J-pouchers are generally better off *without* formed stools. A texture more like pudding is easier to empty, with less straining. I used psyllium fiber from the very beginning, and it (along with drinking *plenty* of water during the day) keep my stool consistency about right most of the time.
Most surgeons advise new J-pouchers to gently delay bathroom trips longer and longer to “stretch the pouch.” I’m not convinced that any actual stretching goes on, but it definitely helps us learn to manage quite comfortably with fewer bathroom trips, and gives our anal canals more rest time. Straining or going too frequently can create or exacerbate hemorrhoids, which (in a vicious cycle) can make it harder to empty the pouch.