First off, I wasn't sure where to post this, as there isn't a dedicated poop forum (why not?), so mods, feel free to move it.
So...this is about my poop, or poops if you will. I go at least once a day, more often that not, I'll go 3-4 times (or more a day).
For the past 5 weeks, I've being eating great (lean meats, oats, legumes, raw veg take up most of my diet) and exercising 6 x a week. Although before this I had a similar poop pattern.
I read recently (in a paleo blog) that if you go poop once a day or less, you're constipated - so I guess I should be happy?
Thoughts? Good/bad etc? (nb: I never feel sicky/nauseous etc)
Giggles, oh goose, you made my day... so I'll play, here's my flushes worth!
I think it comes down to each person, their quantity of consumption and physiological reactions to types of foods that also determine when you're likely to excrete, how much and in what form. I know in my situation I went from having diarrhoea most days with poor food and drink choices to having fairly normal digestive cycles after changing my eating plan substantially.
Original Post by mythals:
Giggles, oh goose, you made my day... so I'll play, here's my flushes worth!
I think it comes down to each person, their quantity of consumption and physiological reactions to types of foods that also determine when you're likely to excrete, how much and in what form. I know in my situation I went from having diarrhoea most days with poor food and drink choices to having fairly normal digestive cycles after changing my eating plan substantially.
So what you're saying is that poops are like snowflakes - no two are identical?
I was thinking they're more like bugs splattered on your windshield but I guess the snowflake analogy could work too.
Goose- I went from going once every couple of days to going 2-3 times a day. Sometimes in the coveted S shapes and quantities that are very desireable. (yes I love when I go BIG especially since I'm working on weighloss). It helps that I am eating little to no preservatives and eating a whole lot more 'raw' foods. I also switched all of my sandwiches from white bread to whole wheat tortilla shells that provide 14gram of fiber in each shell. Yes that's 48% of your daily fiber in a single tortilla shell. It's funny but I feel alot healthier when I got 2-3 times a day.
I had to giggle a little at the suggestion of a poop forum!
Anyway, to answer the OP's question and kind of agree with Mythals, everyone is different. With all other things being equal* everyone's pooping routine is a totally individual thing.
I eat a healthy diet with plenty of fluids, fibre and all the other things we need, yet my pattern is to go on alternate days, one day on and one day off, so to speak.
Now while this is a vast improvement from when I was not eating so well, (then, I would skip two or maybe even three days) I have been in this new pattern for a long while now and only notice a change if I don't eat what I normally do (ie on "special occasions"). So I believe this is my new healthy pattern which will continue as long as I continue to eat healthfully etc.
For most people, if your diet is healthy then your usual pattern of pooping is the one that is normal for you. It is sudden changes in your normal pattern that you need to look out for.
*just wanted to note here that medical issues can affect this pattern and the body's reaction to the foods that can aid digestion etc (I am thinking of conditions such as IBS, Celiac and Hypothyroid, which often cause diarrhea or constipation).
:) I think it's great if you poop at least 2 times a day. Anything more than that and you are a lucky ducky! Ya wanna keep things moving. Better out than in!
I only poop once, maybe twice a day. So I guess I am constipated! XP But it's better than not pooping at all that day I guess! I know people who poop every 2-3 days! ; n ;
So glad you started this post, Goose...I was also thinking about pooping patterns recently. I was wondering if the number of bowel movements are related to one's metabolism, i.e. the more times you go, the faster the metabolism...or is it more related to one's diet and fiber intake?
I noticed that spinach totally backs me up--must be all the iron...but baked sweet potatoes are like Liquid Plumber to the rescue for me!
I go 2-3 times a day. I get over 20 grams of fiber a day, which is more than my Daily Recommended Allowance of 18, and it's always fruits, veggies, and whole grains. I'd feel SUPER great about it if I didn't have a little butt cut right now that bleeds whenever I poo. 
I don't want to STOP pooping so often, because it's healthy, but I don't know when my butt's supposed to heal if I keep having to poo!
I go once a day usually in the morning... and I am more than OKAY with that.
My boyfriend seems to have to rush to the bathroom after almost every time he eats.. he obviously eats more than me, but still, I know it's healthy (I guess), but I dunno I just wouldn't want that for myself, seems rather inconveiniant, especially if I was at school, work, etc..
Kinda a turn off too, not gonna lie. There's that whole ick factor after. I can't help thinking "God I hope you washed your hands, please don't touch me for at least an hour, I am NOT in the mood now! You're disgusting" hahaa
Original Post by carmenxox:
I go once a day usually in the morning... and I am more than OKAY with that.
My boyfriend seems to have to rush to the bathroom after almost every time he eats.. he obviously eats more than me, but still, I know it's healthy (I guess), but I dunno I just wouldn't want that for myself, seems rather inconveiniant, especially if I was at school, work, etc..
Kinda a turn off too, not gonna lie. There's that whole ick factor after. I can't help thinking "God I hope you washed your hands, please don't touch me for at least an hour, I am NOT in the mood now! You're disgusting" hahaa
Sounds like IBS. He might want to speak to his doctor about that as that really is not normal.
Everyone. Do you ever have to go right after working out? Sorta like how a dog going for a walk always has to go? Walking/jogging actually helps the body a great deal with this process.
We should definetely have a poop forum, this is all informative AND hilarious!
Well i'm a bit more confident in my pooping now, as long as I can keep stuffing myself with red cabbage and beets I'm a happy camper.
Hurrah for poop!
I usually poop at least once a day...but when I have to leave for school really early I can never seem to relax enough to poop and then if I have to leave early a few days in a row my pooping schedule gets all screwed up. Sometimes it will be 3 days since I last pooped and I feel like death. My stomach gets all bloated and my jeans can barely button it seems like. I much prefer going 1-3 times a day.
Technically 3 times a day to every 3 days is considered normal, I believe.
You are actually supposed to poop at least a day. If you poop more then once, you probably are sick and have a stomach problem. I used to go poop all the time and figured out I was lactose intolerance, so that cause my pooping. You have to eat to poop, it will help lose weight for the moment.
Clearly I should still be in the third grade because I have been laughing hysterically reading this Forum.
I wish I pooped more than once a day, I have Poop Envy!!!!! I am one of those people who will go a couple of days without pooping. My doctor told me that it's normal for me, because I've been this way my whole life.
Also, when I poop, I need to romance it: full privacy, fan running, magazine. Whereas my teenage daughter can and will poop ANYWHERE. Seriously, she has christened every public restroom she has ever entered. She poops several times a day. My point is that maybe the number of times you poop a day may relate to how comfortable you are with your pooping. What do you all think?
Original Post by Leppardess:
Man! If I could poop twice a day, I'd be as happy as a pig in ... well, poop! I'm lucky if I go twice a week. I DO eat a lot of granola bars and plenty of broccoli, but my lunch and dinners consist mainly of Lean Cuisine and Yoplait yogurts. I'm wondering now if I'm eating too many processed foods (?)
I was reading these and had the same thought as you. Pooping once a day... that's physically possible?!?!?! haha. I'm lucky to poop twice a week as well.
My boyfriend gives me crap about it all the time.
lucky pooper :) I WISH!!!! I take alot of codien for neck pain from a car accident, so that, um , bungs you up pretty good, so I'm lucky to poop a couple of times a week, even with the PILE of fibre I eat.
