Food Baby Problems?

[LisaMarie_1992]

Hello there, I am 27 years old who is suffering with a serious case of food baby but without the food. My belly naturally bloats, that much so it makes me look very pregnant... It normally goes within a few days, I have been pregnant sized bloated for over a month now. I have done 3 pregnancy tests so it is definitely not that. Does anyone have the same problem or know a way to get rid of the bloating? It is really starting to effect how i feel about myself...

[Lytham 3 stone]

Just a thought but have you looked into lchf? I'm a lot less bloated with it ! Would you like to join our Christmas Challenge? Here's the link to tell you all about it, I hope to see you there! x

healthunlocked.com/nhsweigh...

[LisaMarie_1992 Healthy BMI in reply to Lytham]

what is Ichf?

[Lytham 3 stone in reply to LisaMarie_1992]

Oh sorry, low carb high fat , have a look on the Diet Doctor website for a full explanation! x

[LisaMarie_1992 Healthy BMI in reply to Lytham]

I have been trying to do at least the low carb part but found it was making me really dizzy and felt extremely weak and sick. I think low carbing etc is not the best option... Yes keto works but the human body is not suppose to lose more than 1 - 2 lb in a week... It is dangerous and if you came off the diet you would put the weight straight back on if not more weight. It's the same with things like juice plus. I had a friend who was on juice plus she lost a lot of weight, a week after stopping it she gained back ore than she had lost. I want a healthy way of losing weight

[BridgeGirl Administrator 2 stone in reply to LisaMarie_1992]

If you do low carb without increasing fat, it will leave you feeling weak as you have nothing to run on. You need to balance reducing carbs with increasing healthy fats

[LisaMarie_1992 Healthy BMI in reply to BridgeGirl]

I don’t want to get fat so haven’t increased my fat intake I am however eating less than 1000 calories a day. Not purposely I just don’t hit 1000 much.

[BridgeGirl Administrator 2 stone in reply to LisaMarie_1992]

You're eating way too little

[Lytham 3 stone in reply to LisaMarie_1992]

Oh there you go BridgeGirl has kindly answered that for you ! x

[BridgeGirl Administrator 2 stone]

If you've ruled out any medical conditions, with your doctor, it may come down to your choice of food. If you get in the habit of using the Daily Diary, you'll get some useful feedback

[LisaMarie_1992 Healthy BMI in reply to BridgeGirl]

The doctor thinks i have IBS.

[ozziesmum]

I had a real problem with bloating last year. It turned out I was stuffing my face with............... wait for it.............. too much fibre. Now isn't fibre supposed to be good for one? Well no, not in my case. What I really needed to be on was a low residue diet, as in very little in the way of fibre. I have increased it a tad since the beginning of this year, but I now know the signs to look out for.

I am not saying that is your problem, but it is worth thinking about.

[LisaMarie_1992 Healthy BMI in reply to ozziesmum]

Oh wow that’s a strange one isn’t it. My doctor reckons I have ibs which would make sense as I have fibromyalgia ibs is linked to it. Even when I don’t eat much I bloat. I’ve currently been looking pregnant for over a month. I hate it and barley go out now because apart from pyjamas nothing looks or feels nice on me x

[ozziesmum]

IBS is my problem too, except I have both versions. IBSD when I am stressed, even though to me I am not in the least bit stressed, but who am I to argue with my insides! If I eat too much fibre, as in anything with skins/seeds, ditto nuts, then I have IBSC. I was told by my GP to increase my fibre intake, which of course made things worse. It was so bad I was eating laxatives like sweets. It was only when she sent me for a colonoscopy that I discovered during the low residue diet, that the problem was the fibre. Now if somebody could work out why I have IBSD before I go out of the house I would very much appreciate it.

[LisaMarie_1992 Healthy BMI in reply to ozziesmum]

I definitely have the constipated version. It’s awful. I take laxative sachets. But they don’t work well enough. Xx

[ozziesmum in reply to LisaMarie_1992]

It sounds like following the low residue diet might work for you. Worth giving it a try for a few days anyway. I started it on the Saturday before my colonoscopy, which was the following Friday. Within the first three days I noticed what a difference it made.

Virtually all fruit and veg were banned, which I found particularly hard, especially with bananas, peas, etc. All seeds/nuts and the high fibre bread were also not allowed. After the colonoscopy I went to a local eatery and had steak pie and peas. Didn't realise the peas were mushy peas, so of course I suffered dreadfully for the rest of the day.

The following week I added more variety, including garden peas, cauliflower and broccoli. Some of the low residue diets say no broccoli, others say no cauliflower, or they have it in reverse. Anywhoo I can eat both, usually at the same time as I buy it frozen from a certain supermarket. I can also eat potatoes with skins on, both new ones and jackets spuds

Bananas were very quickly added to the list of what I can eat. Apples/pears have to be peeled and cooked, which is a bit of a pain as we have an apple tree in the garden bursting with the things. At least it was until last week when we stripped it. My freezer comes in useful as they do not keep beyond the middle of October.

Last year I tried cherries, but sadly, like grapes, they are not a great idea. Tried 'em again this year, not quite as bad, so maybe by next year I might be ok. Watermelon is ok too, though I now have to be careful with all citrus fruit and pineapples, but for a different medical reason. Hey ho, just trying to keep my weight under control is hard enough, without other health issues as well.

I would be interested to know how you get on. Even cutting out a few of the high fibre items might help. They say not to follow the diet for more than a week or so anyway, but in that time it is possible to check what foods make things better or worse.

[LisaMarie_1992 Healthy BMI in reply to ozziesmum]

Hi. I’ve been using constipation sachets called macrogol or something like that. Have to say I’m definitely going more regular now. Still a little bloated but doesn’t seem as bad as it was. It sounds like you’ve had a time with your health. I hope you are alright. I’m still trying to figure out how to not be achy from having fibromyalgia. I want to be a veterinary nurse so the course is full on and my body can’t cope with that. I’m hoping a change in diet will help with that too. Life is never simple... I wish it was though. Doesn’t help seeing models etc that have flat bellies or young teens with the perfect figure and can eat what they want. I use to be like that would stuff my face and remained thinner than I am now. Now al I have to do it look at food and my food baby is like hello remember me. I will try your suggestion of not eating certain foods for a few weeks see if that helps at all. I will keep you updated xx

[ozziesmum in reply to LisaMarie_1992]

Huh, I have a daughter who can eat for England and not put on so much as an ounce. Mind you as she has other 'issues' such as asthma and migraine I can't really complain. She is a teacher, so lots of stress, especially when dealing with children who are, um, shall we say less than cooperative, and that is somewhat of an understatement.

As for my 'issues', mostly small ones that for some mysterious reason seems to defeat the medical profession. Thankfully with the aid of lavender and/ or tea tree oil, I seem to have sorted most of them out for myself. There is a lot to be said for alternative therapies.

Most of the meals mentioned on this forum I wouldn't be able to eat. High fat is a definite no go area due to a lack of a gall bladder. Spicy foods give me indigestion, always had that problem, but not helped due to the amount of pain killers I take.

A friend of mine shares a house with a lady who has fibro. She had a gastric band fitted a few years ago, but had it removed as not only wasn't it working, but it was making things even worse. Sadly what little weight she did lose, has now come back with a vengeance.

I understand that IBS is one of the symptoms of fibromyalgia. The medical profession don't seem to have much of a clue how to treat it so far as I can see. Antidepressants, or talking therapies such as CBT and counselling seems to be about all they offer. Well thanks but no thanks, I have been down that route for the pain in my hand due to a smashed thumb.

All antidepressants do is send me to sleep, and talking about it does not do anything for the pain. I try not to take anything other than paracetamol for most of the year, but once the cold weather sets in I will have to resort to codeine again. I have a knitted glove thingie, several actually, that does help quite a bit. Feels a tad silly on a hot day wearing the thing, but what the heck, it has to be better than stuffing my beak with codeine.

[MintTeaMascara Healthy BMI]

I understand how you feel, I have/had the same problem.

The only thing that I've found works is regularly eating smaller portions fasting and skipping meals. It's usually triggered by eating more than I can stomach even if it's a normal sized portion to others.

[LisaMarie_1992 Healthy BMI in reply to MintTeaMascara]

I wish that would work for me lol. I eat 2-3 meals a day all healthy. X

[MintTeaMascara Healthy BMI in reply to LisaMarie_1992]

It might be worth trying smaller portions and eating more often if you feel you need to

[MintTeaMascara Healthy BMI in reply to LisaMarie_1992]

I had bad constipation when I joined and changing my diet and drastically cutting back on sugar seems to have pretty much cleared it up.

[LisaMarie_1992 Healthy BMI in reply to MintTeaMascara]

I have been trying to low carb (under 50g) a day but erm.... you don’t realise you may as well eat grass lol everything has carbs 😭😂

[MintTeaMascara Healthy BMI in reply to LisaMarie_1992]

I've decided to head towards a Mediterranean diet, but change doesn't happen over night, so I'm trying to take my time with it as I want it to be a life long, sustainable, lifestyle change.

I've joined the daily diary and plan meals every day now and I'm still suffering from digestive issues but they're much better than what they where before I joined and I'm eating a better and more varied diet.

Theres lots of different and nice meals to take insperation from in the daily diary.

[LisaMarie_1992 Healthy BMI in reply to MintTeaMascara]

I was looking at that diet looks really good. What kind of things have you tried from it? Xx

[MintTeaMascara Healthy BMI in reply to LisaMarie_1992]

I was wondering if it was similar to what happens to me because I'm sick after eating as well as the usual bloating - it must be something else.

I don't think I've tried anything in particular from it but I think the basis is; that fresh fruits, vegetables, pulses and bean dishes make up the majority of the diet, with all other foods allowed in small amounts.

I don't think it necessarily has to be Mediterranean food - but things like roasted fish, vegetables and salad I've tried, and eat about once a week. It's really nice tbh.

[BridgeGirl Administrator 2 stone in reply to LisaMarie_1992]

If you're aiming for a low carb approach, you don't need to count calories, yet you're on a very restrictive calorie target

[MintTeaMascara Healthy BMI in reply to LisaMarie_1992]

Are you sick after eating as well?

[LisaMarie_1992 Healthy BMI in reply to MintTeaMascara]

Nope I’m never sick

[BridgeGirl Administrator 2 stone]

LisaMarie, I'd be interested to hear how you go forward and what you decide to act on from all the information you've been given here. You don't need to lose weight as you have a healthy BMI, so it's about dealing with the bloating, it seems to me. And having a plan you can stick with for life

[LisaMarie_1992 Healthy BMI in reply to BridgeGirl]

I started the diet with my mum I wasn’t happy with my figure and my mum was 10st which was effecting her health as she’s disabled. We went on a diet together. Started last October all we did was follow the traffic light system on food so all green and amber no reds. Worked well for ages until I craved pizza. That one pizza ruined everything. Thinking on one pizza won’t hurt. Between the end of June and the end of August we had ordered around 6 12” pizzas with piri fries. Aswell as that we had sweets chocolate and I got a vanilla donut obsession. I came on here to try to get back on track. Now I’m struggling and constantly bloated. The food baby belly normally goes away within a few days but this ones been here about a month. I was going to try the keto diet but don’t want to lose weight that fast just 1-2 lbs a week will be alright. And I can’t do 50g of carbs a day so there’s no way I could do less. Right now I just want to feel comfortable in my own skin and clothes again x