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Hi Hackers! please help!

after nearly 60 days days on Paleo, no weight loss, significant weight gain, I tried the Adkins Fat Fast for 3 days. No weight loss here either, but my bloating was gone! Today is day one back on Paleo afer Fat Fast, and I'm super bloated!

Fat Fast Menu: over three days I consumed 5 meals of 200 calories each, with a total fat intake of 90%. Foods included, CO, egg yolks, mayo, Peanut Butter (I know, non-paleo), heavy cream, brie, cheddar cheese, sour cream. NO BLOATING.

Today: Breakfast: 2 oz espresso with 3T heavy cream, 1 egg, 1 pc bacon, .3 oz cheddar cheese. NO BLOATING, yet... Lunch (sadly was at a business luncheon with a buffet): 3 oz chicken leg with skin on, appeared to be baked (I scraped off the stuffing), about 1 cup of mixed greens sprinkled with walnuts and a little balsamic vinegar and oil, 1 blueberry, 1 raspberry, 1 blackberry. SUPER BLOATED.

Since I didn't cook it myself, I cant guarantee it's "clean-ness" but I did my best with the options presented. However the ENTIRE time I've been doing Paleo I've been bloated ! At first I thought it was the dairy, but over the course of the fat fast, no bloating! Can't be the dairy, right?

I had mostly protein for lunch - can this cause bloating? what am I supposed to do about it? Could it be the salad greens?

I already take probiotics, and eat a little kefir and homemade raw sauerkraut (yum).

I found it surprising that on the fat fast, I felt pretty much great - could have had more energy, but still, I was able to exercise, and go forward with my daily routines. And my stomach was flatter (no weight loss though, surprisingly and sadly). Why the bloating when I go back to protein and veggies?

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Do not combine fruit with meals. Its not good. Eat fruit alone and do not eat 1 hour before or after it. – majkinetor Nov 2 2011 at 9:42
i agree, the fruit at the end of a meal always kills me too!! – savory May 17 2012 at 13:35

10 Answers

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Google FODMAPS.

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My understanding is that the body produces digestive enzymes corresponding with the diet it is being tasked with digesting. So someone on a no-fiber diet who then starts consuming vegs will find them initially bloating, because the body hasn't yet adjusted to the increased fiber. The theory is that eventually the body will produce enough enzymes to digest the fiber. So maybe your body was just a little shocked by the greens, nuts and fruit, all fiber-containing foods.

Another issue might be portion size. A large meal will often make me feel bloated, even if the foods were all "safe" foods for me. And how slowly you eat, how well you chew, whether you are relaxed or stressed, etc, also play a huge factor. The body cannot digest if it's fight-or-flight.

Also, I'm betting that at a staff lunch you were talking as you ate, which makes you swallow air, and if you were also drinking cold water with your food, that doesn't help either.

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I've been bloated the entire time on paleo, talking or not talking during lunch. Also, lunch was small. One chicken leg and a small salad. Why no bloat on all fat from dairy, and regular food causes bloat? – Sizzle Nov 2 2011 at 1:47
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It sounds like it would be the greens. First check through your food log and see if bloating corresponds with a certain vegetable, since it might be an allergy. If not, try eating less veggies and don't use them as the bulk, but more for nutrition, or cut them out completely until your gut is ready for them. I'd imagine that if they cause bloating, you can't fully utilise the nutrition in them. But I'm no expert so take it with a scoop of salt!

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Do not combine fruit with meals. Its not good. Eat fruit alone and do not eat 1 hour before or after it.

It could be greens too. I would suggest zero carb for few days, then slowly introducing carbs 1 by 1

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I tend to do my best on higher fat, and I noticed this too, from the Atkins fat fast. Basically I had macadamia nuts, 88% chocolate bar (no sugar or fake sugars, basically cocoa butter, over 90% fat), avocados, and small amounts of fatty beef and bacon. I notice that I can also eat a ton of calories if they are mostly fat and not gain or feel bloated, even if I have some sugary items (like dates, honey, sugar) but starches bloat me out. How are you feeling now, 2 months later? Have you tweaked anything in your diet? Hope you're feeling better!

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Jackie...I have this same experience as long as I don't over-do the dairy. – BaconHealsChic Jan 5 2012 at 18:21
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I am not a trained professional or health expert. I am, however, someone with a history of bloating and I'm having amazingly good results with hydrochloric acid capsules; I just take one after my meal and my stomach is the happiest I can remember.

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Wow, I'll have to check those out – Sunny Beaches Apr 13 2012 at 5:05
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It could be the simple problem of food combining. Fruit should be eaten separately from other foods and anything raw should be eaten first. (example..salad greens eaten first and then your cooked foods) Some people are sensitive to poultry but that may not be the case with you. I am REALLY surprised that you did not get bloated from dairy. There may have been a ton of salt and bad oils (which most catering places use) at your lunch in at work that made you super bloated too. Probiotics, digestive enzymes and even digestive bitters are great before eating

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Another anonymous down-vote. Very annoying, as no one can learn on this board without an explanation of why they were down-voted. – Annie Nov 1 2011 at 23:41
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You could try adding more paleo approved fats to incorporate into your paleo diet.

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could it have been the vinegar?

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OMG. I'm also mega bloated now after introducing grapes into my diet. I think its the increased fruit intake because despite consuming copious amounts of dark chocolate about 3 weeks ago, I did not get as bloated as I am now. I have also been unable to eat avocadoes and haven't been keeping up with the good fatty meats in my meals.

I guess I will be cutting out the fruits from now on...or can I stick with low-sugar fruits like apples and grapefruit?

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