Severe Constipation

[LancDash]

I have been on Atkins for about 2 months now. I'm eating the proper amount of vegetables, meats, and I've cut down on my cheese intake a bit.

I was taking Physillium, then I switched to about 40 different other things, past week I've tried flax, but its giving me indigestion. I also drink 96 ounces a water a day....so its not like I'm not getting the hydration.

I've had mild constipation in the past, but I attributed that to my all fast food diet...but I still WENT!

Ever since I started Atkins I'm literally NOT going. I've tried laxatives for the first time in my life....they worked ONCE, but barely. I've been on stool softeners for this whole week, and I have gone twice in about 4 days, but its almost that TOM and that always softens up my insides.

I'm freaking out, not losing weight, and starting to feel groggy and sluggish. Going once every 5 days, MAYBE, is the best I can hope for in this state.

Is there any other alternative to try and help get things moving, or would it be the most beneficial to go to the doctor or possibly get a colonic done?

[2big4mysize]

Re: Severe Constipation

I'm confused are you in pain from being constipated or just concerned cause your bowels are not moving as large and as often as they used to?
since most of what we eat on atkins is digested their isn't a whole lot leftover to poop out thuse folk have smaller movements and less frequent ones unless they have an issue adjusting to the higher fat eating of atkins.

if you are in pain they go see your doc for some help. if you are just not moving don't worry.

What are you doing as the mandatory exercise part of the atkins plan ? ususally the aerobic part assists in moving things along since it contracts the abdominal muslces in a rythmic fashion.

[LancDash]

Re: Severe Constipation

For exercise, so far, I walk about 2 miles a day. Two days a week I have a 2 hour Ballet class and another two days a week I have a two hour dance/movement class. In all work I do I am constantly doing breath and core exercises to work on breath strength, as I am a performer.

The reason I am concerned is I am experiencing some stomach cramping. And I don't see how barely having a movement MAYBE every 5-8 days can be possibly healthy. The rest of my family who has started Atkins with me are going regularly and are fine. I feel just off and I'm not losing any weight since the constipation really became a concern

[barrnone]

Re: Severe Constipation

lanc - understand your pain. Things changed pretty drastically once I began Atkins, for both me and my husband. What I found that works for me...I just sit there longer. I may not feel that anything will happen, but it eventually does - with lots of patiece and a big soduko book to pass the time good luck!

[Georgiana]

Re: Severe Constipation

I have been on Atkins for about 2 months now.

Are you still on Induction?

I'm eating the proper amount of vegetables

How many net carbs are you eating and how many come of them from vegetables?

What's the amount of fat in your diet?

[LancDash]

Re: Severe Constipation

Nope I'm on rung 2, but moving onto 3 next week since I cant add back enough in dairy. I lessened my cheese intake a bit.

I don't know my normal intake of veggie net carbs, but I eat atleast one salad a day w/ a EVOO/vinegar dressing and switch off days were im getting the bigger net amount from tomatoes, cucumbers, some pumpkin, cauliflower, green beans, and broccoli.

I don't know the fat extremely well either but I eat 3 eggs for breakfast, bacon, Lunch is usually a burger or some type of quiche, and dinner always has a meat to it ground beef, chicken, or pork.

Some coffee w/hc and tea a day, but mostly 96 ounces of water. I average 20-25 carbs a day.

[atkinsgal08]

Re: Severe Constipation

>> I don't know my normal intake of veggie net carbs,>>

My suggestion would be to use a carb counter and actually calculate what you're eating.

>>I eat atleast one salad a day>>

What's "large" exactly?

You might want to try using FitDay - Free Weight Loss and Diet Journal or All Things Food and Diet - FatSecret to enter what you're eating.

>>I average 20-25 carbs a day.>>

It's "net" carbs though.

[LancDash]

Re: Severe Constipation

I just started using Fitday, I'm not completely sure on the amount of carbs I get from veggies because a lot is cooked in with other ingredients and I haven't separated everything out by portion yet for my counter. Likely somewhere between 13-20 a day in veggies.

My salads are about 2 cups romaine and add a few other ingredients.

I'm counting the net.

[atkinsgal08]

Re: Severe Constipation

2 cups romaine is 1.1 net carbs.

No wonder you're constipated! MOST of your daily net carbs should be coming from Induction vegetables.

>>I'm not completely sure on the amount of carbs I get from veggies because a lot is cooked in with other ingredients>>

Then you need to enter each ingredient.

>>Likely somewhere between 13-20 a day in veggies. >>

That must be some "few other ingredients" with the romaine, then.

[mission to lose]

Re: Severe Constipation

What kind of cheese are you eating, how much, and how often?

Cheese can be very constipating if you already had the tendency.

[LancDash]

Re: Severe Constipation

Salads usually have tomatoes, bacon bits, cucumbers, peppers, chives, mushrooms, spinach and if those ingredients arent in my salad theyre usually in something else I make. I eat a lot of broccoli salads and have become a tomato whore, a slice or two on a burger and a couple cherries are a snack or on the salad. Snack on celery and cucumbers. Plus there is always minimum of 5net carb veggie with dinner,

I eat maybe an ounce of cream cheese in my morning omelets, maybe a slice on a burger. Sometimes more cream cheese (never more than another ounce) is in my dinner serving.

[atkinsgal08]

Re: Severe Constipation

>>Salads usually have tomatoes, bacon bits, cucumbers, peppers, chives, mushrooms, spinach and if those ingredients arent in my salad theyre usually in something else I make. I eat a lot of broccoli salads and have become a tomato whore, a slice or two on a burger and a couple cherries are a snack or on the salad. Snack on celery and cucumbers. Plus there is always minimum of 5net carb veggie with dinner,>>

It would still be helpful to you if you knew the exact net carb count.

Cherries aren't until the later fruit rung of OWL, for what it's worth.

[LancDash]

Re: Severe Constipation

oops, meant cherry Tomatoes!

[atkinsgal08]

Re: Severe Constipation

Ok.

Still, you should be count your carbs.

You really have to be able to do it on OWL.

[LancDash]

Re: Severe Constipation

I do count, I just dont know the true amount in veggies for the past week, because Im still tweaking the Fitday and pulling apart the recipes.

It ranges from 13-20 a day

Today I had 12c in veggies so far.