3 weeks post cleanse

[cpacan]

Hi,

I did the cleanse for 13 days and felt terrific. I broke the fast as directed in the Burroughs book but three weeks later I'm terribly constipated. I have been eating about 60% raw and have had chicken and seafood. I have taken some probiotics but not every day. After not going for 4 days I took the lax tea. I don't want to keep doing that because I don't think its a good thing.

My question is should I stop the chicken and seafood? Is that the problem or is it that I need to start taking the probiotics on a daily basis? Is it bad to use the lax tea as a way to get things moving?

Thanks for your help!

[Res]

Hi:

How much water are you drinking and how active are you? Your raw intake sounds fantastic! Way to go! I wouldn't advise you to stop the chicken/seafood because I love that stuff and would continue to eat it.

I'm not sure why you're constipated. I don't think taking the tea occasionally will hurt. Are you "overeating" at all? Some things to think about.

So how's that for not being helpful?

Up your water intake.

Love,
~Res

[cpacan]

I probably could drink a little more. I have about 40 oz. a day. I've also been getting weekly massages that I follow up with around 32 oz of water. I am not very active. I am in the middle of a job change and plan on starting an exercise program when I'm in the new position.

I usually have the lemonade drink for breakfast. Then a salad or veggie soup for lunch. Occasionally I've had Indian vege buffet (that's probably overeating). Dinner is usually a salad or soup. I snack on raw nuts or un-raw nut butter and dates. I wonder if its the nuts - they weren't soaked. There was one day last week that I had a spoonful of peanut butter with a handful of pretzels (yikes) and it literally felt stuck in my gut. Are nuts, at least the not raw type bad for digestion?

I will definitely increase the water! Somethings gotta move soon.

Thanks.

[Lin]

Hi cpacan,
I'm no expert here, but I have a couple of suggestions. First, I totally agree with Res, to exercise and up your water intake.

Are there certain foods that you eat, that normally make your bowels move?
Foods like raw oats, corn and prunes do that for me.
I did a 40 day cleanse back in '04 and it took my body a couple of weeks to feel normal again. I used a little psylliam husk powder in juice for a few days and I ate prunes which really helped. I don't normally eat much dried fruit because of the calorie content, but this helped.
I don't know if the meat could be making you constipated or not. Meat used to make me feel sluggish and constipated. I've followed the McDougall Program which is plant-based for about 4 years now, and I rarely ever have constipation. It's not raw, but is essentially vegan (except honey), and it keeps me perfectly regular.

I hope you get some relief soon.

[fancy1]

Hey Lin ..
Just what is the McDougall Progam...
Guess I can google it...
DUH
Well tell me what you typically eat if you would.

[Lin]

Hey Fancy1,

The McDougall Program is found on the vegsource website. You can find it at www.drmcdougall.com

It is a plant based program that is a lifestyle change, not a diet that you go on and then quit. It's almost vegan (honey is allowed if you want). You eat both raw and cooked foods. It is comprised mainly of veggies, fruits, grains and starches. No meat or dairy is allowed and all fats that are eaten have to occur naturally in the food. You don't have to count calories or measure portions. I've lost over 60 lbs. on it and kept it off in the last 4 years. It is considered a wellness program too. I used to take a lot of meds for all kinds of problems like high blood pressure, acid reflux, osteoarthritis, many allergies, etc. I'm now med free and feel well. I still have allergies, but they are not as bad as they used to be when I ate the SAD (standard American diet). I also had cancer 10 years ago and I now attribute being well to this program.

Check out the website.

[Res]

Lin,

I took a peek at the McDougall menu and I'm going to incorporate some of the recipes into my routine. Thanks for the info!

Love,
~Res

[Lin]

You're welcome, Res.

You can also check out the vegsource website. There are tons of recipes to be found. You may be able to use some of them here on your recipe thread.

[adawn42]

Lin -
thanks for the info about the McDougall plan - I've been reading the site, the newsletter archive, and everything I can find about it. I'll be checking out a couple of the books this weekend. The recipes I read sound great, and I can't wait to give the plan a try!
Ang.

[Mrs.Squigs]

Interesting program. A little weird that on the list of foods you cannot have it says Mayonaise and then on the Day 1 menu there's a recipe that calls for fat free mayonaise. Bizarro.....



I just saw another recipe that called for Ketchup or BBQ sauce. Those are both packed with refined sugar. Some of those recipes look really good and I'm going to try them, but I'd be careful....