Metamucil to curb binge eating
 

Has anyone done this? I'm thinking of taking it before I eat lunch and dinner, then maybe once in the evening if I have some insane cravings. I'm doing well losing weight but want something to help with my over eating/binge eating. I'm nursing my daughter also, so I can't use any weight loss products. I'm also not looking for much of a laxative effect, but I've heard that increased fiber is good for you while helping fill you up. Thanks for the help, I read a lot but don't really post much.

I know people that have lost weight that way. I tried, but it gave me terrible heartburn so I had to stop. You will see why it works right away if you leave a glass with metamucil in it out for very long- it turns into a jello-like consistency. So that in your stomach would take up room that food would otherwise take up, making you feel full.

I don't know about it helping with binges, but fiber does help fill you up. It also helps to offset carbs. If you know you are going to have a carb heavy meal (pasta for instance) you can drink a glass of metamucil along with it. Do you track calories and things? Most people don't get enough fiber in their diet in general. I shoot for around 30 grams a day. I usually try to get my fiber from fruits, veggies and whole grains, but I do keep some benefiber at home and add that in occassionally.

OMG Do NOT take metamucil while breastfeeding!!!! It's not medically harmful at all, but the ingredients pass thru to breast milk and can cause gas in the baby.

I know. I did it. Twice. I had 2 of the worst gassy babies before I discovered that was part of the problem. The 2nd two were not as bad, but since I still had a different part of a problem, they were gassy as well.

An obvious major problem with weight loss is over eating. The stomach is like a rubber bag - it's stretchy - and like a balloon, the more it's stretched, the looser it gets when empty. When you reduce your food intake, the balloon doesn't get as filled as it's used to. You don't feel full.

What to do? Make yourself feel full without food but by filling it with metamucil? Or over time, allow the balloon to shrink by restricting food intake and feeling the effects of hunger (even though you don't need those calories to survive)? At least, for a while. Until it shrinks.

I like to think long-term. This isn't a diet. This isn't temporary. We're here to change our lifestyle. Part of that lifestyle change is eating healthy portions. I don't think filling your belly with metamucil is a good long term method. I think you should make your food portions smaller over time, eating more frequently when needed, but eventually, eating no more than you can fit in both palms of your hand in any one sitting.

I'm not a nutritionist. Just a chick sharing my observations.

Thank you so much fitness4life...all of you, thanks. I do want to make a lifestyle change...I'm so tired of fad diets and not making a forever change and I just didn't think about it like that. And I do NOT want to make poor Holly gassy. I like the way you helped me actually picture what it does to your stomach. THANK YOU, I won't be using it. :)