Because I was tired of looking 6 months pregnant after eating a salad.

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Let’s just say it: being bloated sucks.

You wake up feeling fine and by dinner, your jeans are screaming, your stomach’s sticking out like a soft drum, and you’re one bite away from unbuttoning your pants in public.

And no, it’s not just a “full stomach” or “too much water.” It’s that uncomfortable, tight, gassy, why-do-I-feel-like-I-swallowed-a-basketball kind of bloat.

For the longest time, I thought something was seriously wrong with me.

Like, do I have an alien living in my gut? Or did my intestines just…give up?

But after trying dozens of remedies, diets, teas, and tips from TikTok wellness girls, I finally found three things that actually worked—and no, none of them required giving up bread forever. 🙏

So here’s my story, my fixes, and some Amazon favorites that helped me go from balloon belly to finally feeling like myself again.

🥴 First: What Even Is Bloating?

It’s not always gas. Sometimes it’s sluggish digestiontoo much air, or inflammation from the wrong foods.

Sometimes it’s hormones. Sometimes it’s anxiety.

Sometimes… it’s that oat milk latte you swore was “gut friendly.”

For me, it was a combo of bad habits, food sensitivities I didn’t realize I had, and a gut that was basically waving the white flag.

So here’s what worked.

🔧 Fix #1: I Started Pooping Daily (Yes, We’re Going There)

I used to think going every 2–3 days was “normal” for me.

It wasn’t. It was constipation disguised as “I’m just not a morning person.”

When I started working on regular, complete, healthy poops, everything changed. My stomach flattened, the pressure eased up, and I wasn’t constantly uncomfortable.

Here’s what helped me get regular (and no, it wasn’t just fiber):

🌿 My Morning Gut Routine:

1. Organic Triphala Capsules – This ancient Ayurvedic formula helped gently get things moving without making me sprint to the bathroom. It’s not a laxative—it’s more like a nudge to your colon.

2. Magnesium Citrate Powder – I mix half a teaspoon into warm water before bed. Not only does it help with sleep, but it also softens things so your morning goes smoothly. Literally.

3. Squatty Potty – Judge me all you want, but this bathroom stool changed my life. Turns out humans weren’t meant to poop sitting down. Now I squat like a champion, and my gut thanks me daily.

Within a week of this routine, my bloat reduced by HALF. I looked down and went, “Oh hey, it’s you. My real stomach.”

🥗 Fix #2: I Swapped “Healthy” Foods That Weren’t Healthy For Me

This one hurt a little. Because I was eating salads, chickpeas, protein bars, and oat milk like a good little wellness queen.

But those things were making me blow up like a blowfish.

It turns out, some of the foods I thought were good for me were actually fermenting in my gut and causing gas, inflammation, and bloat.

The biggest culprits for me were:

• Raw kale and cruciferous veggies

• Oats and oat milk (high in FODMAPs!)

• Protein bars with chicory root or sugar alcohols

• Carbonated drinks (even LaCroix 😭)

So here’s what I swapped instead:

 My Bloat-Free Swaps:

Low-FODMAP Protein Bars – These BelliWelli bars are gut-friendly and still taste like dessert. No weird ingredients, and my stomach doesn’t rebel after.

Digestive Enzymes – I take one before big meals or anything that has beans, onions, or dairy. It’s like giving your gut a little backup team.

Peppermint Tea – Sounds too simple, but this tea soothes my stomach fast. If I ever feel that pressure building, I sip a cup and usually feel better within 20 minutes.

Once I started paying attention to how I felt after certain foods—rather than just trusting “what’s healthy”—everything changed. And no, I didn’t have to give up all the good stuff. I just learned what worked for my gut.

🧘‍♀️ Fix #3: I Calmed the F Down

Yeah, stress. Freaking stress.

Apparently when I’m anxious, I stop digesting food properly. My body goes into “fight or flight” and forgets it has a digestive system.

I’d be rushing through lunch while answering emails, scrolling Instagram while scarfing down dinner, and wondering why I looked pregnant afterward.

So I started doing something truly wild: I sat down and breathed before I ate.

💆‍♀️ My Calm-Your-Gut Toolkit:

Gua Sha Tool – I use this to gently massage my face and neck before meals. It sounds woo-woo, but it slows me down and calms my nervous system. Also, it makes me feel fancy.

Essential Oil Roll-On with Lavender & Peppermint – I keep this on my desk. The peppermint also helps digestion, and it smells like a spa in a stick.

[5-Minute Belly Massage Technique (DIY with coconut oil)] – I literally just rub my belly in a clockwise circle before bed or after a big meal. It helps things move and makes me feel grounded. Bonus: it’s oddly comforting.

🧾 Final Thoughts: Bloating Isn’t Just About Food

It’s your stress. Your poop schedule. Your habits. Your hormones.

And sometimes it’s just your body saying, “Hey, could we slow down and pay attention for a second?”

I’m not perfect. I still get bloated sometimes—especially around my period or when I eat too fast.

But now I don’t feel helpless. I’ve got tools that work, routines I trust, and a gut that feels like it’s finally on my side.

If you’re constantly bloated and over it, try these fixes. And don’t be afraid to test and tweak until you find what works for you.

And if nothing else, get the squatty potty. Trust me on that one.

PS: Some of the links above are Amazon affiliate links. If you buy through them, I might earn a small commission—at no extra cost to you. It helps keep this blog alive and my belly happy. Thanks for supporting my bloat-free mission! 💛

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