so. embarassing..cannot go to the bathroom at all

[Dez]

I have been on SB for 10 days now. I was unable to "go" for days 5-8. the evening of Day 8 I took a product called "Swiss Kriss" which is an herbal Laxative and it helped a little. I took it again last night and I am backed up again. I dont know what else to do. should I end phase 1? this shouldnt be happening. I am eating so many salads and so much roughage. I have been taking fiber powder in water, benefiber pills and the swiss kriss tablets for the last three days. Is there something else I should try? Maybe I should move to phase 2 early so that I can incorporate fruit back into my diet. (I was a regular fruit eater before) I am miserable and I feel huge.

[RedRox]

Constipation is often a side effect of P1, although it does sound worse for you than most. It sounds like you have already tried most of the common recommendations, herbal laxative teas, SF fiber supplements, upping water intake, and making sure you are getting in your 4.5 cups of veggies at a minimum daily. Making sure you are getting in your allowed dairy and maybe a serving or two of some kind of beans/legumes might help a bit too. But moving to P2 a bit early wouldn't be the worst thing either whether it is fruit or some kind of starch with a fair amount of insoluble fiber would be good choices for your situation. Hang in there! P2 is the real program anyway, so not a big deal either way, esp. if your food based hunger pangs seem to be under control already. Best wishes and hope you get some relief soon!

[Evening]

A solution to most constipation, whether it is due to poor diet or medication is magnesium. One should be able to find magnesium in the grocery store vitamin isle. If not, then the drug store will do. I purchase my supplements at a health food store but one doesn't need to make a special trip there to find magnesium.

If one has increased their calcium intake, there magnesium levels will go down. Be sure to either add a magnesium supplement or research foods that have magnesium and add those to their daily menu.

Evening