Some background...I have been a maintainer for nearly a year. Through all of weightloss and maintenance, I have JUST been a calorie counter. But I was eating a very carb-heavy diet. As in, oatmeal twice a day and popcorn for a snack. I decided that wasn't healthy, and the scale is stubbornly staying in the higher end of my maintenance range. I'm much more content at 125-127. So, I figured I'd become more "carb aware." I am NOT interested in Atkins or even really low carb. Just much more balanced and eliminating unnecessary carbs.
Here's a sample meal plan.
Morning: Coffee with 2tbsp skim milk (I cannot get myself to eat in the mornings, it makes me physically ill...tried the breakfast thing, didn't work).
Lunch: 6 oz tuna, whole boiled egg, fat free mayo, dijon mustard, 3 cups salad greens
Snack: celery with peanutbutter
Snack 2: carrots and green bell pepper with hummus
Dinner: Baked chicken breast, steamed broccoli, mashed cauliflower, big salad (salad greens, tomato, cucumber, avocado, olives, feta cheese, balsamic dressing)
Snack 3: more carrots and green bell pepper with hummus
I'm well within my calorie range, I have no hunger feelings, I'm not feeling carb withdrawls. I've been eating a similar diet for about two weeks now.
Now this sounds odd, but I do think I've lost a pound or two, but I am unbelievably bloated. I'm in the middle of my cycle when I'm usually not bloated at all. It's not a normal too-much-salt bloat. My rings are not tight, and I don't feel an overall puffy feeling. It's concentrated in my belly. It's firm and distended, even around noon when I haven't eaten anything since the night before. It's very uncomfortable. I am getting enough fiber (25-35g/day), I'm drinking 64fl oz or more each day, I'm walking at least an hour each day as minimum exercise. I've completely lost regularity, I have literally only pooed twice in two weeks and one of those was after taking a laxative. Nothing (exercise/water intake/etc) has changed other than my diet. So while I do think I have lost a little bit of weight, it's sure not showing up on the scale because of this killer bloat.
Is this normal? I'm miserable! I thought people LOST bloat after reducing carbs! What am I doing wrong??