YOU GUYS… Why is poop such a topic of conversation right now?? My yoga teacher today went on and on about certain positions that help you POOP. AND THEN, I got a text from my dear friend Jonathan Bluth ABOUT POOP. He sent a link for Amy Schumer talking ABOUT POOP to a sold out audience of 15K people at Oprah’s 2020vision tour (which I must say I would like to attend somehow). Below the link, he simply said. “CABO.”

Amy Davidson, Kaley Cuoco, Ali Manno, and me in Cabo.

Ahhhh the memories flooded back. We spent a week in Cabo together with some close friends and I didn’t poop the entire time. Not once. It became the topic du jour every morning.

“Anything happen? Could you go?” They would ask. “Nope,” I’d say, feeling defeated, “Nothing. Ughhhh.” I tried the typical tricks of hot water with lemon (which is such a good everyday practice-see below), but didn’t have any special teas or anything with me. My stomach did not feel well and I started to get the bloated look. AND WE WERE IN CABO IN BIKINIS.

It’s one of those things that would happen to me kinda often, but after about 3 days, it would get better. But always happens when I travel. You?? Nothing good or normal about this, I know. Now, I don’t know Amy Schumer. I’ve met her, but we’re not friends who text each other (although you might be? I hear she’s been passing out her number on insta). My point is I do not know her situation or poop details. But, I do know her issue is COMMON. The majority of my friends have had issues, some easy-fixes, some quite serious. We’re talking colonoscopies and stuff. Amy mentioned to Oprah that she was going to drink Smooth Move tea, but was afraid the effects might kick in while she was on stage speaking. I so remember having issues before a big scene filming and I wouldn’t drink any teas or take anything to help me out of the same fear. I hated that feeling before having to do a scantily clad scene on Bold and Beautiful. ughhhh….. I must say I’ve never discussed bathroom habits on here before. Well, at least not for me. Potty training Hayden (and Huck and Oscar) got some mentions;)

I made some tweaks in life that helped dramatically. If I am not regular with these tweaks then… well, I’m not regular. ha! This is what I’ve learned:

IMPORTANT BEFORE READING ANY FURTHER: If you’ve had prolonged, consistent issues, please consult a doctor. All the ideas below are good lifestyle choices in general, but I do not claim to have cures or solutions for real illness.

WATER, WATER, WATER, WATER: Hot water with lemon supposedly does wonders. I need to get better about this. I have to share something… I might have shared it before, but worth repeating. Ronn Moss played Ridge on Bold and Beautiful for YEARS. He has managed to laugh at aging. You can google and find out, but all I’ll say is at 55, he looked 40. Truly. I’ll never forget his morning routine at work, which he believed helped keep him healthy on the inside and outside. He sipped on hot water with lemon for hours. If asked, he would share the benefits: it wakes up your digestive track so your body can absorb nutrients more efficiently, it detoxifies your liver, flushing out icky toxins (SO YOU CAN GO TO THE BATHROOM) and balances your body’s PH, and supports weight loss with the soluble fiber in lemon. Supposedly, drinking hot water with lemon is excellent in the morning, but I would venture to say any time of day would be helpful.

PROBIOTICS: take them in a pill form, a powder (y’all know I love to add powders to my water), or gummy chews, just take them. This may be the most helpful thing I could have done to remedy issues of constipation. Long time (but results happen quickly) use promotes healthy regularity of the digestive system.

EXERCISE: Movement. Yoga, a brisk walk, cat/cow bends, stretching….lay flat on your back. Bend your left leg up to your chest and hug it with your arms as best you can. Pull your knee as close to your chin as possible, then release and gently pull your left knee across your body in a supine spinal twist. Repeat with opposite leg. Then, bring both knees up to your chest. Check out this sketch.

DIET— like FIBER (duh): I love Uncle Sam’s original cereal. I love it. It’s harder to find now (Trader Joe’s used to carry it). I add it to yogurt or whatnot. BUT it’s not gluten free. If you need gluten free, then try Bob’s Red Mill rolled oats with fiber and protein. I’m doing a post soon highlighting the Mediterranean diet, so stayed tuned for that. It’s a naturally good diet for digestion.

MEDICINAL: I’m not going to get into stuff to take because I really believe you should discuss that with your doctor. What I’ll say is in dire straights, Milk of Magnesia is gentle.

I doubt anyone is dying to admit they’ve had issues, but for those of you open like I am, chime in if you have anything to add!!

Have a great WEEKEND, Y’ALL.

XOXO

AAJ

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