When people begin making positive changes in their diet and drinking a lot of water, it is not unusual for them to experience detoxification.  One of the most common symptoms is gas, bloating and diarrhea.

One of the reasons for this is that during the years when people consume a diet deficient in water and fiber, the colon accumulates a lot of waste because it does not have the proper materials to clean itself out properly on a regular basis.  Increasing water and fiber intake begins to chip away at the accumulated fecal mater, causing gas and diarrhea.  

The more uncomfortable someone is, the more toxic they are, generally speaking.  There are two options, and which one is best is determined by the personality of the individual.  Some people would like to get the detoxification process over as soon as possible.  Others have more difficulty dealing with the symptoms and should gradually increase whole foods until their bodies can tolerate good food.

Increasing water consumption to an appropriate amount usually does cause more trips to the bathroom, particularly in the beginning.   Eventually this reduces after the body has had a cleaning out.

Some people get sick, which is natural since all of the toxins stored in the fat tissue are now circulating in the system.  The fat tissues are the storage depot for all of the pharmaceutical and over the counter drugs that have been taken, and food additives, coloring agents and other negative things that have been consumed.  

It is not unusual for people to develop rashes or skin disorders, since some of the stored "garbage" may come out through the skin.  I have known former cancer patients who experienced chemotherapy drugs they took 10 years ago coming through their skin when they converted to a high-fiber, high-water diet. 
It is common to ask how long the unpleasant symptoms will last.  This varies from person to person, based on how long they have been taking less than adequate care of themselves, how much body fat they have, and how sweeping the changes are that they are making.  A person who makes a complete shift to a plant-based diet and begins an exercise program at the same time will detoxify faster than a person who begins the process more slowly.

Also, it is not unusual to experience detoxification several times during a few-year period.  Changing your lifestyle is like peeling an onion, and as the body heals and rebuilds it may, from time to time, continue to purge.

The hard part is getting someone to stick it out until the symptoms resolve.  But, it is always better to have this “stuff” out rather than in, and discontinuing will only mean starting the process over again at some future time.  There really is no short cut.