PS: Don't worry about anything like anorexia or other body dysmorphic stuff... If anything, I'm the opposite: my brain persists in believing that I'm 20 pounds lighter and 20 years younger than I really am.

Your brain is cool.
You mean you need some help to get it going again? In this heat I recommend prunes/dried plums... hmm, those dark purple ones yaknow. They have laxative qualities. A tall glass of it's juice daily could sort you out. Plus it's tasty with ice.

Actually - the opposite. Diarrhea! There, I've said it! At least I didn't put it on the front page. :)

Of course, it's posible I just have the flu.

Well, if it the diet causing it then a quick cure is get some iron tablets (supplement) and wash down with anything but tea (they tend to be rough on the stomach) for a few days. Floradix Kräuter Blutsaft doesn't go quite as harsly on the tummy, but still 'firms' stuff - switch over to that in a week. You probably lack iron skipping meat - and everyone needs iron. Do some fresh spinach salads to be sure. ;) Positive side-effects: One Blutsaft a day gives heaps more energy.

It's could be the vegetables/fruit. You're probably not used to the excess vitamin C.

Brown rice sounds good, as does anything with a lot of roughage. Cut down on the tomatoes, and concentrate on "greener" veg. Celery, etc.

IANAD though.
If symptoms persist, etc, etc.

Hm. I'll look for the Floradix, dabs, though there's a good chance i won't find it here. But the spinach I can get today! Only a few steps from my door! (which will be helpful.)

Maybe some oatmeal?

Oh, that sounds pretty good! I could eat some oatmeal with brown sugar, I think. Or, somebody come over here and make me some oatmeal cookies. (not much of a bake-chef.)

How about a big bowl of blueberries for dessert? Once upon a time they were only used to dye clothes and fix tummies yaknow.

That sounds heavenly... But I've never once seen blueberries here. Sad.

I mean a BIG bowl. yum!

What what what!? Leave greece PRONTO!

Just to agree with above. Eat some grains and it will help a lot. Bread, oatmeal, rice, etc. And go for the whole grain. Better for you and tastier!

I have to disagree. taz, I'd guess that you have a bit of a bug. The diet you described would be more likely to constipate you, and more fiber is a way to relieve constipation. Read the wikipedia entries on diarrhea and constipation and see what you think.

If you are not vomiting (and you didn't mention that, but if you are it changes things), stay hydrated and perhaps do a bit of Gatorade, and take an OTC remedy.

IANAMP (medical professional), but I'm sure sorry you don't feel well.

Any radical change of diet can cause your insides to go all crazy for a few days, up the grains. IAACNAD.

Root vegetables. Turnips and carrots, potatoes. Drink lemonade or diluted fruit juice (to rehydrate; diarrhea dehydrates). The root vegetables stay in your gut for long enough that you get some nutrients out of them, otherwise your gut might just break food down and pass it through without doing anything with it.

I recommend against Imodium or other patent medicines that stopper you up. If it's a bug in your gut, holding it in can cause it to flourish.

Don't stay in the sun too long; overheating and diarrhea can be uncomfortable and dangerous.

Take it easy, and get well soon.

(This is really advice for dysentery, but since my main dysentery symptom was you guessed it, I think it applies. Feel better, taz).

And also, it could just be the change in diet. Even a week or so later, it's a pretty common side-effect.

Yep, I think you're right. Pretty sure it's not a flu now, because no other symptoms have manifested (though I did feel slightly lightheaded this morning). I drank a few cups of chamomile tea which seemed to calm down the main problem. I'm definitely staying hydrated, which I pretty much always do anyway. I almost always have a big glass of water beside me.

The plan at this point is black bean soup and brown rice, maybe with a little yogurt or feta. And I bought some oatmeal, 'cause I'm figuring that even though I'm so not a breakfast person, it would probably be wisest to start having a little breakfast in the mornings.

Also, a sort of odd little story: when I went out, I also bought two pears from a fruit stand. When I handed the pears to the young guy manning the stand to weigh, he seemed rather put out, and peevish. Why? No idea. He wasn't busy. Two pears not enough to bother with? Who knows. Doesn't matter. I'm very used to people acting like that here, though, so it didn't faze me in the least. So, he weighs them, and then turns to tell me the price, and I'm looking at him - not in a mean way, not in a nice way - just completely dispassionately... just sort of regarding him, and observing that he was acting kind of pissy, but with no expression or reaction on my face at all (and I didn't really feel any kind of irritation or anything either - so nothing like that should have been coming through). And all of a sudden, he gets all nice, with please and thank-you, and putting my two measly pears first in a paper sack, and then - very carefully! - putting the paper sack into a plastic sack, and all smiles and nicey-nice. Weird! I have no idea what that was all about. (Nobody else had shown up, so it wasn't like someone was going to get mad at him if he didn't act nice.) Curious.

I think it's your change in diet, too, taz. Brown rice is good, as are plenty of fluids.

Also: You probably lack iron skipping meat - and everyone needs iron.

There's no way you're iron deficient after a couple weeks.

I'm gonna chime in and agree with those who say it's the change in your diet (and maybe a slight bug) it sounds as if your diet is significantly different from your regular ways and your body is probably adjusting. i also throw my vote for brown rice! and soba noodles if you can get them are wonderful with stir frys! sometimes switching to a heavy veggie diet can cause ummm distress because compared to meats and cheeses, veggies and fruits have a lotta fiber.

good luck!

Vegetable diets are great but your body has to adjust.

Also make sure that you wash your veggies thoroughly as they can have bacteria on them that, in addition to adjusting the bacterial fauna in your digestive tract, can make you sick.

Make sure you eat a lot of proteins: beans, soy and leafy greens will help. This will help you stay satiated and keep your diet on track.