Constipation and Atkins- TMI

[Barbelicious]

When you were in Induction and early OWL, how often were you having a bowel movement?

Also, if you used a bulking agent (psyllium, flax, etc) to relieve constipation, how long did it take for it to work?

[w2e2]

For me, 1/day, but 2/day if I am sure to eat several servings of veggies (salad, greenbeans, brussel sprouts, etc), which I am not always good about. I'm pretty much always at some level of constipation.

Funny, today I started reading the colon cleanse thread and am considering trying one (just not sure which yet, considering Colpurin). Seems the best way to do it is herbal cleanse followed by colonic irrigation. There's 10 lbs right there!

Last time I was on Atkins, I tried psyllium and it only made me more constipated, so I stopped. I currently eat Women's Bread (lo carb flax bread in health food aisle) and take a flax oil supplement and that helps. Do you take acidophillus capsules? That might help.

[Barbelicious]

Actually, the more I read into lazy bowel syndrome (which I have, due to laxative abuse), the more I'm thinking that Atkins might not work well for me. I've been stalled for over 2 weeks, and I'm fairly sure that almost all of that stalling is because of constipation.

I can't start purging again. And, I can't be perpetually constipated.

[sjmiller]

Eat a flax muffin every day...

[Barbelicious]

Originally Posted by sjmiller

Eat a flax muffin every day...

I saw that in the other thread. I'm not asking about what to do here, I'm asking how long something like that (eating flax) will take to actually WORK.

I'm getting at least 15g of fiber a day, and that's with no suppliments. I'm not really sure that the issue is just that I'm not eating a single food item. If so, then the average Atkins dieter would only be pooping once a week, which is basically where I'm at now. And, TBH, if I wasn't using a laxative once a week, I doubt I'd be passing much of anything.

[fabcab]

I was thinking of doing a high colonic (colon irrigation) but after doing some research on the subject I have decided to not do it. As far as all the colon cleanse products out there I think you need to read unbiased reviews on what people thought about them. Most of the hype about them come from companies selling colon cleanse products. They will write the article in the form of a newsletter and then at the end recommend their product. In MHO I think all the colon cleanse stuff is just hype. Constipation can be a tricky thing. I have found that being on this WOE I dont necessarily have to 'go' everyday. It was kind of freaky at first but now it makes sense, I mean for one you are putting a lot less food into your system, so there is going to be less waste. Water and fiber are what you need, and some forms of fiber work better for some and not others. For me Spinach, celery and flax all work pretty darn good. Psyllium has never done anything for me (wierd). And you can always suppliment your fiber with otc fiber products, just look for the carb counts. Good luck and happy

[Ntombi]

The salt flush didn't work for me once (the water just disappeared--I didn't poop or pee it out ), but every other time it works within an hour.

I wonder with your lower GI issues, if you increased the amount of salt water by about half, maybe it would work.

I'm not an expert, because I don't have constipation issues, but I hope this resolves for you soon!

[vsch]

I eat a handful of nuts everyday. The extra carbs are well worth it, believe me!!!

[Lolita1]

Sorry, I wish I could help... I have the exact opposite problem when eating this way

Good luck tho!!

[Starwing925]

I have the exact same problem and with a similar history of laxative abuse. It's been a long time ago but from the time I was 17 until my middle 20's I took an entire box of Correctol every day. Now I have had to have half of my intestines removed.

That being said, I am having the same problem with constipation. I always have this problem and this WOE multiplies it. I finally remembered what I did last time and I started doing it again yesterday. Huge relief. I ate Ezekial bread for breakfast and within 30 minutes I had relief. I was freaked out over the carb count at first but all of their information states that their bread is low-glycemic. I still try to count the carbs and be very careful the rest of the day but I have to be able to go to the bathroom!

Good luck and keep searching, you will find something that works! I was actually getting scared because I knew that I couldn't take laxatives and that flax did not help me, it made it worse. I tried all kinds of fiber and it didn't help. But the Ezekial bread does the trick for me. You might try it.

Best wishes! Melody

[Barbelicious]

I've been researching all day, and I have come up with a few things to try.

1. I'm going to make sure I get at least 25g fiber/daily. Now that I have a faboo flax bread recipe, I'll be taking advantage of that.

2. Regular water consumption of at least 2 liters/day.

3. Regular multivitamin use (esp. for magnesium and calcium).

4. Abdominal/colon massage. That actually helped a bit already.

5. Exercise. I'm still trying to find time to T-Tapp (there's an active toddler in the house, so it's not easy!), but it's important.

6. Coffee. I know it sounds weird, but it helps move things along- even with decaf.

I'll let you guys know if any of this works. I'm sure that at least one or two of these things will help.

[w2e2]

I recently heard from that doctor on Oprah that we should take in 30-35g fiber/day. May be a new recommendation.

I can't believe I am on page 24 of the thread "Low Carb Friends > Supplements and Low Carb Products > Vitamins and Supplements
any one tried colonix?"; literally a blow by blow (pardon the pun), non-biased accounts of lowcarbfriends on their colon cleansing journey. Most are using Colonix and most with success after a couple of weeks.

I realize I need to do a cleanse program followed by a colonic irrigation, but must do more research on what the best program is. I'm also looking into Colpurin. Only 2 products that seem easier to use.

Oh yeah, have you tried digestive enzymes? Atkins really promoted those.

[Barbelicious]

Since I know you're all DYING to know if anything worked...

Coffee and abdominal massage did the trick. I'm making sure that my fiber intake is high, and I'll be getting regular exercise. So, I can stick with this WOE! Yay!

[Ntombi]

YAY!

So glad you got some relief!

[Cinders411]

I take a flex seed oil pill every day. I go about 1-2 per day (without straining!).

[Barbelicious]

I'm still having noticeable bulking/blockage on a daily basis, even after having a movement. But, I know that I have SOMETHING that will work.

But, my weight loss is still totally stalled, as it has been for about 2 weeks. I'm starting to wonder if my calorie intake needs to come down. I'm not overeating on cheese or sugar subs (although I do put xylitol in my coffee), and my water consumption is high. However, if I had to guess, I'd say that my calorie intake is at least 2000kcal/day, or higher. I only have about 15-25 lbs to lose to get to a "healthy" weight, so I'd guess that that might be too high.

[BellaHMB]

Im not an expert but it does sound like your calories might be high- have you tried using Fitday which can calculate your necessary calories and weight loss goals? I cut out cheese and am now using flax seed and lots of water for constipation. Good luck!

Bella

[Barbelicious]

Yeah Bella, I think Fitday would be a good thing. I could track everything (including fiber) that way. I wish there was some way to track net carbs instead of total carbs, though.

I'm also going to try to see a gastroenterologist once we have the money to do so.

[Ntombi]

What's your exercise level? If you aren't exercising, than 2000 calories may be too high.

Also, exercise might help you "go." It increases the level of activity in your GI tract.

[BellaHMB]

Fitday tracks BOTH total and net carbs so it is really a great tool. I actually got the pc version which was $20, but online is free and has the total nutritional values also. It is a wonderful tool and keeps you on your toes!

On the constipation issue.... I moved through it so to speak by
adding two 1/2 cup servings of cooked spinach yesterday and adding 2T
of flax seed to my salad. This morning was MUCH better!!

Bella

[SkeeterN]

Magnesium helps me. I take the tablets but think "milk of magnesia" Plus I eat 2 flax muffins for breakfast most mornings. I always had constipation problems before Atkins anyway but not anymore.

[Mimosa23]

Just another suggestion: cheese makes me constipated... You may want to try and cut it out for a few days and see how you go!

for me, a strong black coffee before breakfast usually gets things moving, as well as making sure I drink at least 3 liters of water a day...

Good luck, I know how you feel, I've been having major constipation problems recently!

[Sarajewel]

I have a spinal cord injury so one of the things holding me back from comming back to this WOE was the constipation. I have problems on a regulat diet. Now its much worse... In addition to all of the wonderful ideas others have posted, you can try an occasional blast of vitamin C suppliment. 1-2 works for me and it also helps prevent UTIs. Maybe not a problem for others but a big deal for those of us with SCI.

[ronopolis]

Barbelicious, here is my experience with this issue. Obviously everyone is different, what works for one person doesn't for another. I was on Atkins a year ago and quite because of this problem. I have started again and the main difference this time is I'm taking psyllium husks. This keeps me regular.

I have a big box of psyllium, and about twice a day I go hard core: I put a full tablespoon the the husks in my mouth (which is literally like putting a tablespoon of sawdust in your mouth), and then I gulp it down with a bunch of water. Then I do it for one more tablespoon, and drink extra water. 4-6 tablespoons a day.

I get results within 36 hours. As of late I'm doing this twice a day every day, so it is keeping me regular. Without it I'm completely stopped up. If you don't get results in 48 hour max, I doubt you will get any results from psyllium.

I tried putting the psyllium husks in a glass of water, and it is like drinking dirty dishwater, it was disguisting, I couldn't drink it. Of corse, just dumping it in your mouth is disguisting too, and it took me a few tries before I could figure out how to swallow it. But now I don't give it a second thought, and it only takes a minute.

You mileage may vary, but taking psyllium husks this way is a huge difference for me. If you google and read on psyllium, it swells up to 10 times its size in water. The last thing anyone should do is start taking laxatives, that is a slippery slope to screwing up your system. Some kind of fiber that works is the way to go.

[w2e2]

I'm ordering Garden of Life Super Seed fiber as well as Flax-Z-Snax Granola, Cinnamon Nut this week. Hopefully it will get things moving along and I'll have better luck with it over psyllum husks.

Also, I've noticed that a double shot of Vitamin C really gets things goin'.

[LilPunkin]

Originally Posted by Cinders411

I take a flex seed oil pill every day. I go about 1-2 per day (without straining!).

Good advice. As long as you have enough fat in your diet, you shouldn't have a problem.

[24Fan]

Originally Posted by Barbelicious

When you were in Induction and early OWL, how often were you having a bowel movement?

Also, if you used a bulking agent (psyllium, flax, etc) to relieve constipation, how long did it take for it to work?

Not sure how long but you have to drink lots of water when taking the flax or psyllium. I have to remind myself of that every once in a while, 'specially with the cold weather here it's tough to get water in for me.