Thanks Earthgarden. I've been eating so much better over the last couple of years because of IBS-C and LI that I just found out my cholesterol dropped from 201 to 181 in that period! I've been eating lots of soluable fiber, mostly in the form of oat bran. I've also increased my (good) fat intake as I was having very little fat of any kind before, things like olive oil, avocado, nuts etc. The weight gain is really frustrating, it seems to be caused by exactly the things that make my IBS-C better, soluable fiber and (good) fats. I agree with you about the junk food. I realized that those low and no fat snacks that were supposed to satisfy the crunchy/salt craving were actually binding me up within hours after eating them. I had to stop that too, so no junk food at all in the last year or so. I've also increased my fruits and veggies, lately trying to eat more dark leafy greens. Unfortunately I have to have six small meals each day instead of 3 bigger ones, and I need a substantial amount of protein with each meal in order to keep my blood sugar under control. I think if I'm more careful about eating the right things in the right amounts, I should be able to keep from snacking between those six meals. I think you're right about the "grazing" thing. I eat a lot of fish and chicken, usually baked or pan fried with a little olive oil (in a nonstick pan so I need very little oil). I also have a lot of canned tuna, salmon, and vegetarian dishes made with things like beans and corn (protein AND soluable fiber).Wheat bran really aggravates my C, I can't have that much insoluable fiber or I'll be on the toilet many times a day with hardly any results. In other words, I'll have lots of cramping and bloating with a lot of difficulty passing any of the stool. I've had to eliminate whole wheat from my diet. As far as fruit goes, bananas are binding for me, but I eat all kinds of other fruit. I can't have yogurt because of the LI, I'm off all milk products, but maybe I can substitute a glass of soymilk where you suggest. The lowfat versions of it are pretty awful though, another area where my fat intake has increased. I'll have to try making smoothies with soymilk, great idea.Water, yes! I try to drink as much as I can but I just hate doing anything that causes me to spend even more time looking for toilets than my IBS! I do need to drink more and it always helps to have another reminder.Another thing I know I need to do more of is exercise. I get some, but not enough and not regularly enough. I've just got to make the time.Thanks for the suggestions, I really appreciate your response. I'm thinking now it's probably a matter of being just a little more disciplined and making some minor adjustments to what I'm already doing.