It’s amazing what your bathroom schedule can tell you about your overall health. Something as simple as elimination habits can give you a glimpse into the workings of your body, hint at what might be going on inside, and help you address what needs to be fixed.
Pooping Frequency & Your Metabolism
Does pooping more mean you have a fast metabolism? In general, yes, the faster your metabolism, the more you poop. Those with a slower metabolism may not visit the bathroom twice a day. They may only go once a day or once every other day (or even more infrequently).
Regular exercise, a healthy sleep schedule, and a clean, whole foods based diet will keep your metabolism going at a steady pace—and keep you going to the bathroom regularly.
That said, digestion and metabolism aren’t as closely linked as it may seem. What you eat can affect how quickly your food moves through your body, and just because something moves through your body rapidly, that doesn’t necessarily mean you were able to efficiently utilize the energy from that food (which is what a healthy metabolism’s all about).
Also, things that don’t directly relate to digestion—like your age, gender, weight, current exercise routine, health issues, and even your hormones—can affect your metabolism.
In other words, you can have a fast metabolism without pooping every day, and it’s also possible to poop every day (or more than once a day), but have a slow metabolism. The two processes are linked, but one doesn’t tell you all you need to know about the other.
I also share my top six tips to improve your metabolism naturally in a recent video. I encourage you to check it out right after you discover what your bowel movements say about your digestive health.
The Importance of Paying Attention to Your Bathroom Habits
Your bathroom habits can tell you more than you might think! For example, are you absorbing fat? Could you have a blockage? Are you getting enough water and fiber?
All of these things can be revealed if you just take a peek at your poop. If there is no poop, that tells you something too.
How Often Should You Poop?
You should go at least once a day, though twice a day is ideal. How often you visit the bathroom will vary a little from person to person. So be mindful of what your body is telling you. Sometimes the consistency is more important than the frequency, but once or twice a day is a good baseline.
What Does The Texture Of My Poop Tell Me?
Is your stool hard or soft? If it’s hard, you should look at your fiber and water intake (you’re probably dehydrated and/or constipated). If it’s too soft and liquid, your food is moving through you too quickly.
Do Your Pooping Habits Change as You Age?
A couple of things happen as you age. First, your metabolism will probably slow down at least a little, which could decrease the number of times you visit the bathroom in a day. People also become more prone to constipation as they age.
Twenty-six percent of women and 16 percent of men over 65 report being constipated. This may be as a result of medication, trouble moving around, cognitive disorders, or simply not getting enough water or fiber in the diet.
A few stretches in the morning paired with a diet rich in fiber and an increased intake of water should help in many cases.
What Your Poop Can Tell You About Your Digestive Health
The occasional change in size, shape, color, or smell isn’t usually a big deal and could just be related to what you ate recently. However, if you notice a sudden change that doesn’t go away, you may need to see a doctor.
Plant-based prebiotics, probiotics and postbiotics are key to healthy digestion. My Feel Good SBO + Probiotics balance your digestive flora and improve your immunity while speeding up your metabolism.
Size and Shape
Your bowel movements should be torpedo-shaped and soft enough to pass easily. If they become skinnier over time, it could be a sign of something serious, like colon cancer or polyps.
If what’s in the toilet looks more like a bunch of rocks and it was difficult to pass, you’re probably in need of more fiber to help it pass through before the water is reabsorbed.
Color
Brown is good! You knew that, though, right? Some other colors you may see: red, green, yellow, white, and black. All of these other colors (barring the consumption of foods or medications that would cause a temporary shift), could be indicative of something going on in the body that needs to be addressed. For example:
- Red could mean lower GI bleeding.
- Green could mean Crohn’s Disease.
- Yellow could mean gallbladder trouble or parasites.
- White could mean liver disease or pancreatic trouble.
- Black could mean upper GI bleeding.
Check out our guide to what poop and pee can tell you!
Smell
Your poop’s never going to smell like roses, but it shouldn’t regularly smell totally vile. If it does, it could be a sign that your body isn’t absorbing everything it should from your food. Underlying issues could include: Celiac disease, Crohn’s disease, food allergies, irritable bowel disorder, or infection.
Mucus
A little mucus every now and then may not be cause for worry, but if you frequently see mucus in the toilet when you visit the bathroom, it could be a sign of something serious, like an infection, Crohn’s Disease, cancer, or ulcerative colitis.
If it is a serious problem, the mucus is usually accompanied by other symptoms, like pain or blood.
Mucus could also be a sign that you have candida, a yeast overgrowth that can be caused by antibiotics, birth control pills, or processed foods. It feeds on sugar and is often accompanied by symptoms such as insomnia, constipation, diarrhea, terrible menstrual cramps, bloating, anxiety, headaches, food allergies, and difficulty losing weight.
My Feel Good Digestive Enzymes help reduce gas & bloating while helping you absorb more nutrients and poop more often!
How to Increase and Improve Your Bowel Movements
- Detoxify your digestive tract! My Feel Good Detoxy formula is a safe way to eliminate toxic waste from your system.
- Drinking more water and starting the day with hot water with lemon
- Eating more fiber (load up on fresh fruits and veggies)
- Getting light exercise every day (just a few yoga twists in the morning could do the trick)
Examine the other elimination channels of the body and how to support them.
Pay Attention to Your Poop
Pay attention to how often you’re visiting the bathroom, as well as how your poop looks and smells for clues as to what may be going on inside your body. If you’re not going often enough, try to increase your water and fiber intake and move around a little more so that you’re going at least once a day. Check out the 6 Surprising Ways Probiotics Clean You Out!
If you do notice any sudden changes (aside from a temporary color change based on what you’ve eaten recently, like beets or more dark leafy greens, for example), it may warrant a doctor’s visit.
In love and health,
Kimberly
Loved this article! Unfortunately, despite my fast metabolism, I only go to the bathroom once every other day and I think this is just how my body works. I eat BDS (with the exception of nut/seed soaking, but I eat those rarely), drink a lot of water, and exercise almost daily (which does help!)…but still, nothing helps. Interestingly, my 17-year-old brother eats Goldfish, white baguette bread, and popsicles and goes every day right on schedule!
I did find that peppermint tea helped me go everyday, though.
Kimberly,
I’ve been a loyal follower of BDS for almost a year now (radiant beauty). Before BD i would go to the bathroom 2-3 times a day. Now i am going about 3-7 times a day. Normally well formed, sometimes loose.How much is too much? I feel i’m one of the only people in the beauty detox group that goes so much. If i take mag07 it’s a total nightmare as well. Am i just detoxing well and eating lots of fiber and eliminating the necessary contents often? I just read so much information about curing constipation with raw foods/vegan diet, and I feel I have the opposite problem! Am i fine or is this bad?
Green is bad?!? But with all the greens I’m consuming wouldn’t that make total sense…now I’m worried.
What would you suggest for a toddler that has a lot of loose poop on the diarrhea side?
Hi, thanks for the interesting article. The GGS always goes through me very fast and when it comes out, it tends to be soft and liquidy – does that mean I’m not getting the proper nutrition out of it? Or is it just because it’s so easy to digest?
Thanks for sharing this interesting article… I never thought this away… Considering the fact that Americans spend an average of 30 minutes in the loo every day “Bathroom Schedule” defiantly play an important role.
i am 22 years old ,i am going to poop more than 3 to 4 times a day what to do suggest me
I’m regular but irregular, I poop 2-4 times in the morning even before or during breakfast. Maybe again a time or two before or during dinner, soft not liquid, but at times it feels difficult to pas even though it’s soft? Sometime it will be soft but the initial first poop is hard as a rock and hurts(more often).
I work as a tourguide in the San Francisco area for years. I was driving buses and. Now private SUV tours. Lots of wine grapes in napa valley are just hanging there for the ancient roman idea of the grape cure.
In any case now that I am 55 I notice that it is more often an issue that I cannot wait so long if I must poop but there I am often out somewhere driving and it is getting increasingly awkward for me. Or let us say annoying to have to plan bathroom stops so much. I almost want to cut down on the fiber because of it !
Any suggestions aside from the five p’s? In the army they said: pisspoor planning prevents proper pooping.
Im 36, for over three years ive suffered loose stools and needing to visit the loo at an alarming rate of upto Six Times a Day!
More recently I have noticed severe pain in mu lower back abdominal region when standing or walking and this is now an indication to go. When I go toilet the pain eases a bit but is still noticeable. My diet isn’t great. We do cook several times a week without processed ingredients but then at times we give in and order a carry out. I found Chilli, Onion and Spinach to be really harsh fast stool accelerants so I avoid Currys etc. My concern is…Do I have a condition? Is it curable? Whats my next step? My Doctor is a friend, im shy, ashamed and reluctant to approach her. Please help.
During my childhood most of the day i didnt poop,it tooks me 3-4days before i visit the comfort room just to poop.but there are also times that i poop everyday.until now i have that kind of habit i think it is because im lack of fluid in my body cause i really hate to drink water.i just drink water after meals.and now im 20years old and im afraid it will cause to my body and health.please help me and give me some advice if i need to consult my doctor regarding this matter. Thankyou
I am 18 yrs old I ve been suffering of loose motion with a severe lower abdomen pain for last 3 yrs.if I eat healthy food right after consumption I go to toilet.I go to toilet 2 or 3 times after taking meal and my stool is soft and liquid.I go to toilet even during meal or after meal.recently I have lower back abdominal region pain.I can’t sit or stand straight for more than 5 min .I consult many doctors some diagnosed that I ve stomach problem but in ultrasound reports clear that my intestines are swell but doctors didn’t gave me any proper treatment now I got fed up from medication I loose my heart and thought to live with this problem throught life because I conuslt many doctors of varios cities of my country and now I want to try for one more time .this situation made me weak and prevent me to concentrate on my routine work even I can’t pay attention to my studies.my concern is. Do have a intestinal problem or I have a stomach disease that doesn’t allow me to digest.?or what diet should I take.please guide me please..thank you
great
Its really help us to maintain our Metabolism in a properway.
I always like to eat veggies and fruits but
What annoys me when i go to comfort room the following day what i’ve eaten goes out as it is…is this normal ?
I just turned 51 a couple of months ago. I’ve ALWAYS had high frequency of daily bowel movements, 3-4 times a day ever since I can remember even as a kid. But over the past several months it just seems like I’m going waaay too often each morning! Most mornings (like, right this very moment) it makes me late in getting to the gym as I have to pay multiple visits to the stool. I have to poop about 5 times before I even get out the door! It’s not quite so hindering throughput the rest of the course of the day. But those first couple of hours after awakening, it’s like non-stop visits to the toilet!
Starting to get a bit worried.
Thanks so much for checking out my blog. If you are feeling a lot of discomfort, I strongly encourage you to talk with your Health Care Practitioner to ensure you are receiving the needed care and support your body needs. Sending lots of love!
Kim, I’m 40. White male, healthy (or so I think ) used to go every 2 days or so since like forever. But in the last few weeks I’ve had to go twice a day… should I be concerned. I don’t like this “new” disruptive schedule. What can I do to get it back as before?
Hi Steve…if you are following the Beauty Detox lifestyle and you’re now going 2 times a day, that’s great. Your body is trying to remove toxins and this is how it does it, so the more the merrier. In time, you will get use to the disruption and view it as a good disruption. Keep up the good work! ;)
Is pooping once a day okay??
Hi John and thanks for your great question and interest in improving your overall health. Pooping once a day is definitely better than not at all, but it really needs to be increased up to 2-3 times a day. Check out one of my guides to healthy bowels in this blog I wrote: https://bit.ly/1Wr1Oxg Let me know if you give these tips a try and how you’re feeling (and of course, if your bowels have improved in eliminating more waste). Sending lots of support! ;)
My poop wakes me up at 4 a.m. almost everyday. How can I delay my BM at least an hour or so later? My tummy hurts after my BM and therefore cannot go back to sleep.
Hi Dora Li and thanks for your great question. Because our bodies are all different, it’s hard to say if one technique will work for everyone. It’s good to remember that the best time for a bowel movement is 20 to 40 minutes after a meal (because feeding stimulates bowel activity). Try to keep track of your eating patterns and see if you can stay away from any late night snacking and try to have an elimination prior to bedtime. Keeping track of your schedule and how you eat is critical to narrowing down why you could be waking up this early. Let me know how it goes for you and if you see any improvements. Lots of love and support! ;)
Great article, thanks for the good read.
Thanks Tory! ;)
Thankyou Kimberly u have answered many of my questions ????????????
Lots of love to you Katie! ;)
Interesting article!
Thanks for sharing
Is pooping 5 times a day ok?
Thanks
God bless you!
Beth
Hi Beth and thanks for your question. Pooping three or more times is healthy as long as it looks normal (not runny), and you’re feeling good. If you’re having other health concerns, it could be a sign for other issues. If you have any concerns, you will want to consult with your health care practitioner to ensure you are receiving the care you need. Lots of love to you! ;)
Hi Kimberly. Thank you for this great info.
I’m 35 (female) and fairly regular at once a day, typically early afternoon. I’ve gotten into a bad habit of holding it in until I get home from work. I’m sure others do this too. I’m sort of used to holding it, but my body sure tells me its ready when I get home (its usually a hard poop pushing against my anus). When I let my bowel movement happen (not much pushing needed) it is such a stress-relieving moment like I’ve been holding it all day and finally am able to use the toilet to get relief.
With that said, am I the only one who holds off a bm? And how many hours is too long to be holding your poop in?
Hi Danielle – thanks for sharing your personal experience with the Beauty Tribe. There are many of us who feel as you do. It can be difficult to feel comfortable eliminating in public bathrooms, especially when the urge happens at the most inopportune times. However, when you’ve got to go, it’s best that you listen to your body. Holding in your poo on the rare occasion is fine, but it really shouldn’t be done all the time. Here’s why…Keeping in your bowel movement can lead to unnecessary constipation. This is because the longer you hold it in your colon, the more water is absorbed and the harder it becomes. Holding it in could potentially cause colon damage due to the effort and strain of expelling it later on. So in the end, best to not make a habit of it and to try and find a more private bathroom so you can poo when your body tells you it needs to. Do the best you can and remember you want what’s best for your body. Sending you lots of love and support! ;)
Thanks for the quick reply Kimberly. I really appreciate your advise. Yes, I do think it is more of an embarrassment issue, especially at work where fellow workers know who is in the bathroom and who is stinking it up. If I have an urgent need to poo I can usually say that I need to “run an errand” and find a more private restroom at a nearby hotel or similar venue. I envy people who can do a morning bm before they leave the house for work, but I can rarely go first thing in the morning like that. Fortunately I don’t get constipated that much and I agree that can be one of the resulting issues related to holding off. To be honest, and I don’t justify this as a reason to hold it, but when I get home and use the toilet it is such a good feeling to finally do my bowel movement after holding it in for several hours. I would imagine that holding can be stressful on the body and having a bowel movement would relieve that stress. These are some of the most satisfying poops I have.