Gross Out Alert...
 

Please forgive the title but I was hoping to get some suggestions. I have found that in the past couple of weeks of my weight release (I don't want to find them again!), that I've become really constipated. Except on and off as a kid, I've not ever had this problem.

It seems that the more water I drink, usually 64-80oz a day, the more constipated I become. I eat lots of veggies, fruit, yogurt and oatmeal. So I don't think it's my diet. I didn't have this problem until I started drinking lots of water, but coorespondingly my weight release speeded up at the same time.

But I am uncomfortable. Last night , I "rested" for 50 minutes in the bathroom before I had any results. I've only been able to have "results" about 2 times a week in the last 2-3 weeks. :o

Does anyone have any suggestions for me? TIA

In a recent similar thread, where the OP was getting enough fiber and fluid, the problem turned out to be not enough fat in the diet. Please make sure you are getting enough healthy fats! They are *very* important to your health (especially omega-3s).

In the previous case, a salad dressed with (olive?) oil was very beneficial in the short run ;) .

Take some vitamin c ... it can help prevent constipation :)

~ tea

I find an avocado a day in my daily salad really helps me to stay regular on a daily basis.

If that doesn't work then I resort to Vitamin C (3000 mg) and if that doesn't help taking a magnesium citrate pill (400 mg) at bedtime works and I have a BM the next morning.

Flaxseed---buy it fresh and grind it before ingesting. It is great (1-2 Tbsp) on oatmeal in the morning. If you really want to "go" dice some dried prunes in with the flaxseed. I promise, if this doesn't work, well...you need to see a doctor.

I found that, a little while into my diet, my body wasn't used to the fact that I didn't need to "go" as much any more (actually, I think it was my mind telling my body it wasn't normal to not go as much). Most people on calorie-restrictive diets go fairly rarely (unless something's wrong or their body is adjusting to increased fiber), and maybe your mind is just telling your body that this is not normal? Plus, you said you're eating a lot of extra fruits/veggies lately, so perhaps extra gas is what's making you uncomfortable?

I also think a fat shortage may be the culprit. When I eat a more raw diet I throw in an avocado for some extra fat and that helps a lot.

That's interesting. For the past few years of eating a more restrictive diet calorie-wise, but mostly whole foods I tend to go more often, not less often...

I guess I'm mostly referring to people who don't modify their fiber too much. All that whole food should make you very regular. It really depends on how much you ate before, which for me, was quite a bit.

Try prunce juice warmed in microwave.Sounds strange but my constipated patients swear by it.Let us know............

Meant prune not prunce.........my bad.

This is what I was going to suggest. I notice not being regular when I don't have a salad with olive oil for a few days.

I had this problem not long ago, & the culprit was fat. As others have said, try having some avocado or olive oil.

I thought I should update everyone. Thank you to everyone for your suggestions, support and for being so understanding. I did step up the fats a couple of days ago with an Olive Oil & Vinegar dressing on my salads (I'd been on a cottage cheese & lite 1000 Island kick). It worked! Also, like Kelly315, I think that my body is adjusting to my not eating as much as I used too. I was a major binger/overeater. I think that I am just going have to be more mindful of what I'm eating. And listening to my body to give it what it needs.