Is it normal to start a healthy diet and be so ill?

Three weeks ago I started a healthy diet, eating lots of fresh fruit and veg, cutting out all processed and fast food. I lost 2 lbs the first week but nothing the since coz I am just so constipated. This is unusual for me as I've always went to the toilet regularly but now I haven't been for a good week.

I am drinking loads of water and have even started laxatives (which are not working) but do not understand how a high fiber healthy diet could make me so ill with constipation.

Any ideas would be appreciated.
Thank you.

Voting Results
49% Normal
Based on 57 votes (28 yes)
Help us keep this site organized and clean. Thanks!
[ Report Post ]
Comments ( 12 )
  • RoyalKnight

    It's normal and I can explain what's happening with you. When you are used to eating certain foods and then make an immediate change to a different selection of other foods, your body natural responds like the way you described. Your body hasn't been given time to adjust to the change and this is how your body reacts to it.

    I can relate to you because I'm on my own regimen too. My regimen consists of an 1,800 calorie diet of 3 small meals with 2 small snacks in-between (Totaling 5 times a day I eat) and 30 minutes of walking everyday.

    Like many people, I found it hard to tolerate a diet because the food doesn't taste as good but that doesn't mean you can't find good alternatives. I have things to eat like Veggie Patties, Chocolate Brownies with Fiber, Fudge Bars with Fiber, Whole Wheat Cheese Chips, 100 Calorie Snackpacks, Lean Cuisines, Healthy Choice Meals and etc.

    Exercise doesn't have to be a tiresome chore either. I like easy exercise and walking is as easy as it gets. Walking is the least fat-burning exercise (Which is why it's best to do it everyday for at least 30 minutes) but it offers as much health benefits as running. Walking reduces your risk for Alzheimers, Dementia, Heart Disease, Stroke, lowers Cholesterol, lowers Blood Pressure, strengthens bones, reduces stress, reduces anxiety, reduces depression and has many other health benefits.

    Here are some tips to help you drop the weight -

    1) Drink Green Tea. Green Tea has many Antioxidants and has been shown to raise Metabolism by as much as 4%. A Study was conducted with 2 groups of men both of which had the same diet with the exception of one group that drank Green Tea daily. After one month of study Scientists found that the group that drank Green Tea lost an average of 5.2 pounds while the other group that didn't drink Green Tea lost an average of only 2.6 pounds.
    2) Avoid convenient transportation. Instead of driving to the Supermarket, walk there. Instead of taking an elevator, take the stairs. Taking longer trips to get to places will help to burn extra calories.
    3) Get plenty of sleep. A person who sleeps 8 hours will burn an average of 500 calories. The less sleep you get, the less calories you'll burn.
    4) Remember that you want to lose weight in fat. Dropping some pounds doesn't nescessary mean that your plan is working because the weight can be weight in Muscle Tissue, Water, Fat or Excrement. Make sure you're losing weight in fat (buying a Body Fat Measurement Device would help).

    Before I started my regimen I weighed 200 pounds and now I'm down to about 183. My goal weight is 165 pounds and I'll be able to reach this goal by the end of the first week of May, 2012. What you're doing takes a lot of patience and I know firsthand that it is not easy to be patient with losing weight. Just keep it up and soon enough you'll achieve the weight/image you desire.

    Goodluck and feel free to respond to my comment if you have further questions and/or want more advice.

    Comment Hidden ( show )
      -
    • To be honest I'm not having any problems coz I'm just choosing healthier alternatives - even down to my hot chocolate and I thought the constipation was down to not digesting enough fat?....

      Do you think this will settle down soon?

      Comment Hidden ( show )
        -
      • RoyalKnight

        Okay then, I see.

        Concerning this phase that your body is going through, I honestly can't say. I know Nutrition but I don't know your body. You have to go and see a Doctor regarding that. Sorry.

        Comment Hidden ( show )
          -
        • devil-in-skirt

          did u reach ur goal now ??

          Comment Hidden ( show )
            -
          • RoyalKnight

            Unfortunately, I haven't yet. I kinda got blown off course but I'm going to start again very soon.

            Comment Hidden ( show )
  • Avant-Garde

    Stop eating GMOs.

    Comment Hidden ( show )
  • sarah13

    Go to your doctor.

    Comment Hidden ( show )
  • Iffyy

    Just a change in diet, gives your body a little shock it'll pass :)

    Comment Hidden ( show )
  • crowl13

    You are undereating. All bodies have an optimal weight set point. Exercise can only mess 5-8% of that. If you want to change a greater % you have to decrease your caloric intake and supress your metabolism.

    This, of course, leds to an increase in mortality, usually a death of about 7 years earlier.

    Eat normally but stay active. Fat stores are not related to ANY disease, just activity levels are. See any research paper from 2000 to this year. Medical data is available, but doctors refuse to upgrade their knowledge.

    Comment Hidden ( show )
      -
    • I don't understand, you say I am undereating but say I need to decrease my calorie intake and suppress my metabolism.

      Unfortunately, I have to use food as I have been involved in an accident and can no longer walk.

      Comment Hidden ( show )