The Satisfying Heft of a Post-Constipation Poop

That glorious feeling when you finally have a good poop after being backed up for days. As you flush away the massive load, you can’t help but think – wow, that must have weighed a ton!

We’ve all felt lighter and relived after clearing out constipation’s rock-hard bowel blockage. But is constipated poop really heavier than normal poop? Or does it just feel that way because of the painful bloating in our bellies?

Turns out, it’s hard to measure exactly how much extra weight constipation adds to your poop. But we do know that on average, a healthy BM weighs about 1/4 to 1 pound. Heavier people may poop more, lighter people less.

Either way, take that satisfying post-poop weigh-in on the scale with a grain of salt. The pounds shed from your bowel movement will come right back when you eat and drink again. So don’t plan on pooping yourself thin!

Regular, soft BMs are much healthier than using constipation as a weight loss gimmick. Keep your bowels moving freely every day to feel light and comfortable all over.

What’s the Average Weight of a Healthy Poop?

Let’s start with the baseline – how much does poop normally weigh when you’re going regularly?

According to GI doctors, a healthy poop weighs around 1/4 to 1 pound on average1. That’s about the weight of two sticks of butter or a small apple.

However, poop weights can range quite a bit, from just a few ounces to over 2 pounds depending on the person. Some key factors affect the mass of your poop:

• Diet – Fiber adds bulk and weight to poop. High-fat diets produce lighter stool.
• Body size – Larger people with bigger calorie requirements poop more than petite folks.
• Health conditions – Diseases affecting digestion and absorption influence poop weight.
• Hydration – Well-hydrated poop is softer, bulkier and heavier. Dehydration makes poop compact and light.

So if you’re a 250 pound man who eats tons of veggies and drinks gallons of water, you may drop some giant burrito-sized bombs. A 110 pound woman with chronic diarrhea may pass liquid stools weighing just a few ounces.

As long as your poops are soft, easy to pass and somewhere between 3 per day to 3 per week, the weight is healthy, whatever it may be.

Now that we know normal poop weights, let’s look at how constipation affects that number on the scale…

Does Constipation Make Your Poop Weigh More?

Intuitively it makes sense that severe constipation caused by compacted poop would create heavier stools. That brick-like obstruction certainly FEELS heavy sitting in your intestines.

But scientifically, it’s hard to prove that constipated people actually poop more than the average 1/4 to 1 pound.

There haven’t been rigorous studies measuring the stool weights of severely constipated patients compared to healthy controls. However, we do know:

• Constipation delays bowel transit time, allowing more waste to accumulate.
• Dry, hard poop lacks the water content that gives it mass and weight.
• Some constipation sufferers report pooping “rabbit pellets” – very small, dry, hard pellets.
• Laxatives help flush out excess poop volume caused by constipation.

So the jury is still out on whether constipation literally makes poop heavier. But it certainly can make your body feel heavier in other ways:

Bloating and Distension

Backed-up poop expanding your intestinal walls gives that uncomfortable “full” sensation1. Bloating puts pressure on other organs, making you feel weighed down.

Once the poop blockage passes, that heaviness diminishes quickly. But no extra pounds actually came off.

Water Retention

Constipation causes the body to retain fluid to help soften and flush out dry stool1. That excess water weight gives a puffy, bloated appearance.

Releasing the constipation allows the water to be excreted through increased urination, reducing the bloat.

Hemorrhoids

Straining to pass dry, hard poop can lead to swollen hemorrhoids1. These inflamed blood vessels feel like heavy bags of fluid weighing down the anus.

When constipation is relieved, the hemorrhoids shrink back down, removing that dragging sensation.

So in summary – constipation may seem to increase poop’s weight due to bloating and fluid retention, but the poop itself may not be any heavier than normal. Let’s look at when bowel obstruction does add significant weight…

When Poop Weight Gain Becomes Extreme

In very severe cases of long-term constipation, mostly seen in the elderly or those with neurological conditions, poop can accumulate into giant obstructions known as fecal impactions1.

These immobile masses of stool become so tightly lodged in the rectum that they cannot pass out the anus, sometimes growing to the size of a football.

These monster poop plugs can weigh 5 pounds or more! Symptoms include constant abdominal pain and pressure, bloody discharge, vomiting, and an entirely blocked up colon.

Manual disimpaction by a doctor, using fingers or tools to break up and remove the massive fecal buildup, is often required to pass these titanic poop weights.

However extreme fecal impactions are relatively rare. For the average constipated person, a few days of laxatives and fiber supplements help lighten any poop burden.

The Temporarily Light Feeling After Pooping

Whether you’re relieving a painful bout of constipation or just having a normal BM, there’s no denying that wonderful light, empty sensation you get post-poop. The pounds seem to just melt away after emptying your bowels.

But don’t be fooled – any weight loss from pooping is just temporary. Here’s why:

Loss of Waste Matter

Clearing out your colon removes waste and undigested food residue from your body1. This material did hold some weight on your frame.

But as soon as you eat and drink again, your digestive system starts refilling with matter, restoring that lost weight.

Water Loss

Poop is mostly water by weight. So draining your water weight into the toilet bowl lightens you temporarily1.

Again, this effect doesn’t last. The water you consume just replenishes what you pooped out.

Loss of Gas

All the built-up intestinal gas from constipation leaves your system when you go, providing a slimming effect.

But soon the food you eat starts producing gas again, inflating your tummy right back up.

For these reasons, doctors strongly advise against using pooping, laxatives, or diuretics as weight loss hacks. Any pounds shed from eliminating waste get quickly regained.

Healthy, regular bowel movements should be the goal – not straining your system for numbers on a scale. Keep your colon clear and comfortable every day.

Healthy Pooping Strategies

If you struggle with the pain and bloat of chronic constipation, there are plenty of healthier strategies to get your BMs back on track:

• Eat more fiber – Fruits, veggies, whole grains, beans and nuts bulk up poop.
• Stay hydrated – Aim for 8 cups of water daily to soften stool.
• Exercise more – Activity stimulates the bowels and metabolism.
• Establish a routine – Going at the same time daily trains your body.
• Manage stress – Anxiety tenses muscles involved in pooping.
• Consider probiotics – Healthy gut flora improves digestion.
• Ask your doctor about helpful supplements like magnesium, stool softeners, or laxatives.

With a little patience and TLC for your colon, you can get pooping regularly again without uncomfortable straining or weight worries. Focus on long-term digestive health, not the numbers on the scale.