# Losing Weight via Defecation **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [August 24, 2005, 10:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/losing-weight-via-defecation/318400 "2005-08-24T10:10:13Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![MizGrand](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/cdc98d/32.png) [@MizGrand](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MizGrand)\ **Post date:** [August 24, 2005, 10:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/losing-weight-via-defecation/318400/1 "2005-08-24T10:10:13Z")
You know when you take a really big dump you think to yourself “geez, I musta lost five pounds with that one”. It that true? Do you “lose weight” by pooping? I guess I could just check the scale before and after, but was hoping for an actual scientific angle here. ---
**Author:** ![Ponster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ponster/32/17081_2.png) [@Ponster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ponster)\ **Post date:** [August 24, 2005, 11:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/losing-weight-via-defecation/318400/2 "2005-08-24T11:38:16Z")
Hmmmm, I kindof understand the question and then again I don’t really. > [@](#): > > Do you “lose weight” by pooping? Yes, you lose weight by pooping. No, pooping is not a valid system of losing weight. ---
**Author:** ![WhyNot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/c77e96/32.png) [@WhyNot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WhyNot)\ **Post date:** [August 24, 2005, 12:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/losing-weight-via-defecation/318400/3 "2005-08-24T12:19:28Z")
What \*\*Ponster \*\*says. Although if it’s \*literally \*5 pounds, you’d be in serious trouble. Several ounces to a pound is more likely. And anyone thinking this is a good method of weight loss should check out this page on [laxative and enema abuse.](http://www.anred.com/lax.html) That stuff can, quite literally, kill you. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Chao\_Goes\_Mu](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/the_chao_goes_mu/32/3191_2.png) [@The\_Chao\_Goes\_Mu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Chao_Goes_Mu)\ **Post date:** [August 24, 2005, 12:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/losing-weight-via-defecation/318400/4 "2005-08-24T12:33:31Z")
Excessive pooping will cause you to lose weight. Quite quickly. This is \*\*not \*\* the way you want to lose weight. Trust me. See the post above with the link. ---
**Author:** ![Rysto](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/ecccb3/32.png) [@Rysto](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rysto)\ **Post date:** [August 24, 2005, 1:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/losing-weight-via-defecation/318400/5 "2005-08-24T13:14:27Z")
Wait, then how do you lose weight? The mass in your body has to go somewhere… ---
**Author:** ![Jackknifed\_Juggernaut](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/9de053/32.png) [@Jackknifed\_Juggernaut](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jackknifed_Juggernaut)\ **Post date:** [August 24, 2005, 1:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/losing-weight-via-defecation/318400/6 "2005-08-24T13:22:48Z")
> [@Rysto](#): > > Wait, then how do you lose weight? The mass in your body has to go somewhere… Good point. I think they only mean that you shouldn’t use enemas and laxatives to artificially defecate more. ---
**Author:** ![Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/qadgop_the_mercotan/32/83_2.png) [@Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Qadgop_the_Mercotan)\ **Post date:** [August 24, 2005, 1:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/losing-weight-via-defecation/318400/7 "2005-08-24T13:26:06Z")
> [@Rysto](#): > > Wait, then how do you lose weight? The mass in your body has to go somewhere… You lose significant (as opposed to water and food) weight mostly by burning fat for energy. The byproducts of the burning, mostly water and nitrogen compounds, go out thru the kidneys. The bowels do _not_ provide a conduit for significant body mass loss, save for mass taken in by the mouth. Secretions from the blood into the intestines consist mainly of water and mucous, and are trivial in terms of lost mass. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Chao\_Goes\_Mu](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/the_chao_goes_mu/32/3191_2.png) [@The\_Chao\_Goes\_Mu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Chao_Goes_Mu)\ **Post date:** [August 24, 2005, 2:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/losing-weight-via-defecation/318400/8 "2005-08-24T14:12:41Z")
> [@Qadgop the Mercotan](#): > > You lose significant (as opposed to water and food) weight mostly by burning fat for energy. The byproducts of the burning, mostly water and nitrogen compounds, go out thru the kidneys. > > The bowels do _not_ provide a conduit for significant body mass loss, save for mass taken in by the mouth. Secretions from the blood into the intestines consist mainly of water and mucous, and are trivial in terms of lost mass. Since I’m not the MD I’m going to have to trust you on this. Anecdotally, at the beginning of summer I had a bout of the sh\*ts that lasted about 8 weeks. I lost 20 lbs in 6 weeks then another 6 in 2 weeks. I kept myself hydrated (quite frantically so) and the only thing the doctors have not yet completely ruled out as a cause for the weight loss are cancer and Crohn’s. (I get the scope in 2 weeks.) So how can excessive crapping \*not \* cause weight loss? I’m not being snarky. I genuinely don’t understand. ---
**Author:** ![Telemark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/telemark/32/372_2.png) [@Telemark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Telemark)\ **Post date:** [August 24, 2005, 2:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/losing-weight-via-defecation/318400/9 "2005-08-24T14:27:53Z")
> [@The Chao Goes Mu](#): > > So how can excessive crapping \*not \* cause weight loss? I’m not being snarky. I genuinely don’t understand. I _think_ what QtM is saying is that for a normal person who is not ill, only a relatively small amount of food and water you take in is excreted, the majority is either pissed, breathed, or sweated away. If you are ill, obviously, bad things can happen. ---
**Author:** ![Diceman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/22d042/32.png) [@Diceman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diceman)\ **Post date:** [August 24, 2005, 4:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/losing-weight-via-defecation/318400/10 "2005-08-24T16:35:33Z")
I’m sure that five pounds is impossible, but the other day I lost 1.6 pounds due to defecation. I stepped on the scale and saw a weight of 207.0 lbs. Then I had to answer nature’s call, and it was the type of dump that the OP described. Afterwards, on a whim, I stepped on the scale again. I now weighed 205.4 lbs. ---
**Author:** ![Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/qadgop_the_mercotan/32/83_2.png) [@Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Qadgop_the_Mercotan)\ **Post date:** [August 24, 2005, 4:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/losing-weight-via-defecation/318400/11 "2005-08-24T16:56:41Z")
**Chao** , what **Telemark** said. A secretory diarrhea can cause massive weight loss, as water is actively being pumped out of the blood and tissues, and into the intestines. It’s not the usual state of metabolism, and any weight lost will be regained once the person is drinking and absorbing fluids normally again. Assuming they survive crapping their fluids out. Which is a common cause of death in the 3rd world. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Chao\_Goes\_Mu](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/the_chao_goes_mu/32/3191_2.png) [@The\_Chao\_Goes\_Mu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Chao_Goes_Mu)\ **Post date:** [August 24, 2005, 5:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/losing-weight-via-defecation/318400/12 "2005-08-24T17:04:38Z")
> [@Qadgop the Mercotan](#): > > **Chao** , what **Telemark** said. > > A secretory diarrhea can cause massive weight loss, as water is actively being pumped out of the blood and tissues, and into the intestines. It’s not the usual state of metabolism, and any weight lost will be regained once the person is drinking and absorbing fluids normally again. Assuming they survive crapping their fluids out. Which is a common cause of death in the 3rd world. Gothchaya. Thank you. ---
**Author:** ![Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/qadgop_the_mercotan/32/83_2.png) [@Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Qadgop_the_Mercotan)\ **Post date:** [August 24, 2005, 10:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/losing-weight-via-defecation/318400/13 "2005-08-24T22:45:35Z")
> [@The Chao Goes Mu](#): > > Gothchaya. Thank you. **Gothchaya**? Are you channeling **Wildest Alaric**?? 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Danalan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/76d3ee/32.png) [@Danalan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Danalan)\ **Post date:** [August 24, 2005, 11:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/losing-weight-via-defecation/318400/14 "2005-08-24T23:07:28Z")
I’ve always understood that for most people, there is a fair amount of excess bulk in the intestines. Most of the quick weight loss programs include some method of dramatically increasing dietary fiber – special food or diet. This results in a large loss of this excess bulk, corresponding to a weight loss of 5-10 lbs. in a week or so. Then the hard work of losing the real weight begins. Is this incorrect? How else to explain the ease with which most people can lose 5-10 lbs.? ---
**Author:** ![Push\_You\_Down](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/push_you_down/32/9095_2.png) [@Push\_You\_Down](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Push_You_Down)\ **Post date:** [August 24, 2005, 11:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/losing-weight-via-defecation/318400/15 "2005-08-24T23:13:26Z")
I remember reading about the fallacy of the impacted feces/excess weight idea. Someone will be a long shortly with a cite I am sure but IIRC, your body goes into serious shock or pain if you have something more than 1 pound of gunk stuck in your colon. ---
**Author:** ![Bryan\_Ekers](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bryan_ekers/32/183_2.png) [@Bryan\_Ekers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bryan_Ekers)\ **Post date:** [August 25, 2005, 2:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/losing-weight-via-defecation/318400/16 "2005-08-25T02:06:11Z")
If you’re trying to loosen your load, it helps to have seven women on your mind. ---
**Author:** ![Colibri](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/colibri/32/1841_2.png) [@Colibri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colibri)\ **Post date:** [August 25, 2005, 2:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/losing-weight-via-defecation/318400/17 "2005-08-25T02:26:50Z")
> [@Qadgop the Mercotan](#): > > You lose significant (as opposed to water and food) weight mostly by burning fat for energy. The byproducts of the burning, mostly water and nitrogen compounds, go out thru the kidneys. Carbon dioxide is produced too. We had a thread on this not too long ago, and IIRC the calculation was that something over 80% of the weight of completely metabolized fat would be converted to carbon dioxide and be removed from the body by breathing. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Chao\_Goes\_Mu](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/the_chao_goes_mu/32/3191_2.png) [@The\_Chao\_Goes\_Mu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Chao_Goes_Mu)\ **Post date:** [August 25, 2005, 12:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/losing-weight-via-defecation/318400/18 "2005-08-25T12:39:55Z")
> [@Qadgop the Mercotan](#): > > **Gothchaya**? Are you channeling **Wildest Alaric**?? 😃 Just being silly. Although I did try channeling once, in 1960, for 20 minutes. 😛 ---
**Author:** ![VunderBob](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/839c29/32.png) [@VunderBob](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/VunderBob)\ **Post date:** [August 25, 2005, 1:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/losing-weight-via-defecation/318400/19 "2005-08-25T13:23:11Z")
I’ll stand up as an oddball exception to what **QtM** said, which is generally true. I had a gastric bypass back in June, and since then, I’ve developed an odd rhythm to my pooping habits. I go every day, but the general rule is that it’ll be a little bit for two days, and generally loose, and that third day is a power dump butthole stretcher. Since I have to do all kinds of tracking of eating, exercise, bowel habits, and weight loss for my doctors, I know that the best time to hop on the scale and show a significant loss is right after one of those power dumps. Before and after can have a 3 lb variation in my overall weight, even though I know I didn’t just pinch 3 lbs of loaf. Let me emphasize that this is not my method of weight loss, it is a side effect of what I’m really doing. ---
**Author:** ![Bryan\_Ekers](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bryan_ekers/32/183_2.png) [@Bryan\_Ekers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bryan_Ekers)\ **Post date:** [August 25, 2005, 1:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/losing-weight-via-defecation/318400/20 "2005-08-25T13:58:31Z")
> [@VunderBob](#): > > Since I have to do all kinds of tracking of eating, exercise, bowel habits, and weight loss for my doctors, I know that the best time to hop on the scale and show a significant loss is right after one of those power dumps. Before and after can have a 3 lb variation in my overall weight, even though I know I didn’t just pinch 3 lbs of loaf. Ah, but did you urinate during the, ahem, session? That adds up, too. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/losing-weight-via-defecation/318400.md?page=2)