Constipation! My question is why with this WOE!

[is thin possible?]

Can anyone tell me why this WOE would constipate us? I am curious! I have been eating more fiber and drinking more water, PLUS...exercising more than I ever have in my life! So....aren't these things supposed to keep you from being constipated?

Clue me in please!
Thanks!

[snorkelman]

A trick that I use to overcome that problem is to eat a few of those carbolite candies (I think Russel Stofer makes some) that have a lot of maltinol).

Cleans you right out. Hint - you don't need too much of that kind of chocolate.

[matawguro]

I read in a news report that there was a conference of leading doctors who specialized in constipation. Camparing their observations, they concluded that fiber could either ease or worsen constipation depending on the person, the latter case being true for me. They also concluded that the amount of water intake hardly affected the condition.

While the effects of fiber and water on constipation are suspect, the beneficial effects aren't.

I'm with you on you question though. I still don't know what it is about this WoE that promotes constipation.

[not2late]

Re: Constipation! My question is why with this WOE!

Can anyone tell me why this WOE would constipate us? I am curious! I have been eating more fiber and drinking more water, PLUS...exercising more than I ever have in my life! So....aren't these things supposed to keep you from being constipated?

Clue me in please!
Thanks!

There are 2 reasons imo.

1. The decrease fiber/bulk in the diet
2. The decrease in fat (yes, you read that correctly!)

The decrease in fiber is an overall decrease. The potato chips, french fries, tortilla chips, bread, etc. do contain fiber. The fiber amounts might not be listed on the packages due to the small amounts ,per serving listed on the package. BUT how many of us limited ourselves to the package serving size? ensive Not many, imo. So eliminating the 6 slices of bread or the 6 cups of pasta/rice a day causes a relative decrease in the amount of fiber. That decrease in "bulk" can lead to a decrease in things moving through the GI tract.

The decrease in fat is an interesting thing too. Many of us were on a high fat/high carb diet before our Atkins. While our fat "percentage" on Atkins looks higher, I suspect the number of fat grams we eat on Atkins is much lower than the number of fat grams we ate previously. Again, the fat in french fries, potato chips, cakes, cookies, etc. are all counted towards that daily dietary fat, with those sources of fat gone, our daily fat intake decreased.

Fat/oil is used to relieve constipation because the fat/oil acts as an lubricant laxative or a stool softener. In other words, it softens up the "stuff", which helps your body to move it along, so to speak. My pre-Atkins diet was low fat, high carb. The only things that really changed were the amount of veggies I was eating (I ate slightly less during Induction), the fat grams I was eating, and the elimination of carbs like pasta, rice and potatoes. When I eliminated my carbs and added more fat than what I usually ate, my body reacted by having diarrhea during Induction (yes, I was one of the few....)

Our bodies can adapt to conditions marvelously. So if your bod is used to having 20 grams of fiber daily (from bread, chips, etc.), and it suddenly drops to 10 grams of fiber daily. Your bod will react, because that change isn't what's "normal" for it.

My 2 net carbs.....

[borntolose]

We pee so much that the water is going to pee instead of the other way. The water in our bodies is taking the easy way out.

National Digestive Diseases Information Clearinghouse

http://digestive.niddk.nih.gov/ddiseases/pubs/constipation/#what

BJ

[Moochiecat]

A trick that I use to overcome that problem is to eat a few of those carbolite candies (I think Russel Stofer makes some) that have a lot of maltinol).

Considering most of us got fat because of overindulging in sweet things and we are battling the sugar monkey on our back, I'd really encourage people to stay away from these. I'd hate to hear about a constipation remedy turning into a binge.

Sugar free Metamucil, or Benefiber, or a glycerine suppository would be the first things I'd suggest to try.

[iyamamaschke]

I guess I am one of the lucky ones I have never had Constipation and am more regular then ever. I am so glad cause constipation is a pain in the A$$ LOL ok not very PUNNY.

Sarah

[ttdriver]

Actually, I have the opposite issue .. I go with every meal .. I think I have a straight pipe!!

Try some SF peanut butter ... that works wonders for me.

Betty

[FightingTheFight]

I go with every meal .. I think I have a straight pipe!

I have the same problem too! I've never been constipated either. Sometimes I have the opposite.

So my question is, what causes Diahrrea?

[borntolose]

:geek IBS causes it and it also causes constipation. http://www.aboutibs.org/
BJ Webb

[not2late]

[quote="FightingTheFight"]

So my question is, what causes Diahrrea?

Too much fiber. Too much fat. Infection. etc.

[saraa281]

Does anyone advise against a laxative here and there?

[spazzyhilo]

Try some SF peanut butter ... that works wonders for me.

Assuming your on the right rung of OWLS of course...

Dr. Atkins recommended taking phyllum husks or eating some flaxseed with your meals to help keep you regular.

[Pie4me]

Anyone use this daily for this problem?

Does anyone here use Citrucel daily for regularity?
My mom took this daily forever and it worked for
her....

[carbcounter999]

I'm one of the lucky ones who is more regular on Atkins. I've struggled with stomach problems for a number of years - lots of diarhea, especially after a high carb/high fat meal or one which combined refined carbs with high fat dairy (like greasy Pizza Hut pizza). But on Atkins these problems vanish!