So for the last few days I've been eating oatbran every morning (a delicious recipe I might add) and every morning my BMs have been ridiculous. Thank god for well healing fissures because these BM's are huge. The only thing I've changed in my diet is the oatbran in the morning. Does bran or oatmeal have this effect on anyone else? If so what about the bran makes BM's so big? I hate finding foods I love then having to give them up. Grrr

Kreaybutt: Before you give up, try sprinkling a tablespoon of ground flax seed into your cooked oatbran right before you eat it. The flax seed shouldn't alter the taste but I find the flax seed makes the stools much slicker and easier to pass - even large ones.

Kreaybutt
Oatbran is considered a good source of both insoluble and soluble fiber, so your huge bm's may be due to the insoluble contents of oat bran combined with other things you've eaten (of that day or even the day before).
Oatbran soluble and insoluble:
http://healthyeating.sfgate.com/much-soluble-fiber-oat-bran-6035.html
It may be all adding up to that your still getting a bit too much insoluble fiber overall which are creating your huge bm's. Its so tricky and challenging to get it right but keep tweaking and you will find the balance.
Keep learning what are the solubles vs insolubles that your consuming.
GL

Thank you, both great suggestions!! I rarely pay attention to the type of fiber I take in. Will start right tomorrow :)

How do you all eat your oatmeal? Do you buy instant oatmeal or cook it stove top? What do you add to it? instant oatmeal only has 3 grams of fiber, one being soluble. I bought old fashion oats but I don't want bland tasteless oatmeal. lol Do you eat it thick or watery? sorry for the random question. thanks!!

Personally, I like rolled oats, not instant, cooked on the stove top. Bring the water to a boil, stir in the oats and raisins, shut off the stove, cover the pot, and go shower/shave. It's pretty thick when I get back to eat. The raisins help a great deal along with a few prunes. A dash of maple flavoring is also good.
I tried steel cut oats but they just take too long to cook and aren't that great - my opinion.

I have the rolled oats too.
I just put a couple of spoon fuls in a bowl, add enough water to cover by an inch or so then microwave for about 2 - 3 mins.
Sometimes I have grated apple in with it, sometimes I top it with a sliced banana, sometimes just plain old milk and a sprinkle of sugar.
I love my porridge mmmmm

1 part rolled oats, 1 part water, 1 part apple juice. Bring water/juice mix to a boil, add oats, cook 5 minutes. Voila! Sweet without adding processed sugar. Add: apple (chopped or whizzed in a food processor), banana, toasted almonds, dry sour cherries, raisins, etc.

I've started adding a tsp of flaxseed (when I can remember to), with no noticeable effect yet.