Pee a Lot? What Your Bathroom Schedule Means

Gotta' Go, Gotta' Go, Gotta' Go Right Now!

We all go.

From the time we're born to the time we leave this world, we're like little going machines. What goes up must come down, and what goes in must come out.

Going to the bathroom is an annoying necessity to some, or a leisurely routine for others, but one thing is for sure: your bathroom schedule is very important to your health.

Think it didn't matter whether you went twice a day or twice a week? Think again! Turns out that every little detail about when, why, and how you use the bathroom is an important step to understanding your body and inner health.

Too shy to talk about it? Start the slideshow below to learn what your bathroom schedule means, as well as all the important details about your bathroom habits! Then SHARE the knowledge!

1. Frequency

First thing's first: how often do you go? You may feel like there are weeks when you spend all day running to the bathroom while during other weeks you hardly have to go at all.

Going to the bathroom is the final and essential part of the digestion process, and if we didn't do it, we would likely rupture and die. Yikes! That being said, the number of times you urinate during a given day will depend on how much liquid you're drinking. Anywhere between six to ten times a day is normal for a healthy and hydrated person.

As far as number two goes, experts suggest that one to two times daily is healthy.

2. Too Much or Too Little?

Do those numbers sound familiar to you? Don't worry just yet, your going habits are affected by numerous factors that you should understand before determining whether you're living a healthy lifestyle.

First of all, there's your age. Age is a crucial factor in determining how well your pipes work and how much time you spend in the bathroom. As we grow older, our digestive system slows down along with our metabolism, likely causing more constipation.

You can fix that by drinking more water and trying to sustain a fiber-rich diet (Remember, prunes are your friend!). Don't forget to maintain an active lifestyle by getting some exercise, even if it's just by stretching when you wake up in the morning. Diet and exercise along with a healthy amount of water are sure to keep you regular.

3. Metabolism

Since a slow metabolism usually (but not always) coincides with reduced bathroom usage, a faster metabolism typically means that you're going to the bathroom more. Regular exercise, healthy sleep patterns, and clean, natural food diets are a surefire way to keep your system working properly. The more fiber and water you take in, the more likely you are to keep things moving through the pipes.

Of course, it's important to remember that changes in diet and lifestyle are likely to impact your bowel movements, so never judge your bodily health based on one or several days, but rather if you notice a big change over an extended period of time.

4. The Dirty Details

Now it's time to understand what's coming out of your body and how it can help you understand your inner health. Let's start with consistency.

The most important thing to keep in mind in terms of your bowel movements is that stool should pass easily through your body without too much pain or effort. Any discomfort over the course of several days might be a sign that something is wrong, and you might want to considering seeking medical advice.

5. Consistency: Too Hard

If your stool is too hard, you are more likely to become constipated, meaning the waste is taking longer to pass through your system than is should. Hard, dry stool can also make the go an uncomfortable process, placing unnecessary strain on your bowels.

If this is the case, start off by drinking more water. Dehydration is one of the biggest factors that affect your bathroom habits, and dry stool is an indicator that your body is reabsorbing more water instead of allowing it to exit the system as waste. You should also consider eating more fiber, which can be found in many plant-based foods.

6. Consistency: Too Loose

Soft stool is typically associated with diarrhea, in which your digestive system is expelling waste from the body too rapidly. If food is moving through your system too quickly, your body might not be absorbing enough water or nutrients, which could lead to other health problems.

Loose stool is often caused by a temporary diet change, such as starting a cleanse, but it could also be attributed to too much fiber in the system or even an infection. Find a better balance in your fiber diet, drink less water and/or alcohol, and try to eat more foods like bananas and rice.

7. Size

Remember: the go should be a comfortable process. That being said, the size of your stool should be medium and elongated, a sign that it has passed through your body easily. Don't be afraid to peek at the toilet after you've gone to make sure that your plumbing is working fine!

8. Shape

A healthy bowel movement, aside from being medium-sized and elongated, should be torpedo shaped. That's right: little poop missiles are a sure sign that everything is working well inside. Other shapes and consistencies could be a sign that something's up, so let's break it down:

Stool that is too hard, dry, or large is another sign of constipation and an indicator that you should be drinking more water. This could also be caused by certain medications.

If your waste is coming out too thin, this could be a sign of some sort of blockage in your colon. Consistently thin stool could even indicate colon cancer, so if you notice this over a long period of time, consult your doctor.

9. Other Shapes

Little lumps left in the bowl is another sign that your body is reabsorbing water from your waste. Inconsistent pellets usually indicate that you need more water or fiber in your diet.

If it floats and smells extra bad, it's often a sign that your body is not absorbing fats properly, which could be associated with a change in diet or medications.

And if you're not going at all, drink more water! Constipation could be caused by a variety of factors such as certain medicines, but healthy diet, exercise, and more water is sure to help the problem.

10. Color

We all know that your solid waste should be brown, but at some point we've probably all noticed a suspicious change of color in our stool. Remember: never be worried about a change in shape, size, or even color based on one trip to the bathroom. These factors are often influenced by a change in diet, medicine, or exercise, and rarely are immediate signs of a problem. If you notice a major change in bathroom habits or waste over time, however, consider seeking medical help.

Now let's break it down. Brown stool is the normal hue you should be looking for in the bowl. Black stool could be a sign of bleeding in your system, or an excess intake of meats or iron. White stool could indicate a problem in your liver or pancreas.

11. Other Colors

Yellow waste could be due to the presence of parasites or issues with your gallbladder.

Green stool could be due to undigested bile, which is perfectly normal from time to time. It could otherwise just caused by your diet, or it could even indicate Crohn's Disease.

Lastly, red stool often indicates bleeding, but it could also be caused by foods that are a deep red color, such as beets.

12. 50 Shades of Piss

The color of your urine is also an easy way to tell how things are working inside your body. Typically, urine that is clear and yellowish in tone is both normal and healthy. Dark yellow pee often means you need to be drinking more water. If it looks foamy in the bowl, that's totally normal and typically associated with high protein levels. Murky urine, on the other hand, could by the symptom of a problem.

Colored urine could be caused by a variety of factors, but it's often due to diet. All you should truly worry about is red urine, which, if not caused by food, could indicate the presence of blood. Unlike stool, if you notice blood in your pee or feeling a stinging, burning sensation while urinating, you should contact your doctor immediately.

13. Smell

Perhaps more than anything else, going to the bathroom is most associated with our sense of smell, whether it's our fault or because the restroom already had a certain fragrance when you walked in.

And while it's true that waste typically stinks, your scent is a huge indicator of your bodily health and diet. The fact of the matter is that your solid waste shouldn't consistently smell awful every time you go to the bathroom. In fact, this could be a sign that you're not properly absorbing nutrients from food. Nasty-smelling bowel movements could also indicate problems like Crohn's Disease, Celiac disease, IBS, infection, or an allergy.

14. More Smells

The smell of your pee is also one of the easiest ways to know if something is wrong in your system. We all know the funky smell that asparagus and other foods can cause, but you should be more alarmed if you notice a sweet smell. Sugar in urine could indicate diabetes.

15. What's Inside?

The last major indicator in terms of your bowel movements is the presence of any easily identifiable extraneous substances in your waste. Not that you have to perform an autopsy on a turd, but glancing at what you've made once in a while could help you better understand your health.

Many foods such as corn are rarely fully digested by the body, so it's not uncommon to see skins or seeds in your solid waste. Even mucus may be present from time to time, but if you notice it often, it could mean that you're sick or have an infection.

True, it's not recommended to discuss your bathroom habits in mixed company, but understanding more about this taboo topic could be one of the easiest steps to take in order to get a better grasp on your inner health. Remember, there are many factors affecting waste expulsion and digestion, so one small change after one trip to the bathroom might not be anything to worry about. Pain, discomfort, or blood (more so in urine than stool) are the three biggest indicators of a problem that might require medical attention.

Otherwise, use this knowledge to enjoy the go, and SHARE!