Seeking Guidance!!! REFUSE TO GIVE UP!!!

[Angelina]

oK...going on second week raw (just one big slipup!! one very minor) ~ other than that, fully raw. My question is that I am soo constipated!! ewwww I know :( I thought maybe I was too heavy on the nuts, so i cut them out today. Then I read a post about carrots, which I have been having daily. I drink tons of water naturally (at least a gallon); had been having huge salads for lunch..still nothing. I am soo bloated, but not everywhere, only belly!! Today I decided to do all fruit and see what happens, so today for breakfast I had some tomato soup (with some escarole); cut up fruit for snack ~ 2 bananas, 3 apples, lunch was another banana, 5 fresh figs (my fave), some cut up pineapple. My afternoon snack is a mango and an avocado; don't know about dinner yet (hopefully will be able to get through my bikram class)...I am actually up 2-3 lbs but I am sure its from not going (rather than my two slip ups). I am so tempted to grab a cup of coffee but really don't want to (it probably won't even work).... Any suggestions???

[jaurequi]

...I am so tempted to grab a cup of coffee ...

Hmmm...this may be a clue: Were you or are you a coffee drinker? If you have recently given up coffee, this may be why you are having a constipation issue. Coffee is a diuretic as well. So you may be temporarily holding on to water and all the increased fiber you're consuming may be held up as well. If this is the case, it is only a process you have to go through until your body realizes it will not be getting the coffee anymore.

[Angelina]

Nope not a coffee drinker here (used to have the occasional cup) but I figured it would help move things along!!!

[Rawkinlocs]

Hi Angelina,

You may get mixed reviews on this, but this is what worked for "me".

When I first began raw...before that actually...I was VERY, EXTREMELY "backed-up". I had the worst bowel function and was lucky if I could go once a week!

I'm sure that eating raw would have eventually remedied my situation, but I needed relief as it was making me sick and have terrible headaches. So, I did enemas as needed. Sometimes using organic coffee, sometimes a little sea salt in water.

Curezone.com is a good place to read up on enemas and various solutions you can use (just type "enemas" into their search feature).

But now, I haven't had to do one of those in a quite a very long time. But I felt I really needed the help to get things moving along and now, eating raw has GREATLY improved my bowel function and I don't have those headaches or the lethargy I once had due to being (what I consider) overly-constipated.

Hope this helps and hope you get moving soon! ;)

[rawpriestess]

I agree with Rawkie, I"m not a bring supporter or enemas, because I don't think they occur in nature, however, neither does SAD eating, so sometimes you do have to "shake things up".

I would suggest a warm water and coffee enema, and then just relax, also I would stop eating food. And allow your elimination to catch up.

Drink lots of water though, and allow this process to take place, should happen immediately, but sometimes you will have to do more than one enema to get things moving.

Good luck, I'm sorry you aren't feeling your best.

[Kris]

I have noticed that any changes I experience -- be them dietary, sleep-related, travelling, whatever -- cause things to get temporarily backed up. I especially noticed the effect this weekend when I ate some cooked foods and then tried to get back to raw. It's almost like my body holds onto whatever is in it until it figures out what the heck is going on. And then, of course, it all comes out. :rolleyes:

Now that I'm aware of what's going on and know what to expect, I just kind of handle it with lots of water, good foods, rest, and some gentle yoga or stretches that aid in elimination. I'm not sure how other people feel about this, but in the past I have used some herbal teas (dandelion and licorice) to get things going. However, use of these teas has also caused me to wake up in the middle of the night with severe intestinal cramps and to spend quite a bit of time eliminating. Not a safe bet if you have to go somewhere or do something and can't just wait around for it to hit -- and it does hit quite suddenly. Again, I don't use these herbs anymore because I know better how to anticipate and handle the discomfort, but it may be something to consider if your condition is getting unbearable. The tea definitely worked better than enemas for me and, while still relatively unpleasant, was much less invasive.

Hope you feel better!!

[askcassyfirst]

Everything everyone already posted is great. Here is are some thoughts that worked for me. Constipation is something that I deal with here at work. (I work for a digestive care company as an educator, and we work with situations just like you are in.)

Aside from diet & dehydration, often times constipation can be due to:

~ an irregular bowel ecology (not enought good flora) which are needed to help ferment foods and break them down, as well as forming up to 80% of our stool contents. (THis is why taking sourkraut, fermented condiments, or a probiotic supplement will greatly increase the volume of stool, allowing the muscle walls to contract against the bowel contents.) Caffiene, flouride, food preservatives, chlorinated water in your shower or pool, antibiotics, the pill, etc. can all kill your good flora.

~Low digestive enzymes due to low stomach acid (Try raw apple cider vinegar with meals) or pancreatic insuficiency due to previous poor diet, caffiene, stress, illness, etc (try taking enzyme supplements~plant based of course.

~poor positioning (try putting a small step stool under your feet while on the toilet.) Lifting the knees above the hip, or squating is the most natural position, and keeps the pipes 'open' and not 'folded' as with typical american toilets that let your feet dangle above the floor.

~impaired liver function due to being bombarded by toxins in our lives. When the liver is constipated and not properly flowing bile, the colon is commonly constipated. (Bile is a natural laxative.) This is why so many people start to have regular movements when they get their liver moving. I found the to be the key for me, having suffered extreem constipation when I first went raw in 03. I now take a daily liver supplement, (herbal) and I have no problem. You can research liver cleansing on google, as there are lots of thoughts on this topic out there.

~Colon hydrotherapy, or enemas are great to jump start things. My company endorses this very much.

~Oh- don't discount exercise, as body movement will often help get things going as well.

I hope that helps, and I wasn't too winded.

Cassy :)

[sweetgoddess]

A warm water enema will relieve that instantly for you.
There is a yoga position , it is just your hands together at your heart center and lower yourself into a squat. Hold it gently for as long as you can while BREATHING. Maybe that will help you also.

Hope you feel better soon.
Blessings~
Carmel

[Mystical]

I greatly benefitted by doing the Dr. Schulze cleanses - liver, kidney, bowel. I needed them all to help my bowel to heal, and it still isn't perfect, but is so much better. I did a 30 day detox cleanse of his this summer when the sun was hot, and then went into a raw diet from there. I couldn't have done raw without the cleanse first (I tried for 4 months and had horrible indigestion). Now my whole digestion is much better - I expect it will just continue to improve. You can find Dr. Schulze at http://www.800herbdoc.com/home_800x600.asp

[twinyoga]

All of the above advice is great. I had the same problem when starting raw. It was so frustrating. The enema worked for the moment but it didn't get me going on a regular basis. What does help me is a handful of dates before bedtime and miso (a fermented soy product) also helps me.

[Rawma]

Angelina, try warm as you can water with a whole lemon squeezed in...it works for me all the time!
Good luck,
Lisa

[truthseeker]

Boy oh Boy, is there anyone who came from SAD that isn't/wasn't backed up??? Me included!

What I did......because I do not like the idea of enemas, don't get me wrong I think they're worth doing, I just can't get past the MESSY, fear of "DOING" an enema.

Morning Water Flush....works EVERY time for me (I would only go once a week when SAD)

As soon as you wake up in the morning and your feet hit the floor walk to the water cooler and drink about 1 to 2 liters of water ( 4.2 cups is 1 liter. I can only drink about 7 cups). If you feel you can't drink it all in one shot then don't. Stop and rest a few minutes and try to drink some more. Don't go over your limit you don't want to be sick or anything, you'll know. What you'll be doing is saturating your colon , which will saturate the stool and cause your body to flush the stool. I go within 30 minutes to an hour....every time. Also after that time for a good while you will be peeing....just to warn you ;)

[zeeraw]

As soon as you wake up in the morning and your feet hit the floor walk to the water cooler and drink about 1 to 2 liters of water ( 4.2 cups is 1 liter. I can only drink about 7 cups). If you feel you can't drink it all in one shot then don't. Stop and rest a few minutes and try to drink some more. Don't go over your limit you don't want to be sick or anything, you'll know. What you'll be doing is saturating your colon , which will saturate the stool and cause your body to flush the stool. I go within 30 minutes to an hour....every time. Also after that time for a good while you will be peeing....just to warn you ;)

I had a colonic a couple of weeks ago and the practioner suggested the same thing 1 1/2 litres of water first up in the morning and you should have a movement between 20-40 minutes.
I have tried this for the past week and it only worked once :confused: Now I do have to admit that I'm not fully raw yet - mainly I'm raw till afternoon/dinner.
I do also do about an hour of yoga or an hour run before I drink the water so I don't know if that affects things. It has however helped in me eating a later breakfast as I then don't need to eat for a while afterwards.

[ReneeSC]

I thought, perhaps, it was my colon actually digesting these greens and veggies well that caused the constipation. The first week I was raw, what was eliminated didn't appear fully digested. Now, at week 4, it is, I just don't like having to force it through.

Thank you all for the suggestions.

[Sharon in Colorado]

I am so tempted to grab a cup of coffee but really don't want to (it probably won't even work).... Any suggestions???

The coffee would work great as long as you are using it at the right end. That is, your end. Coffee enemas are supposed to do wonders for constipation.

[racheljj]

Smooth Move Tea with senna (it's recommended on the Master Cleanse) works for me in situations like this. So does, this:

http://www.mothernature.com/Shop/Brands/index.cfm/s/99340/b/11903

Good luck,

Rachel