My tummy is a wreck!! Please help!!!

brightlight07 · 06-04-2007, 02:43 PM

I have changed my diet and for the last two weeks I have been eating very well but my digestive system is in full revolt. Can someone please help me? Everyday about half an hour after my afternoon snack, I start feeling bloated and uncomfortable. By dinner time my abdomen is swollen and tender and I do not want to eat anything but feel like I have to to keep my metabolism revved up. By bedtime I am completely miserable. Over the weekend it was awful and I was very uncomfortable yesterday until I took a pretty strong laxative which cleaned me out pretty good. I felt pretty normal when I got up this morning but here it is 4:30 and I'm starting to get that bloated feeling again.

Here is my eating plan:

8:00 1/2 c steel cut oats, two egg whites
10:30 1 med. banana, 4 oz. Activia yoghurt (started Friday)
1:00 1-2 c greens, 1/2 cup cherry tomotoes, 2 oz chicken or turkey. 1/2 C brown rice or potato
3:30 1/2 c greens 3 oz. tuna
6:00 2 c steamed veggies, 3 oz chicken or 2 oz lean beef, 1/2 c brown rice, potato or whole wheat pasta
8:30 1/2 c pineapple or watermelon

If you see anything that I could change that might help I would be most grateful!

jfla32033 · 06-04-2007, 02:49 PM

thats a great diet. you probably just ate something past its "best by" date or maybe u are allergic to one of the things u just introduced.

also, when we make radical diet changes, our bodies take time to adapt. just keep up the healthy diet and keep drinking alot of water and your body will probably adjust on its own.

jfla32033 · 06-04-2007, 02:50 PM

your probably not used to all the fiber

DJohnson · 06-04-2007, 02:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jfla32033

your probably not used to all the fiber

Could be this.

Other than that I'd say the most likely culprit is the yogurt. Try replace that for a chicken breast or something for a few days and see if that helps.

brightlight07 · 06-04-2007, 03:06 PM

I was eating 1/2 c greens and a 2 oz. chicken or turkey for my morning snack but I thought that maybe I was going overboard with the greens and that my good bacteria had taken a wipeout in the old GI tract. That's why I switched to the banana and yogurt on Friday. I don't have any food allergies and I'm super careful about expiration dates so it probably is the fiber. I guess I will have to tough it out unless someone has a suggestion for an alternative snack. I have to be careful with how much fruit I eat because I am really sensitive to simple sugars and I don't want a major sugar crave coming on. Thanks for the tips, guys!

xl Achilles lx · 06-04-2007, 04:46 PM

I actually get the same way, dont worry about it.

I think for me, its a combo of HUGE amounts of fiber, and im beginning to think I'm a bit lactose intolerant. Oh well, it ain't gonna stop me from drinkin my milk, and havin my cc before bed.

Bandini · 06-04-2007, 04:55 PM

Your body is just getting used to your new diet, and is probably purging toxins that had been there before (especially if your previous diet was poor). If you keep up with this new healthy diet, at some point you will really notice a huge improvement in your health and vitality...so keep at it!

Mainframe · 06-04-2007, 04:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by brightlight07

I have changed my diet and for the last two weeks I have been eating very well but my digestive system is in full revolt. Can someone please help me? Everyday about half an hour after my afternoon snack, I start feeling bloated and uncomfortable. By dinner time my abdomen is swollen and tender and I do not want to eat anything but feel like I have to to keep my metabolism revved up. By bedtime I am completely miserable. Over the weekend it was awful and I was very uncomfortable yesterday until I took a pretty strong laxative which cleaned me out pretty good. I felt pretty normal when I got up this morning but here it is 4:30 and I'm starting to get that bloated feeling again.

Here is my eating plan:

8:00 1/2 c steel cut oats, two egg whites
10:30 1 med. banana, 4 oz. Activia yoghurt (started Friday)
1:00 1-2 c greens, 1/2 cup cherry tomotoes, 2 oz chicken or turkey. 1/2 C brown rice or potato
3:30 1/2 c greens 3 oz. tuna
6:00 2 c steamed veggies, 3 oz chicken or 2 oz lean beef, 1/2 c brown rice, potato or whole wheat pasta
8:30 1/2 c pineapple or watermelon

If you see anything that I could change that might help I would be most grateful!

HAve you been eating any additional fake sugars at all or increased your diet soda intake?

brightlight07 · 06-04-2007, 07:50 PM

No. I don't drink diet soda or use fake sugar. I think the Activia yogurt may have Splenda (sucralose) in it but that would be the only thing. I am a big sugar addict so I have to be careful. Fake sugar just triggers a bigtime craving for the real thing.

LayzieBone085 · 06-04-2007, 08:10 PM

instead of having fruits for ur last meal try to get a little protein and some fats like 1/2 cup of cottage cheese and 1/2 tablespoon of peanut butter..

i see little to no fat in ur diet.. maybe a little wont hurt

brightlight07 · 06-04-2007, 08:30 PM

This is what I may try tomorrow:

8:00 two whole eggs, 1/2 c steel cut oatmeal
10:30 banana and yogurt
1:00 usual salad and chicken but add avocado, 1/2 c brown rice
3:30 2 oz chicken, 1/2 c sweet potato
6:00 3 oz chicken, steamed veggies, 1/2 c whole wheat pasta
no bedtime snack

maybe if I cut back on the greens and add some fat with the avo, and cook the chicken in a little olive oil that will help

Thanks guys for the encouragement. This has been a real downer. I haven't been hungry or really wanted to cheat until I got so stinkin' uncomfortable. Now, there's a part of me that would eat just about anything to just feel better. I have also thought about doing a fast for a couple of days but I don't want to crash my metabolism. Anyway, thanks for the advice!

jfla32033 · 06-04-2007, 08:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LayzieBone085

instead of having fruits for ur last meal try to get a little protein and some fats like 1/2 cup of cottage cheese and 1/2 tablespoon of peanut butter..

i see little to no fat in ur diet.. maybe a little wont hurt

good advice...also, it is possible to eat toooo many greens.

not to be crude or anything, but eating an overabundance of dark leafy green veggies (broccoli, spinach, asparagus, etc) will cause gas in almost anyone and i know girls dont like passing gas in front of people so i would assume u hold it in, which would do a number on your stomach. that may not be the case but i'm just throwing it out there.

i eat alot of spinach, broccoli and eggs and my roommates' nostrils pay the price for it

Dr. Horse · 06-04-2007, 10:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by brightlight07

my digestive system is in full revolt... Everyday about half an hour after my afternoon snack, I start feeling bloated and uncomfortable. By dinner time my abdomen is swollen and tender and I do not want to eat anything

Please elaborate. Is this a polite way of saying you have gas? Have you been passing a lot of gas? What about your bowel movements- have they changed at all?

Cybernaut · 06-05-2007, 01:57 AM

it might be a lactose thing like the one guy said? yogurt could be the culprit.

brightlight07 · 06-05-2007, 05:02 AM

I do have a lot of gas which I do not hold in since I am pretty much at home with the little one all day so who cares? But my bowel movements have also changed. I used to be really regular, going after almost every meal. Now I go a little tiny bit every time I go to the restroom but rarely have a full satisfying BM. That is why I tried the laxative. I thought maybe all the extra protein had gotten me all bound up. Over the weekend there was a lot of gas rumbling around in my belly but nothing was coming out, gas or poop. The laxative worked as far as cleaning everything out and I felt great yesterday morning, by late afternoon, though, I was feeling bloated again and my belly hurt. This morning it is a little better but not as good as yesterday. I really think it may be a combination of the greens and almost totally eliminating fat from my diet. Possible? It's definitely not lactose because I have always been a big dairy consumer.

jfla32033 · 06-05-2007, 07:16 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by brightlight07

I do have a lot of gas which I do not hold in since I am pretty much at home with the little one all day so who cares? But my bowel movements have also changed. I used to be really regular, going after almost every meal. Now I go a little tiny bit every time I go to the restroom but rarely have a full satisfying BM. That is why I tried the laxative. I thought maybe all the extra protein had gotten me all bound up. Over the weekend there was a lot of gas rumbling around in my belly but nothing was coming out, gas or poop. The laxative worked as far as cleaning everything out and I felt great yesterday morning, by late afternoon, though, I was feeling bloated again and my belly hurt. This morning it is a little better but not as good as yesterday. I really think it may be a combination of the greens and almost totally eliminating fat from my diet. Possible? It's definitely not lactose because I have always been a big dairy consumer.

if u dropped calories then your bowel movements would not be as regular. focus more on the coloring of your bowels....if your bowels' coloring is dark and it sinks directly to the bottom without floating at alll then u should see your doctor. lighter coloring and a little buoyancy is healthy.

brightlight07 · 06-05-2007, 09:39 AM

I am going to try Beano to help with the gas and see if that makes me feel better in the afternoons. I don't want to give up on the healthy eating so I will tough it out at least until the end of the week before I make any major changes.

Everything floats, by the way, I was a little concerned about how well it was floating actually, because that is usually a sign of a lot of fat in the poop and I haven't been eating much fat. Anyway, we'll see how this afternoon goes.

v4lu3s · 06-05-2007, 09:44 AM

it tool me 4-6 weeks to adjust to similar diet changes, i had bad gas, mild cramping and bloating at time. Now though its the opposite, when i go out to eat i get sick to my stomach for a few hours after, as compared to my higher fiber/protein diet...

brightlight07 · 06-05-2007, 10:37 AM

That is encouraging! Not that it will take 4-6 weeks, but that my body will adjust. Come to think of it, that's only 2 more weeks. I think I can do that. I just posted some progress pics and it has helped motivate me. I know the results will be worth the discomfort for the time being. Thanks!

iluvfupa · 06-05-2007, 02:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by brightlight07

I am going to try Beano to help with the gas and see if that makes me feel better in the afternoons. I don't want to give up on the healthy eating so I will tough it out at least until the end of the week before I make any major changes.

Everything floats, by the way, I was a little concerned about how well it was floating actually, because that is usually a sign of a lot of fat in the poop and I haven't been eating much fat. Anyway, we'll see how this afternoon goes.

Go to a gastrointestinal specialist; do not risk your health. I googled floating fatty stool first thing that came up was this site on Celiac Disease http://www.medicinenet.com/celiac_disease/page3.htm

brightlight07 · 06-05-2007, 03:31 PM

I was tested for celiac several years ago and it came back negative. In 2003-2004 I lost 40 lbs over 8 months and had to undergo a lot of testing. Celiac was first on the list because my mom has it. I don't think that's it, though, because celiac is related to gluten and right now I am not eating bread or pasta or anything with wheat or gluten in it. That's how I know about floaty poop being fatty poop, by the way.

I think it is just my body trying to adjust to the new diet. I tried the Beano today and did cardio after lunch. I had my snack about half an hour ago and feel okay so far. Maybe that will be enough to get me through the next couple of weeks until my body adjusts.

Thanks for your concern, though!

iluvfupa · 06-05-2007, 03:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by brightlight07

I was tested for celiac several years ago and it came back negative. In 2003-2004 I lost 40 lbs over 8 months and had to undergo a lot of testing. Celiac was first on the list because my mom has it. I don't think that's it, though, because celiac is related to gluten and right now I am not eating bread or pasta or anything with wheat or gluten in it. That's how I know about floaty poop being fatty poop, by the way.

I think it is just my body trying to adjust to the new diet. I tried the Beano today and did cardio after lunch. I had my snack about half an hour ago and feel okay so far. Maybe that will be enough to get me through the next couple of weeks until my body adjusts.

Thanks for your concern, though!

I am sure your body is just adjusting if your symptoms persist I would get checked out, cause as I am sure you know there are so many things that could be causing it.

Well I am glad you have been tested because that is the first thing that came to my mind. Keep in mind that it can be triggered at anytime so even though you tested neg before does not mean you do not have it. I was tested as a kid and it came neg, then tested a year ago and it was positive...my father also has it.

Dr. Horse · 06-05-2007, 03:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by brightlight07

right now I am not eating bread or pasta or anything with wheat or gluten in it.

You listed whole wheat pasta in your diet. Also some celiacs can't tolerate oats for some reason (contamination?).

I would eat a bunch of bread/wheat products (gluten challenge) and get tested again; maybe you had a false negative. Or better yet, go gluten free and see if your symptoms resolve- this is still pretty much the gold standard for celiac diagnosis.

brightlight07 · 06-05-2007, 04:04 PM

I have whole wheat pasta as an option for carbs but haven't been eating it for the past few weeks. The oats thing is a good point, though. I had a bowel biopsy done in 2004, but it is true that it can be triggered at any time. I will see how the week finishes out and if I am still having problems I will make an appointment with the gastro. I really think it is all the greens I am eating, though. I feel better this afternoon than I have in a while. Another reason I think it may be the greens is because I was eating three meals in a row that were made up mostly of greens- am snack, lunch, and pm snack. I will back off on them a little and continue with the beano and doing cardio after lunch.

brightlight07 · 06-09-2007, 06:27 AM

It was the steel cut oats. I guess a little processing helps in my case! I have switched to Mona's All Natural Granola. It has the same nutritional values (or very close) on calories, fat, carbs, protein, sugars and sodium so I hope it will be okay. I have added a couple of tablespoons of dried fruit, just because it makes it taste good!