Constipation - ouch!

[jenpa79]

I am about to re-start induction. I was doing induction for 8 weeks but recently went on holiday and went a bit wild!!!

Anyway, I had really bad constipation the last time. I know that flax (or linseed as we say in the U.K) are good and that eating more veg should help but neither did for me. In the end I had to take a laxative (which I know I shouldn't have) and it was a painful experience, but the only way I could go.

I was going to the toilet once a week and feeling really bad as my system wasn't being cleaned.

The thing is, I want to restart induction at a strict level as I want to lose as much weight as possible, sooner rather than later. I want to consume no more than 15 carbs per day.

How do I go about tackling this problem?

Thanks

Jenpa

[Atkins_Nutritionist]

Constipation is not a necessary effect of Induction. There are a few ways to ensure that this does not happen to you again. You may want to try 1 or a combination of these suggestions

1. Drink at least 100 oz of water; you may want to include a tea from traditional medicinals called "smooth move"

2. Exercise

3. Add psyllium husks or sprinkle unsweetened millers bran on foods

4. You mentioned adding more veggies, try consuming 4-5 cups of veggies.

5. Adding olive/flax oil to foods

6. Supplement with extra essential oils

7.Use 1000 mg of magnesium oxide at bedtime (this will directly help the problem)

My advice is to not allow yourself to get constipated. If you find that thesesuggestions do not prevent constipation from occuring, then you must focus efforts on going to the bathroom (use #7).

I do not suggest going below the 20 grams of carbs/day, especially since you have a problem with constipation and eating veggies will help this problem.

Good luck!

[jenpa79]

Thanks for the advice.

What are psyllium husks, is there another word for them?
We may have another name for them in the U.K

Also, I thought bran was out of the question as it contains high amount of carbs.

Jen

[Atkins_Nutritionist]

It is a fiber that will help you to go to the bathroom. It does not taste good but people get the results they are looking for.

If you go to a health food store in England, they will be able to tell you what the equivalant is to unsweetened miller's bran.

The magnesium is very effective. I suggest you try this for now and use the other suggestions as tools for prevention.

[Bodokito]

I was going to open a new thread in regards to something like this but instead decided to put it in here since it's more or less what I wanted to talk about...

My question is this...
In the 3 or so times I've restarted Induction I have never had this problem until now...not constipation...but what I believe is gas pain. For the last 3 days I've been feeling it in my stomach. I've tried drinking more than my normal 64 oz water, taking in more fiber via veggies, I even took some stool softeners in case it was just constipation but alas I've gone to the restroom several times these last two days and the twinge of pain/uncomfortableness is still there...at night, during the day at work, etc. Should I take GasX or something along those lines instead? What do I do? It's starting to get rather uncomfortable and I'm getting rather queasy when it does happen.

Any advice? Has this happened to anyone else before? Is this normal? What should I do?

[Atkins_Nutritionist]

If you are having gas, veggies may make it worse. Try using cooked veggies.

The underlying problem may be yeast overgrowth. Visit the Atkins website and search yeast. You may want to try using acidophilus and avoid foods that promote yeast, ie vinegar, mushrooms, sour cream, cheese {*cream cheese and mozzarella are ok} and any other moldy/fermented foods.

I hope you feel better, please let me know how this works for you.

[BluexMoon]

For long term, daily use to keep things moving, what is better Psyllium or Magnesium?

[BluexMoon]

bump

[junkfoodmonkey]

Jenpa, Holland and Barrett do psyllium husks in capsule form, 1000mg per capsule and the directions say 2 capsules three times a day.

A bottle of 200 costs £11.49.