Embarassing But Necessary

Okay, this is horrible to have to write about, but I need some good advice from people with experience. I have been on my diet for almost 4 weeks now, and ever since I started I have had terrible stomach problems. I eat plenty of fruits and veggies, drink only water all day, eat whole grains and get plenty of fiber, yet have been constipated for weeks. I have tried fiber supplements, that didn't help. I have tried ex-lax, that didn't help. I don't know what to do. My sister suggested stool softeners. It got so bad that last night I was almost in tears because of the pain and discomfort. I'm horrified at the idea of writing about this online but surely someone can help me?!

Maybe try that activa yogurt?

Ohhhh...that CAN be painful.
Were you regular before? Everyone differs in the frequency of BM's.
I eat dried prunes to help out. I actually love them. But don't overdo them! Also...if you are not allergic...eat a handfull of nuts/almonds.
If you have tried all those things and you are still constipated then you should go see a doctor and find out if there is a medical reason why this is going on.
Hope you feel better fast!

Prunes and prune juice might help + flaxmeal. Pleanty of water means 10-12 cups a day. If your diet is high in protein, that migh cause the constipation. Try to add healhy fats in your diet like 1/2 avocado a day + up to 3 Tbsp olive oil + salmon. Eating too little or making dramatic sudden changes in your diet causes constipation as well. Hope you feel better.

The prunes and healthy fats are great ideas. Also keep an eye on your fiber/water intake. Everyone always told me that fiber solves bowel problems. For me it made it worse. And laxitives and such did not help. Truth is, the more fiber you eat, the more water you need. Otherwise, if you are eating more than normal, the excess fiber sits in your bowels and absorbs the water but doesn't go anywhere. And that is PAINFUL! Try increasing your water intake to "flush" things out.

If your body is not used to high amounts of fiber, getting a healthy quantity can be uncomfortable at first. The best advice is to just keep at it (gently), and DON'T take medication (which can make your body take longer to adjust).

If you weren't getting much fiber before the diet, you're better off increasing your quantities more gradually rather than all at once, so your body has plenty of time to adjust. Going from 5 grams a day to 45 all at once is bound to cause discomfort. Have 10 grams per day for a week, then 15 grams per day for a week etc. The recommended range is 25-50 grams for most healthy adults. Too little is unhealthy, but like all good things, too much is still too much. If you are getting more than 50-60 grams of fiber per day, it may be a good idea to cut down. Too much can cause the exact opposite of the desired effect.

And yes, drinking plenty of water is VITAL. If you get lots of fiber but not much water, it'll stop you up like a plug.

If you're not eating too much or two little fiber, drinking plenty of water, and gradual acclimation still doesn't work, see your doctor. You may have some sort of gastrointestinal issue that he or she can help you with.

Thanks guys for all the input. Turns out I was getting TOO much fiber. So I cut it back a little bit and my tummy is recovering.

I didn't know too much fiber made you not go...hmmm...