Bloating, a swollen state caused by retention of fluid or gas. Otherwise known as the most uncomfortable, unflattering feeling ever !
We all bloat for a number of different reasons… Let me repeat myself, I don’t think you all heard me.
WE ALL BLOAT! The reasons may vary but the uncomfortable and unattractive feelings that come along with it are all the same. Some of those reasons include;
Eating too fast
Eating too much
Eating fatty foods ( fried food or junk food)
Eating foods that create gas (beans, vegetables and other high fiber foods)
Food Intolerances, such as lactose intolerant or gluten intolerance
IBS ( Irritable bowel syndrome)
Alcohol consumption or high sugar and carbonated liquids
I personally bloat right after eating, the severity of my bloat will be dependent upon what I ate or how much of it, but there is always a slightly larger stomach staring back at me after a meal or snack. I also bloat after consuming alcohol, typically just around two or three drinks will cause me to bloat. With occasional bloating being completely normal, let’s talk about the trail of thoughts that creep into our conscience during these times.
“I’m gaining weight.”
“ Everything I’ve done is now ruined by that one burger.”
“I quit!”
Newsflash people there is huge difference between having gained weight and bloating. It is going to take. a lot more than one cheat meal or even one cheat weekend to ruin all of your progress. We are all guilty of those thoughts and most social media fitness influencers don’t help. There are a ton f things we can do to combat bloating;
Keep a food journal. Write down what you ate when you ate it and just pay attention to how your body reacts to it. You’ll discover very easily what makes you bloat and what doesn’t.
Gradually increase your fiber intake. This can be done through consuming more oats, nuts and fiber based carbs and vegetables.
Drink more water. The average person should consume anywhere between 12-15 cups of water a day.
Cut down on your salt intake. Sodium causes the body to retain water and swell.
Try probiotics, good bacteria that lives in the intestine. A probiotic supplement will help regulate the colon bacteria. For more information on probiotics check out WebMD.