So SBD recomends using Metamucil before a meal to help you stay full. It's a mild laxative, but it's just really psyllium which is healthy.

If you take metmucil, say twice a day, will your body build up a dependency on it to stay regular? Is it a good idea (assuming you're not 65) to stay away from metamucil unless you really need it?

I haven't used it. Not that I think it is a bad thing. But w/o TMI, I really like the fact that my body is like clockwork for things... and I eat enough veggies to stay that way. I have to say I've looked at it at the store, but always come to the conclusion... "why mess up something that isn't broke".

I had a lot of trouble with constipation at first. Now I drink a fiber drink ( a little diet snapple, water and 2 tbls of fiber from the health food store ) every afternoon + a fiber pill at night. It works great and keeps me feeling full and healthy. You can carry sugar free metamucil packets for traveling. Try it. If you eat a lot of vegatables you shouldn't get dependent.

Hi. I had a lot of trouble with constipation at first. Now I drink a fiber drink ( a little diet snapple, water and 2 tbls of fiber from the health food store ) every afternoon + a fiber pill at night. It works great and keeps me feeling full and healthy. You can carry sugar free metamucil packets for traveling. Try it. If you eat a lot of vegatables you shouldn't get dependent.

That's just the thing. It's not that I am constipated or anything. I just started taking it to help keep my stomach full. I'm worried though that my body might become dependent on it. Is this a concern, or do I not have to worry about it?

All I can give you is an example of someone I knew who did just that.
She took a mild laxative (might have been the same one) and it bulked up her stomach making her feel fuller for longer, but eventually she did do herself damage because her bowel got SO use to it that it stopped working efficiently and now she has irritable bowel.

Me, personally - I use it when nessesary and after my friends experience, only when I really have to! More than a few days and it starts to worry me.
Ultimately it's your choice, but I have a feeling that if you have doubts about it then you already have the answer to your question right there

Hi again. Most of the books I've read say we need 25 to 40 grams of fiber a day. Very few of us can get that much from food alone. One of the greatest weight loss tricks I've read about is taking a little fiber ( a teaspoon ) 15 minutes before lunch and dinner. It slows insulin, digestion and adds fiber. Fiber powder is different from a laxative. Laxatives are dangerous. The one I use is Genesis 4 Fiber and I add a little L Glutamine which cuts sugar cravings. 4 Fiber has less or no psyllium which, if used regularly, can cause dependence in some. If you use them in moderation they really can help and not cause side effects.

I tend to stall whenever I take metamucil. I don't know if it's from water retension or what. But I soon as I stop taking it, I start to lose weight again.

Personally, I don't feel you can go wrong with fiber. Fiber is natural - it's not a man-made laxative.

You might try eating more fruit/veggies. That's helped me to stay regular.

How can a natural fiber like psyllium husk creat a dependency? As said above, we're supposed to eat 25 grams of fiber a day. I don't know that I can do that without a supplement. I add plain, pure psyllium to shakes and other liquid foods, and later on I'll add it to oatmeal. I need more fiber!

The more fiber you eat, the more your body becomes used to it so if you stop, you'll get constipated where you wouldn't have before. So yes, even fiber can create a dependency.

Instead of shooting for 25-30g, how about going by how you feel? Do you go regularly enough to feel good?

I gave up counting fiber grams and just go by how I feel. I always tell people I know if I'm getting enough or not.

The op isn't about staying regular, it's filling up.

Eat more veg, or have a soup starter before you eat your main meal... a broth with veggies in for example. Bulk up with celery which is excellent stuff... have a couple of pieces with some LF cream cheese on whilst you're preparing your main meal... Works for me.

You really don't have to worry about going hungry on SB, if you are, eat more!

Thanks Annabel for bringing this thread back on track a bit :-) I guess the reason I started with the metamucil in the first place was I figured that it would have two great effects, one to fill me up, and the other to really clean me out :-)

I never thought about a body dependence issue. I'm just as fine eating celery or other foods and I rarely go hungry on SB. Thanks everyone for the great comments.

I don't know about dependence, Ice, but I did think that stuff has sweeteners in it and chemicals to make it taste orangey. I can think of nicer and healthier things to fill up on. I know you can phyllium husk just on its own so I suppose you could add that in, but I don't know of anything more 'cleansing' than celery to be honest.

Since I know how good celery is for you, I've been trying to force myself to like it for years. The fact is, I can't stand it. I don't like it raw, don't like it cooked, and can only just force myself to eat it with peanut butter or cream cheese, but I find no enjoyment in it.

So I use psyllium husk, only as much as I need to be comfortable. I've never attempted to actually count fiber grams that I'm consuming, but as said above, I know when I'm not getting enough fiber!

As for dependence, it comes down to a choice for me - constipation now? or constipation later if I stop using a fiber supplement?