Bloated belly

[JLat86]

I have a six-pack, but I feel like my lower abdomen (belly) always looks bloated. Not really fat, just like full all the time. Is this "intestinal toxemia" or whatever? or is this normal?

[chrisjs]

Eat a lot of beans? Could just be lectin bloating.

[Tweedle]

I have the same thing. Granted, I don't have a six-pack but I'm a whoppin' 110 lbs so I'm not fat, and still I get bloated in my lower abdomen constantly. It's frustrating.

[fatburningfurnace]

It could also be from water...if you are either drinking a lot of water or drinking a decent amount of water and eating something that retains water, or if you even just have a body that retains water. And like the person above said with the beans maybe...it's hard to say when each person really has a different answer for a different body.

[vegimator]

It might be a soy, wheat or gluten intolerance. Try cutting out soy and wheat for a week, and see if it goes away and then reintroduce one or the other to find the culprit. And if you are eating a lot of beans, make sure you're soaking them for a full 24 hours and tossing out the soak water before cooking and try cooking with kombu. Both of those practices reduce lectins.

[Marcina]

I would suggest cutting back on your sodium as well, and always drink plenty of water.

Are you taking protein supplements or creatine? That can also cause bloating.

[JLat86]

I would suggest cutting back on your sodium as well, and always drink plenty of water.

Are you taking protein supplements or creatine? That can also cause bloating.

 

No creatine. I eat some raw hemp protein powder, maybe 1-2 servings per day at most. No other supplements of any kind. And my sodium intake is low. My diet is maybe 60% raw, I use very little salt (if at all) for flavoring, and I generally don't buy or eat processed foods because I like to cook my own food.

 

I guess it could be gluten, but I even if it was, I don't want to give up wheat! I have an a priori ideological bias in favor of wheat. I refuse to acknowledge wheat could be bad.

[JLat86]

It could also be from water...if you are either drinking a lot of water or drinking a decent amount of water and eating something that retains water, or if you even just have a body that retains water. And like the person above said with the beans maybe...it's hard to say when each person really has a different answer for a different body.

 

Why do you have to toss out the soak water? (I always do, but just curious.)

[cubby2112]

Try chewing some fennel seeds after meals for a few days, or crushing some seeds and steeping them for tea. I always chew some after a meal, because I eat a ton of beans. They help immensely.

[chewybaws]

I guess I have a similar situation but personally I don't consider it a problem. I just figured it was because I eat quite a lot (for me) and frequently (since it's fine first thing when I wake up or after not eating for 3 or 4 hours or so). Mine's at its worse after I drink a smoothie or a lot of water at once. I also have a low salt/processed foods diet.

 

What's it like when you wake up in the morning?

[JLat86]

Try chewing some fennel seeds after meals for a few days, or crushing some seeds and steeping them for tea. I always chew some after a meal, because I eat a ton of beans. They help immensely.

 

cool. i'll try that. thanks.

[JLat86]

I guess I have a similar situation but personally I don't consider it a problem. I just figured it was because I eat quite a lot (for me) and frequently (since it's fine first thing when I wake up or after not eating for 3 or 4 hours or so). Mine's at its worse after I drink a smoothie or a lot of water at once. I also have a low salt/processed foods diet.

 

What's it like when you wake up in the morning?

 

i guess it's probably not a problem. generally it's much better in the morning. just wanted to make sure.

[medman]

It could also just be abdominal fat (some people store more visceral fat, even without much being under the skin). Another issue could be poor tone in the tranversus abdominis- this muscle is often overlooked in ab training, but is important for flattening out the stomach.

[cubby2112]

It could also just be abdominal fat (some people store more visceral fat, even without much being under the skin). Another issue could be poor tone in the tranversus abdominis- this muscle is often overlooked in ab training, but is important for flattening out the stomach.

 

Good point. You might want to try some planking and holding a heavy squat bar in the fully upright position, focusing on sucking your abs in. That rapes my TVA.

[djshrew]

It could also just be abdominal fat (some people store more visceral fat, even without much being under the skin). Another issue could be poor tone in the tranversus abdominis- this muscle is often overlooked in ab training, but is important for flattening out the stomach.

 

Good point. You might want to try some planking and holding a heavy squat bar in the fully upright position, focusing on sucking your abs in. That rapes my TVA.

 

I have the same issue, never thought about it as being the culprit. It's really beneficial anyhow to get those muscles in shape for a healthy back ( big focus of mine).

 

also, cutting out wheat and soy seems like a good idea, seems like this could also be my bloated belly culprit. As a girl, having your lower abdominal bloated and being my age, people start to ask the question that makes me want to punch them right in the face!

[Marcina]

Oh man, DJshrew, I can just imagine!

I get bloated all the time, but I usually wear baggy clothes to hide it. It's usually from menstrual/digestive issues that cause my bloating.