I'm really glad you posted this thread! I've been on IP for 3 weeks and although I've had BM's almost everyday lately they have been super painful!!! To the point where I just don't wanna go! I'm always paranoid about taking laxatives and what not but now I have more info as to what's working for people and what isn't!

Thanks! Good luck

Hi...I was in the same boat with the novalax...I was up to 4 pills a day and...NOTHING. My coach had me try a probiotic last week and things are finally moving! I feel like a whole new girl! I actually went to the bathroom everyday this week and that NEVER happens to me.

Yes, plenty of people don't have BMs every day. I wouldn't get worried until you hit 3 days of not going.

Also, it's weird reading that a lot of people eat spinach to help them go....it makes me C wicked bad! I think it's the iron in it. It got so bad I had to stop having my spinach smoothies a bit back.

so my coach was pretty insistant I use the Floralax, if I didn't have a BM everyday,two pills before bed time and bam! bob's your uncle. unfortunatly I took it one day and it gave me a hemorriod.

so I didn't take it, thinking okay let mother nature solve this!
I didn't have a BM for three days, and I didn't go before my weigh in.
she told me to drink 'smooth move' right away, that if I didn't have a BM it's like keeping poisons in my body.
so I armed myself with the tea, and took two floralax when I got home.
I was a little scared about making hemorroids worse but I am okay.
I bought dispositories and wipes that contain witch hazel, and I plan to alternate with a stool softener called Lax a Day. so I don't rely on the floralax all the time.

I also cut back on my morning potassium/ calcium, and two of the cal-mag.

I was fine for the first two weeks on IP. Then...bam, everything stopped moving. My coach also recommended "Natural Calm". I had tried the "Smooth Move" tea but it didn't do much. The "Natural Calm" worked very quickly with with a very small amount...I think I only used 1/4 teaspoon.

Ok, now I have to poo!

The first time I was on IP, I had terrible issues with constipation and I tried everything. I finally ended up going to get weekly colonics and it was such a relief. I eat lots of spinach and salads, take 2 probiotics each morning and drink lots of water. I used all kinds of homeopathic remedies and stool softeners and nothing worked. I think I was also very anxious with school and work and not being able to go to the bathroom made me more anxious because I thought it was affecting my weekly loss.

I actually ended up having a colonoscopy after I got off IP and the issues continued...they found nothing.

I have now resigned myself to eliminating every 2-3 days. It is just my body and it happens to me on or of IP.

My only suggestions to you are probiotics and a colonic (they are super reasonable if you go to a naturopathic college-if you have one near you). I was fortunate to have one near me and the female I used to see would give me a student discount, so I think I paid $25.00/week-it was so worth it! I am still taking probiotics, but if I feel constipated again, I will not hesitate to get a colonic.
Good luck-looks like it's a pretty common problem!

magnesium citrate .99 cents a btl (Walmart) 5 oz does a body good. Be prepared to "stay home & relax for the day"


Lizzy63 - I'm from the Ottawa area up North off of Rt I-80

That sounds like really good advice, Lizzy63. I think being on the IP Protocol should teach us to "listen to our bodies" so later on, when real life begins for us again, we'll be able to identify certain messages for what they are.

I find that if I don't drink the recommended water and have ALL the veggies the day before, I have that hungry feeling first thing in the morning. On the days I do eat and drink all the required amounts the day before, the next morning I'm golden!

This really just goes to show how everyone is different. I have always been a regular person and I would say I am even MORE regular on IP. I think it is all of the veggies.

True Health 18007464513 puts out a Ultimate Colon Care Formula that works..It has aloe, peppermint, ginger,licorice root, enzyme blend, and lglutamin.. It really does work within 2-3 hrs.

I agree with 2 cups of spinach, arrugula or kale also helping.

You might want to try a natural supplement called "Cascara Sagrada". I have used these in the past with success, usually the following day

The brand I have is called Solaray and they are capsules. I bought them at a local health food store.

My body is all confused. Nothing for a couple of days and then four times today. Explains why the scale was up a tad. Definitely feeling better.