Hello, I am considering joining Slimming World as relatives have had great success with it, but I am an IBS sufferer and am wondering if it's suitable? I'm worried I wouldn't be able to get my Healthy Extra Bs since I can't have many wholegrains. I also can't eat beans as they are too high in fibre. Has anyone done SW while having IBS? Can I have non-cereal HExBs?
Slimming World with IBS?
- Thread starter Amarillys
- Start date
lickthelid
Lives here....
I don't always have a fibre based HEXB. Quite often I have 1 tablespoon of olive oil for cooking and that's a hex b too. Beans are popular but not essential. I have suffered with ibs some years ago, not whilst doing slimming world but I have been there. Mine was very psychological and I dealt with it accordingly but I honestly can't see any reason why doing slimming world would interfere. The beauty of it lies in its flexibility. It can be tailored to fit pretty much anyone. The range of foods is so wide that you can just select those that you know suit you. You never know, it may help to ease your symptoms too. Until you try you can't know. 
Willbeslimjen
Gold Member
I am not sure n that one, but you can have heb of cooked fruits if that is any use or is it too much fibre?
lickthelid
Lives here....
Instinctively I want to say no but I'd try it and if it works for you and doesn't interfere with your losses then why not?
SlimmingKitchen
Gold Member
Hey Hun
I have IBS and have been doing SW since end of April.
There are bother things you can use HEB on such as olive oil, soups, dried/tinned fruit.
I'm still learning about my IBS and the triggers so far I've found I have to eat less fruit, bread and beans.
Spaghetti can be a problem at times but I've recently converted to gluten free pasta and found it to be much better xxx
Sent from my iPhone using MiniMins
I have IBS and have been doing SW since end of April.
There are bother things you can use HEB on such as olive oil, soups, dried/tinned fruit.
I'm still learning about my IBS and the triggers so far I've found I have to eat less fruit, bread and beans.
Spaghetti can be a problem at times but I've recently converted to gluten free pasta and found it to be much better xxx
Sent from my iPhone using MiniMins
abisaurus
Silver Member
Im not sure if this will be of any help, but my consultant shared this with us a while ago on his FB page
Foods commonly associated with IBS include:
fatty foods (especially fatty meats)
wheat products
milk
spices
coffee
However, the foods which aggravate IBS symptoms will differ among individuals, and some people may find they are only sensitive to these foods at certain times, for example when feeling particularly stressed. Therefore, there is no ‘special’ or ‘ideal’ diet that should be followed by IBS sufferers.
Instead, individuals need to work out, by trial and error, whether reducing the quantity of specific foods helps reduce their symptoms.
Q Should IBS sufferers eat more or less fibre?
A: Advice about fibre and IBS is often confusing. It was once thought that IBS could be caused by diets lacking in fibre and, therefore, an increase in fibre intake was often recommended. However, while extra fibre may benefit some people – especially those suffering from constipation, it can generally make symptoms worse – particularly in those suffering with diarrhoea. Every member is different, so they should work out what is best for them, with the support from their health professional. As fibre can provide many health benefits, members could try varying their source of fibre depending on what they find they can tolerate, for example obtaining some fibre from fruit and vegetables and oats rather than just whole-grain cereals or bran. Some people may find that they can tolerate small amounts of different high-fibre foods rather than obtaining their fibre from a single source.
Too much insoluble fibre, such as bran may be a particular cause of problems (such as abdominal pain and flatulence) due to distension and contraction of the gut while the bran is being digested. People suffering from wind and bloating may find it helpful to reduce intake of bran but eat foods containing soluble fibre such as oats (oat-based cereal or porridge) or linseeds (up to one tablespoon per day) which can help alleviate these symptoms.
Q What should I advise my members?
A: Members who ask about IBS should be advised to consult their GP to eliminate any other medical cause of the symptoms. Members should always follow any treatment suggested by their GP or hospital consultant.
In line with the latest dietary and lifestyle guidance on managing IBS, members can:
Food Optimise to reduce their fat intake and obtain a healthy diet
Have regular meals, take time to eat and relax when eating.
It helps to try not to miss meals or leave long gaps between eating.
Chewing food thoroughly can also help as well as helping to suppress the appetite at the same time.
Work out, through trial and error, if any particular foods induce their symptoms
Avoid or reduce the quantity of problem foods
Try including yogurt in their diet, especially Bio yogurt, which may help due to its possible beneficial effects on gut flora. Check Syns Online, the Food Directory or the Syns Hotline for Syn-free bio-yogurts
Drink plenty of fluids – at least 8 mugs or glasses of fluid per day, especially water or other non-caffeinated drinks – it’s particularly helpful to drink plenty of fluid if you increase your fibre intake
Limit caffeinated tea or coffee to three cups per day
Restrict intake of fizzy drinks and alcohol
Vary their sources of fibre by using a variety of Free Food and Healthy Extra ‘b’ choices
Try different foods – for example, use rice or oat based cereals, or rice cakes instead of other crisp breads if wheat and bran based foods are a problem
If suffering from diarrhoea, avoid sorbitol – an artificial sweetener found in sugar-free gum, sweets, drinks and some slimming products.
Try increasing their intake of oats and linseeds.
Try increasing activity levels, particularly if they currently have low levels of activity.
Further Information
The Gut Trust is an independent self-help charitable organisation* for IBS sufferers. For further information on the Gut Trust visit their website at: www.theguttrust.org.uk
Foods commonly associated with IBS include:
fatty foods (especially fatty meats)
wheat products
milk
spices
coffee
However, the foods which aggravate IBS symptoms will differ among individuals, and some people may find they are only sensitive to these foods at certain times, for example when feeling particularly stressed. Therefore, there is no ‘special’ or ‘ideal’ diet that should be followed by IBS sufferers.
Instead, individuals need to work out, by trial and error, whether reducing the quantity of specific foods helps reduce their symptoms.
Q Should IBS sufferers eat more or less fibre?
A: Advice about fibre and IBS is often confusing. It was once thought that IBS could be caused by diets lacking in fibre and, therefore, an increase in fibre intake was often recommended. However, while extra fibre may benefit some people – especially those suffering from constipation, it can generally make symptoms worse – particularly in those suffering with diarrhoea. Every member is different, so they should work out what is best for them, with the support from their health professional. As fibre can provide many health benefits, members could try varying their source of fibre depending on what they find they can tolerate, for example obtaining some fibre from fruit and vegetables and oats rather than just whole-grain cereals or bran. Some people may find that they can tolerate small amounts of different high-fibre foods rather than obtaining their fibre from a single source.
Too much insoluble fibre, such as bran may be a particular cause of problems (such as abdominal pain and flatulence) due to distension and contraction of the gut while the bran is being digested. People suffering from wind and bloating may find it helpful to reduce intake of bran but eat foods containing soluble fibre such as oats (oat-based cereal or porridge) or linseeds (up to one tablespoon per day) which can help alleviate these symptoms.
Q What should I advise my members?
A: Members who ask about IBS should be advised to consult their GP to eliminate any other medical cause of the symptoms. Members should always follow any treatment suggested by their GP or hospital consultant.
In line with the latest dietary and lifestyle guidance on managing IBS, members can:
Food Optimise to reduce their fat intake and obtain a healthy diet
Have regular meals, take time to eat and relax when eating.
It helps to try not to miss meals or leave long gaps between eating.
Chewing food thoroughly can also help as well as helping to suppress the appetite at the same time.
Work out, through trial and error, if any particular foods induce their symptoms
Avoid or reduce the quantity of problem foods
Try including yogurt in their diet, especially Bio yogurt, which may help due to its possible beneficial effects on gut flora. Check Syns Online, the Food Directory or the Syns Hotline for Syn-free bio-yogurts
Drink plenty of fluids – at least 8 mugs or glasses of fluid per day, especially water or other non-caffeinated drinks – it’s particularly helpful to drink plenty of fluid if you increase your fibre intake
Limit caffeinated tea or coffee to three cups per day
Restrict intake of fizzy drinks and alcohol
Vary their sources of fibre by using a variety of Free Food and Healthy Extra ‘b’ choices
Try different foods – for example, use rice or oat based cereals, or rice cakes instead of other crisp breads if wheat and bran based foods are a problem
If suffering from diarrhoea, avoid sorbitol – an artificial sweetener found in sugar-free gum, sweets, drinks and some slimming products.
Try increasing their intake of oats and linseeds.
Try increasing activity levels, particularly if they currently have low levels of activity.
Further Information
The Gut Trust is an independent self-help charitable organisation* for IBS sufferers. For further information on the Gut Trust visit their website at: www.theguttrust.org.uk
That's all really helpful, thanks. I have IBS-d (I'm sure you can work out what the d stands for!) so fibre is a problem for me. I can't have oats though for some reason. Eating little and often is best for me so SW seems ideal because I know I can have a syn-free snack when I need to - don't you have to stop eating by a certain time on Weight Watchers?
Lickthelid dried fruit is higher in fibre than fresh fruit anyway so I may as well stick to raw fresh fruit!
Lickthelid dried fruit is higher in fibre than fresh fruit anyway so I may as well stick to raw fresh fruit!
misssrf
Full Member
Try to keep some oil in your diet, use hex B for olive as mentioned. I re started SW a few weeks ago and have had the most horrific flare..I'm taking a rest week to completely stop with bran and the small amount of wheat I was eating ad increase oil. Just be sensible I'm sure you know what your body can handle
Barbette
Gold Member
I also have IBS, I can tolerate a little fibre. I don't have as many flare-ups as I used to and when I do I take peppermint tablets and drink peppermint tea which settles me down. I only do green days as I'm a veggie and get 2 HEB's so I sometimes have nuts and seeds, tinned fruit and soup instead of bread and cereal. I found my IBS improved when I stopped eating meat
I think SW is totally do-able when you have IBS, good luck x x
I think SW is totally do-able when you have IBS, good luck x x
MollyMolly
Silver Member
I suffered very badly with IBS-d before starting SW and have to say that, for me, SW has been a godsend ... within 2 days of starting it had completely vanished. No cramps, no d, no bloating, no urgency!! just regular, once a day, pain free bowels
I know we all have different triggers but mine was apparently either bread, fats, flour or sugars (I'm fine with oats). It's one of the major things that keeps me firmly on plan - If I'm tempted by anything 'naughty' all I have to do is remember how ill it's going to make me feel!
I know we all have different triggers but mine was apparently either bread, fats, flour or sugars (I'm fine with oats). It's one of the major things that keeps me firmly on plan - If I'm tempted by anything 'naughty' all I have to do is remember how ill it's going to make me feel!
