problems.... serious TMI alert!
 

ok so, ive been having digestive.. issues. i dont know what is considered normal but i only feel the need to "go" about twice a week. ive tried remedying this by taking in more fiber. i started out with those fiber plus bars, and people were warning me to take it slow, and to never eat 2 or else id be running to the bathroom. i started eating them 4 days ago and yesterday i even ate 2 in a row! result? nothing. nothing has happened at all in the 4 days. i know my mom also suffers with this problem. is it genetic? i feel like this might be slowing down my metabolism or weight loss.....

Did you try Fiber one original cereal? I have 1 cup of it, which is equivalent to 28 gm of fiber.
I too have this 'genetic' constipation problem and this has halted my weight loss several time. If nothing works, may be try Miralax, it takes upto 3 days to show any result though. My doctor suggested me Miralax but fiber one cereal seems to be working better for me.

I usually go once a day- have you spoken to your doctor? I'd see if they feel there is cause for concern.

The only time I was having very infrequent BM's was when I went to the middle east with my mom and I barely ate anything lol.

no, maybe i will give the cereal a try. did you start with like 1/2 a cup or something?

ive never talked to a doctor because, well, i guess ive never really noticed it before, lol. this is just how ive always been and since frequency of using the restroom isnt a popular topic, i dont really know whats "normal".

In addition to the fiber, drink PLENTY of water. A gallon a day is recommended.

Do you eat fruit often? Apples and bananas can get things moving. Drinking grape juice may help. So might drinking hot, black coffee. Energy drinks sometimes have the same effect, but it depends on the person.

I once had a doctor tell me it is "normal" for people to "go" three times a day OR every THREE days. Some people just don't do #2 as often as others regardless of how much fiber they consume. This may be metabolic or it may just be genetic. Unless "going" is uncomfortable for you, I wouldn't worry too much about it. :)

Now, on a more amusing note, if "going" IS uncomfortable, well, I had a friend with a serious constipation problem. She tried laxatives. She tried fiber pills. She tried lots of water. Nothing worked and she was still constipated, SO she went and got a colonic. Now, she says things are running (though not RUNNING ;)) smoothly and she has not been constipated since.

I started directly with 1 cup. I remember when I started it I had not 'gone' for 7 days!!
I just have 1 cup = 28 gm of fiber in the morning, then I don't have to worry about counting the fiber intake through out the day. I drink around 10-15 glasses of water everyday. I have read somewhere that if you have too much fiber but don't drink enough water then it does have reverse effect as it blocks your digestive system instead of flushing 'things' out

Fiber is tricky in that it can further constipate you. Make sure you are pairing all that extra fiber with enough water.

If you aren't going, all the fiber in the world may not help you. A light stool softener, however, might.

I've noticed similar symptoms over the past two weeks. For me, I think I'm not eating enough in general and not enough fibre in particular.

I've started adding fibre to my diet, but I've also read that along with the added fibre we need to make sure we drink lots of water because part of the function of fibre is that it absorbs the water as it passes through the system.

I don't know if that helps at all, but you're not alone, and I think this is an important topic that we shy away from a lot.

I can go an entire week without going, if I'm not extremely diligent about fiber supplementation, probiotics, water and exercise.

For me:

1T ground flaxseed in the morning (in 4oz H2O mixed with 4oz100% cranberry juice and cinammon, warmed)

8-10 glassed of H2O during the day

Probiotics

Regular exercise

1T ground flaxseed in the evening (in 4oz H2O mixed with 4oz100% cranberry juice and cinammon, warmed)

If I don't do all of the above, consistently, I am either constipated or have diarrhea. I have IBS, so I just deal with it. Miralax has also helped me out a great deal.

im not completely sure what miralax is? ive tried a laxative once in my life, and it worked, a little too well, so im wary of them. whats miralax?

Miralax is a gentler laxative.

http://www.miralax.com/miralax/consumer/default.jsp

If you have always been like this with no issues then I'd say that's just you and it's not a problem. Unless when you actually go you have a hard time and it's painful.

Psyllium husk in a cup of juice or water (I drink it in a cup of light chocolate soymilk) works great. I had tried a LOT of different things and I usually only do this once every two weeks or so and it keeps things moving along on a very regular schedule.

Another vote for probiotics. And exercise.
Intestinal health is important.
when you think of fiber supplementation, think of fruit. Fruit is full of fiber but very full of water as well. So if you are going to take fiber make sure you drink more water then normal.

This is the case with severe abuse- not with occasional constipation. Also, stool softeners are not laxatives.

However, I used miralax when I was having issues about a year ago and it did the trick. It didn't upset my stomach or anything.

Funny you mentioned apples and bananas because my doc says they have the opposite effect. Genetically speaking I've always had problems with digestion and was told to cut out these 2 fruits specifically until I could get my system working well. I eat them now with no problem but tend to avoid them if I'm constipated.

Grapes on the other hand are great for constipation - I reach for a bowl ful immediately.

Apple juice and grapes will definitely help. Also, celery. I know it sounds weird, but celery works kind of like floss for your digestive track.
If this isn't a long occurring thing...like, more than a week or so, then it could be stress. Our bodies really react in strange ways when we're stressed out. I had a stool issue about a month ago. I was only going every couple of days, then I'd go a few times a day. When I finally started to relax, I noticed my body regulating itself. It's the same as a menstrual cycle. It goes all wacky, telling us that something isn't balanced in our system.

Hmmmm....I guess my normal is different from others! Twice a week is perfectly normal for me much of the time. Very, very rarely does a daily poo happen for me. Oh, except when I was eating Fiber One bars. Then I had the constant gassy "gurgly-bottom" poos.....not fun!

I've used gentle laxative teas. There is one that I get a natural food stores - can't remember the brand, but the name of the is "smooth move." Use it on occasion when needed. Ditto what everyone else said about water, fiber, bran cereral, fruit, etc. A lot of dairy or heavy food tends to plug me up - might be good to track what you eat and how it affect movement (or lack thereof) to see if there are foods which are either beneficial or problematic. I find a lot of dairy or heavy, fatty foods tend to cause constipation, or worsen it. Good luck!

A friend of mine who has similar issues was instructed by her Dr. to eat 1 peach and 1 plum everyday, skin and all.

It's really helped her.

For me, any kind of alcohol will get things moving. Of course that's not the best choice in the world.:dizzy: But it's rarely a problem for me.

For my sis, coffee or chocolate fires things up. But that's a food allergy thing in our family.

Might also want to try prune juice (some people like it warmed, others prefer cold) -- it helps to move things along, sometimes pretty quickly.

Other things that can help get the ol' digestive system moving are milk of magnesia or strong coffee. Some people also find that if they eat too many grapes, the bowels will start moving rather quickly. ;)

Do you eat too much salt? Too much salt while dieting can do this. Also, fiber one bars do nothing for me. Drink actual fiber from the pharmacy area. Also, your could try activia. You may need to talk to a doc to get a light diuretic.

If you're severely constipated, senna tea (you can find lots of brands with it) works just as well as a laxative. It takes about 6 hours to work, though, so plan ahead.

Great points Betony. Grapes, raisins, plums, prunes...My Grandmother swore by all of them! Magnesium is also terrific in getting things moving along. Milk of magnesia is a good way to get some, also Magnesium Sulfate, (Epsom Salts) taken orally works WONDERS. Women in general don't get enough magnesium in their diet, a good supplementation is well worth it. (It also helps with PMS.)

I've also read that everyone's 'normal' is different, so it could be that it's normal for one person to go 3 times a day or once every 3 days. IMO if you're not feeling uncomfortable, or having a difficult time going (it's painful) then this might just be your normal.

I was worried about the same thing and started taking fiber without much result. I stopped taking it and just paid attention to my body and realized that my normal isn't to go every day. However, I do take acidophilus every other day (it's a probiotic) and eat fiber bars once a day to ensure I'm getting the recommended amount of fiber in my diet. So far, so good. :)