One week of clean eating and I feel so bloated and massive

[2025babyfever]

Can anyone else relate? I’ve completely changed up my diet- whole grains, fruit and veg and plenty chicken and eggs- home made meals etc
cut out Coke Zero and sugar (addict), white bread etc
i feel so bloated my clothes actually feel tighter!
is this normal? When do I start feeling slimmer?

Have you changed the amount that you eat? Are you calorie counting?

Not changed the amount, and not calorie counting

I'm no expert, but I imagine that you have a microbiome filled with gut bacteria who are specialised in munching on your usual diet - and they are not coping right now - gradually you will develop more of the gut bacteria that love the wholegrains and legumes and you will feel less bloaty and reap the benefits.

Yes I feel like this until I start feeling better, I also get awful headaches from the lack of sugar!

For me I feel rubbish for about 2 weeks, but hang in there.

Yes, suddenly increasing your fibre like that will create this reaction. Keep going and you can take digestive enzymes to aid digestion

I’ve gone from virtually no fibre and refined sugar to this
thank you that makes sense I’ll keep going!
how many weeks until you started to feel good?

Try adding a probiotic. I use a capsule from Holland and Barrett but there are lots on the market.

Actimel has helped with my bloating.

I have IBS and get bloated if I eat wholegrains, whatever the health benefits may be its strictly white rice for me and no gluten.

Do you have IBS? Bloating is a sign of it. If so, onions, garlic, wholegrains, dairy, Spices, cabbage and couliflour and sometimes gluten can be a problem. I can't even eat grapes, mushrooms or pears. If you've radically changed your diet and eat more windy veg and wholegrains, IBS will be rampant.

Also beans and lentils=IBS

Not saying you do have IBS but it can go undiagnosed for years.

No funnily enough my bowels have never been healthier! I usually have to take a laxative as I didn’t eat enough fibre, but for 6 days now I’ve been healthy

It's the grains. Focus more on high quality protein.

I almost feel sorry for the wee bacteria 🤪 but yes any dramatic change is going to disrupt them too.

Sometimes it's better to make incremental changes...
good luck , though. I applaud your motivation. 😊

I’m a week in now so no stopping- but I’m going to tweak the grains and nuts a bit and see how I go.
plus I don’t count calories as I naturally eat more calories on certain days of my cycle and a lot less on others so I am hoping this balances out rather than being strict each day.

Yes yes yes. I went from a massive amount of bread and processed sugar (not overweight at all but slightly high BP and cholesterol prompted me to change) to really healthy overnight. So lots of oats, healthy grains, seeds, nuts, healthy fats, tons of kale and spinach, loads of fruit and veg, salmon, chicken, green juices, minimal processed crap, no desserts, cake or crisps). I had about 4-5 days with a constant headache and about 1 week feeling bloated alongside that, then a couple more weeks feeling exhausted and weak, then I came out the other side. As I started to feel better it happened gradually so I didn’t really notice that I was feeling loads better until I fell off the wagon and felt awful again during a stressful time. So be patient and try and stay strong. I have mild anxiety persistent ache (at 46, very annoying) and although it’s mainly hormonal my skin definitely seems a smudge better when I eat better too. Oh and drink lots of water if you have upped your fibre intake considerably too I think. And make sure you are eating enough calories, it has to be sustainable and realistic.