural laxatives are things like lettuce, chilli peppers, tomatoes, prunes/prune juice, kiwifruit, figs, raw garlic, onions, olive oil, flaxseeds/linseeds... all kinds of things.  More fluids will help you a lot.  But do make sure you're getting enough bulk of food in your diet.  When you cut calories it's easy to cut down on the volume of food you eat and give your digestion nothing to work on.  Get at least 5 x 3oz portions vegetables each day and 2 portions fruit so that you avoid that.  Good luck

maybe your eating too much fiber- that could cause constipation and/or gas. stay between 25 and 40 grams, any more and you might run into problems

I can just go for a walk and there go my bowels!!


Clarice

 

LOL

One thing that helped me is FiberOne bars. Since I started adding those to my diet I haven't had to use any otc laxatives which i *needed* before. And drink a ton of water.

The best part is I love the bars, they are chewy and come in chocolate chip, caramel chip and i think peanut butter...they really make a great dessert, and are only 140 calories, and also fill you up!

Try drinking tea with senna in it at night and it should help move things along the next day. There is a tea called "smooth move" that tastes good (imo) and works for me. It also includes ginger and licorice roots, which are supposed to aid in digestion.

For more information on senna, maybe google "senna bowels". It also comes in tablet and extract form. But since I drink tea every night anyway, I prefer the tea. I'm also afraid of it in it's pure form...sounds pretty potent and...er...unpredictable.