Letting go of constipation.
 

Pun intended.

I know this has probably been asked before a bajillion times, but how can you stop the constipation that atkins can sometimes cause..? Someone told me that pills like ex-lax or whatever are loaded with sugary stuff.

As in Dr. Atkins book: water, psyllium husks as powder or capsules, lots of salad and veggies, Vitamin C, magnesium supplements.

Fibre is important from salads & veggies but you can take psyllium capsules daily to add fibre. Just leave about 90 minutes separation from vitamins & supplements as they might not be absorbed if taken along with the fibre.

:wave:

Sugar free smooth texture orange mtamucil is fabulous.. not only is it all fiber (so i doesn't affect your carb count at all) but it tastes yummy and orangy which is great if you are missing fruit :)

Also, eat lots of green vegies, beans, celery, spinach, romaine lettuce. All good sources of fiber :)

There is also a tea called "Smooth Move" that works. The good new is, having been on this WOE now for over two months, I no longer have this problem :D

Once I started eating green beans or brocolli or salad it went away. Plenty of water didn't seem to help. Ya' gotta eat the greans.

A high fiber morning cereal, like Flax-o-Meal, or a high-fiber Cracker (I'm partial to Cheeters brand) will net you 4 or 5 grams of nothing but Fiber.. that will help a great deal.

But yes, eating your veggies makes this even easier.. not just greens, but anything with Fiber.. Cauliflower being my favorite.

Hogey

The only way I'd ever admit having this problem is in an anonymous forum!

I try to have a lot of greens - both at lunch and at dinner. Apples help, too. I'm reluctant to take anything with a stimulant, as I don't want to become dependant, but I do take fiber supplements (in capsule form) a few times a week...

constipation
 

I use benefiber in my decaf coffee 2 heaping tablespoonsful a day does the trick and it is tasteless, dissolves in any liquid had no sugar, 1g of carbs. try it,you'll like it. :D
Also drinking water helps with constipation.

I'm Confused
 

I thought 3 cups salad or 2 cups salad and 1 cup veggies was it for induction. Are you all discussing later or induction?

Thanks

I'm not on induction. Thankfully, those two weeks are long over!

Re: I'm Confused
 

Yes, generally speaking post induction -- but even during induction, if I recall DANDR, it says to sprinkle flaxseeds on your cream cheese and cinnamon crackers.

There's ALWAYS ways to get fiber.. and it's the key!

Flaxseed oil does wonders (so I hear).

My friend got real excited when I mentioned Flaxseed oil. Apparently he has had close encounters of a runny kind with it. He stressed very strongly that a little goes a long way.

I found it in Walmart in the herb section.

And it gets stellar thumbs up from Schwarzbein as a good oil.

water veggies...no go...lmao!!!! I take the phsyllium (sp?) pills AND a flax oil pill...good stuff. I was in HELL for a couple of weeks before I figured that out. I have tryed the powdered stuff in all kinds...I am uber picky about my foods and texture...couldn't do even the tasteless stuff..

Yep heres my picture...and I the Froggirl have constipation problems!! Loud and proud!! HAHAHA

use benefiber in my decaf coffee 2 heaping tablespoonsful a day does the trick and it is tasteless, dissolves in any liquid had no sugar, 1g of carbs. try it,you'll like it.
Also drinking water helps with constipation.

My bottle of benefiber says there are 4g of carbs in it not 1g. So if taken twice a day, your gettsing 8 g of carbs right there!

Check out the article Low Carbing and Intestinal Health, which you can find by clicking on the Low Carb Tips link, from the orange menu bar near the top of the page. There's lots of good advice and suggestions how to help both the Big C and the Big D, which can also be a problem.

hth,

Doreen

constipation
 

I had this for the first week on induction, was starting to cause problems, but then I thought of linseeds which is what we commonly call flaxseeds here in UK/ireland.

I take 1 tablespoon per day, mixed in with salad stuff, and mayo, although not nasty tasting, it would be too dry to eat on its own.

So anyway cured the constipation straight away, but if I miss a couple of days it comes back again.

These linseeds are cheap, and very good for you too, being a great source of omega 3 and 6 too!

hope that helps anyone just starting off......

sarah

Haven't had to take any remedies yet.

Some suggestions: LOTS of water, LOTS of veggies, don't eat too much cheese and don't go hog wild on meat (especially beef).

I found psyllium husks in capsules, and salad does the trick. I take 2 caps in am and 2 before dinner. I did not know they shouldn't be taken with vitamins. Learn something every day.