# Bowel Movement and Exercise

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bowel-movement-and-exercise/638628>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [October 23, 2012, 4:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bowel-movement-and-exercise/638628 "2012-10-23T16:12:39Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 3\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![jebert](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ec9cab/32.png) [@jebert](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jebert)\
**Post date:** [October 23, 2012, 4:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bowel-movement-and-exercise/638628/1 "2012-10-23T16:12:39Z")

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I work out in the gym 5 days a week. 45 minutes of fairly vigorous cardio on the exercise bike or elliptical followed by some strength training. Lately I can’t seem to make it all the way through the cardio portion without getting a strong urge to have a bowel movement, even though I always have a bowel movement immediately before I start the cardio.

Does anyone have an idea of what might be causing this or what I can do to prevent it?

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**Author:** ![leahcim](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/b4bc9f/32.png) [@leahcim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/leahcim)\
**Post date:** [October 23, 2012, 4:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bowel-movement-and-exercise/638628/2 "2012-10-23T16:24:09Z")

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Sounds like something like a more mild form of [Runner’s diarrhea](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Runner%27s_diarrhea). Suggested treatment is basically “eat less, and avoid specific trigger foods” which is probably not all that helpful.

I know that for me, a 10k run is a great laxative, although not usually taking effect until after the run.

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**Author:** ![Philster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/13edae/32.png) [@Philster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Philster)\
**Post date:** [October 23, 2012, 5:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bowel-movement-and-exercise/638628/3 "2012-10-23T17:29:28Z")

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Are you eating something or drinking something in abundance and in preparation for said exercise, **jebert?**

I know when I drink to much PowerAde the salts in the drink get things moving for me. For some, the energy drinks do it (caffeine can get things moving). Combine that with the stimulus of exercising and it’s too much.