I Spent 18 Months on the Squatty Potty (Review)

FYI, this PSA will be TMI – mainly because talking about poo tends to be taboo. But like the good folks at Squatty Potty® say, it’s time to break the silence because your health is worth it.

So, we’re going to talk about pooping in a minute. But before we get to that, let’s talk about your squat.

Here’s the thing: if you’re a human with two good legs, you should be able to squat easily. And if you can’t get into a deep, rock-bottom squat effortlessly, you should be working on it almost daily, in my opinion. And if you can squat through a full range of motion, you should be maintaining that ability regularly. The problem is that not everyone wants to practice their squat on a daily basis. Or, they just don’t have the self-discipline day after day.

Enter the Squatty Potty®.

At first glance, you might think it’s a gimmick. I certainly did. But I decided to give it a try for myself. If nothing else, I’d get some more squat time in. And if it helped in other ways, it’d be a bonus. I didn’t see any downsides. So, I gave it a shot.

In the beginning, I didn’t even use an official Squatty Potty®. I wasn’t sold on the idea yet. So, I found a couple of stools (no pun intended) we have here at home and placed them on either side of the toilet. Eventually, my good wife bought me the real deal for my birthday – an authentic “ecco model” Squatty Potty® (I’m feelin’ the love, babe). I unboxed it during my birthday party – to many laughs and cheers – and it quickly became the talk of the party. Some of our guests even insisted on trying it out before they left.

And now, it’s been over 18 months since I’ve been squatting, not sitting, on the John. And I can’t imagine going back.

So, here’s what you need to know (and probably some things you don’t).

Personally, I haven’t noticed any major changes in the whole bowel movement department. I spend a little less time in the bathroom, and things go a little smoother now. But the Squatty Potty® hasn’t changed my life. Pooping is a little easier, though.

The real advantage, in my mind, is that it provides an opportunity to integrate a critical human movement into your daily life, like these 5 Fitness Hacks to Help You Get Fit While Brushing Your Teeth.

The way I see it, if you have to go #2 every day, and you can squat while you’re doing it – which is actually a more natural posture for doing your business – that’s a good thing. And if it comes with additional benefits, great!

So, back to my original point. You, yes YOU, need to be able to squat. Strength and conditioning coach, Bret Contreras, recommends performing a rock-bottom squat for at least 30 seconds a day. Movement guru, Ido Portal, recommends that his students work up to 30 minutes of squat time per day. And it’s widely considered a vital human function to be able to squat effortlessly. It shouldn’t be hard. You should be able to relax – even poop – in this position.

And the Squatty Potty® will help you do just that. And maybe – just maybe – it’ll change your life (like some Amazon reviewers have claimed).

After 18+ months of using the Squatty Potty®, I’m sold on the idea, and I plan to use this product for the foreseeable future. So, if you’re so inclined, you can get your own Squatty Potty® (and read some hilarious reviews) on Amazon.com here: Click here for the 7″ model (for standard-sized toilets). Or, click here for the 9″ model (for taller toilets).

One last thing: it may take some getting used to, and you’ll probably have to nix your pants. Fair warning.