[DCHound]

Make sure the coffee's black, full caf, and if you add a tiny pinch of salt to it that will speed things up even further.

(Don't ask.)

[nods]

Thanks for all the great responses!
I did up the fiber slowly, generally through slow diet changes I made during the course of the lifestyle change I made. I always thought it was the massive increase in exercise that helped stop me up! But I'll tell ya, I looked at my nutrient profile on FitDay and thought maybe I'm not getting enough fat. I tried the leafy green salad with a full fat dressing (olive oil and balsamic vinegar)...and man...I nearly exploded! It felt so good though! (Sorry, TMI, I know. But it was like magic!)

Oddly enough, the fats from lean protiens won't help me go, but an oily dressing was exactly what I needed.

For a long time the coffee worked for me. I always have a couple of cups of black coffee in the morning. But for some reason, it stopped working. I will look into the miralax though, it seems that might be a better solution than trying to 40g of fiber via oats and stay with my calorie goals. But I think definetly I wasn't getting enough good fats.

Good fats = Good BM!

[LookingForHope]

Two big constipators for women are iron supplements and calcium supplements. I verified this with my doctor. I'm glad you are feeling better. I have had these problems lifelong. I have finally found my long term solution of water and a brisk walk and changing my supplements. I see by your ticker that you are really doing well. Congrats and keep up the good work!

[harrismm]

I usually take a stool softner daily.Not a laxative.I am a nurse and work with toms of patients with bowel issues and usually find this is the key.If you have not had a BM for 3 days , then a laxative is appropriate.Also for some reason prune juice warmed in microwave works well for most.

[nods]

Originally Posted by LookingForHope

Two big constipators for women are iron supplements and calcium supplements. I verified this with my doctor. I'm glad you are feeling better. I have had these problems lifelong. I have finally found my long term solution of water and a brisk walk and changing my supplements. I see by your ticker that you are really doing well. Congrats and keep up the good work!

OMG really? I take 80% DV doses of calcium and vitamin D every day. The women in my family have a history of osteoporosis and I don't want to suffer the same fate as my grandma and her hump. I know its a long time away since I'm only 28 but I've been taking calcium for years. I don't want to get off it...The hump is not cool, and I want to have a nice happy, pain free retirement.

I will talk to my doctor when I go in a couple months! Thanks for the tip.

[diary]

Are you getting enough fluid intake? Too much fiber and lack of water messes me up too.

[RN BSN 2009]

harrismm is right... laxatives can oftentimes too harsh on the body. Try a colace tab, and extra water.

physical activity should actually un-constipate you.

Good luck

[LookingForHope]

nods, I cut my calcium intake by supplement in half with my dr.s approval. I still drink a couple glasses of fatfree milk daily. I too have severe osteo in family. Grandma could barely lay and sat only painfully due to hump which my great grandma had as well. I get bone scans annually. If I get concerned I'll go back to the full dose and just deal with the tummy issues. Nothing is worth brittle bones.