Lower GI issues when changing diet (or supps)?

[BeavisM]

Hey folks...In the last month I have been starting to eat right...by that I mean getting more protein (food, shakes and bars), eating cleaner and so on. The problem is that for the last week or so I have been having some fairly bad cramps, lotta gas etc. Did anyone go through something like this?

Is this my body adjusting or something? I'm not too worried at this point but it's annoying bordering on painful at times.

Anyone experience this type of thing? I'm wondering if my use of whey and cytogainer (3x/wk PWO) may have something to do with it. I just recently started the shakes. I'm going to stop those for a few days and see what happens.

Thanks!

[Bando]

I've heard others say it's the increased protein that causes this, but for me when I use Soy protein I have all those problems. Bad. With whey I seem to be fine.

[Whiskeyjack]

Originally Posted by BeavisM

Anyone experience this type of thing? I'm wondering if my use of whey and cytogainer (3x/wk PWO) may have something to do with it. I just recently started the shakes. I'm going to stop those for a few days and see what happens.

Thanks!

Yes, I had my first ever whey protein bar and suffered big-time bloating, gas, and cramps for 3 hours after. I have a mild case of lactose intolerance, but because everybody here raves about whey, I'd decided to try it. Bad move. Never again.

[BeavisM]

Originally Posted by Whiskeyjack

Yes, I had my first ever whey protein bar and suffered big-time bloating, gas, and cramps for 3 hours after. I have a mild case of lactose intolerance, but because everybody here raves about whey, I'd decided to try it. Bad move. Never again.

Huh, what do you use instead? Just food, soy?

[Shreddedgeek]

How low was your protein? Be sure to increase your water as your increase your protein.

Adding lots of protein in your diet will cause gas and cramping, but you could have a tolerant issue with the milk fat. Whey is basically cows milk so if you are lactose intolerant then it will be the same. There are a couple of Whey sources and everyone reacts differently to them, Isolate is the most pure and concentrated, it contains very little fat and very little lactose. Whey concentrate will contain lots of milk sugar/fat.
I am lactose intolerant and I can use Whey Protein Isolate but concentrate will send me to the throne.
After you back of the shakes see what happens, and check your type of whey.

[BeavisM]

Originally Posted by Shreddedgeek

How low was your protein? Be sure to increase your water as your increase your protein.

Adding lots of protein in your diet will cause gas and cramping, but you could have a tolerant issue with the milk fat. Whey is basically cows milk so if you are lactose intolerant then it will be the same. There are a couple of Whey sources and everyone reacts differently to them, Isolate is the most pure and concentrated, it contains very little fat and very little lactose. Whey concentrate will contain lots of milk sugar/fat.
I am lactose intolerant and I can use Whey Protein Isolate but concentrate will send me to the throne.
After you back of the shakes see what happens, and check your type of whey.

Thanks for the info Geek. Yes, I really upped my water...I never ever drank water until about a month ago give or take. Now I am nearly 3/4 gallon a day. My whey is ON and of course the cytogainer--it has creatine so that may be a factor too. I've never had an issue with milk, heck I eat yogurt like it's going out of style . Thanks again...

I'll try the isolate next after the lay off. Can you recommend a good brand?

[Shreddedgeek]

Try to keep your diet changes to a slow pace. Give your body time to react. I have had good luck with PrimAForce Substance WPI

[BeavisM]

Originally Posted by Shreddedgeek

Try to keep your diet changes to a slow pace. Give your body time to react. I have had good luck with PrimAForce Substance WPI

Will do, thanks for the advice...

[wallstcutie]

Check the label - it probably wasn't the whey-was probably the sucralose. This is a major culprit in causing painful gas. Check the forums - lots of people complaining about getting gas after eating stuff with Splenda (sucralose) in it. I think it is a poison and it is sad that so many people are suffering from it and yet nobody is connecting the dots. It is the sucralose - I guarantee it.

Originally Posted by Whiskeyjack

Yes, I had my first ever whey protein bar and suffered big-time bloating, gas, and cramps for 3 hours after. I have a mild case of lactose intolerance, but because everybody here raves about whey, I'd decided to try it. Bad move. Never again.

[BeavisM]

Thanks cutie, I'll take a look. Update on the situation...No ON Whey and no PWO cytogainer and no issues. Still ate a few P-bars a day with no issues and drank milk like normal. I checked the p-bars and they contain soy protein. Now I'm even more confused...lol...Possible it's what cutie said so I'll check that out.

Thanks everyone.

[wallstcutie]

ON Whey kills me too!!!!!!!!! I finished the bucket and will not order it again. I do OK with Isopure... but am considering eating my protein only in the form of meat from now on...

Have you found a protein powder that doesn't cause the pain?

Originally Posted by BeavisM

Thanks cutie, I'll take a look. Update on the situation...No ON Whey and no PWO cytogainer and no issues. Still ate a few P-bars a day with no issues and drank milk like normal. I checked the p-bars and they contain soy protein. Now I'm even more confused...lol...Possible it's what cutie said so I'll check that out.

Thanks everyone.

[BeavisM]

Originally Posted by wallstcutie

ON Whey kills me too!!!!!!!!! I finished the bucket and will not order it again. I do OK with Isopure... but am considering eating my protein only in the form of meat from now on...

Have you found a protein powder that doesn't cause the pain?

No, but I just got back into it and before I had never used the stuff. I just bought a small bag of ON so it's no big loss for me. There is a little left so I'll finish that off and see if the pain comes back. If it does, I'll know that it is either the ON, the whey, or the sucralose like you mentioned.

Question: Is soy protein as good as whey? I'll have to look that up...

[wallstcutie]

Men should not take soy protein because of the estrogens in it. You don't want to get boobs - you want striated, hard pecs!

Originally Posted by BeavisM

No, but I just got back into it and before I had never used the stuff. I just bought a small bag of ON so it's no big loss for me. There is a little left so I'll finish that off and see if the pain comes back. If it does, I'll know that it is either the ON, the whey, or the sucralose like you mentioned.

Question: Is soy protein as good as whey? I'll have to look that up...

[St. Nicholas]

Hey Bro,

I also found that I had lots of bloating and cramps from my shakes. I spoke to my trainer about it and he has suggested mixing the shake and then let it sit for 15 minutes and then stir it with a spoon rather then reshaking. Blending it our mixing it in a shaker creates lots of little bubbles. When you drink it, it can also contribute to your gas/bloating. Just a thought - it helped me.

[sytennison]

Originally Posted by BeavisM

Question: Is soy protein as good as whey? I'll have to look that up...

The benefits and drawbacks of soy are debatable. In fact, there have been some very heated, noisy debates about soy in this very forum. Do a little search and you'll see what I mean.

[batteryrequired]

EAS whey so far has not cramped me up or given me any G.I. issues. After my hard workout I normally will drink a BSN Mass gainer protien shake. Now that one will hit me in about 3 hours of drinking it. Luckily for my daughters there is a separate bathroom in the house for them to use as I use the main one off my bedroom....lol. Just gas....but still! I may need to re-wallpaper after this tub of protien powder is gone.

[KimberleyRN]

I wonder if bean-o would help you with the gas problems?

Some folks will adjust to the changes in time... but it is difficult to get through the initial gas/bloating.

[ChocoChick]

Originally Posted by BeavisM

Hey folks...In the last month I have been starting to eat right...by that I mean getting more protein (food, shakes and bars), eating cleaner and so on. The problem is that for the last week or so I have been having some fairly bad cramps, lotta gas etc. Did anyone go through something like this?

There are several possibilities.

1. Sugar Alcohol in the bars. This includes every sweetener ending in "tol." Many people react unfavorably to these. Bars are junk, so I'd ditch these regardless.

2. Lactose intolerance (from dairy products, including whey). You can either buy lactase pills and take them along with your whey or use a protein powder that includes lactase (Optimum Nuitrition does, for one).

3. Sudden increase in protein. Are you egting enough fiber (25g per day, minimum)? Eating lots of green veggies? Drinking enough water? these should all help (and you want to continue them even after your symptoms subside because they are all good for you).

[Joni0623]

You probably have already heard this, but I find that adding ground flax seed in my protein shake really helps. It also gives you added protein.

[batteryrequired]

Originally Posted by Joni0623

You probably have already heard this, but I find that adding ground flax seed in my protein shake really helps. It also gives you added protein.

It mostly gives you the good fats that your body needs. Great stuff!

[Joni0623]

I couldn't agree with you more. I also use flax seed oil.

Originally Posted by batteryrequired

It mostly gives you the good fats that your body needs. Great stuff!

[labradarep]

Pure Whey protein isolate should give you no problems with lactose intolerance(99.5% lactose free)

Take a good multi enzyme half way through your meal

OR

Get a good HCL tablet and take it with your meals

Get a good Probiotic as well to help replenish the good bacteria in your gut.