Bloating! What's a Girl to Do?

L

lorajc

Cathlete
Hi everyone,

I eat pretty healthy and I'm a vegetarian. I get so bloated that I look pregnant. It's really quite disgusting. This especially happens after a small meal later in the day. The only time my belly is remotely flat is first thing in the morning. Does anyone else have this problem. I have endometriosis also and I do tend to get even more bloated during PMS. What helps with this?
 
YES, I get this ALL the time! I also have problems with edema (puffy face early in the morning, swollen ankles in the evening).

I don't have any good answers for you but feel comforted not to be the only one with this problem.

Here's what helps me -- but I still have issues (just not as bad). Get ready, this is a long list.

-- No dairy
-- Limit myself to 2 protein bars per day (too many will give me problems)
-- Cut the carbs (very little bread/pasta/rice/sugar)
-- No carbonated drinks (even if they are sugar-free/diet)
-- Watch the salt from processed foods (frozen dinners, soups, lunchmeat, etc). Actually, limit processed foods as much as possible.
-- Calcium is supposed to help with PMS/bloating. I like the Viactiv Calcium Chews but can't say whether they actually help very much.
-- Drink lots of water
-- Eat at the same times every day (something about being consistent and on a schedule helps)
-- No beans
-- No potatoes (they make me blow up inside...with really sucks since they're my favorite)
-- Watch the salad dressing...nothing with a creamy base.
-- No peppers

So, what does that leave?
Essentially I'm outside chewing the grass like a frickin' cow. Otherwise I look 6 months pregnant!

Hopefully someone else will have some good tips!

Shonie
 
Oh Girls, you are not alone!!! I had endometreosis years ago too, and had the same problems!! It stinks and I'm feeling for you!! Shonie had excellent points, all of which I do as well and it does help. I would just recommend adding Gasex or any extra strength gas over the counter medicine. The extra strength stuff really helps. I take two everyday. And absolutely no dairy whatsover is key for me. I know it's frustrating especially when you are working so hard on your abs and then the bloating comes along!! Hope that helps a little.
 
"Essentially I'm outside chewing the grass like a frickin' cow"

Oh Shonie, you have no idea how hard this made me laugh:D
 
"Essentially I'm outside chewing the grass like a frickin' cow"

You're a hoot!

Unfortunately, it's easier to count the days I don't bloat. I"ll wake up with a flat stomach and then eat something and an hour later I look nine months pregnant. What really frustrates me is if I have plans in the evening and I've decided what I'm going to wear and then can't because I'm about to deliver. x(
 
A previous poster who doesn't seem around anymore, Akirkland, had similar issues (not the endom. tho) and saw a nutritionist, you might try a search on her posts.

Hope this helps
Jen
 
This was hppening to me each and every month. For two weeks out of every month I would be so unhappy because I started the day feeling bloated and ended the day witha 6 month pregnancy belly.

No amount of eating, not eating, drinking, not drinking, exercise, sleeping extra, eating fruit, taking B vits, evening primrose and calcium ever helped.

The only thing that has put an end to it is Nuvaring, a hormonal contraceptive. Now, I rarely bloat and I am so much happier in my mind and body.

I just couldn't live like that any more.

Clare
 
I used to eat Kashi or any other high fiber cereal every day. Would eat it at around 5:00 a.m. I was bloated by noon. Thought it was milk or fruit not agreeing with me. Finally cut out the cereal. No more bloat. Took me a while to figure out. I miss the cereal but definitely not worth it for me. I was always glad I had a loose top on to hide the distended belly.

Jeanette
 
You are not kidding! I can look like 4 months pregnant when I get bloated, it is painfully disgusting. For me, it is always the low carb chocolates I eat and I just can't eat them anymore. I guess I am going to stick with trail mix or sunflower seeds, etc. for my snack. I also experience bloating during TTOM and no matter what I eat, I do get bloated so I just don't worry about it and know it goes away as quickly as it comes.

Charlotte~~
 
I hear ya too. For me its the sugar free chocolate coatings. Big time. I cant button my pants its so bad. So I steer clear of protein bars. I had back surgery for a herniated disc a while ago, and I have to eat lots of fiber. (More than you wanted to know, I know) But, I gradually increased my fiber and over time I have become a lot less bloated. Salt really makes me bloat, so I stay away. Besides who needs high blood pressure.
 
I'm bloated a lot. PMS, too much water, too much protein, too many servings of vegetables, too much stress, insomnia creeping up all the time, not enough sleep... As long as the bloating is gas and/or water and not flab, I can pretty much live with it (about 90% of the time:) ).

Shonie, I'll print out your advice and put them on my fridge. There's a pasture in Grapevine, just a little past Gaylord Texan, on the way to my son's school, where the longhorns graze. How about we have lunch there sometime? Yes?:)

Pinky
 
I think the healthier you eat, the more bloated you get. I swear all the stuff that's good for you bloats you. I don't eat Protein bars, so it can't be that. I also take Gas X but it doesn't really help. I just wonder how all of these celebrities get their tummies so flat for Video shoots, etc. It's sickening....they must have to be under the care of a nutritionalist (strict diet...I'm sure) cuz normal people do bloat, don't they? Although, I never admitted I was normal and I'm not gonna start now.......it's fun being different.
 
Pinky --

What, you haven't noticed me out there in the pasture? I'm the one with the short horns and Dooney & Bourke purse :) The other cows are SO jealous!

Sounds like I'm not alone here in my quest to be bloat free. Bloated chicks UNITE!

Shonie
 
I've heard lots of soy will get people bloating really good. I don't know anything about endometriosis. You may consider a gas aid like Beeno.
 
Shonie -- :7 :7 :7

I'll be the little puny one then, gazing starry-eyed at the horses on the other side of the field, admiring all that lean muscle and those long, powerful legs.:)

What can I say? Bloating sucks. You work hard for the body you want, and your body still finds a way to thumb its nose at you.

Maybe there should be a bloating check-in thread?:)

Pinky
 
I have that problem a lot too.

For those who say they eat sugar-free items, watch out for ingredients like sorbitol and manitol. Eat as little of such sugar substitutes as possible, as the human body does not digest them well.

I would not avoid beans. My body has grown quite used to them and they don't cause me any discomfort at all. Beans are really not as bad as they're made out to be, in my opinion.

I'm interested to hear what others have to say about this problem, as it can be quite uncomfortable. I think it's all the veggies that are to blame, but I'm not willing to give them up!

Editing to mention that lactose intolerance can cause severe bloating too, and it can begin at any age.
 
Pinky,

:) Bloating checkin thread...I like it! Although I'm not sure how interesting it would be. I can see it now, day after day:

Day 1: Bloated
Day 2: Yep, still Bloated
Day 3: Bloated AND constipated
Day 4: Bloated, constipated, and pissed off
Day 5: Feel pregnant, look pregnant, not really pregnant
Day 6: Ate dairy -- puffy, bloated, constipated, 12 months pregnant
Day 7: Took anger out on unsuspecting driver -- still bloated

Repeat.

I'm at #7 right now and getting ready to fight the DFW traffic!

Have a great weekend all my bloated sisters!
Shonie
 
Shonie,

I too think a Bloating thread is genius! Although I'm afraid my post would read "no change" each day. I'm stuck in a combo of 4 and 5. x(

Would someone please help me understand why I'm doing all this ab exercises?
 
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