Tue, Jul-09-02, 17:16
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Senior Member
Posts: 215
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Plan: Atkins
Stats: 178/166.0/140
BF:30.4/30.4/25?
Progress: 32%
Location: Southern Indiana
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I can assure you, this way of eating is worth a second chance. For your previous problems, this comes straight from the FAQ section of the Atkins website:
Since beginning Atkins, I am often constipated. How can I avoid this?
Some constipation is common during the first week of the Induction phase. This is due to the change in diet, especially the reduction of fruit and vegetable fiber. Be sure that you are taking in at least three cups of salad vegetables and not using your carb allotment on other foods. After the first few days, your body should adjust and constipation shouldn’t be a problem. And when you begin to add more carbohydrates, your first choices should be more vegetables, followed by seeds and nuts and berries.
If constipation continues, there are a several remedies. First, make sure you are drinking eight 8-ounce glasses of water each day. Inadequate hydration is the main reason for constipation. Most people, especially women, don’t drink enough water and are slightly dehydrated much of the time. Second, consume some supplementary fiber in the form of wheat bran sprinkled on a salad, psyllium husks mixed with water or ground flaxseed blended into a protein drink. The amount needed to stay regular varies from person to person. Start with a tablespoonful. It may take a few days to find the amount that works for you. Do be careful not to use too much fiber; in excess, it can actually act as a binder. Finally, increasing physical activity often helps.
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