A question about BM, Don't ya love me

Okay, this may seem really gross to some, and very honest to others.

Sometimes I don't have a BM for about 4 days, and then when I do I go for about 4 days before it stops again, I've learned to live with this. I usually look at my BM to make sure it is a healthy color and what not, so I was wondering how long is it supposed to take for food to be digested and to have a BM?

I have noticed food 4 days after I have eaten it, if not more, in my BM. Do you think this could be one reason why I am having trouble with weight loss?

Tink

Oh and thanks for any answers, I know it's a sort of gross topic.

How many grams of fiber are you getting a day?

I haven't been getting much, about 15 on average. On days when I do eat between 23-30 grams I get a really upset stomach. Seems most foods I eat are healthy, well except for yesterday, they have a lot of everything but a lack of fiber. I am getting a fiber supplement today, and people can say it's not as good as getting it in food, but it's what I am going to do.

Have a read here

http://www.calorie-count.com/forums/post/9052 .html

Not being a dr - I say go to a dr.  It almost sounds a bit like Irritable Bowel Syndrome

It should take about 8 hours to digest red meat - everything else is less.  Maybe more fiber is in order?  I have started eating Shirataki Noodles.  They are available on line from Konjac Foods [or wherever] or in a health food store.  They have absolutely no taste - they just pick up whatever you cook them with.  I really like them with teryaki beef and veggies [voila lite is a good one only 160 calories per serving].  Beware if you eat them with something that has very little seasonings they will be very plain tasting.  Anyway, they really get things going!  And they are super filling and all they have are 3 grams of fiber - no calories since you don't break down fiber for energy!

Good Luck!

Tammy

daily!

That being said... I eat a lot of fresh veggis and fruit.. so I get lots of fiber. Since we are being so brilliantly honest..

I had gotten the idea to begin eating dried fruit... and while at the grocery store, I discovered that dried prunes were very abundant. I never had a prune, so decided to get this mondo bag of them. I went home and that afternoon for a snack, I filled a bowl with what looked like gigantic raisons.. and proceded to eat the entire bowlful (about a cup and a half).

Well... that was an interesting discovery... lets just say, I got a weeks worth of BMs that evening. So... I kinda steer clear of the prunes now.

Ok, so aside from my own pointless anecdote, I guess I ought to say something usefull... Umm.. fiber would help keep your digestive system flowing smoothly. Perhaps you could look into high fiber alternatives of some sort, if the ones you know about seem to upset your stomach.

Thanks for your advices. :) I will keep them in mind.

I really appreciate it, I guess my real question was actually can having the BM issues be one of the reasons that I am having trouble losing weight.

I work/ed in a nursing home and a "group home" and one of our constant battles is actually constipation, so I know the facts about that. I just wondered if it was hindering my weight loss.

Tink

Hey brokentink!

i have just the same thing going on... or not going... :)

I have had a bad tummy my whole life, been to the doctor many times, many samples taken, very few informative responses...i have irritable bowel syndrome... but theres not much u can do about it anyway apart fomr monitor diet- so said my GP.

I have also wondered if it has something to do with my slow wieght loss...

i go thorugh stages where coffee 'works', sometimes prunes 'work' and often after a naughty boozy night out im moving again...

not very helpful of me i know, but just so you know youre not alone!

Guinness is the magical cure :)

Hey Tink,

I seem to have like the same exact problem as you.  4 days on 4 days off... I've been trying to come to the conclusion that it has GOT to be something that I am eating... therefore, I'm going to try to switch things up... It does seem to be hindering my weightloss alittle.  And also my mood!! lol... it's a pain in the butt:) 
My mom's coffee seems to work like a charm though... Whenever I go over there, and have some of her coffee....WHAM!  Potty time.  I think its cause she makes some ridiculously strong coffee, and I use the french vanilla creamer she has... Oh man.... hahaha

Sorry to get all into the convo...

Gypsy

Tink, I have this problem too. My stool naturally tends to be rocky and this has even lead to tears in my colon. I have been to the doctor lots and have even had a colonoscophy. With me it basically irritable bowl syndrome. My doctor says some people's colons just function differently than other peoples. I many have good BMs for 6 months then problems for a year, it goes away a few months and comes back. Been this way foreven. This year is when I had my first serious tear and the colonoscophy so I have gotten serious about battling it. I take 5g of Mucofalk(similar to metamucil) 2 or 3 times a day and I control the fiber in my deit. I eat kellog's mini wheat for breakfast,  whole bread each day & only whole wheat pasta's. I try to have fruit as a snack most days each week. I drink 3 liter's of water each day and avoid cola and black tea. I have notice coffee(my doc recommended it) helps but I don't really like it. Sometime honey helps. You have to play with your deit and see what works for you. Per doctor's orders I will use Milk of Magnesia if I don't go for 3 or 4. When that happen's I get a back ache and it is not pleasant the M of M is gental and fixes the problem. Right now I am going through a good period after battling since last Christmas  with the problem. Doctor says that normal it will come and go. Good luck.