I share your pain and know, There is nothing worse than that agonising, overly stretched tummy feeling.. Your not gaining weight, but nothing fits and the more you stress the worse it seems to get…
FACT, stress can make it worse, so calm your sweat pants down, they are probably all that fit you right now, and take a deep breath.
Here are some of my top tips to help beat the bloat.
At some stage each of us has suffered from abdominal bloating, actually I think all of us suffer from it at some stage of the month. Eating too quickly, dehydration, over consumption of sugar, maybe a few too many delicious beverages, oh and Functional disorders of the gut. YAY.
How do I deal with bloating??
PMS.Turns out only 70% of us suffer from this type of bloating. If you fall in the 30% category you are #blessed. Periods can slow down your gut mobility, resulting in all the delicious PMS cravings passing even more slowly through your body. You can speed up your gut mobility with mobility. I get it, sometimes the last thing you feel like doing but building up a sweat with some light Exercise can relieve Bloating and symptoms of PMS.. Together we can with a Team Queen workout, maybe opt for the lighter version on these days.
GAS: Lets admit it, we have all been there… and that is all i have to say about that.
When we talk gas we thing of embarrassing sounds and foul smells, oh dear. The good news is having gas is normal, but the bloating kind ugh not so much.
Gas in the small intestine or colon is typically caused by the digestion or fermentation of undigested food. Gas can also form when your digestive system doesn't completely break down certain components in foods, such as gluten or the sugar in dairy products and fruit.
Peppermint Tea: your new delicious beverage, can ease cramping and relax our colon, puff puff away, also Fennel seeds are a potent digestive aid, can be added to a tea too..
CONSTIPATION: CUE HYDRATION STATION: yes I repeat this many times and Queens its for your own good, You should be aiming to move your bowels every day – or at least every other day. Otherwise, food can start to ferment in the gut, releasing gases that cause bloating and flatulence. Make sure you’re drinking 1.5-2l of water a day and eating plenty of insoluble fibre. Drinking water will soften your stools, which makes them easier to pass, delightful. Regular exercise will also help, so keep up with your Team Queen Workouts.
SLOW DOWN: Inhaling our food can cause bloating for a few reasons. Firstly your lovely tummy can only fit so much, so you may be overloading and not giving your body time to even realise you can consumed food. 2nd, your also inhaling extra air, which can become trapped in your stomach and quite painful. 3rd, eating too fast means your probably not chewing properly and thus your digestive tract is working over load. Try to be more mindful when eating, slow down, put your phone away, sit down when eating, put your fork down after each bite, and make yourself aware of how you are feeling, also savour the taste of the deliciousness you have prepared.
Remember A bit of bloating after eating is a normal part of digestion, not something that needs to be fixed.
When to see your doctor: If your abdominal bloating is prolonged, severe, or if you have other worrying symptoms (e.g. diarrhoea, constipation, weight loss or bleeding) it is extrememly important you book an appointment with your local gp.