I only poop 1-2 times a week, is this unhealthy? (srs)

[darudende]

When I don't give a crap about my diet, I have to poop maybe 4x a week. Now I rarely have to poop. When I do have to, it's really really dark and looks like a shriveled up black turd and it's really small and just doesn't look like a healthy turd.

I am making this post in all seriousness so please to try answer with a serious response even though this post may have high a comedic factor (srs).

[SeaHawk22]

I would talk to a Doctor about it.

[Lezgetitdone]

Seeing as i sometimes take 2 or 3 a day back to back i would see whats up with your doc lol..

[xNxN]

Is unhealthy.

Are you eating enough fruits and vegetables?

[msm00b]

My unofficial doc opinion: Is it hard to get it out and pinch it off? Are you straining? Does it hurt? If not, I wouldn't worry. "Constipation" and "Diarrhea" are relative terms. Everyone's bowels function differently. Some people sh*t 2-3x per week at baseline. Some people sh*t 1-2x per day. Both represent normal variants, hence why I tend to focus on the quality of the bowel movement: hard to get out, causing belly pain, or causing anal tears yeah I'd call it contipation.

You have a couple options. If you think you're getting backed up and bloated Miralax is purchasable over the counter and works great ... start with a capful mixed in a beverage once a day and titrate to effect. Hard to overdose on it ... it'll just give you a bad case of the runs. Aside from that, increase dietary fiber or go get some of that fiber powder. It won't help you acutely get rid of your constipation like Miralax will, but it will help you have more routine BMs.

As to the why: How has your diet changed lately? Cutting your intake will decrease your stool burden and potentially result in significantly smaller turds with decreased frequency. I had a bad case of this in basic training ... so little time to eat that I went from 1-2 a day to 1-2 a week. Some people get constipated with high protein loads as well. Color? If it's truly "black" that might represent melena ... it's worth getting a hemoccult test to check for blood. Upper GI (slow ones) can cause stool to turn black.

[darudende]

My unofficial doc opinion: Is it hard to get it out and pinch it off? Are you straining? Does it hurt? If not, I wouldn't worry. "Constipation" and "Diarrhea" are relative terms. Everyone's bowels function differently. Some people sh*t 2-3x per week at baseline. Some people sh*t 1-2x per day. Both represent normal variants, hence why I tend to focus on the quality of the bowel movement: hard to get out, causing belly pain, or causing anal tears yeah I'd call it contipation.

You have a couple options. If you think you're getting backed up and bloated Miralax is purchasable over the counter and works great ... start with a capful mixed in a beverage once a day and titrate to effect. Hard to overdose on it ... it'll just give you a bad case of the runs.

Aside from that, increase dietary fiber or go get some of that fiber powder. It won't help you acutely get rid of your constipation like Miralax will, but it will help you have more routine BMs.

I think I may not be getting enough fiber, this always happens when I go on a cut though.

It doesn't matter if it's keto or very low calorie or just a regular cut, I always poop less and it takes forever for the feces to exit the anus and I have to strain.

I'm going to try the Fiber powder. What are some natural sources that are high in fiber?

[msm00b]

If it always happens when you cut, I wouldn't worry so much. But yeah with the straining I'd up the fiber ... and or try a lower dose of daily miralax during the cut. It's pretty gentle and doesn't cause cramping or "accidents" in lowish doses. It just establishes an osmotic gradient that pulls fluid into the intestinal lumen making your stool softer (and thus easier to pass).

[Kenshinhimora]

I think I may not be getting enough fiber, this always happens when I go on a cut though.

It doesn't matter if it's keto or very low calorie or just a regular cut, I always poop less and it takes forever for the feces to exit the anus and I have to strain.

I'm going to try the Fiber powder. What are some natural sources that are high in fiber?

Don't people use google anymore....

Fruits Serving size Total fiber (grams)*
Raspberries 1 cup 8.0
Pear, with skin 1 medium 5.5
Apple, with skin 1 medium 4.4
Strawberries (halves) 1 1/4 cup 3.8
Banana 1 medium 3.1
Orange 1 medium 3.1
Figs, dried 2 medium 1.6
Raisins 2 tablespoons 1.0
Grains, cereal & pasta Serving size Total fiber (grams)*
Spaghetti, whole-wheat, cooked 1 cup 6.2
Barley, pearled, cooked 1 cup 6.0
Bran flakes 3/4 cup 5.3
Oat bran muffin 1 medium 5.2
Oatmeal, quick, regular or instant, cooked 1 cup 4.0
Popcorn, air-popped 3 cups 3.5
Brown rice, cooked 1 cup 3.5
Bread, rye 1 slice 1.9
Bread, whole-wheat or multigrain 1 slice 1.9
Legumes, nuts & seeds Serving size Total fiber (grams)*
Split peas, cooked 1 cup 16.3
Lentils, cooked 1 cup 15.6
Black beans, cooked 1 cup 15.0
Lima beans, cooked 1 cup 13.2
Baked beans, vegetarian, canned, cooked 1 cup 10.4
Sunflower seed kernels 1/4 cup 3.9
Almonds 1 ounce (23 nuts) 3.5
Pistachio nuts 1 ounce (49 nuts) 2.9
Pecans 1 ounce (19 halves) 2.7
Vegetables Serving size Total fiber (grams)*
Artichoke, cooked 1 medium 10.3
Peas, cooked 1 cup 8.8
Broccoli, boiled 1 cup 5.1
Turnip greens, boiled 1 cup 5.0
Sweet corn, cooked 1 cup 4.2
Brussels sprouts, cooked 1 cup 4.1
Potato, with skin, baked 1 medium 2.9
Tomato paste 1/4 cup 2.7
Carrot, raw 1 medium 1.7

[chmbs1]

Definitely not good. I go 2-3 times a day on this strict cut I'm on. I would get more fiber.

[msm00b]

Definitely not good. I go 2-3 times a day on this strict cut I'm on. I would get more fiber.

Not that I disagree with your advice to him, but please bear in mind everyone's bowels function differently. What is "normal" for you will not be "normal" for him, especially if his previous baseline was 4x a week (every other day).

[darudende]

For MOST people, what is the recommended intake of fiber?

[msm00b]

Fck'd if I know. Google it.

[itsMoeyy]

30g fiber i think.

[gbone74]

Soon as I start a cut I barely go for the first week then it gets a bit more "normal" nowhere near as much as when eating normally,you could set your watch by my poops when I am eating normal calories/food.

[DOYN]

3/4 times a day? I personally consider that very abnormal, lol, I couldnt imagine having to go that much

I go 2/3 times a week as well, have been for a very long time, it's fine.

Just up fiber so you dont tear your ass up when you do, haha

[JontheAtheist]

I poop at least once a day. This allows me to get caught up on current events.

[Breaker10]

I'd definitely say up the fiber intake. It can really help. Or even a fiber supplement like metamucil. If you're still having problems once your fiber is higher, try something like miralax, it can really help.

[Dexter3000]

When I don't give a crap about my diet, I have to poop maybe 4x a week.

I see what you did there..

[snooks86]

Eat some oatmeal a few times a week or make some collard greens or something. You should have no problem poopin after that.

[SideSteal]

When I don't give a crap about my diet, I have to poop maybe 4x a week. Now I rarely have to poop. When I do have to, it's really really dark and looks like a shriveled up black turd and it's really small and just doesn't look like a healthy turd.

I am making this post in all seriousness so please to try answer with a serious response even though this post may have high a comedic factor (srs).

No sh*t?

Go see a doctor though, seriously. Just make sure you don't have an issue with the pipes...

[Shinny]

Get one of those Fiber One bars, cereals, or muffins (gotta make'em). I eat 1 or 2 fiber bars a day to help with my constipation because of my retarded sleeping medicine's side effect. They helped me a lot. I had a worse case of constipation when I started my new diet for losing weight, especially while taking my sleeping medicine but it's all good now. Also, coffee helps too, seriously. Lol.

Hope it works out for ya. Best of luck.

[Carlycavwifey]

I deal with constipation during certain times of my cycle but what usually helps me is sitting on the floor and NOT sitting on a chair. Chairs make me constipated if I sit in them for too long. So I usually try to sit on the floor with my legs crossed or straight out in front of me, and this helps bring the poop down so that I don't have to strain to bring it down. Also I squat when I poop, I don't sit down the regular way squatting makes all of it come out and there's no having to pinch it off or the feeling of having poop still in there. My husband thinks its crazy that I do this but my butt hasn't ripped or bled since I started squatting several months ago, so try it out also google it. I don't like going into detail about it though but squatting has helped me tremendously

[Mrredundant]

personally this became an issue for me when I increased my protein consumption.

to counter act this I simply started eating more almonds, and I tried a couple varieties of raisin bran before settling on (so far) the best one I have found.

1/2 cup of Kellog's All-Bran Original is only 80 calories (without milk, but you can add the calories from milk dependent on how much you personally use)

loads of vitamins and nutrients, 23g of carbs, 4g protein and 10g dietary fiber (40% of your daily value)

one great way I have found for getting this into my meal plans is not only to have 1 cup with a handful of raisins and milk for a meal...

but also turn it into a breakfast shake:

1 cup of all bran (160 calories, 46g carbs, 20g fiber, 8g protein)
1 and 1/2 scoops of your whey (180 calories, 36g protein)
8-10 oz water (though I use black coffee <3 )
few blocks of ice

= 340 calories, 46g complex carbs, 20g fiber, 44g protein

I use this as my wake up shake (1 hour before hitting the gym) and with coffee and the carbs it makes a considerable difference to me.

my regularity in bowel movements went to once per day just adding this to my diet.
(I have been a 1 every 2-3 days guy all my life, thought that was normal)

at any rate there is a lot of good advice here, I hope you get things sorted... there is nothing worse than someone who is full of $hit :P

[osomax]

how old are you? how much water do you drink/day? do you take NSAIDS like aspirin etc much?

fix your diet... try to include some more fiber like beans, papaya fruit, and lots of greens. At the same time make sure you properly hydrate yourself... increasing your fiber without properly hydrating will further exacerbate your constipation. The fact that your stools come out small and "stringy" says that your straining... you're probably constipated. Also, you can try out "metamucil", that you can buy at the local grocery store... this is a small stimulant/fiber bulk that works very well. Last, it never hurts to go pay a visit to your primary care doc

Hope this helps man. take care

[mattbru]

I used to go few times a day, now since my cut... maybe 2-3 times a week. We consume a lot less food usually when we are on a cut, so less waste is usually produced... I feel fine, and have not had any problems. If you begin to get pains and other symptoms then I would take it as a cause of concern. I usually get my fiber from vegetables that I figure I eat enough of.

[crazeflier07]

You can pick up a supplement called Colon Cleanse at Vitamin World, GNC or Vitamin Shoppe or whatever your have in your area. Its phyllum seed husks and you mix it with juice or whatever you like ( I personally find a cup of OJ, no pulp, with one tablespoon works great and tastes decent) and you can take it three times a day or just twice a day. I take it in the morning and before dinner at night if I can. Really gets all the junk out of your system but it doesn't hit you like a laxative does or anything in that nature. High in fiber too.
~Jon~

[trance__dreamer]

I see what you did there..

hahahahaha. oh gawddddd.

[Dirty Shoez]

Used to crap 2-3 times a week....now its closer to once a day, depending. Seems to have nothing to do with Fiber intake.....if anything, since I started taking more supplements, I've crapped more often.

I always kind of felt good about not crapping, like my body was working more efficiently. I worry about people who crap multiple times a day.

[jasonb135]

Eat some dark green veggies every day. If you don't care for veggies, try psyllium husk powder(can find in any pharmacy store). I take 10g per night. Also check out some digestive enzymes, helps your digestive system process your food efficiently(I use NOW Super Enzymes). I take those with every meal and I swear its a miracle pill for myself and others. It actually cut back on my acid reflux and bloating, gas, those sort of stomach and intestine issues. At least increase your fiber intake and be consistent about it, should help you out.

[shady66]

Drink more water