Della Nova Posted January 7, 2013 Share Posted January 7, 2013 Hey guys, Day 7 of my Whole30 and I just had one hell of a bowel movement. It wasn't unpleasant, I was just surprised at the results. As someone doing the Whole30 to get rid of IBS, I try to stay aware of my digestive function. Per Practical Paleo's poop-guide, they were ideal (size, shape, color). BUT, they all floated! I have noticed that since I've started eating Paleo, I have been having all floaters (I've noticed this for at least 2 weeks). Is this something normal and experienced by you guys too, or I am the only weird one (perhaps something's up with my system)? I have heard that this can happen with high fat intake, but I wanted to confirm it with people on the Whole30. Thanks for any responses, and sorry for the TMI. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moderators Tom Denham Posted January 7, 2013 Moderators Share Posted January 7, 2013 I have floaters every once in a while, but not routinely. You might try taking Now Foods Super Enzymes with meals for a while to see if they might help you digest fat more fully. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Della Nova Posted January 7, 2013 Author Share Posted January 7, 2013 I have floaters every once in a while, but not routinely. You might try taking Now Foods Super Enzymes with meals for a while to see if they might help you digest fat more fully. Thank you for the suggestion Tom! It's definitely something I'll consider. Do you have to swallow them whole? I have tons of trouble swallowing pills (even small motrin-sized). I'm thinking this could be do-able if I could crush them up with applesauce or something. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moderators Tom Denham Posted January 7, 2013 Moderators Share Posted January 7, 2013 I bet that crushing Super Enzymes and eating them with applesauce would be okay. I don't think they are any different on the insides than on the outsides, but I've never broken one before. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jessie2020 Posted January 7, 2013 Share Posted January 7, 2013 I've actually been having the same issues! I've had a good amount of diarrhea in this first week too Im going to take some super enzymes and see if it helps. Upset stomach isn't fun! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
missmichelle82_ Posted January 7, 2013 Share Posted January 7, 2013 Are floaters a bad thing? I remember reading something way back in the day that said floaters = lots of fiber! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Della Nova Posted January 7, 2013 Author Share Posted January 7, 2013 Are floaters a bad thing? I remember reading something way back in the day that said floaters = lots of fiber! Thanks for responding guys! This is actually something like what I wanted to hear, lol, because I'm honestly not sure if it's good or bad. I just want to find out if it's common/normal. If it's not common among people who do the Whole30, then it'll be a sign to me that I need to fix something. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HealingWithin Posted January 8, 2013 Share Posted January 8, 2013 Are floaters a bad thing? I remember reading something way back in the day that said floaters = lots of fiber! I don't know where W30 stands on this but I have heard a lot of debate about whether floaters indicate poor absorption, etc. From what I have read, they are normal for some and not for others. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
soulrich23 Posted January 8, 2013 Share Posted January 8, 2013 jessie2020 I am with you. I always have had no issue in any way going the bathroom. For some reason for the past week (on day 7) I all of a sudden think "holy crap (ha pun intended) I HAVE TO GO THE BATHROOM NOW" and it is always diarrhea. I do not feel sick in any way or have stomach problems, that is it. So random.... I wish I knew if it was a good thing or not. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Renee Lee Posted January 8, 2013 Share Posted January 8, 2013 Soulrich, give it another week or so, or throw in some pro-biotics/enzymes. Switching to this way of eating can mess with your status quo a LOT, and it takes a few weeks for things to settle back down. It's not normal in regards to the super enzymes, the ones you can crush (tablets) seem to be less effective than the ones with powder in them (caplets). If you're going to try them, I don't see why you couldn't sprinkle the contents. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Allisen Posted January 13, 2013 Share Posted January 13, 2013 Soulrich, give it another week or so, or throw in some pro-biotics/enzymes. Switching to this way of eating can mess with your status quo a LOT, and it takes a few weeks for things to settle back down. It's not normal in regards to the super enzymes, the ones you can crush (tablets) seem to be less effective than the ones with powder in them (caplets). If you're going to try them, I don't see why you couldn't sprinkle the contents. Renee, I've read in the forum & first Whole 30, day 11. Woke up feeling awesome, but today was my first horrible bathroom experience (diarrhea/watery) symptoms kicked in 1 mile into my run. Happy I made it home struggled 6 miles. I take a daily probiotic, digestive enzymes & new thing I drank yesterday was Kombucha. My first time & now this happens. Bowel movement still not solid. Is this affects from Kombucha or body going through detoxing all of a sudden? Thanks! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alana Bell Posted January 13, 2013 Share Posted January 13, 2013 I can't believe this is my first forum post, but while we're talking about poop, I had to ask. I've always been very regular and still am 10 days in, but it definitely looks much different now. Almost black and gritty. What's up with that? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pandagirl Posted January 13, 2013 Share Posted January 13, 2013 Black stools can be caused by iron supplements, not sure if you're taking those? Charcoal tablets (or herbal remedies containing charcoal) can also turn poo dark coloured. If you're not taking either and if it's really black in colour (as opposed to dark brown) and it persists, then you should seek medical advice, as black stools can indicate bleeding somewhere in the digestive tract. I got gritty stools when eating a lot of nuts/seeds, as well as fruits with seeds in (passion fruits, raspberries, for example). In answer to the OP, floaters can either be fat or fibre intake related. If they are quite well formed, probably more fibre, or gas pockets in the stool (grim, I know!) but if you notice an oily sheen in the toilet bowl, or any mucus, it's more likely to do with malabsorption of fat. Lovely topic huh.....sadly I'm fairly well versed in poop analysis having had Crohns disease for 5 years! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alana Bell Posted January 13, 2013 Share Posted January 13, 2013 I guess it's more dark brown. I looked at the poop chart and its close to type 4 which I guess is ideal. I think my body is just adjusting to so many new veggies. Maybe all the dark kale chips yesterday. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LTsurf Posted January 13, 2013 Share Posted January 13, 2013 I'm on Day 7 and my poop has been sitting at the bottom of the bowl. Is that normal? Also, I've been having a lot of GI DIstress (ahem, gas) at night. It's worse than normal. Is this part of the detox process or is something I am eating making me gassy? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jenny Posted January 14, 2013 Share Posted January 14, 2013 I would love some input too. I'm a regular girl and always have been. I have 1 BM every day, sometimes 2. Since I've started whole30 (I'm on day 7), I've only had two BM's the entire week. and they are weird. no diarrhea, but snakey lookin' things. I'm guessing the nuts in my diet have something to do with the "texture," but what's going on with my body not "releasing" this crap, lol? I thought that with all of the vegetables I am eating, the fiber alone would be moving things through; but I seem to be getting an opposite effect. I'm feeling super bloated too. puffy. retaining water. I drink water, coffee, and tea. and I've been sticking to the plan on cue. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Della Nova Posted January 14, 2013 Author Share Posted January 14, 2013 In answer to the OP, floaters can either be fat or fibre intake related. If they are quite well formed, probably more fibre, or gas pockets in the stool (grim, I know!) but if you notice an oily sheen in the toilet bowl, or any mucus, it's more likely to do with malabsorption of fat. Lovely topic huh.....sadly I'm fairly well versed in poop analysis having had Crohns disease for 5 years! Thank you! It's probably fiber intake related, since I'm getting a lot more veggies in than I used to, and there's no oily sheen. So at least I think I'm properly absorbing the fat! I'm also trying to be more well-versed in poop analysis because of Irritable Bowel Syndrome. I think we can learn a lot of important things about our systems overall by knowing what to look for in our bowels. They mark a lot of important things to know about our digestive system. I guess it's more dark brown. I looked at the poop chart and its close to type 4 which I guess is ideal. I think my body is just adjusting to so many new veggies. Maybe all the dark kale chips yesterday. That is probably normal. Mine differs in color as well based on what I eat (I got really freaked out one time after eating beets, lol). I'm on Day 7 and my poop has been sitting at the bottom of the bowl. Is that normal? Also, I've been having a lot of GI DIstress (ahem, gas) at night. It's worse than normal. Is this part of the detox process or is something I am eating making me gassy? I'm sure that's normal. I always thought it was floaters that were abnormal, lol. My husband went through a period of gasiness I think around that time as well, but it cleared up after a few days. Keep following the Whole30 and try to journal in order to keep track of how you feel. You'll probably normalize as you keep going. I would love some input too. I'm a regular girl and always have been. I have 1 BM every day, sometimes 2. Since I've started whole30 (I'm on day 7), I've only had two BM's the entire week. and they are weird. no diarrhea, but snakey lookin' things. I'm guessing the nuts in my diet have something to do with the "texture," but what's going on with my body not "releasing" this crap, lol? I thought that with all of the vegetables I am eating, the fiber alone would be moving things through; but I seem to be getting an opposite effect. I'm feeling super bloated too. puffy. retaining water. I drink water, coffee, and tea. and I've been sticking to the plan on cue. I'm not sure about the days in-between, because I've stayed fairly regular throughout the Whole30. I've had a couple days without BMs, but not too often. I can agree though on the "snakey" shape (it is the same for me, to almost a shocking degree). According to Practical Paleo, that is a very normal and healthy shape. I've also read that most people in Japan have that shape as well. I take it as a sign that my small-intestine is functioning properly and moving things along. I'm not sure about the bloating feeling either, but someone mentioned it in another thread. Since you're only on Day 7, you probably should give your body more time to adjust to the new way of eating. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BrianaDell Posted January 22, 2013 Share Posted January 22, 2013 So I am on Day 17. I feel amazing, no gas, no bloating. But my stools are still quite a bit softer than they should be. The first week or so I didn't even pay attention because I figured it was going to be out of whack. They don't smell bad or anything so I don't think it's a toxicity thing but I'm wondering if its because I'm not absorbing all the fats I'm consuming? Would this be a case for Super Enzymes? Thanks Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Renee Lee Posted January 22, 2013 Share Posted January 22, 2013 What do you mean by "softer than they shoul be?" Check out this poop scale: http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bristol_stool_scale 3&4 is where you want to be. 4 is awesome. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BrianaDell Posted January 24, 2013 Share Posted January 24, 2013 What do you mean by "softer than they shoul be?" Check out this poop scale: http://en.m.wikipedi...tol_stool_scale 3&4 is where you want to be. 4 is awesome. Mostly 5 but occasionally a 6. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Renee Lee Posted January 24, 2013 Share Posted January 24, 2013 Maybe more greens? I see you're eating kale almost every morning, but try to get something like spinach or beet greens (or something) later on in the day? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MrsStick Posted January 24, 2013 Share Posted January 24, 2013 Day 4 here and the only difference I've noticed is I'm more gassy than I usually am. I'm less constipated than I would sometimes get before, and I'm definitely absorbing my fat...mine is a "sit on the bottom of the bowl" kind when I go. I'm going regularly at least once a day, sometimes twice. I'm hoping that my lady times would be this regular with the new Whole30 diet too, that would be nice to be predictable without my pills! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BrianaDell Posted January 24, 2013 Share Posted January 24, 2013 Thanks Renee. I was actually thinking that and wrote it in my food log notes that I haven't posted! Thanks for your help! New goal! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Archived
This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.