Ah constipation ! my favourite subject!!!
1. the frequency is not a problem, nor is the size.
2.It's the consistancy of the poo & ease with which it passes that is important.
If it is 'formed to firm' & slips out without straining then all is fine.
If you have to strain, sit there for ages & only pass a tiny hard rabbit pellet then things are not fine. This is when you should start adding:
-soluble firbre (=firbre '89)
-insoluble fibre (= psyllium)
-a stimulant laxative (eg senna, dulcolax etc)to get the system unclogged & allow your larger bulkier fibre-enhanced poos to travel down unimpeeded.
-if all else fails a glycerine suppository can be used.(purchase from the chemist)
these things should be added in the order I've typed.
Soya Bran
This is another magic ingredient that I discovered when I did S/S.
It is cheap,pleasant & I found it more effective than psyllium. holland & barratt sell it for 65p per bag.
HoweverI have to add that:
1. soya bran is not promoted by Cambridge.
2. it does contain some carbohydrate.(weight for weight it has more fibre & considerably less carbs than wheat bran. it is also nice c.f. wheat bran =yukky
3. it didn't tip me out of ketosis & I have at least one client who S/Ses on it successfully too.
4. part of my reason for posting this is to get more people to try it & report back to me their experiences. Particularly 1) efficacy 2)re ketosis.
PS if you think I'm obsessed with poo you should read about an academic physicin called Burkett who travelled round africa in the 1960' or 70's researcing into bowel problems. He studied faeces in many cultures & was one of the pioneers in promoting high fibre diets in the west.
He described the perfect stool as large,formed but soft. It has a blunt front end & thinner tail. There is considerable natural variation between people.
me: I'm an amateur by comparison. Also, unlike Prof Burkett I have no wish to examine real specimens.