i know that its supposed to be best to get your fiber via foods, but im wondering what the best source of fiber otherwise is. i know there are pills and drinks and supplements, but i dont know much about them. im hoping to find a supplement that will help with regularity as well as help increase fiber intake without causing unpleasant side effects (cramping, gas, etc)

Fiber one have variety of products. Fiber one original cereal is just 60 cal for 1/2 cup serving and have 14gm of fiber. You can mix in your regular cereal and are good to go. I personally eat 1 cup of fiber one cereal, with whopping 28 gm of fiber. Drink lot of water to minimize side effects.

Does anyone know how much fiber you should technically be getting a day? I always have a problem with constipation, though not as much now since I've gone to the 4 to 5 servings of veggies a day, and 3 fruits....

Also, how much water is recommended if you're doing high fiber? Is the normal 8 glasses a day okay? I have a hard time making it to 7 or 8 as it is (and I still probably drink twice the amount of water that I used to! lol

Women should have at least 25 gm of fiber a day. I too have suffered constipation all my life.Recently I started keeping track of amount of fiber consumed and generally target about 30-40 gm each day and now I don't have constipation problem any more. I do drink plenty of water though (10-15 glasses a day).
You may suffer discomfort if you suddenly increase the fiber in your diet. Try slowly increasing the amount.

do any of the supplements (metamucil, fiberchoice,etc) work well without creating bad side effects?

I like fibersure in a cup of hot tea every morning. I started with 1tsp and worked my way up to 1 tbs. added to either oatmeal with flax seed or a high fiber cereal it starts me off with 20-25 grams of fiber a day.

I find Fibogel really easy to take. It comes in a powdered form in a sachet that you can drink twice a day if you need to. It is probably best to start with only one sachet a day until your body adjusts to it. They also make a similar fibre product for people who have Irritable Bowel Syndrome.

Okay. My last post got eaten so here's the short version. Chia seeds, ground flaxseeds, raw ground cacao, powdered hemp seed.

Foods that are quick and easy: Fiber One cereal (the original), yoplait yoplus yogurt, oatmeal.

I add a scoop of psyllium to my smoothie every morning.

Psyllium is basically what you find in metamucil. We get the actual husks at whole foods for about $7 a can. It lasts about a month.

I have a question about Metamucil....is it something that can be added to your everyday diet or something that should be taken only when uhh needed? I only ask cause I have a jar of it and am wondering if I should start using it every day?

Iw ill have it every day for months on end. Sometimes we'll just keep forgetting to get it and won't have it for a while. It doesn't throw everything off, but things are more "regular" and I'm much less bloated when I have it in my morning smoothie every day. I started having it in my evening protein shake as well and things kicked into a overdrive a little, but other than that yes, it is safe for daily use. I'm not dependent on it, but I prefer it, if that makes sense.

Thanks Jen! Maybe I will start downing a glass each morning just to help my fiber intake

Oh and here is something I just read on the back of the Metamucil container..

"Directions: Adults 12 yrs and older: 1 rounded teaspoon in 8 ounces of liquid 3 times daily."

First of all..I didn't know 12 year olds were adults but on to my question..do I need to take this 3 times a day?

So it seems like everyone likes Metamucil or Fibersure? What is the psyillium husk? I've read a bit about it, but not much. I thought it was more hardcore than the rest of it.... I thought I had read that some people had problems with it.

How much water a day do you ladies that intake 30 to 40mg a day drink? I find that with drinking 7 to 8 a day I'm already peeing like... constantly, especially in the middle of the night. Dunno though... maybe it's supposed to be this way. All I know is that I definitely have to up my fiber intake from the normal 25 range that I've gotten it up to, because I'm STILL having problems with constipation (though not QUITE so bad) and it's causing OTHER problems (that you and I would rather not get into! lol!)....

Walmart has a powder supplement similar to Benefiber, etc. I had it to my coffee every morning but it can be added to anything! 0 taste.