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Low-carb diets

Share advice and experiences of following a low-carb diet.Mumsnet hasn't checked the qualifications of anyone posting here. You may wish to speak to a medical professional before starting any diet.

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Original poster

How can I do low carb and be not be constipated??

30 replies

SloanePeterson · 09/07/2014 14:13

Is it even possible? I'm just starting week 3, feeling great, am 7lbs down so a third of the way to my target already. This is good. What's not so good is not pooing for days at a time. I got desperate last night and took a laxative which gave me horrible, awful cramps and I was sat on the toilet for two hours in the middle of the night feeling very sorry for myself. I'm not doing that again. But it's making me wonder if low carb is a really really bad idea. Maybe I should switch to something that will allow me the odd branflake no? I feel I've definately broken my reliance in sugar, which is amazing. I'm not snacking at all, haven't felt a tiny bit tempted to cheat. I'm definately in the zone. But I really really don't want to get this last stone off in a way that's going to need laxatives every fee days. That just can't be right. I'm drinking tons of water so I'm far from dehydrated. Is this a common problem?

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Esmum07 · 09/07/2014 15:57

I am on a low carb diet and had exactly the same problem. I have been on it for a month. First week I took advice from the book I got for the diet and used flax seeds soaked in water. Very slimy and didn't help me. Then my sister told me to try pro biotic tablets. First day I took it I was on the loo half an hour later and I go every day now. Could be a co incidence but if it works...

yumyumpoppycat · 09/07/2014 19:10

peanut butter is good as are magnesium tablets.

Original poster

SloanePeterson · 09/07/2014 21:32

I can't ear nuts so that's out, but I might give the probiotic tablets a try. I'm still in the pretty hardcore first phase with no fruit at all. I wanted to do it for an extra week to maximise the weight loss but I think I'll try moving onto the next stage where I can have a bit more variety. If I'm still having problems I'll take that as my body's way of telling me it's not good for me and keep the basic principles of no sugar, but add in a whole meal sandwich here and there.

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goodasitgets · 09/07/2014 21:35

I definitely go less on low carb, not constipated though

Plonkysaurus · 09/07/2014 21:37

I'm no expert, but I seem to get the opposite problem when I low carb. Are you eating many meat and fat? If so could you add a bit more veg into your diet?

I try to eat veg at every meal, unless I'm having yoghurt and berries. It seems to make things go the other way for me but this is the best diet I've found for my IBS.

Whatevertheweather · 09/07/2014 21:38

I'm doing slim and save which is a low carb vlcd diet and lots of people on there swear by psyllium husk for constipation which you can get from holland and barrett

Fourarmsv2 · 09/07/2014 21:40

I go very infrequently now but I don't feel constipated. Natural things which make me go are strong Vit C tabs (up to 1000mg) and linseed (I make it into bread - went about 5 times in following 24h!).

Original poster

SloanePeterson · 09/07/2014 21:42

I'm eating a lot of veg. More than I ever have. Breakfast is generally a couple of boiled eggs. Lunch most days is a big leafy salad with cucumber, celery, peppers, spring onions liberally chucked in, and either cold cuts of meat, egg of cheese, and dinner is pretty much always meat and veg. I've got through a tonne of cauliflowers and leeks this past fortnight. I made a soup this evening filled with bean sprouts. I'm not sure what I can really add to my diet to help. It seems to be obvious that I'm missing out on an awful lot of fibre. I'm just not sure what I can add to what I'm eating to help.

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Original poster

SloanePeterson · 09/07/2014 21:45

Fourarms, up until the last couple of days I'd felt fine with going every 4 days or so. But then it got longer and longer and it started to be uncomfortable. No bloat whatsoever though, interestingly enough. Cutting out all the crap seems to have sorted that out. But it makes me uneasy to go so infrequently. There's a history of bowel cancer in my family and it terrifies me a bit when I'm not going for days on end. It doesn't really feel natural.

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BOFster · 09/07/2014 21:48

That sounds like plenty of fibre to me- are you drinking enough water? Exercising? Brisk walking/jogging is very good for getting things moving.

LokiTheCynicalCat · 09/07/2014 21:49

Coconut oil is good, if you take a spoonful of that by itself it gets things moving.

Psyllium husks as a PP said, though they're quite gentle so you need to take them regularly - don't expect a sudden BM.

I don't "go" every day, but don't feel particularly constipated. I used to have the most horrendously stinky farts and those have all gone, thank god.

Original poster

SloanePeterson · 09/07/2014 21:51

Bof, I'm making a real effort to drink plenty of water. I do still have coffee twice a day so perhaps that's it? Although that usually makes me go . I actually broke myself doing the shred two weeks ago so I'm not doing great big sweaty exercises but I always walk at least 3 miles a day, as fast as I can to get ds to sleep in his buggy! But I've been doing that a long time so maybe my body is used to it? I've been meaning to get out for a bike ride in the evenings while it's still light outside so I might try that this week.

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CharlieSierra · 09/07/2014 21:57

When you can have a little fruit I can highly recommend kiwi fruit for this, they are fantastic.

Original poster

SloanePeterson · 09/07/2014 22:05

Charlie, kiwis are known as 'winky fruit' in this house (and yes that does look when written down ) because I just find them too sharp and apparently that's the face I used to pull when forced to eat them as a child. vie been recommended dried apricots and I'd be happy to eat prunes which I actually love, but I'm worried about the sugar in them. My own worst enemy guess.

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Plonkysaurus · 09/07/2014 22:07

Ah that sucks Sloane. Have you tried coconut oil?

(Love your username btw. It makes me think of the register bit... Bueller...Bueller...Bueller...)

Original poster

SloanePeterson · 09/07/2014 22:11

What do I actually do with coconut oil? I've heard it used for so many things, on your skin and things like that. Would I use it in place of olive oil? I used a tiny bit of creamed coconut to make my soup today so I'm not adverse to cooking with it, I just don't know where I could be adding it in.

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Plonkysaurus · 09/07/2014 22:15

You can fry things in it or, if you're feeling brave, try making a bullet proof coffee.

Make a black coffee, and blend in a tsp of butter and a tsp of coconut oil. Sounds disgusting. It's not

Original poster

SloanePeterson · 09/07/2014 22:19

Butter and oil in my coffee?! WHAAAAAATTT?! seriously? That sounds like an oil slick waiting to happen. I am loving putting cream in my coffee though, and I just discovered Douwe Egberts caramel flavour granules. But my love for that is a whole other thread.

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Plonkysaurus · 09/07/2014 22:24

If you use a stick blender it goes like a latte. It sounds grim I know, and it's actually taken me a YEAR to dare myself to try it.

And I'll be having one for breakfast tomorrow

CharlieSierra · 10/07/2014 08:54

Winky fruit I know what you mean, but I adopt the same attitude as to my cod liver oil, it certainly isn't the most delicious thing I'll put in my mouth all day, but I know it's good for me! I normally stick the Kiwi in my green smoothie, skin and all and hey presto, it works within a few hours.

LokiTheCynicalCat · 10/07/2014 10:12

Bulletproof coffee is the business when low carbing. Yes, take your coconut oil in that or take a spoonful of it by itself. "Oil slick waiting to happen" is the result you're looking for anyway, right?!

Original poster

SloanePeterson · 10/07/2014 10:44

Right. I've been to holland and Barratt and bought some pro biotic tablets and a big jar of coconut oil. Still not entirely sure what to do with it but it shall sit my by hob proudly. I did have a thought as to why I feel so funny. I had a mirena fitted four weeks ago and I'm feeling very much like I'm about to come on. That does tend to affect my bowels, though usually the other way . I have terrible cramps today tok which might explain why I'd not lost as much as I thought I would have last week. We shall see. Perhaps best week I'll be back on track.

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LokiTheCynicalCat · 10/07/2014 10:51

Oh yeah, I had trouble with my mirena for six weeks when it was first fitted. Nothing since, though.

Original poster

SloanePeterson · 10/07/2014 11:17

Loki, I was vey hesitant about having it in as I'd heard horror stories about constant bleeding but I've been very lucky and had nothing but a bit of very minor spotting for the first 2 weeks or so. I do feel very crampy today and with it being a month since it was fitted, I'm assuming it is about to show me just what it's going to do to my periods. Joy. But I know I tend to hold onto weight when I'm due on so next weeks weigh in should hopefully be good. And I am also feeling very proud not to have given into any kind of chocolate cravings that usually come with pmt. wether that's the mirena or the low carb, I wouldn't like to say

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Plonkysaurus · 10/07/2014 11:29

Ah that makes sense, I get a bit like that too.

I think Marks Daily Apple has some great ideas for coconut oil. Hope things, erm, pass quickly...

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