Irritable Bowel Syndrome Message Boards | Re: eating before and after exercise.

Great story Barbara and great profile too. It's nice to know people are not letting their Dr.'s off the hook when they shrug their shoulders and say "live with it". Before IBS I was very adventurous, never though twice about leaving the house for the whole day until I got pregnant. My IBS peeked in the summer of 2006 and I thought my life was over and the only place I'd ever go was the bathroom.

With four kids that wasn't an option. So, I reworked my diet and my attitude.

Now, I leave the house prepared to calm any tummy trouble that could start up.
Regarding eating and exercise: I eat light before a heavy workout. Don't feel like you have to eat if you're doing a light workout. However, if you workout in the AM, have your tea w/fiber and maybe a slice of toast w/peanut butter and banana slices. Eat slow and relax then give yourself 20-30 minutes to digest. After a workout, it's best to eat within an hour (when your metabolism is still high) but only eat if you're hungry. Learning the signs of when you're startling to get hungry is really important. Feed yourself before you're starving! It's like listening to a newborn. You feed them when you first hear the "I'm hungry" cry before it becomes the "I'm too hungry and frustrated to stop crying" cry.
Finally: I too was petrified that I'd gain a ton of weight if I ate the IBS diet. As a dance instructor, it was hard enough trying to figure out how to teach w/out abandoning students for a trip to the bathroom. I didn't want to gain weight and have to squeeze myself into a leotard when my confidence was already plummeting. But no fear! The dietary changes DIDN'T cause weight gain. And to this day my tummy feels best when I'm dancing!
So, good luck with your workouts and listen to your body.
Dana

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IBS-A

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