Why does no-one tell you about the poop? How do you unsoften stools?

[sandrapinchedmysandwich]

I used to weigh a lot. But over the last year I got my arse into gear, started strength training / walking and cut out the crap. My diet now consists of mainly fruit and veg ( veg heavy), protein such as eggs, chicken, tuna, cottage cheese plus lentils and a small amount of cheese. I also drink around 2 litres of water a day

I feel fantastic. My mental health is better than it has been, I have lost 3 stone and I am visibly more toned.

But my poop is awful. I have always been constipated and still only go every 3 days or so. When I do it's soft and thick and sticks all over the toilet. It's also awful to wipe.

Is this normal? How do I harden them back up again? It might be worth mentioning that at one point I had a fissure from constipation and passing very large hard stools. I don't want that again either but something in the middle would be good 😊

I’m surprised you’re constipated by that diet - although with all that fruit etc I’m not surprised they’re loose.

Have you enough fibre in your diet?

Could it be a milk protein allergy? My son used to go every few days . Since discovering he’s intolerant to dairy milk protein (not lactose) and changing his milk to goats milk, he’s improved a huge amount. He can still have hard cheese as the protein is processed out of it.

You probably need to see a doctor but when I lost a lot of weight my bowel movements definitely changed, albeit in the opposite way! Could also be a lack fibre, although you are eating a lot of fruit.

Op if your stools are soft, that's a good thing, produced by the high-fibre fruit & veg diet. It will avoid any fissures in future.

Egg acts as a binder so you could try eating a little more egg, but you're healthy as it is.

I probably don't eat loads of fibre. I have chick peas sometimes, allow myself a treat of fruit and fibre cereal at the weekend and I will probably eat a wholemeal bread sandwich at work once or twice a week maximum. Most of my nutrients comes in the fruit and veg I think.

I don't think I am allergic to anything.

I actually think it's the eggs that makes me constipated but if I don't eat eggs I get awful ibs cramps

Op I have this too Im awaiting tests on my colon. My friend was saying loads water as otherwise Im bung up for days!! Water does help

You might be eating too much fibre, not everyone can tolerate large amounts especially with IBS. Lentils are famously difficult for people with IBS too. It’s usually recommended to try a low fodmap diet for a while and gradually re introduce foods to see what you react to, but it’s hard work.

Start eating a kiwi fruit with the skin on each day it’s meant to help

If I've read your post correctly it's about the stickiness rather than soft/hard?

My stbx tends to make the bowl filthy when he has too many creamy things such as trifles, yoghurt with cream toppings or curries.

Look into getting some psyllium husk, it's magical.

Put toilet paper down in the loo as a landing stage for poo, then it won't stick and leave marks.

That's not normal. I think once a day is normal. I suggest lemon water (quarter lemon in a couple inches of water) to start every day, that helps me. Grapefruit to keep things moving. Prunes when you are feeling particularly constipated. And if none of these work daily aloe vera juice, tastes horrible but works.

I would also consider cutting out gluten and dairy, that helped me.

And if you are taking iron supplements try a different type of iron because they cause constipation.

There’s loads of factors not just fibre that will affect this. This guy has loads of info on it. https://www.amazon.co.uk/This-Book-Save-Your-Life/dp/1529136326 If you’ve always been like this, he says you may need to retrain your tract muscles. I learned loads from him, it’s his specialism. If I were you I’d try a sports hydration drink twice a day, first thing and last thing before bed. The type you mix up from a powder.

Sorry meant to link his instagram too www.instagram.com/drkaranrajan

Do you do much exercise? That's good for keeping things moving! I think notoriously it's fatty and/or dairy foods that make poo sticky, is that a factor?

Some really good advice here. And very kind responses considering I posted in aibu instead of chat by mistake. I was fully expecting to be called the poo troll

Definitely consider reducing your dairy intake and see if it makes a difference.

Eggs glue things together for me.
apAfter wat too many antibiotics in my 20s I had lots of gut issues. Regular Bio-kult really helps to sort out the gut flora. Not cheap but the best (at least a few years ago) for strength and variety it contains in each capsule

This thread has been extremely helpful

I have to say (because I am known in my family for healthy stools).

Once a day, firm, large, and one wipe!

I've got an excellent diet, BUT I think it's gut health. I've always had a really healthy gut (I don't fart, and if I do occasionally, they don't smell).

Gut health? I do enjoy a really wide range of foods, including quite a few fermented foods. I've always enjoyed and eaten a really wide range of foods.

I honestly think that's it.

Or just genetic luck.

I agree with this! There are two types of fibre, soluble and insoluble. Could it be that you’re having lots of one and not much of the other? Both are needed.

Flaxseed or ground flax seed is brilliant. It has both insoluble and soluble fibre. You need both.

I mix it in with yoghurt or porridge in my breakfast. It really helps regulate things.

I feel I definitely need to look into fibre more. I wrongly assumed that more fibre would somehow make things worse

I have poo envy 😅

You’re not eating enough fibre.

I do the 8-16 fast, and have done for 1.5 years. My bowel habits changed as the weight came off. If I do not exercise daily, be it a walk or a jog or something, I get constipated, and the poo is sticky and smells more than usual. Not sure if that helps. Good luck!