BellaOnline Forums Health and Fitness Weight Loss Fiber question

I'm a total newb when it comes to fiber.I know I don't get nearly enough of it.I have a very poor diet that I'm ashamed to admit to.I've always been a little overweight but things have gone from bad to worse.I'm considered obese now.I'm 23 years old, 5'5,and 201 lbs.I was 180 lbs before I got pregnant and didn't really gain any weight during my pregnancy until I was put in the hospital for over a week until I gave birth.Thats when I packed on 20 lbs.I was on complete bedrest so I just sat in bed and ate most of the time.I had any food that I could think of asking for.I know that losing weight after having a baby can be tough because of the new duties of motherhood,being a new wife,and just being so darn busy.

So here I am ready to get fit and healthy.When I met my husband almost nine years ago I was 14 yrs old and weighing 140 lbs.I should be weighing that now and I'm ready to do so.I need some more info about fiber.I have Benefiber in the kitchen but I have no idea if thats the fiber I should be taking to benefit me in losing weight.Any suggestions or advice would be greatly appreciated.

Here's some info on fiber and weight loss:

Fiber and Weight Loss Tips

I would recommend tho getting your fiber from natural sources like whole grains, rather than something like Benefiber. What you really need is a change in your nutritional habits and adding more whole grains will have more benefit than looking for a quick fix from a fiber product.

Great link,just what I was looking for.I do try to eat more foods containing good amounts of fiber but its so hard to do when its quicker to grab whatever I can before I have to do something.During the day I'll mostly eat bananas because its quick,then at dinner I'll have whatever I put together regardless of how much fat is in it.Its easier to fix one whole meal than two separate ones but I'm looking to change it.

Since Benefiber is fiber whats wrong with having it as a supplement? I know the natural way is better but if I can't always do natural isn't it best to get some source of fiber than none at all?

I suppose any fiber is better than none but fiber is easy to get once you get into the habit. Have a bowl of cereal in the morning-a whole grain one, eat whole grain bread (not enriched whole wheat), eat a salad at dinner with good stuff like nuts on it.

What you should do is make a shopping list filled with foods you'd like to eat and don't keep junk food around. Buy veggies that are pre-cut if you're in a hurry, or salads in bags. Your banana is good so just add it to a bowl of whole grain cereal.

You can take other fruit with you too, like apples and oranges to eat during the day or something like sunflower seeds, which make a quick snack.

The key really is to clear the house of junk food. Just give it all away. Especially if you have a new baby you want to raise the child in an environment of eating healthy foods. If you do that from the beginning it's amazing how quickly kids learn to like really good foods. Lots of kids *love* veggies if they grow up with them.

Make yourself quick healthy snack foods. Cut up celery and put that in the fridge so you can grab a few instead of bananas.

Yes, clearing the house of junk food is the first step! I have found it important also to carry high-fiber snacks with me when I go on shopping trips or other extended periods away from home. Otherwise, it is way too easy for me to satisfy the hunger that inevitably develops at some point by stopping off at Taco Bell or Wendy's!

It's easy to fall prey to a Taco bell if you don't carry some kind of healthy snack with you, that's for sure! I always have something in my purse that's healthy to eat.

I totally agree about dumping all the junk food in the cabinets before anything else. If you keep healthy foods available, pretty soon you'll start craving those instead of junk food. I can't even eat fast food anymore as it upsets my stomach.