Part 1: Let’s Talk About Poop — What’s Normal(-ish), Anyway?

Before 2019, I would never have imagined myself writing a blog post about bowel movements.

Not at brunch.

Not at dinner.

Not anywhere, really.

And yet… here we are.

Life has a funny way of rearranging what we’re willing to talk about — and what we realize is actually worth talking about. Because while we may whisper about it (or pretend it doesn’t exist), every single one of us does it. Daily, ideally. And sometimes… not so ideally.

Poop. 💩

It’s normal. It’s human. Sometimes it’s impressive. Sometimes it’s concerning. Sometimes it stinks — like, really stinks. And no, most of us are not lucky enough to truthfully say that our $#!% doesn’t stink. Probably. 😂

But here’s the thing: bowel movements are one of the clearest windows into what’s happening inside our bodies. And the more we understand what’s normal(-ish), the less shame, confusion, and unnecessary worry we carry around.

So let’s talk about it — kindly, casually, and without clutching our pearls.

What actually counts as “normal”?

Here’s the first surprise for many people:

Normal bowel habits vary a lot.

Some people go:

• Once every morning like clockwork

• Every other day

• Twice a day

Frequency alone does not define whether you’re constipated or “regular.”

What matters more is how it feels and how complete it is.

In general, you’re probably doing just fine if:

• Your bowel movement is easy to pass

• You’re not straining

• It’s formed but soft

• You feel finished afterward (ahhh… relief)

• You don’t immediately need to go back again

For many people, one good, substantial bowel movement in the morning is actually ideal — especially after coffee or breakfast. That’s your gut responding to the body’s natural wake-up and “let’s get things moving” signals.

One and done? Lovely.

When “going” doesn’t mean

going

Here’s where things get interesting.

If someone has:

• Multiple bowel movements within a short window (say, 1–2 hours)

• A strong urge to return to the bathroom shortly after going

• A feeling of “there’s still more in there”

That can actually be a sign of incomplete emptying — a subtle form of constipation — even if the stool itself looks normal or soft.

Counterintuitive, right?

More trips to the bathroom doesn’t always mean things are working better. Sometimes it means the body didn’t quite finish the job the first time and is trying again… and again… and again.

Your gut isn’t being dramatic.

It’s being persistent.

Constipation and diarrhea aren’t just about frequency

Another common misconception:

• Constipation ≠ “I don’t go every day”

• Diarrhea ≠ “I went more than once”

Constipation can show up as:

• Straining

• Hard or fragmented stool

• A sense of incomplete evacuation

• Spending a long time on the toilet

Diarrhea can show up as:

• Loose or watery stool

• Urgency

• Stools that move too quickly through the colon

And sometimes — just to keep things interesting — a person can experience both patterns, depending on timing, stress, food, and how responsive their gut happens to be that day.

The body is nothing if not creative.

The real goal (spoiler: it’s not perfection)

The goal isn’t textbook bowel movements.

The goal isn’t comparison.

The goal isn’t pretending none of this exists.

The goal is ease.

Ease going in.

Ease going out.

Ease afterward.

When bowel movements are calm and complete, the rest of the body often feels calmer too. There’s less bloating, less discomfort, and — perhaps most importantly — less mental energy spent wondering whether something is “wrong.”

Your body is not trying to embarrass you.

It’s trying to communicate.

🍯 Honey Note

Your gut is not asking for judgment — it’s asking to be listened to. When we stop shaming normal human functions, we often start understanding ourselves more clearly.

Why this matters (and why we’re just getting started)

This post is only the beginning.

Because once we start paying attention to bowel habits without shame, we naturally become curious about:

• What’s living inside our gut

• How food shapes cravings

• Why some patterns bring peace and others bring chaos

• And how the same principles show up in our relationships, boundaries, and love lives

Yes — really.

Sometimes I laugh at the thought that we’re all just walking science projects, carrying our guts around the world while they quietly influence how we feel, think, crave, and connect. Add in a nervous system and a little electrical wiring, and it’s honestly kind of miraculous that any of us function at all. 😉

So if you’ve ever wondered what “normal” really is — or felt relieved just knowing you’re not alone in any of this — welcome. You’re exactly where you’re supposed to be.

More to come.

Warmly,

MaryNell (Honey) 🐝

P.S. If you made it through an entire blog post about poop and smiled at least once, I’d call that a successful bowel movement… of information.