Okay, I am in very reasonable good shape here. I weigh approximately 175 lbs on any given day. It fluctuates from day to day but basically the same weight size all the time. I would love to get to 172 lbs.
I workout regularily: with weights and also cardio: on the treadmill. I do this actually feeling good that I do and am glad I do have a regular exercise routine. If I didn't do it, I would feel pretty bad if I did not.

But I swear there are days when I feel like a big bloated pig and I try not to overeat, I do watch what I eat here. But I swear there are days I feel like I'm holding the complete Hoover Dam in my stomach here.

What do you do to get rid of this feeling? I know there are water pills but these are usually geared towards you gals. What would you suggest a guy here to do? Do have men in your life that say this same thing too? Am I a freak to feel like this? (Okay, loaded question! LOL!!!)

Sincerely,
You know who that went by FTLOM but now is Rufus here.

It is okay to give yourself a cheat day.

When I feel bloated, I avoid food that contains salt and just eat light and drink lots of water. Do you keep a journal of what you eat? I have a program on my Palm Treo that keeps track of what I eat and try to stay within the calorie intake that I designate. I am not a slave to it, but when I feel bloated or rather blah, I write it down and in a matter of days, I feel fine.

Sometimes we overeat when there is something bothering us and we turn to food for comfort. Is that how you feel? Sometimes, medications will make you gain weight - mostly water weight.

I do take some meds to keep on even keel. Thank God, the one I had changed recently has been really good for me: Lexapro. I was on Wellbutrin for many years. It just stopped working like it used to.

I really do keep my portions small throughout the day and drink lots of water. They say to drink at least 8 glasses of water a day, I thought I heard.

But I do have a big dinner which could be part of the problem. Hmm...... maybe I need to change that.

Thanks Scentual, I appreciate your thoughts and suggestions!

Eating 5 or 6 times a day is good and you are doing good. When I get the munchies, I will reach out for my favorite - reduced fat crunchy peanut butter. It contains the proteins that I need and it is satisfying! About carbs, try to avoid eating a heavy dinner that contains carbs. It will make you feel really bloated. Try to eat proteins and vegetables at night.

I hope all goes well with you and keep an eye on your meds. They could be the problem of why you are feeling so bloated. I know you need them and again, I hope all goes well with you. Take care and welcome back.

Thanks Scentual! :-)

Hey Hey Hey The perfumisto formerly known as FTLoM. :)

Maybe try eating some watermelon because it's a natural diuretic and that might help to relieve some of your bloating.

Another thing.... I can't eat big meals late in the day. So, I have my largest meal for breakfast or lunch and eat a very light supper. Eating that way has really helped me sleep better. Maybe you could try that and see if it helps.


Ciao babe!


Dawn

It's counterintuitive, but drinking more water (or other non-caloric non-caffeinated liquids) will help you with the bloat. Drink more, pee more, feel better the next day, I find.

(Hugs to you, babe.)

Go clean for a few days, eat nothing but fruits and vegetables, steamed or raw. You will feel fantastic.

You may have food allergies.

They say in studies that vanilla perfumes make men appear slimmer to others.

Sorry, couldn't resist.

Sharil, I believe you're correct. That, and the smell of cotton candy has been found to reduce bloat. Hmmmm...what is that perfume that smells like sugary pink cotton candy...."Pink Something".....

Avoid foods with pink sugar.
Just kidding!!! Drink tons of water, eat plenty of veggies and fruits, but beware of foods with cellulose coatings like peppers and beans which can ferment in your stomach and cause bloating. Eat your larger meals in the beginning of the day, eat the smallest meal in the evening - stop eating 3 hours before bedtime.

Water, Water, Water...............

When you're over "that time of the month" it'll be better!

Is this who I think it is????

It's Mando, honey.

There's only one person we know with such a large .... MOUSTACHE!

I also advise you to drink lots of water. It works - you'll spend half the day in the loo, but it will work. Avoid salt too.

Hi, Mando. :-)

Before you go drinking more water or eating more fiber, veggies...whatever...may I ask if you've had a good physical, lately?

Our bodies change so much during the course of our lives and sometimes...something as simple as occasional bloating is a message that we may need to change something in our diets...or maybe that something is a bit off-kilter with our bodies.
You certainly don't want to start taking any OTC diuretics, especially since you're on medication...and also because it would be better to try to get to the root of the bloating...rather than just slapping a bandage on it.

I'm not meaning that anything serious may be wrong...but I think that sometimes we all need to take heed of messages our bodies are giving us.
If you are retaining fluid, and you already drink a good amount of water every day...it's not a bad idea to have that checked out...especially BEFORE you increase your fluid intake.


Just feel better! :-)

MANDO!!!!!!


GREAT to SEE you! WELCOME friend!

Hi Mando!!!

I get that way myself, and smaller dinners make me feel lighter the next day. Also, in your cardio training (cause you have the keep the merchandise fresh!), vary up your duration / distance. Plan for a long day where you add 25% or more to your time (i.e. - 30 minutes becomes 40). Not every day, but to change things up and deplete yourself.

How are you on the subject of yogurt? I find that eating some of the kind with active cultures really does help me stay more comfortable, it seems to help keep the 'good' flora in my gut doing what it should.

DanActive, Activia, you've probably seen them.

I tend to prefer Activia, since it counts for me as both a treat, and something good for me. DanActive seems more like a duty. :)

I bought some of it this week. I thought it was regular yogurt. What the heck is it supposed to do? I don't have any real issues though.

Welcome back, friend! I knew it was you from your distinctive way with words. :-)

Seconding the water and varying your routine suggestions. I've been walking 2 miles a day three to four times a week, sometimes a little more, sometimes less and can't believe how much better I feel.

Onions (leeks and garlic), peanuts, beans, dried prunes, yeast, among some other foods, all will make you bloat, if the slightest sensitive - which many people are. You could try probiotics (in yogurt for instance). Find out what your particular offenders are, and avoid them.

No to water pills. I ran into major problems with those in my thirties.

I used to work out with weights, too (I was a bodybuilder and professional trainer). That didn't help with bloat. The forms of exercise that really work miracles with water retention are swimming and hiking: endurance-type, aerobic exercise. The reason: gentle-rhythmic movement, long-term, especially of the legs, gives the lungs a workout. Lungs act as a pump to the lymphatic system.

Cutting back on salt, refined carbs (which are as bad as salt for retaining water) and, of course, sugar and alcohol will do wonders for keeping water off.

Eating several servings of vegs a day works wonders, too. (If you need a "magic bullet," reach for the asparagus.)

It's good to see you!

I'm seconding what Mags says. Asparagus is the tastiest diuretic ever, roasted with a bit of olive oil. I find bitter greens (salad, sauteed, or braised) helpful for digestion, too.

Ginger or peppermint teas, if you fancy them, are soothing and anti-carminitive (and, in the case of the mint, also mildly diuretic).