I am tempted to take laxatives every day - possible TMI

[lackingimagination]

I have been following a weight loss diet which has really affected my bowel movements. Basically I just don't go - at all - until I take a laxative! First time it happened a whole week went by until I realised

I thought after the first time it would make everything go back to normal, but no, it happened again. And again, it didn't return back to normal. So, for the last 4 days, I have taken a laxative every night. I feel a million times better for it and would happily carry on doing this! However the packet says do not use for longer than 5 days at a time.

So what can I sensibly do - or take - to help keep myself regular? Unfortunately the diet I am following doesn't allow for much fibre intake. Is there a product I can take daily to help? Perhaps something natural

I think you should reconsider the diet.

You're clearly not eating enough to get a good shite going every day

You need to shite.

Are you low carbing? Does sound like you need more fibre.

If your diet make you need to take laxatives then it is not a good diet.

Im the same except im not on a particular diet and try to eat a balanced mix of everything. I just have shiting issues. (is that how you spell shiting? or should it be shitting?) I was taking the choc laxatives on a weekly basis and my gp didn't see a huge problem with this as it was not daily but she did prescribe me laxido which i can take every day as it is gentler. But fucking minging. Tbh i much prefer the choc version.

Healthy things for increased bowel movements:

vegetables
pulses, lentils etc
linseed
bran flakes

semi-healthy things for increased bowel movements:

a pack of dried apricots
half a pack of beetroot in one go
half a packet or more of hob nobs

less healthy things for increased bowel movements:

sugar free gum
cholera

Sorry nothing useful to add but actually LOL at WafflyVersatile "Cholera"!

What diet is it?
Try and drink plenty of water; apparently if you increase your fibre intake you also need to increase water intake as without the extra water the added fibre has a negative effect. Or something. Anyway, it explains why I didn't go for a week after starting Slimming World and eating loads of fruit and veg.
You could try probiotics (not the drinks, though) - no problems taking them longterm. Or soaked linseeds < boak>.

Oh yes lentils good also.
And All-bran before bed.

titty shiting/shitting

waffly half a pack of hobnobs - I wish! And sugarfree gum? How does that work then?

What a shitty problem to have...

You can get fibre that you add to a drink from Holland & Barratt called Regucol. Should be gentler than a daily laxative & no horrible taste, just a texture to get used to

How did I pick up on the sugarfree gum but not "cholera" !!

Mmmm soaked linseeds let me just go and boak at the thought of that prepare some as a midnight snack.

My friend used to stir a teaspoon of linseeds into a fat free yoghurt to keep her regular. They were not soaked - just dry seeds. Worked for her, but if you are not eating much then you can't really expect to produce much.

I'm actually eating a lot of food on this diet. It just doesn't want to come out (eurgh). I've never been particularly regular tbh but this seems extreme. The diet is working very well for me though so don't really want to stop just because of this - would like to find a way to manage it better.

Lots of tips so far to consider - ty! Water is a good point, I never drink enough but hadn't thought of any connection to this.

IMO taking something every day, a few suggestions above, seems like the easy option here. But I'm worried this isn't a smart move long term.

i drink lots of water but still porridge can give me a headache. it seems to want all the water and diverts it from my head.

i think the not sugar bit in gum has a laxative effect. check the packet.

i sprinkle linseed on cereal.

which diet is it?
You could stir some wheat bran into yogurt? That always works for me.

WafflyVersatile - bizarrely porridge makes me constipated though I love it and drunk lots of water with it.

Its the sorbitol in sugar free gum that has the laxative effect. I know this because my GP has told my son not to have it.

Weetabix and banana does it for me. If I have that then I do go more. Would that be ok for your diet?

Black coffee and a fag. Calorie free!

YY to loads of water! Also, going for a run.

Try fibogel if you are not getting enough fibre. Also, plenty water.

A kiwi fruit a day works wonders - 2 if you are bunged up.

A good breakfast, brisk walk and a hot drink, straight down.

Routine.

I have had this problem. I used to regularly take laxatives or I just wouldn't go.

I now take vitamin C every day and I am now ok and dont need to take laxatives apart from very occasionally.

Soaking linseeds for several hours avoids the need to grind them. Also, you can't store them once they're ground as there's only benefit in them when they're freshly done.
They're tasteless but rather like wallpaper paste - do the trick though!

Some really good tips. Will start by drinking lots of water and getting some linseeds as that seems to be the most popular suggestion.

Thank poo all very much!

Try taking lactulose.you can buy it OTC. It makes the bowel take up water & is a gentle laxative. You can take it daily & also if pregnant. Daily long term use of strong laxatives will make the bowel lazy.
You can put the lactulose in fruit juice. It does taste very sweet but just drink it down quickly & drink lots of water during the day.

Benefiber is good. Completely flavourless textureless and calorie free.