I Didn’t Know It Was Even Possible to Not Be Bloated—But I’ve Been Bloat-Free for 5 Months Now

Knowledge Is Power — Especially When It Comes to Your Body

Here’s the thing:
You can’t solve what you don’t understand.

And that’s the whole reason I’ve written this blog — to bring awareness. Because we’re living in a generation where so many women know very little about their own bodies until it’s too late. Until they’re diagnosed with a condition they didn’t even know was preventable. Until they’re handed a label without ever understanding how they got there in the first place.

I’m genuinely passionate about this, because I’ve been that woman — confused, frustrated, bloated, in pain, and stuck in a cycle of “quick fixes” that never fixed anything. And I know how lonely that can feel.

We’re not taught how to truly care for our health from the inside out. We’re not taught how our gut works, how our hormones work, or how to listen to the signals our body gives us until those signals turn into alarms.

So this blog? It’s for awareness.
It’s for every woman who’s ever been dismissed or misled or left in the dark. It’s for the ones who want to feel good in their body again. And it’s for the ones who are done guessing — and ready to start healing. 

Because health is wealth.
And the truth is, you can’t live fully — you can’t enjoy life abundantly — if your health is constantly holding you back.

So if I can help even one woman solve something she thought was “unsolvable,” I’ll be happy. If I can offer just one piece of knowledge that changes how someone sees their body, I’ll know this blog did its job.

Let’s start here — with bloating — and keep building the knowledge from there.
Because once you understand your body, you can take care of it in a way that’s powerful, personal, and life-changing.

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My Backstory (aka How I Got Here)

I never—not once—thought bloating was normal.
But I did start to believe it was just something I’d have to live with.

I honestly can’t even tell you when it started. But what I do know is that I’d feel totally fine, eat something “healthy,” and then suddenly look and feel like I swallowed a balloon. No pattern. No warning. Just unpredictable, constant bloating that made no sense.

And on top of that? I was dealing with chronic constipation. For years. I actually used to laugh at my boyfriend for going every day. Every day! I told him he was the weird one, like I was somehow thriving by going every 4 to 6 days. 💀

I tried everything people online suggested. Everything friends recommended. Everything colleagues swore by. Herbal teas, powders, pills, fiber supplements, TikTok hacks… you name it. Some things helped for a little while. Most didn’t help at all.

My bloating would usually show up at night, about an hour after dinner — and it would keep me up all night long. Other times, it hit me first thing in the morning, and I’d be like, “I haven’t even eaten yet! Give me a break.”

It started to feel like pregnancy symptoms — and not just the belly. I’m talking full-on nausea, food aversions, smells throwing me off, a heavy, sick feeling in my stomach. It didn’t feel normal. It felt wrong. Like something deeper was going on.

I cut out so many different foods thinking I’d found the culprit… and then boom. Bloating again. A never-ending cycle of confusion and frustration.

I even tried laxatives (yes, the ones everyone says will “clear you out”), but they did nothing. It was like my body was immune.

The turning point? A random TikTok. This woman said her mum died from being backed up. DIED. She said it like it was both terrifying and embarrassing. And I just sat there thinking… imagine dying because you couldn’t take a poop. Absolutely not. No way was I going out like that.

That was the moment I decided I was going to figure this out — no matter what.

Now? I’m bloat-free. I don’t deal with chronic constipation anymore. And let me tell you: it didn’t happen overnight. It took trial and error, real consistency, and learning how to support my body — not fight against it.

But it was worth it. Because this level of comfort? Peace? Energy? I wouldn’t trade it for anything.

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How It All Started: My Deep Dive Into Internet Gut Health

So, like any normal person with a bloated stomach and zero answers, I turned to the internet—yes, including TikTok, because let’s be honest, that’s basically Google for our generation now.

I binged every piece of content I could find. I took in all the tips, tricks, and “quick fixes” that promised relief in 24–48 hours. If it sounded easy and I could start it immediately, I was doing it. And to be fair, some things did help… for like 3 or 4 days max. But nothing lasted. Everything felt temporary.

Once I realized all these random remedies weren’t actually solving the problem—just slapping a band-aid on it—I started to panic a little. That TikTok story about the woman’s mom dying from being backed up? Yeah, that stuck with me. I kept thinking, am I going to be next?

So I did the “responsible adult” thing and went to the doctor. They said they’d refer me to a nutritionist. Cool. I thought, finally, real help.

Well… the call with the nutritionist left me annoyed and confused. She gave me a long-ass list of foods I should be eating, but here’s the kicker: she didn’t ask a single question about my symptoms or what I already eat. Zero personalization. Just: “Here’s this list—follow it.”

I’m not saying she’s mad, but to me? That felt like a total waste of time.

I tried her suggestions anyway, but honestly? That list made things worse. My meals felt restricted, bland, and straight-up sad. As an African, it felt like torture. I desperately wanted food that was flavorful, juicy, succulent—food that made me feel good without turning me into a bloated balloon. But that felt impossible at the time.

Oh, and let’s not forget—I was also on a weight gain journey. Yes, I wanted a dump truck back there. 🍑 But with constant bloating and constipation? Yeah, that wasn’t happening.

FINALLY! 

…I decided that if I was going to get rid of this stupid yet embarrassing “disease,” I was going to have to take this step by step and get to the ROOT CAUSE of it.

No more guesswork. No more quick fixes. I was done with the bandaids—I wanted a solution that actually stuck.

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Getting to the Root: Why Was I Even Bloated and Constipated in the First Place?

Once I made the decision to actually fix this—like really get to the bottom of it—I started learning everything I could about bloating and constipation.

I wanted to know why this was happening in the first place. How does someone even end up bloated or constipated all the time? What’s happening inside the body?

To my surprise (and annoyance), there wasn’t even that much information out there about the root causes. Most of the content was just like, “Eat this, avoid that”—which, let’s be real, we already know doesn’t solve the actual problem. It might give you a bit of relief, but it’s not going to fix your gut.

Nonetheless through all my digging, I found out that there are a few different reasons a person can be bloated. Luckily, mine was one of the simplest to fix—it was directly linked to my constipation.

And when it came to constipation, there are also a few root causes. For me (this was a self-diagnosis– don’t judge me), it came down to:

• Gut microbiome imbalance
  
• Sluggish bowel movements – from years of ignoring the urge to go
  
• Poor diet choices over time

Yep, I was literally training my body not to poop. Add that to an unbalanced gut, and boom—hello bloating, hello constipation, and goodbye comfort, confidence, and that dream of ever gaining weight in peace.

So here’s exactly what I did—and how it worked.

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Step 1: Rebalancing My Gut Microbiome (aka Treating It Like a Newborn Baby)

First of all—what even is your gut microbiome?

In simple terms, it’s the community of trillions of bacteria, fungi, and other microbes living in your digestive system. And this isn’t just some background system—it’s literally your second brain. It impacts everything from digestion to mood to immune function. So when your gut is off? You are off.

So I started treating my gut like it was a newborn baby. I fed it what it needed, when it needed, and I paid attention to how it reacted. Here’s what helped:

✅ Probiotics (the good bacteria)

These are the beneficial bacteria that help restore balance in your gut. I started taking a daily probiotic supplement, but also made sure to include probiotic-rich foods like:

• Yogurt (with live cultures)
  
• Kefir
  
• Sauerkraut
  
• Kimchi
  
• Kombucha
  

Why it works: Probiotics help crowd out harmful bacteria and support digestion, nutrient absorption, and even regular bowel movements.

✅ Prebiotics (the food for the good bacteria)

Your good bacteria need to eat too—and they thrive on specific types of fiber called prebiotics. I added foods like:

• Garlic
  
• Onions
  
• Bananas
  
• Oats
  
• Asparagus
  
• Apples
  

Why it works: Prebiotics act like fertilizer for your gut—fueling the good bacteria so they grow stronger and more dominant.

✅ Fiber & Proper Hydration

You cannot have a healthy gut without fiber and water. Period.
They literally help things move. I focused on both soluble and insoluble fiber from:

• Fruits and veggies
  
• Legumes
  
• Whole grains
  
• Chia seeds & flaxseeds

And I made sure I was actually drinking water consistently—not just sipping occasionally.

Why it works: Fiber bulks up stool and helps it pass smoothly through the digestive tract, while water keeps things hydrated and flowing. Together? They make you poop like a queen.

Before we move to Step 2, I just wanna say something real quick:

Yes—I know earlier I complained about that nutritionist giving me a list of foods to eat, and now it sounds like I’m doing the same. But here’s the MAJOR difference:

Now, I have awareness. Now, I understand why these foods matter.

I’m not eating blindly. I’m not eating because some random professional or article told me to. I’m eating these foods because I finally understand how my body actually functions—and how the things I put into it either support or destroy it, aka intentional eating.

Once you realize that food isn’t just “fuel” or “calories” or whatever watered-down message you’ve been fed… and that it actually plays a major role in how your gut, brain, hormones, and immune system function? You’ll never eat the same way again.

You stop asking, “Is this good or bad?” and instead start asking,

“How will this affect the way my body moves, digests, reacts, and performs?”

And let me tell you: that mindset shift will save you YEARS of frustration.

The truth is, a lot of the information out there is surface-level. It’s generic, it’s commercial, and in some cases, it’s straight-up false. I’ll be dedicating an entire blog to what I’ve learned so far about the real nature of food and how deeply it impacts the body—because it’s not being talked about enough. And it should be.

Okay—rant over (for now). Let’s get into Step 2.

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Step 2: Cutting Back the Foods That Feed the Bad Bacteria

Once I learned that there are actually bad bacteria living in our gut (and they THRIVE on certain foods), I naturally started to cut those foods out.

These include:

• Processed foods
  
• Refined carbs (think white bread, sugary cereal, etc.)
  
• Added sugars
  
• Vegetable oils (like canola, soybean, sunflower—most of the cheap ones)
  

Here’s why they’re a problem:
It’s not just about them being “unhealthy.” These foods feed the harmful bacteria and yeast in your gut, leading to overgrowth, inflammation, and—you guessed it—bloating, constipation, gas, and all kinds of gut drama.

 But it goes deeper than that. When you feed your gut “bug” these food,  they start sending the wrong signals to your brain and your body. That miscommunication can throw your hormones out of sync—affecting everything from digestion to mood, appetite, stress levels, and even your cycle.

The more you feed the bad guys, the stronger they get—and the louder those wrong signals become.

I could go deep into the science of why these mess you up (spoiler: it’s not what you think), but I’ll save that for another blog. Just know this: cutting them out gave my gut the space to actually heal.

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Step 3: Creating a Bathroom Routine (And Not Ignoring the Urge)

This was way more important than I thought. Our bodies thrive on rhythm, and the more consistent I was, the more my body caught on.

• I started trying to go to the bathroom at the same time every day—for me, it’s first thing in the morning.
  
• I stopped holding it in. No more “I’ll go later” or “I don’t have time.” If I had to go, I went (unless it was impossible).
  
• I gave myself time. No rushing. I made space for my body to do its thing.
  

Why it works: When you ignore the urge to go, your body slowly stops sending the signal. Over time, that can train your bowel muscles to become sluggish and unresponsive. Creating a daily routine literally retrains your system to get moving again.

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Step 4: Fasting—The Final Reset I Didn’t See Coming

So this part? I stumbled across it by accident.

I had made a personal decision that I was going to start fasting quarterly for spiritual reasons—specifically, a 3-day water fast (Esther fast) at the start of every quarter and then a 24-hour fast at the end of each month. This wasn’t even health-related at first—it was a religious thing. But God really used it to bless me in ways I didn’t even expect.

Let me tell you: that first 3-day fast was a serious challenge. I won’t lie—day two almost took me OUT. My body was fighting, my mind was weak, and the cravings were loud. But somehow, by God’s grace and willpower alone, I made it to day three.

What I wasn’t expecting was what happened next…

💥 The Bloat Was GONE

Like, fully gone.

Not “slightly better.” Not “I feel okay today.” I’m talking completely flat, light, no discomfort, no pressure—and this was after breaking my fast and returning to eating normally.

Now of course, I thought: duh, there’s no food in your system—of course you’re not bloated. So I didn’t want to get too excited too quickly. I was still healing, and at that point, my bloating was much better thanks to my diet and gut routine, but it would still show up here and there.

So I waited.

A week passed—no bloating.
Another week—still no bloating.
Two more weeks—nothing. My digestion felt smooth, my stomach stayed flat, and I also noticed something else wild—my skin was GLOWING. No pimples in sight, which was rare for me. That’s when I really had to pause and ask:

Wait… could it have been the fasting that pushed my healing all the way through?

Of course, I had to confirm this theory. And if you’ve never come across Dr. Pradip Jamnadas, please do yourself a favor and look him up. He speaks facts about the human body, especially around fasting and healing—and does it in a way that actually makes sense.

In one of his videos, he talked about fasting being a natural reset for your entire digestive system—and more importantly, your gut microbiome. He broke it down like this:

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✨ Some Benefits of Fasting for Gut & Digestion:

• Gives your digestive system a full break, which allows it to rest and repair
  
• Reduces inflammation in the gut lining
  
• Starves off harmful bacteria and yeast that feed on constant food intake (especially sugar and processed carbs)
  
• Triggers *Autophagy*, your body’s internal clean-up mode. This is a process where old or damaged cells get cleaned out, including bad bacteria, toxins, and even precancerous cells in the digestive tract.
  
• Resets your gut microbiome, helping the good bacteria repopulate and restore balance
  
• Improves bowel movement regularity by giving your body a consistent rhythm
  

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So yeah… turns out this fasting I started for spiritual reasons ended up being the final missing piece. I had already laid the foundation—cleaning up my diet, feeding my gut what it needed, creating a bathroom routine—but this fast?

It was the full reset.
It cleared out the lingering issues, calmed the inflammation, rebalanced my gut bacteria, and gave my body the final push it needed.

It wasn’t just the absence of food—it was the presence of healing.
And when I combined that with what I was already doing to nourish my body properly?
That’s what truly cured my chronic bloating and constipation.

But here’s the thing– getting rid of bloating isn’t about a quick fix — it’s a step-by-step journey. Think of it like tending to a neglected garden: you don’t just throw in some seeds and expect flowers the next day. You water it, pull the weeds, and give it time to grow.

Your gut is the same. It needs care, patience, and consistency. And yes, sometimes things get a little worse before they get better — but that’s all part of the healing. So give your body space to adjust. Trust the process. And don’t stress if it’s not instant.

So… Where Do You Start?

If you’re bloated, frustrated, and just over it—trust me, I get it. You don’t need to overhaul your entire life overnight. But you do need to start somewhere. So here are a few simple steps you can start taking today to begin finding relief:

1. Start Supporting Your Gut (Not Fighting It)

• Add probiotic-rich foods like yogurt, kefir, or sauerkraut to your meals.
  
• Include prebiotic foods like bananas, garlic, and oats to help feed the good bacteria.
  
• Don’t forget fiber + hydration: aim for at least 25–30g of fiber a day and drink that water consistently.
  

2. Cut Back What Feeds the “Bad Guys”

• Reduce processed snacks, refined sugars, and vegetable oils where you can.
  
• Start reading labels—just bringing awareness to your food is a game-changer.
  

3. Create a Consistent Bathroom Routine

• Try going at the same time every day (morning is ideal).
  
• Don’t ignore the urge—it matters more than you think.
  
• Give yourself time and don’t rush. Slow is smooth, and smooth is fast.
  

4. Try a Gentle Reset

• If you’re up for it, consider a short fast (even 12–16 hours can help) to give your gut a break.
  
• Always do what feels safe for you—listen to your body and talk to a professional if needed.
  

5. MOST IMPORTANTLY: Learn Your Body

• Take notes. Track your symptoms. Pay attention to how foods, habits, and routines make you feel.
  
• The more you understand your body, the more power you have to support it—and that’s where real healing starts.

Just a few final words as I come to the end of this blog

 — I’m not a doctor or a certified nutritionist yet (we’re working on it 😉), but I’m someone who’s obsessed with gut health and passionate about helping women understand their bodies better. Because living with chronic bloating is HARD, especially when no one teaches you how to deal with it.

If I can bring even a little bit of awareness or relief to anyone going through this, then I’ll keep talking about it.

There are so many more blogs to come — I’ll be diving into women’s health, sustainable weight loss, gut and hormone health, and more. So keep an eye out — I’m only just getting started!

And honestly, finishing this one made it super clear that my next blog has to be on fasting. A full 101 on how to start, how to gently ease it into your life, and why it’s really not as scary as it seems. The benefits go way beyond just feeling bloat-free — it’s been such a big part of my own healing journey, and I want to break it all down in the simplest, realest way possible.

Thank you so much for being here and reading all the way through — it honestly means the world. I’m so excited to keep sharing, learning, and growing with you.

Until next time — take care of that beautiful body of yours.
Big love,

Maeliaaaaa <3

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TL;DR: How I Finally Got Rid of Bloating

• 🔍 Found the root: chronic constipation + neglected gut health
  
• 🦠 Focused on healing my gut with probiotics, prebiotics, fibre & water
  
• 🚫 Cut out processed foods, refined carbs, sugar & vegetable oils
  
• ⏰ Built a consistent bathroom routine
  
• 💧 Introduced fasting (24–72hr water fasts) to reset my gut
  
• 🧘‍♀️ Let my body adjust + gave it time to heal
  

📝 Not a doctor — just a girl who got fed up and figured it out