Thread: un-bloat me!

I'm in a big (big!) show on saturday, so naturally I want to look my best. can anyone give me advice on foods and things I should be eating, and things I should avoid, so I can be as un-bloated as possible? I'll also be just coming down off of my period. :P

thanks!!

water-water-water-water!! (and avoid salt, grains, and sugar)

Drop the complex carbs. No bread, rice, pasta. Drink pleanty of water. Up your intake of veggies and water filled fruits - watermelon, cantalope, pineapple.

Okay, now I am hungry!

{{{HUGS}}}

Watch out for too many fiberous vegetables, like broccoli, cabbage.. etc for uh... obvious reasons. ;)

If you tend to gain water weight during your period, one dose of Pamprin PMS or similar mild diuretic will help you get rid of the last of it. Also seconding (thirding?) the advice to drink plenty of water and not to go overboard with the fiber too close to the show.

Soak yourself in a bathtub with at least 2 cups of epsom salts added. I've lost as much as 4 pounds this way in 20 minutes. Seriously.

I tried it because we were talking in my chemistry class about how water will pass through the cel wall to the other side if the mineral concentration is higher on that side -- so it has to be a strong solution to work.

You can also wrap your midsection in saran wrap for a few hours that afternoon to encourage water loss through perspiration. I don't know if this one works, though.

sweet! thanks! complex carbs are about all my kids will eat so we'll have to see how that goes this week. ;) I'm off to get another glass of water!

lauren, that's totally wild about the epsom salt bath!! I'm so doing that the night before the show. that's awesome.

Yes, really watch your sodium intake. Pretty much all premade/processed foods seem to have rediculously high amounts of sodium. Because my family has a history of high blood pressure, I've learned to watch this. Just eat as many whole foods as possible and drink plenty of water. It's a good habit to get into, but it can be really tough in the world we live in today :)

No Alcohol (sugar), No Soda or carbonated drinks (salts).

Beware if you're still holding water, not to wear anything that might leave 'marks' on your body for a while (tight belt, socks, etc).
I learned that from watching one of the Victoria Secret shows a while back, they wore loose robes all day before the show.

Water with lemon or water with unfiltered apple cider vinegar. Eat salmon. Great for skin.

Souzan

But don't loose too much so that your costume wont fit! ;)

Chew properly.
Seriously, chew your food, as digestion starts in the mouth with the initial break-down of food mixing with saliva. The more broken down the food is by the time it reaches your stomach & intestines, the less it has to work to digest and will not have to dump a bunch of distention-causing enzymes and acids.

all great advice. Add apple cider vinegar to that epsom salt bath, it expels toxins and also makes the skin beautiful. for the bloat squeeze a whole lemon in a class of water. the acid will burn off the bloat if it's gas.

if you don't have a bathtub, is there another way to try this? does wrapping yourself in saran wrap really work?

I'm usually pretty happy with my appearance in costume, but my midsection bloats like crazy during that time of the month.

Does drinking that much lemon juice ever give you heartburn? I get it from grapefruit. Just curious.

Originally Posted by mekyria

if you don't have a bathtub, is there another way to try this? does wrapping yourself in saran wrap really work?

I'm usually pretty happy with my appearance in costume, but my midsection bloats like crazy during that time of the month.

I'm getting a little confused in this thread -- I assumed we were talking about bloating from retaining water in the tissues, because that's the kind I get during my period. But there's also bloating from abdominal gas, and the stuff I'm talking about wouldn't help with that at all.

If your bloating is from water retention, then the saran wrap will help some, just by causing you to sweat and removing the excess water from the tissues. It's temporary, of course, but it will work at least a little. The more bloated you are the more it would work, I'd imagine.

Hmmmmm.... if I didn't have a bathtub I'd probably use a compress of epsom salt solution over my belly. Soak a hand towel in warm Epsom salt water and lay it across my belly, then wrap in saran. Isn't that basically what the salons do, only all over your body? Epsom is mineral salts, so it's a mineral wrap.

I wonder if a hot tub with lots of chemicals in it would have the same effect? I'll have to wait 'til I'm bloated then weigh myself before & after I soak at the health club sometime!

water and fiber!

I find sugar and chocolate - and nearly anything that my sweet tooth wants bloats me to an alarming degree. We are all different, but maybe this is the same for you. This is why I enjoyed sitting in the audience at JOY with not a hint of fake tan on, swigging cherry coke and bloating to my hearts content :-)

Hi Elisa! Have a wonderful time at the Big Show! You looked beautiful when I saw you on Sunday, nothing to worry about, GF.

And take a GasX or other anti-gas medicine before you perform. It helps flatten the abdomen.

Stay as far as possible(at least temporarily)from all carbohydrates.I suppose you are already aware to keep away from table salt(sodium chloride).

Originally Posted by damiena

And take a GasX or other anti-gas medicine before you perform. It helps flatten the abdomen.

I've tried this, and found that those have really messed up my plumbing for the next couple days..w.: ..c::

Originally Posted by Azhia

Chew properly.
Seriously, chew your food, as digestion starts in the mouth with the initial break-down of food mixing with saliva. The more broken down the food is by the time it reaches your stomach & intestines, the less it has to work to digest and will not have to dump a bunch of distention-causing enzymes and acids.

this is so true! Plus take small bites. It takes 20min for the stomach to tell the brain it's full so small bites & chewing thoroughly breaks down the food for easier digestion and don't overeat.

Also stay away from asparagus. Another one of those green leafy fiberous vegis....

with all the things that you shouldn't eat, what are the things that you can eat without bloating?

Seems like most of the things that I eat every day contain a lot of fibers so are out of the question. But without eating a lot of fibres my digestion system slows down and I rather deal with bloating then with constipation.

I normally stick to protein with a little bit of 'good carb' carbs.

A good lean steak (sorry vegetarians) and veggies a few hrs before dancing is a good source of protein to sustain throught the night. Eating a few hrs before allows for digestion so don't have to dance on a full stomach

You could try a digestive enzyme to imrove your body's response to your meal. Make sure it covers all the elements of your meal, like fats, carbs and proteins.

Lisa

Originally Posted by tabitha

But don't loose too much so that your costume wont fit! ;)

I second this! have had this happen before, to near disastrous effects

I always take epsom salt baths for muscle aches, but didn't realize it would make you lose weight....will have to try

Originally Posted by najla86

I second this! have had this happen before, to near disastrous effects

I always take epsom salt baths for muscle aches, but didn't realize it would make you lose weight....will have to try

Won't help with long-term weight loss. Just temporary relief from bloating if you're retaining water -- same way it reduces swelling.

Originally Posted by Bellydancingcaroline

I normally stick to protein with a little bit of 'good carb' carbs.

That would be my advice too. Something light with non-bloating protien (no beans, lentils...). Maybe a small lean piece of chicken or steak and some fruit and a little water, but not too much.