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UTUSN

(70,683 posts)
Tue Jul 31, 2012, 12:58 AM Jul 2012

Colon cleansing? weight loss?

O.K., I know there are no easy fixes. This is triggered by an advertisement for colon cleansing pills for reduction of beer-belly.

A (plastic surgeon's staff?) said that belly fat for women and men is in different places, that lipo in women is more efficacious because women's fat is just under the skin, that it is major surgery for men whose fat is deep down in the intestines.

I think I've probably got two different issues here. What about colon cleansing/evacuation?

18 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
Highlight: NoneDon't highlight anything 5 newestHighlight 5 most recent replies

auntAgonist

(17,252 posts)
8. Healthier eating is the best. Not necessarily eating LESS either. I eat more now than I ever did.
Tue Jul 31, 2012, 07:12 PM
Jul 2012

For me it wasn't a matter of how much I ate but WHAT I ate. 900 cal a day and I couldn't lose an ounce. Yo Yo dieting, fad diets ... lo-cal intake. Nothing worked. Healthy eating works. Now I eat 6 meals a day and 3 or 4 snacks. LOTS of Protein, some fats and fresh fruit and veggies.

As I said to Peggy down thread. Eat less exercise more doesn't always work.

aA
kesha

NRaleighLiberal

(60,014 posts)
11. exactly! I've never felt so full....but so good! dropped 65 lbs in the last 1.5 yrs.
Tue Jul 31, 2012, 08:42 PM
Jul 2012

going to keep it off, too!

CaliforniaPeggy

(149,587 posts)
2. Your colon cleans itself just fine; it doesn't need any help.
Tue Jul 31, 2012, 01:06 AM
Jul 2012

You want to lose weight? Eat less, exercise more.

That's it in a nutshell.



Beer bellies are not lost if you aggressively clean your colon. You could very well lose valuable nutrients that the body needs to absorb if you do that.

AngryOldDem

(14,061 posts)
4. There are no quick fixes or silver bullets to weight loss.
Tue Jul 31, 2012, 11:47 AM
Jul 2012

One does not put on weight overnight; one does not lose it overnight. It takes time and concentrated effort. Once you're in the habit, both portion control and activity become easier. It also helps if you accept the fact that you do need to be vigilant about tracking your weight and what/how/when you eat. It's a lesson I've had to (re)learn.

Quick weight loss schemes rarely work, and can actually harm your body in the long run.

auntAgonist

(17,252 posts)
7. If ONLY it was that easy Peggy. For many people
Tue Jul 31, 2012, 06:48 PM
Jul 2012

the phrase "eat less exercise more" just does not work.

I was one of those. I could NOT lose weight even on a 900 calorie a day diet. My body would shut down when I ate less food. I am not a sedentary person so moving about is not an issue.

There are many reasons why people cannot lose weight and that's why we have this support group here, for encouragement. Eat less, exercise more is not encouraging to anyone.

I agree however re the colon cleanse. Never been a fan. I find it to be unnecessary.

aA
kesha

Whoa_Nelly

(21,236 posts)
9. Don't listen to CaliforniaPeggy
Tue Jul 31, 2012, 07:38 PM
Jul 2012

I would think that as a former nurse, even she would know better than to be so careless in the "Eat less, exercise more." type of response, but I guess not. It's never that simplistic, and is different for each individual.

Before beginning an exercise program and diet regime, it really is a good idea to visit your doctor, especially if you know you have any health issues, or if there are underlying issues you may not be aware of, such as your heart, for example. Once you have the all clear from your doc, then maybe join WW, or a program that can you can tailor to your needs and weight loss goal.

Colon cleansing can strip the flora from your gut that you need for digestion, but that really should be between you and a health professional if you want to take that route once or twice. Again, your doctor can give you advice on that.

Interesting question you pose here, UTUSN, and if you want to use others' experiences as your guide re: colon cleanse, just be aware that what someone else has done or gone through is not what you may experience.

Take care of yourself, and get real med advice from a med professional you trust and can talk to in person

auntAgonist

(17,252 posts)
12. Sadly NO. If that was 'it' then anyone could lose weight at any given time.
Wed Aug 1, 2012, 01:19 AM
Aug 2012

For me, eat more was what I needed. More good food and attention to the quality of what I was eating.

There is no easy way out. None.

aA

AngryOldDem

(14,061 posts)
14. You hit it on the head.
Wed Aug 1, 2012, 12:13 PM
Aug 2012

<<More good food and attention to the quality of what I was eating. <<

I'm convinced that healthier eating and making better choices helped me a lot this go-round. I think the more you do that, the more you're likely to choose healthier things over junk.

You're also right in that for some people, exercise combined with better eating doesn't help. I've known people who have tried that and struggled. If only there were a sure-fire weight loss strategy that worked for everyone...

 

own your story

(20 posts)
17. Uh...what makes you think that his/her colon
Sat Aug 4, 2012, 03:24 PM
Aug 2012

"works just fine?" That really is a mystery to me--are you up in there looking?

People on the SAD (Standard American Diet, for those who don't know) are typically very stopped up. It has been said that if we don't go #2 several times a day, we are constipated. The comparison is with a baby who goes that often. As we get older, we can become less fecal-licious.

Colonics are raved about in the alternative health community. I am not sure I could go there (or have someone else do the honors) because I am a bit modest. God only knows what would come floating into that tube. But it has definitely been talked about as a great way to purify the body, IF you get a series of them. You do have to also start eating a clean diet or else it will be a temporary benefit.

I say that if you eat high-raw vegan or vedge, you will be eating such a clean, whole diet that you, too, can become fecal-licious

Lisa0825

(14,487 posts)
3. Colon cleansing doesn't get rid of fat.
Tue Jul 31, 2012, 09:17 AM
Jul 2012

If you happen to have a very slow digestive system, you might find that after a colon cleanse, you are less bloated, but that is just because your digestive system has been emptied, NOT because you lost any belly fat. The two things are completely unrelated.

 

noamnety

(20,234 posts)
5. You'd have to look at the ingredients.
Tue Jul 31, 2012, 02:12 PM
Jul 2012

Some colon cleansers are basically just psyllium seed husks, which are ridiculously high in insoluble dietary fiber. High fiber keeps us feeling fuller and in that way absolutely does help with weight loss.

I haven't bought into the whole "cleanser" deal in general, but if it's just a fiber supplement, than yeah, it's a healthy addition to your diet that can help with weight loss, and has a side benefit of lowering cholesterol and reducing the risk of heart disease - which is especially important for someone carrying the apple-shape kind of fat.

handmade34

(22,756 posts)
6. my personal take
Tue Jul 31, 2012, 05:37 PM
Jul 2012

and experience... I don't believe colon cleansing directly results in significant weight loss or reduction of beer-belly (and I would never buy into the commercial colon cleansing products)

that being said-- I employed a 9 day partial fast and cleansing to jumpstart my life change (approx 6 months ago)... I used psyllium husk and bentonite clay during the week+ and then when again eating, chose to not eat any processed food or any added sugars... I lost cravings and have lost 30+ lbs and able to maintain...

CaliforniaPeggy

(149,587 posts)
15. Please accept my apology for what I posted upthread.
Wed Aug 1, 2012, 01:55 PM
Aug 2012

I should never have posted it. This morning, I finally realized how arrogant I was, and I am sorry.


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