Medically, constipation is generally described as having three bowel movements a week or less. Though occasional constipation is very common, some people experience chronic constipation that can interfere with their ability to go about their daily tasks. For a properly functioning system one bowel movement a day when you eat two or three times daily is a sign of constipation. Even if yo have one to three bowel movements per day, but stools are hard or difficult to move - it is a constipation issue. Hydration is vital for proper bowel movements.