This is a guest blog submitted by a Healthkicker reader
When my girlfriend first moved in, I marveled at how she never seemed to use the bathroom when I was around. When she did, the shower water always seemed to be running... I figured she was just shy about using the can.
But recently, something happened which rocked my world and transformed my understanding of the female species (ok they're not a separate species, but work with me here). We went on a trip to a third world country, and she didn't go number two once. For a week.
Wow... that is some digestive discipline. If I went three days without a bowel movement, I would be taking a cab to the nearest hospital. If I were a week "pregnant", I don't even know how swollen my belly would be.
But my traveling companion had no problems with her week-long vacation from it all. I asked for details, and what I discovered shocked me.
Apparently, girls often go many days without a bowel movement (or as the medical term goes, they are often constipated). The odds are especially bad for Asians. I kinda knew this, but never really thought about it. I did some research, and the stats are shocking:
Race Constipation appears to affect people of color 1.3 times more frequently than whites.
As an Asian female, my girlfriend is 4 times more likely than a white male to be constipated!! Wow, those are some brutal odds.
Now that I think about it, I've seen some info on this recently. Activia yogurt is aimed at women who have this very issue. If you eat their yogurt every day for two weeks and it doesn't "naturally regulate your digestive system", then they will give you your money back. This is probably a profitable guarantee for them — because if you're not naturally regulated within two weeks, you would be in the hospital and too sick to collect!
Anyway it must work, because Activia sold over $100mm in yogurt in its first year! That explains this SNL spoof of the Jamie Lee Curtis Activia ad:
I guess all that time I figured my girlfriend was running the shower to mask the sounds of number two... she really was just taking a shower.
I wonder if this is a broader issue for women. Do you have umm... "issues" with constipation? Or put another way: how regular are you?
Sort of. My boyfriend goes ALL OF THE TIME. Its crazy.
Fiber. And lots of it. Even though I'm in college (as an art student), I'm very restricted on money even though I have a job. I still find myself buying baby spinach and tomatoes (since I love those vegetables the most). But eating veggies.... helps alot.
Not unless I'm dehydrated or eating too little. Which is often the case with most women. They are afraid of looking bloated or not like the magazines, so they don't drink a lot of fluid or eat much fat or calories. Fat n' calories in addition to fiber are necessary for complete digestion--including evacuation. Evacuate those bowels girls.
I suspect the calorie/fat deficit is the culprit behind the dumb/ditzy beauty contestant syndrome too. The brain and the bowels need nurishment and all female organs are often deprived.
I also suspect that Irritable-bowel syndrome is connected to the constant dieting of women as well. I can research the topic if you're interested or just let your fingers do the walking to google.
An apple a day keeps the doctor away and often keeps me regular! TMI today, TMI!
Thanks for this post. Maybe more women will start eating again!
I think it really depends on the person. My hubby always "Drops a D" (as he says) about the same time every day. I dont know any women who are like this!
hahaha my sister never goes to the bathroom and always complains about it. I think she's taking flaxseed to help with the problem but I remember she never went to the bathroom. When we traveled it was worse, I never saw her use the bathroom.
@SandraDeeDees@xanga - I have no problems with my digestion (including evacuation) but it isnt always at the same time. You could seriously set a clock based on his bowel movements!
@der_lila_Stern@xanga - That's crap! Sorry---I just wanted to say that--couldn't help myself.
That is an interesting point about punctuality of fecal proportions!
I am constantly constipated, even though I drink 4L of water every day. I have a fairly good diet, too. I think it's hormonal, or related to the fact that even while drinking 4L of water (more than twice daily recommended value!) I am STILL dehydrated. And I get UTIs all the time. Oh, the curses of being a woman...
I suspect electrolyte imbalance--too much or too little sodium/sugars in the system? UTI's suck--what's your urination volume--about equivalent to your water consumption?
Can't say I have this problem, but I am one of those people who actually does leave water running when I'm occupying the bathroom.
It is embarrassing for me. lol
Wow, I did not even know someone could go for a week without going #2 and still be functioning!
As for me, this hasn't been an issue. It sounds uncomfortable to say the least! I think it depends on the person more than any other one factor .I agree with the above commenters. Getting plenty of fiber and drinking enough water probably decreases the chances of being constipated... I'm a vegetarian too and I think that helps matters...
I wish I went #2 every day like my boyfriend does. :(
But I've been working on getting more fiber into my diet, so I'm crossing my fingers! Yay, #2! Haha.
i hope she is not holding it in. That can cause colon cancer/colorectal. She and everyone else in the world should know about that...
You can set a clock to my bowel movements. (Lol, okay maybe not quite, but I have a bowel movement very predictably every day around lunch time -- usually between 11 and 12 o'clock.) Thank goodness for healthy eating! I would be greatly worried if I couldn't poo.
Interesting topic.
LOL the post was surprisingly accurate-I didn't expect it to be based on the headline!! This is definitely one of those things women talk about when they're alone. I think it is definitely part of the PMS bloat. Thank goodness for the yogurt!
@SandraDeeDees@xanga - I pee at LEAST as much as I take in. I have to pee all the time.
Full disclosure, I am very regular, every morning without fail, not typically anymore than that.
My fiancé seriously needs some fiber, though. Or is it a guy thing to stay in the bathroom for 25-30, sometimes 45 minutes just on the toilet?
@la_faerie_joyeuse@xanga - That is weird that you get UTI and dehydration symptoms...you know the right direction for women to wipe right? TMI, but good to know..
Oh...and if you are very sexually active, bacteria can get up in there frequently. It is a pain, but always showering right after or using a cleansing wipe can help keep bacteria from accumulating in the urinary tract.
@willow_ann209@xanga - umm...he's probably not "just on the toilet". He is probably lookin' at pics of you or someone else and spanking Mr. Happy...LOL! Did you notice if he was looking at hot blondes on TMZ before he had to "go to the bathroom"?
I hope i didn't ruin some weird man code or something...
@SandraDeeDees@xanga - He reads a book while in there, maybe that's why it takes so long, but I don't think he spanks it, because I'm home when he's in there, and I tend to open the door at random to talk to him. I'm certainly going to laugh my a** off if I catch him doing that one day.
Wow, this made me laugh so much, hahah. Your girlfriend needs to learn to eat better! Obviously she's not eating the right things. A normal person should be going maybe once a day or every other day, perhaps.
You guys might not care, but it's not good for her and you should hopefully look into making her healthier.
I just put enought toilet paper in the toilet before I go to make ths ound non existent then I'm fine.
Comments (262)
Sort of. My boyfriend goes ALL OF THE TIME. Its crazy.
Fiber. And lots of it. Even though I'm in college (as an art student), I'm very restricted on money even though I have a job. I still find myself buying baby spinach and tomatoes (since I love those vegetables the most). But eating veggies.... helps alot.
Not unless I'm dehydrated or eating too little. Which is often the case with most women. They are afraid of looking bloated or not like the magazines, so they don't drink a lot of fluid or eat much fat or calories. Fat n' calories in addition to fiber are necessary for complete digestion--including evacuation. Evacuate those bowels girls.
I suspect the calorie/fat deficit is the culprit behind the dumb/ditzy beauty contestant syndrome too. The brain and the bowels need nurishment and all female organs are often deprived.
I also suspect that Irritable-bowel syndrome is connected to the constant dieting of women as well. I can research the topic if you're interested or just let your fingers do the walking to google.
An apple a day keeps the doctor away and often keeps me regular! TMI today, TMI!
Thanks for this post. Maybe more women will start eating again!
I think it really depends on the person. My hubby always "Drops a D" (as he says) about the same time every day. I dont know any women who are like this!
hahaha my sister never goes to the bathroom and always complains about it. I think she's taking flaxseed to help with the problem but I remember she never went to the bathroom. When we traveled it was worse, I never saw her use the bathroom.
@der_lila_Stern@xanga - That's unfortunate. Men AND women should drop D everyday.
@SandraDeeDees@xanga - I have no problems with my digestion (including evacuation) but it isnt always at the same time. You could seriously set a clock based on his bowel movements!
@der_lila_Stern@xanga - That's crap! Sorry---I just wanted to say that--couldn't help myself.
That is an interesting point about punctuality of fecal proportions!
I am constantly constipated, even though I drink 4L of water every day. I have a fairly good diet, too. I think it's hormonal, or related to the fact that even while drinking 4L of water (more than twice daily recommended value!) I am STILL dehydrated. And I get UTIs all the time. Oh, the curses of being a woman...
Oh shit! I did it again. OK. I'll stop. I swear.
@la_faerie_joyeuse@xanga - Hmmm...*puts on glasses*
I suspect electrolyte imbalance--too much or too little sodium/sugars in the system? UTI's suck--what's your urination volume--about equivalent to your water consumption?
Can't say I have this problem, but I am one of those people who actually does leave water running when I'm occupying the bathroom.
It is embarrassing for me. lol
Wow, I did not even know someone could go for a week without going #2 and still be functioning!
As for me, this hasn't been an issue. It sounds uncomfortable to say the least! I think it depends on the person more than any other one factor .I agree with the above commenters. Getting plenty of fiber and drinking enough water probably decreases the chances of being constipated... I'm a vegetarian too and I think that helps matters...
I wish I went #2 every day like my boyfriend does. :(
But I've been working on getting more fiber into my diet, so I'm crossing my fingers! Yay, #2! Haha.
i hope she is not holding it in. That can cause colon cancer/colorectal. She and everyone else in the world should know about that...
You can set a clock to my bowel movements. (Lol, okay maybe not quite, but I have a bowel movement very predictably every day around lunch time -- usually between 11 and 12 o'clock.) Thank goodness for healthy eating! I would be greatly worried if I couldn't poo.
Interesting topic.
LOL the post was surprisingly accurate-I didn't expect it to be based on the headline!! This is definitely one of those things women talk about when they're alone. I think it is definitely part of the PMS bloat. Thank goodness for the yogurt!
@SandraDeeDees@xanga - I pee at LEAST as much as I take in. I have to pee all the time.
Full disclosure, I am very regular, every morning without fail, not typically anymore than that.
My fiancé seriously needs some fiber, though. Or is it a guy thing to stay in the bathroom for 25-30, sometimes 45 minutes just on the toilet?
@la_faerie_joyeuse@xanga - That is weird that you get UTI and dehydration symptoms...you know the right direction for women to wipe right? TMI, but good to know..
Oh...and if you are very sexually active, bacteria can get up in there frequently. It is a pain, but always showering right after or using a cleansing wipe can help keep bacteria from accumulating in the urinary tract.
@willow_ann209@xanga - umm...he's probably not "just on the toilet". He is probably lookin' at pics of you or someone else and spanking Mr. Happy...LOL! Did you notice if he was looking at hot blondes on TMZ before he had to "go to the bathroom"?
I hope i didn't ruin some weird man code or something...
@SandraDeeDees@xanga - He reads a book while in there, maybe that's why it takes so long, but I don't think he spanks it, because I'm home when he's in there, and I tend to open the door at random to talk to him.
I'm certainly going to laugh my a** off if I catch him doing that one day.
Wow, this made me laugh so much, hahah. Your girlfriend needs to learn to eat better! Obviously she's not eating the right things. A normal person should be going maybe once a day or every other day, perhaps.
You guys might not care, but it's not good for her and you should hopefully look into making her healthier.
I just put enought toilet paper in the toilet before I go to make ths ound non existent then I'm fine.