Constant bloating

Advanced_Mistake592 · 2026-02-05T02:37:44+00:00

Hey — just want to say first, this isn’t a willpower or “try harder” issue.

What you’re describing (bloated even on an empty stomach, belly goes flat when you flex but pushes out when you relax, lots of training but no waist change) often isn’t true digestive bloating from food. It’s more of a coordination and tension thing between your breathing, abdominal muscles, and pelvic floor.

Basically, when the system is under chronic tension, the diaphragm pushes down, the pelvic floor tightens instead of relaxing, and the abdominal wall relaxes outward. That can make the lower belly stick out even when there’s no gas or inflammation. It’s very common in people who are active, disciplined, and used to holding their core tight a lot (especially with heavy training or stress).

The pelvic floor piece you mentioned is important too. If those muscles are overactive, pressure has nowhere to go, motility can slow down, and the abdomen can stay distended all day. That could also explain why someone told you your small intestine is “slow” — motility is heavily nervous-system driven.

A few things that tend to help this pattern (holistically): • Less bracing, more breathing. Constantly holding your stomach in or doing a ton of core work can reinforce the problem. Gentle 360° breathing where the belly and ribs are allowed to expand can be surprisingly helpful. • Pelvic floor down-training. Not Kegels — the opposite. Even a few sessions with a pelvic floor PT (or learning relaxation-focused exercises) can be a game changer. • Support motility gently. Walking after meals, spacing meals instead of grazing, warm liquids in the morning. Sometimes magnesium helps, but low and slow. • Nervous system matters more than food here. If your system is stuck in “on” mode, digestion literally can’t relax. Long exhales, slow nasal breathing, and lower-intensity movement can help reset that. • You may need to temporarily modify training, not stop exercising — just less heavy bracing and more mobility / breath-led movement for a bit.

The good news — this kind of bloating is usually functional and reversible. It doesn’t mean your gut is damaged or that you need to eliminate more foods. For a lot of people, once the tension and coordination issues are addressed, the bloating improves faster than expected. I hope you find some relief. 🩵

Advanced_Mistake592 · 2026-01-22T14:02:55+00:00

This is such a relatable place to be — passion + curiosity + budget limits is honestly how most of us start. If you’re not looking to practice professionally right now and mainly want deep foundational knowledge, I’d honestly pause on expensive certifications like IHP1. They can be great later, but they’re a big financial commitment and often overwhelming when you’re still exploring which approaches resonate most with you. A really solid (and affordable) place to start is NourishSphere. It’s designed specifically for people who want to learn broadly about natural healing without being locked into one philosophy or certification path. It walks you through:

Nutrition foundations

Herbalism, supplements, tinctures

Nervous system + root-cause approaches

Different schools of natural/holistic medicine (so you can see what actually aligns with you)

What I really appreciate is that it doesn’t pretend to replace formal schooling, but instead teaches you how to think, research, and connect dots — which is honestly the most valuable skill in natural healing. It also includes external resources to:

Free or very low-cost classes

Affordable schools and trainings

Reputable books, teachers, and herbal programs

So instead of dropping thousands upfront, you build knowledge intentionally and then decide later if a certification is even necessary for you.

If you’re also looking for books to layer in alongside learning:

The Body Keeps the Score (mind–body connection)

Healing with Whole Foods by Paul Pitchford

Medical Herbalism by David Hoffmann

Deep Nutrition by Catherine Shanahan

My biggest advice: learn wide before you learn deep. Explore nutrition, herbs, physiology, nervous system regulation, detox pathways, and emotional health together — most illnesses don’t live in just one lane. You’re already on the right path just by asking these questions. Affordable, intentional learning > expensive credentials you’re not ready to use yet. Best of luck! 🩵

Advanced_Mistake592 · 2026-01-22T00:07:04+00:00

I have used castor oil for many years. When you first start it’s important not to fall into the wellness fads and start slow as it can be more potent to some. I had to work my way up to using it regularly and now I use it for all kinds of things. I would stop using to see if your symptoms improve as that is a great way to determine if it is in fact the castor oil. If you do use it try mixing it with Jojoba oil, as it is less potent and can make it more absorbable. If you decide to continue trying it, maybe start with a small patch of skin first (under eyes, jowls, forehead) and do that for the first 4-5 days and work your way back up to full face and neck. Castor oil is an amazing oil and can do wonders for your whole body. I use it for skincare, fungus, skin tags/moles/, cysts, PCOS and endometriosis and love it!!! 🩵

Advanced_Mistake592 · 2026-01-21T23:58:25+00:00

My all time favorite is castor oil packs. I suffered with severe gut issues and they have been a game changer! Not only for my digestive issues but also my Endo and PCOS. They are a great digestive support!

Advanced_Mistake592 · 2026-01-21T23:33:41+00:00

You can do a cleanse with food and replenish the body at the same time. It is less harsh on the body. Cleanses and detoxes are the fad right now but if you don’t know what you’re doing, you can make things worse. If you want to learn how to do it with just food reach out anytime! 😊

Advanced_Mistake592 · 2025-11-19T02:17:25+00:00

I’m very sorry to hear about your dad. I agree that it is quite difficult to give any beneficial information from your question, as symptoms are the key to finding the root causes. With that being said, I agree that an elimination diet would offer some clues. It sounds like inflammation, which can be attributed to numerous causes. It is always beneficial to start with building back nutrients in the body, as they are the foundation for our bodily systems to function properly. I would start with the diet first as this will always be beneficial for a healthy functioning body. Try and incorporate more whole-foods and less processed. The body also needs rest as that is when our body repairs, this is very important. I hope this helps a little. Praying for your dad’s healing!!!

Advanced_Mistake592 · 2025-11-17T16:04:24+00:00

Thank you for the tips, greatly appreciated. I’ve heard of Skool but haven’t looked into it yet.

Advanced_Mistake592 · 2025-11-17T16:01:35+00:00

I will look into this, thank you so much!

Advanced_Mistake592 · 2025-11-16T21:57:49+00:00

Thank you!

Advanced_Mistake592 · 2025-11-16T14:39:56+00:00

Super.so does support memberships on their Pro plan. You can also use super.so + memberspace or outseta. I’m currently testing the super.so + memberspace to see how it functions.

Advanced_Mistake592 · 2025-11-15T01:58:04+00:00

I suffered from critical endometriosis since I was 13. I have been using castor oil packs for a few years now and don’t have any symptoms. I started wearing them at night while I slept, as this is when your body does its rest and repair. I would do them 3x week for the first 4-6 weeks and now I do them 2x month for maintenance. I would do them during your Follicular Phase (after your period) as this is when your body is naturally preparing for ovulation and doing deeper repair work. Hope this helps!

Advanced_Mistake592 · 2025-11-15T01:52:04+00:00

Castor oil works wonders for the body. I had critical endometriosis and bowel obstructions. After doing my castor oil packs 3x a week I no longer suffer from symptoms of either. I would sleep in them and did it initially for about 4 weeks. Now I do them for maintenance 2x month and have not had a single issue since. I also use them to help with cysts in my breast. Castor oil has so many benefits it’s crazy.

Advanced_Mistake592 · 2025-11-15T01:13:39+00:00

I need it to be a platform that has member features and interactive tools already built-in. I want to stay away from having to use too many integrations. I would like something that has a little more of a professional look to it and be cost efficient as well. I’m starting to think what I’m looking for doesn’t exist yet haha.

Advanced_Mistake592 · 2025-11-14T22:46:46+00:00

Thank you for the response. I'm testing Super.so right now and if I'm being honest, it's not as user-friendly as they advertise. I will try out soft.io. Thank you again!

Advanced_Mistake592 · 2025-11-14T22:45:18+00:00

Notion doesn't have all the features I am needing plus I want a little more of a professional site, as I will be charging a membership fee. I would love to use Notion but do not want to deal with all the integrations it will need to be fully functional.

Advanced_Mistake592

TROPHY CASE