4 wks ago i started logging food to lose weight (mostly limiting sugar/alcohol). stools have become loose, small and frequent (3x/day). is that bad?

Probably not: The kind of dietary changes you have made could be expected to result in changes in your bowel movements. More frequent, smaller stools would be common. As part of your healthier eating, be sure to include raw fruits and vegetables, increasing fiber/bulk, resulting in firmer stool. Eating like this may result in multiple stools daily which is normal. Good luck!