I only poo once a week. Please help me go more often

[Cheeseandlobster]

I should be going more often. A typical days diet involves - no breakfast, lunch is a spicy scrambled egg but really more like vegetables binded together with 1 egg ( courgette, mushroom, pepper, spinach and jalapenos) followed by grapes. Dinner is usually a mega salad with chicken, fish, quiche. Small bar of chocolate, another fruit portion and maybe a yogurt. I drink at least 1.5 litres of water daily. Do Hiit training for 20 mins daily.

Yet the only thing that gets me going is having a beer at the weekend and then I think I poo for the whole week, though only once so its uncomfortable and unpleasant.

I have tried a colonic. The lady told me I will be more susceptible to bowel cancer (jeez thanks lady)

I really don't want to become dependant on laxatives but I think I might have to .

Can anyone advise me please?

[sharalanda]

"Please help me go more often" - all I could think of when I read that is holding your hand and rubbing your lower back, which is what I do to my four year old when he's having trouble going. So... not sure if that's any use, but I'm here if you need me.

[Blueskytoday06]

Have you always gone once a week? If so, that's your norm.

[Regeisthebest]

Fybogel religiously every morning - it’s not a laxative so it won’t cause dependence, but regularity is important for bowels & once you’re in a routine of emptying your bowels at a certain time each day it’s easier to maintain. You could use ground flaxseed instead, which is healthier, but I like the convenience of the fybogel sachets.

Coffee always gets me going within 30 mins.

Also, lifting your knees above your hips (so popping them up on a stool or similar) while sat on the loo makes a huge difference

[JaceLancs]

I swear by liquorice but had to stop eating it when I had to give up wheat then I discovered these

groceries.aldi.co.uk/en-GB/p-dominion-sugar-free-sweet-liquorice-75g/4088600013770

[Thefrenchconnection1]

You need to research soluble and insoluble fibre. You need to ensure you get some of each and approx 30g per day.

[TulipsHyacinths]

Yep, you need more fibre if you want to try to fix this on diet alone without resorting to laxatives. I see you’re trying to low carb, but how about:

• one or two apples per day - larger, more fibrous ones like pink ladies or braeburns. Very cleansing for the colon!
  
• try roasting a tray of broccoli and cauliflower florets. Roll it in turmeric/ cumin and olive oil before roasting, and then add a sprinkle of chilli flakes afterwards.
  
• a good old jacket potato and beans.
  
• make a veggie chilli packed with different types of beans.
  
• as PP have said, a bowl of All-Bran or similar in the morning.
  
• black coffee!
  

I know that’s not all low carb but it really is fibre you need. Good luck!

[SirVixofVixHall]

You are not eating enough fibre, you need more fruit, veg, and things like oats, pulses.

[Tinkywinkydinkydoo]

Personally if I eat eggs more than two days in a row, I get really clogged up! Try cutting them out maybe if you’re desperate?

[TeachesOfPeaches]

When I tried low carb I had huge problems going to the toilet. You need more
Fibre

[Cyw2018]

Tescos do some really tasty dried Apple slices, they have a marshmallow like texture.

I ate loads after having my DD and having a small tear/stitches. My friends had made me terrified of the first post birth poop, and with these Apple slices I was absolutely fine.

I don't need more than two or three slices to loosen things up, but I do suffer from IBS, so have a tendency towards loose stools anyway, so pace yourself!!

[Bagelsandbrie]

Laxido is great. If you take 2 sachets every day for a little while it will help to clear things out and retrain your bowels. I took it when I suffered the most horrendous long term constipation from having to take strong cocodamol for a while (for lupus pain) and it really helped. I then went into eating more fruit, veg and fibre and it’s been okay since - now I go once a day.

[Saltyslug]

Prunes with Greek yogurt. The food of gods! Eat around 6 or 8 daily.

Really coffee

[doublehalo]

If you get flaxseed it's good to blitz it into a powder in the coffee grinder. You can put a tablespoon on your brekkie.

You could try some probiotic's maybe too? Might be your gut flora is out of sorts.

Magnesium is also very good for loosening things.

[Yolande7]

Magnesium helps. I know a few people who use it.

[HelenHywater]

Strong black coffee and a fag every morning?

also a magnesium supplement seems to help (I take one each night to sleep but this is a well known side effect).

I go less if I'm on a low carb diet, but flax seeds, brown bread and the rest wouldn't particularly help me. I don't think.

Anyway, yes coffee. Fewer eggs because they're pretty binding.

[QueenOfPain]

Weetabix for breakfast.

[SpaceshiptoMars]

Seaweed. You can buy it in capsules. No calories to worry about.

[TartanPunk]

Drink lots of water

[0nlyMe]

Have been constipated all during my pregnancy, despite eating healthy and increasing fibre nothing helped.
Fybogel works- cheaper on Amazon in bulk but you can get 10 sachets (I think) for about £4 from supermarkets

[Kdubs1981]

Prune juice. Small glass every day. Disgusting. Effective. My go to when taking iron tablets. Works

[IncorrigibleTitmouse]

Same happens to me if I go low carb. Coffee always gets things moving, but you need to start eating a slice of multigrain bread, a baked potato, sweet potatoes, some brown rice as well as plenty of veg.

[mrsdolittle]

Tomato juice. Good glass a day. Absolute game changer for me!!!

[ConnieCaterpillar70]

I had the worst constipation of my life when low carbing. Put me off for life. I nearly fainted when I eventually went it was so painful. And too many eggs/high fat diet is really bad for your digestion.

I always have Vogel soya and linseed bread toasted for breakfast. It's lower carb than normal bread due to the seeds/grain and keeps me regular as clockwork.

[BrightYellowDaffodil]

I find checking my bank account or credit card bill does the trick

On a more serious note, there’s a low carb/high fibre bread. Livlife I think it’s called; Waitrose sell it.

[PixieLaLa]

Probiotics every day and hot baths with Epsom salts