bloating/distended belly?

[citrus]

Hi everyone,

I'm new and have a few questions regarding my new transition to a raw food diet. I've been raw for 6 days now and its been surprisingly easy. I attempted it once before and I remember struggling quite a bit, but with the addition of green smoothies things have been much, much better.

However, I have had one pressing issue that I've researched and found *some* information on, but was wondering if anyone had an opinion on my situation (and what you did to overcome it).

So ever since starting raw foods I've felt quite bloated. Its not like I am gassy, its just when I look at my side profile its much more distended than it used to be. Its not like I've gained fat per say (my pants fit as normal - they are even slightly looser), its just that my belly is so distended and I wanted to know how to overcome it.

I read that perhaps its because I am overeating on raw foods (during the whole transition period I was allowing myself to eat whenever). I read that I needed to allow my digestive system to "rest" between meals. Therefore, I tried to space my meals apart and it seemed to help, but not entirely.

If I don't eat until actually feeling hungry, I really feel like I am not eating enough, and I feel deprived. At this point I feel I could get by on maybe one meal a day but I really don't want to do that. I just don't feel hungry! Is this right? I DO eat a lot of fiber-rich foods.

Why is my belly distended like this? Its like I have food in my stomach as its higher (just below my sternum). I used to have a pretty flat stomach and a nice side profile, but now its gotten unattractive, and I don't know what to do. I don't want to weigh myself or else I'd get obsessed with what the scale said... heh.

Any ideas on what could be causing this? Should I just try and not eat as much and see if I become more regulated? Has anyone ever experienced anything like this?

Thanks for your input everyone. :)

[Myca]

Hmmm... I had a large belly to begin with. As soon as I went raw, it got even larger. I didn't bother resting, I ate when ever I was hungry, which was every 1-2 hrs.
Raw food is much more bulky and has more fiber than a regular SAD plan. It takes time to adjust. I think if you give it some time you will notice a difference. Six days, you are just starting. Even for a person who is small to begin with, I would give it at least 6 weeks. The entire bowel is cleansing and adjusting.

[Cerellia]

You're digestive system is not quite used to so much fibreouse food. Give it time to adapt and don't worry.

[streetsurfer]

I hear that fruit, when combined with slower digesting foods (nuts for one), can remain in the stomach too long. It then sits above the trapped slower digesting foods and begins rotting, rather than digesting properly. That could cause distress and bloating. I've heard Brenda Watson and others speak of eating fruit alone, or leaving it alone, for that reason. What I am not sure of is the time you should allow between fruit and other things to avoid this.

[Go Go Goji]

I know all about this! It's awful, isn't it?

So here's what to do. You'll need time to build up the hydrochloric acid in your stomach (that's what will break down all that fiber and plant roughage). Some things that could help:

Take a probiotic in the morning
Drink lemon juice and ginger in a warm tea
Eat tons of watermelon (on an empty stomach! Don't eat or drink anything with it, and wait at least a half-hour before eating anything after)

I've also found that doing yoga helps to stretch that sucker out. If you know yoga, get into a deep 8-points pose. That's basically starting on your hands and knees, then getting down on your elbows and stick your bottom up in the air. Ah, works like a charm.

[citrus]

Hi everyone! Thanks for all of your advice!

Go Go Goji - the probiotic did the trick. I ate a huge vat of kimchi and paired it with some "peach detox" Yogi tea and the result was, well.... pleasant in the end.

It was all smooth moves the next day (nothing like what senna will do - eeps!). Nothing violent, but it was like the clog was unclogged and I just went and went and went. I hope I'm not being too graphic, but that's what happened! Probiotics are great. I must have had some sluggish or sparse bacterial populations in my intestines!

I should try the yoga pose if it happens again, but I hope I won't have too. Thanks for the tip though.

Just thought I'd post the update! :) +1 vote for probiotics!