Kind of embarassing problem...

For the past two weeks, I have been eating pretty much the same things I have been eating for a while. In fact, I've been doing better at not eating as much sugar and junk food. My problem is... I've been having a little trouble with staying regular. I just don't get it. I have been eating Fiber One cereal every day which has 14 grams of fiber per serving. I would drink more water, but at school the teachers get mad if you ask to go to the bathroom and I have 95 minute classes. I have never really had this problem before... at least not like this. My diet and exercise program haven't changed at all. What should I do?

Drinking the water would probably help. I understand because I have that problem a lot. A month or two ago I started taking magnesium as a supplement that may help with depression some (it  may help with seratonin production), and it pretty much solved my constipation problem. I didn't think of it before I took it but magnesium is a laxative (think milk of magnesia). Or you could take another laxative. I take the magnesium at night. If you start, only take one pill at first because it works pretty well!

Eat more fruit and vegetables.  Pure These foods are naturally high in water content and they will help pass the extra fibre.  But do drink more.   If you can't keep sipping all day and rushing off to the toilet, try to drink plenty in the morning, at lunchtimes and after school. 

Could it be that your eating less so there is just less to get rid of?

I understand this problem, since i've been on my diet, or lifestyle change if you will, i've had the exact same problem. The trouble is I DO drink lots and lots of water and my diet is about 80% fruit and veg. I have no problem going to the toilet to pee, I must go like 15 times a day!! But for the, ahum, other thing I can only go like every 2-3 days and even then it's really hard to go!!! I have an appointment with my doctor for another problem this coming tuesday and I may mention this to him while i'm there just to see if it is normal!!

Maybe i'm having too much fiber?? I don't eat much bread but when I do it's always wholemeal but I have cheerios or porridge for breakfast and usually porridge after I finish work just before I go to the gym or an aerobics class. That's about 3 or 4 times, not including weekends.

i was in a similar boat before i started eating a lot more fruit and veges. i really think that fruit is the key. i noticed when we had smoothies we (my bf and i) we were much more regular. we stopped for a while, but i'm back on the fruit and feeling great.

so maybe you could go grab an orange or something :D yum!

I've had this problem for 30 years; finally found the answer last year.  I order from Nature's Answer - Cascara Sagrada - it is an herb supplement, and it's the ONLY thing that's worked for me in my entire life.

You take 2 capsules (bottle directions) daily; I usually only need to use it every other day, and the bloat is gone - there's no cramping, just don't take more than the directions like a friend of mine did (you'll be sitting on the potty all day long).  Diane

Before trying laxatives -- herbal, chemical, or anything else -- please try eating a cereal with less extreme fiber content than Fiber One. I've never had it, but others report undesirable affects to their digestion from consuming that much fiber all at once.  Try oatmeal, kashi, or something comparable that isn't Fiber One.

I had exactly the same problem when I was eating large amounts of fiber at once.  Alevin is right: consumption of that much fiber in one meal may have the opposite effect on you.

You should be getting some 25-35 grams of fiber per day.  If you log food correctly in CC you should be able to measure it.  If you choose to stay on Fiber One, carefully measure the amount you eat.  But I would suggest eating something less fibery, like Cheerios, and mulitgrains, fruits, veggies, wild rice, etc.  Distribute your fiber evenly throughout the day.

And plenty of water.  Drink toward the end of class, this way you'll pee during the break.  BTW:  I read somewhere that a person is able to "digest" a cup of water per hour, the rest gets flushed.  So do not drink more than that in class, your body will stay hydrated, but teachers might be less upset.

Exercise can help constipation, so if you don't exercise often, try doing that!