Ok so I have a big problem I only have a Bowel movement like every 4-5 days and lost 5 lbs my first week and now im up one pound b/c I havent gone to the B/r in 4 DAYS!! I eat fiber cereal, fiber bars, water, hot water with lemon its so discouraging to my weight loss any suggestions thanks!

I don't know what to suggest but I found that taking fiber IE: physillium (sp?) plugs me up horribly! there is a non-habit forming laxative I use from the health food store called stomach ease and it works well if I am having problems.

My dh has had a problem all along with constipation. Nicole recommended a site that we got info from but I can't recall the site. Anyway, he is taking mineral oil along with his metamucil product. He mixes it up in juice or water, as it has NO flavor. Be sure to get the mineral oil sold in the laxative section. You really have to experiment with it to find the right amount to keep you regular and eventually, you're supposed to be "trained" and not have to take it but he's been taking it several months now. Our PhD totally approved it and said it was NOT habit forming and was gentle enough to use everyday with no side effects.
Hope this helps! I'm sure Nicole could help us out with the site - Nicole?!?
Blessings,

Jworion: I have had this problem too. I was taking a fiber supplement every day along with eating from the recommended "High Fiber" section of listed foods. I finally added FiberOne to my diet for one of my starches and that didn't help either. Getting to my point/solution.... I now use the FiberOne twice a day for two of my starch servings and that has made all the difference in the world. I also had a concern about being dependent upon the OTC stuff and wanted a natural alternative. Try it and see if it works. I put the FiberOne on Yogurt and it is like desert.

I work for a GI specialist and for a natural solution he suggests increasing fiber in your diet which all of us already does, and also take a magnesium supplement they sell it at Walmart, wegmans etc for anywhere from 2.00 to 4.00 and I have seen a lot of patients have good results with that. There is also an over the counter medication that used to be a prescription that he suggests also. It is called Miralax and you just add it to any drink, but some people get bloating with that. Also someone had said on this site she was taking a product called Colon Care that you can get at a health food store. I also found a product called Smooth Move tea at Wegmans when I find I need a little help I have a cup of that but I don't let the tea bag sit in the water as long as it says because I feel very crampy the next day but it gets the bowels moving. Good luck, once you get your bowels moving you will see the pounds come off.

Thanks Amy - I will try the fiber one twice a day. I already had it for breakfast. I am always trying to figure out what to do for my 3rd starch.
Pearl thanks for the info. I hope Nicole will chime in later.
Nanette - Do you know the name of the magnesium supplement? I already take magnesium - 2 of the 250mg of Nature Made magnesium and it does not seem to help.
On a related note - yesterday, I was complaining to my COD about starches and her suggestion was to try using less than the full allotment for the starch. Depending on the starch, it is not always possible, but I am keeping the suggestion in mind when choosing starches. I am trying to speed up my losses.
Thanks all.

I am very afraid of using laxatives. I know that they can cause scarring in the intestinal tract.


I just remembered that my doctor told me I was taking the wrong calcium supplement. She said that the one I was taking with calcium carbonate was constipating. She suggested making sure that the calcium supplement is calcium citrate based.

Once on another weight loss program I was on, they sold me a product called Thin Tea and I got physically ill from that. I had cramping and flu like symptoms. It contains senna leaf, peppermint leaf, stevia leaf, buckhorn bark, rosehips, chamomile flower, uva ursi leaf, orange peel and damiana leaf. I don't know why I kept the box. I guess I should just toss it out now.

my chiropractor recommended calcium/magnesium tablets for my TMJ (the magnesium is a natural muscle relaxer) and when I told her it also regulated my bowels she said because it relaxed ALL muscles it worked for that too. Bonus. I just get the huge bottle at Sams, take 3 every night, and am like clockwork.

I haven't tried this myself, but my COD recommended baked apple for constipation.

Here's the poopy website Pearl was talking about.. http://askwaltstollmd.com/cons.html. It is geared towards children who are constipated and/or withhold their poop.........but if you read on, you will see it is recommended for adults also. I don't know who this doc is, or where he came from.........but this truly works, for people of all ages. He also explains very well how laxatives work, and how they need to be used with care. I hope this info helps.

eat cold papaya fruit on an empty stomach first thing in the morning before eating anything else....that usually works

Nicole - The website isn't showing... ?!? I just knew you'd come through! You always do! Thanks sweetie!

ooops, I forgot to add the link.......I fixed it

My parents learned of a product from a nutritionist friend called Swiss Kriss tabs. They are a natural herbal remedy, and you can find them at Walgreens or Wal-mart. I tried them when I went on LAWL, since I was eating a lot less starch and more protein. I tried them and they really work---I don't need them every day, but I understand that you can use them as often as you want.

Thanks for that info Lynn. I checked my calcium bottle here at work and guess what? Calcium Carbonate. I will have to check the one at home and try to remember to buy the other one.

See what you can learn with the right connections?

I eat Activia light yogurt (each cup is 1/2 serving cause it is 4 ounces). The stuff is yummy and true to their ads, it has totally "fixed" my digestive system. I used to have constipation problems and when i started eating that (usually with one of my fruit servings I put in 1 cup frozen raspberries and let it sit for about 15 mintues until the raspberries partially thaw and the yogurt tastes like frozen yogurt).

The stuff works !

Every morning, unbelievably, about an hour after I get up, I am using the bathroom.

Hope this helps.