how i’m healing my poo problem

…Because “poo” sounds so much classier than poop.

So two weeks ago, I overshared with you guys my chronic constipation problem due to years of laxative abuse.  I also told you that I started going to ACUPUNCTURE as a way of dealing with this problem.  Today, I want to give you an update on my gut and hopefully share some tips and strategies for others that might be facing this uncomfortable problem themselves.

Let’s talk poo!  (feel free to skip this post if this kind of talk skeevs you out – tomorrow, I’ll post about rainbows and stuff.)

Ever since I started acupuncture, I have had an (almost) DAILY poo (5 out of 7 days).  !!!!!!!!  That’s big news, you guys.  Not only am I pooping, but I want to TELL everybody about it (like I’m a 3 year old), namely Travis, as he is my best friend and I love to tell him everything.  Except that Travis didn’t want to hear about his sexy wife’s bowel movements.  So we stopped talking about it.

But seriously, I’m just so flippin’ excited about this!  After years of abusing my body, I feel like I’m finally taking the time to HONOR it by going about this in a more natural way.  I wouldn’t attribute this breakthrough SOLELY to acupuncture, but I know that it’s helping.

In addition to the needles, I’m doing a myriad of other more natural things to help ease the constipation, so I thought I’d share them with you.  Please note – I am not a doctor and I don’t know your specific problems, so please take all of these tips as just that – TIPS.  Consult your doctor first before trying anything on your own!  My acupuncturist recommended everything below.

Tips For Healing Chronic Constipation

Acupuncture

Obviously, I’ve been going to acupuncture.  The verdict??  I love it!  First off, you get to lay on a heated table IN SILENCE for an hour.  What mom gets to do that?!!?!  I’ve gone three times so far and every time has been different (needles in different places, laying down/facing up).  The only constant has been the use of MOXA – a way of heating the needles to bring warmth and circulation to that area.  You can read all about it here.  I tend to have cold hands and feet, which can be attributed to poor blood flow.  Having poor circulation only hinders the body from eliminating on it’s own – so bringing heat to areas with low motility is a good way to combat that.

To be honest, I can’t be sure that the acupuncture is making all of these changes in my body.  All I know is that I love going there and I’m seeing results.  My next appointment isn’t for two weeks, so we’ll see how things change/progress during that time away from the needles.

Super Greens

As soon as I wake up every morning, I drink a Super Greens powder mixed with lukewarm water.

[source/where I bought mine]

It’s chock full of various greens (spirulina, alfalfa, algae, wheatgrass, parsley, etc) and it also contains a probiotic (which I take in pill form at night in addition to the greens).  The taste is…growing on me.  It tastes very green.  The most noticeable change has been my ENERGY level since starting the greens – I feel SO energetic for at least 3-4 hours after I drink this stuff.

Colon Massage

Every day (when I remember), I give myself a colon massage just like the one shown below.  Using an outside force like massage, helps to move material in the colon and stimulate the body to do what it’s designed to do – move waste out.  If you try this on your own, just make sure that you’re not applying too much pressure!  It should be a gentle rolling motion.  I like to do this in bed right when I wake up and/or in the sauna at the gym.

Rhubarb Tea

Oh dear, this stuff tastes NA-HA-STY (<-hope you said that right.  or else.) but my acupuncturist suggested it.  It’s also pretty expensive – $15 for 12 bags!!  Due to those two factors (but more because of the taste), I’ve only made one cup of this tea.  Meh.

Beet Juice

If rhubarb tea tastes toxic waste, beet juice tastes like heaven!  I seriously can’t get enough of the stuff.  My sister let me borrow her Cuisinart juicer so that I could see what all the hype was about with juicing.  I loved it!  What I didn’t love was cleaning that dang machine.  After reading about WHOLE JUICES a little more (where you blend the fruits/vegetables and drink the pulp), I knew that I wanted to try that.  Sooo….I bought a Blendtec!!!  It’s like a Vitamix, but a bit cheaper and with more horsepower.  Go here and see how cool they are <-and laugh at that guy.

The juice I’ve been making contains:

• Beets
• Carrots
• Apples
• Ginger
• Lemon
• Parsley or Spinach

Most of these fruits/vegetables are very good at detoxing the body naturally.  Put them together and you’ve got a super juice!

Water, WATER, WATER!

I’ve always been really good about drinking water, but during the last two weeks, I’ve made sure to get at least 100 ounces.  For my water bottles, I switch between a Contigo and a Camelbak – both are great tools if you want to increase your water intake!  The Contigo practically forces you to drink more water with it’s patented top and drinking through a straw has shown to increase water consumption by around 30% and the Camelbak has a straw.  Water also aids in a ton of other bodily functions, such as skin elasticity, weight loss, and cell renewal.

Dietary Changes

And last, but perhaps the most important, I’m having to change the way I eat.  I plan to devote an entire post to this (which will be up sometime this week!), so check back in for details about my diet!  For now, I’ll just tell you that I’ve had to cut out some foods that I LOVE…. :(

———

So that’s how I’m currently dealing with the situation.  Like I said, these changes have helped tremendously, but I still have a ways to go.  Changing my mindset being the biggest hurdle so far.  Years and years of developing a bad relationship with “quick fixes” has left me dependent, physically AND mentally.  Nevertheless, I’m willing to change if it brings HEALING.  I need it.

QUESTION:  Let’s talk poo.  Have it?  Regularly?  What helps you?  We’re all friends here.   Or you can just tell me what you had for breakfast.

splendid…lindsay