As a dietitian, I mostly focus on what goes in the body. But part of my job is discussing what comes out of the body, too. Because both of these things give us a lot of information about what’s going on inside the body. 

I used to ask my clients, “Are your bowel movements normal?” And quickly realized that this was a horrible question. Because nobody knew what that meant. What is normal in terms of poop? What is abnormal? 

So… let’s discuss. Do you know if your poop is normal? 

When discussing bowel movements, there are two main areas to keep in mind: frequency and consistency. How often do you go number two and what does your stool look like. 

In terms of frequency, there is a general rule of three. If you have more than three bowel movements in a day or go longer than three days without a bowel movement, that is technically abnormal. Of course, there can always be more to the story — but this is a general rule. 

In terms of consistency, there is something called the Bristol Stool Chart. Go ahead, Google it! It is a chart that outlines seven different types of stool, ranging from severe constipation to severe diarrhea. It’s helpful to know what “normal” stool looks like and compare it to your own. Of course, every now and then, you might have stool outside of the normal range. But, on average, if your stool steers on the side of severe constipation or severe diarrhea — that’s when you want to take note. 

What to do if your poop is abnormal? 

Go to a doctor. As a dietitian, I don’t diagnose. You need a proper diagnosis, if appropriate, to help you get back to normal. A gastrointestinal doctor can do a full investigation to help figure out what is going on within your body. If you are constipated because your thyroid levels are off or because you have Irritable Bowel Syndrome, these are two different things that require two different treatment plans. 

Getting your bowel movements to a normal place is also important. Having stool go through your body too quickly or too slowly can be cause for concern. When your bowel movements are working properly, your elimination system is working properly and you will feel your best. 

Now you know what abnormal vs. normal stool looks like… I wish you happy pooping!