Question about Fiber

[msniki412]

I've been eating allot of food that has allot of fiber in it and I was wondering if that can cause me to get "backed up" on my bathroom issue. Tmi...I haven't gone since Sunday evening and I haven't had the urge to go either. I've always had this problem where I can not go for 2-3 days, but this is my 4th day. I do today, have a bit more gas then I normally do so maybe today is the day i go. Any tips on what I could eat/take to not have this problem again? I don't really have any symptoms of not going either, just today the gas is building (plus I'm at work so I can't release it lol) up.

My mom suggested that I take the Fiber pills (benifiber) but I think the fiber is what is backing me up. Is there a such thing as too much fiber? I have these Smartfood popcorn clusters which have 5gr of fiber in each pack. Plus I eat Fiber 1 cereal about once or twice a week, and have been hooked on bananas lately. Allot of my food contains fiber and I really don't know what to do about it.

Any help!!!?

[msniki412]

Thanks for the info. Honestly, I couldn't say how long I've been eating allot of fiber foods. It's been pretty much since this year. I do drink allot of water. I keep a 1.5L of Poland Spring water on my desk, and normally refill it about 2 times a day. I pee allot...lol. Last night I finally went to the bathroom. And to my suprise it came out with ease...tmi!! Normally when i dont go for a while, it's hard and hurts and I have to take stoole softners to help. This time, I got the urge and come out of the bathroom in like 5 mins!!!

I do eat the heatlhy fats like nuts once in a while, and I also eat the unhealthy fats too sometimes during the week. I think it's just my body. Like I said I could not go for like 3 days and be fine, and then the next week go everyday. It's weird!!!

[StarryNight23]

You know, it's strange but I have the same issue too actually! I remember being a lot more regular when I was eating a much unhealthier diet. Then I switched my diet up and began eating lots of whole foods which are naturally lower in fat and high in fiber and now I notice I can go anywhere from 2-5 days without any um..activity? lol But then if I eat out of my normal eating habits like say if I go out to dinner or it's a holiday. Then I'll be regular for a good 2 or 3 days. I have a feeling this has something to do with a higher dietary fat intake.

But about the fiber issue. You're right about too much fiber having the opposite effect sometimes. Do you keep yourself really well hydrated throughout the day? Because if you arent drinking enough water, all that fiber will definitely make you constipated. I know on average I usually get between 20-sometimes even 40g of fiber a day and if I'm not drinking enough, I'll be backed up. I also work a few higher fat days into my diet a week because that also seems to help keep things moving a bit better. Healthy fats though (avocado, olive oil, nuts, flax, fish etc) Also, how long have you been eating an increased fiber intake? If it's kind of recently, you may want to scale back on the fiber a little bit for a while. It may be a shock to your system and your body has to adjust to the fiber gradually. So I would try reducing your fiber intake a little bit for a while, drinking more water and even trying to incorporate a day or 2 of higher healthy fats and that *should* help get things going again.