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Comment by montalbano | Hacker News Reader

I stopped sitting on toilets about 14 years ago after a camping trip when I realized how much I preferred squatting. I will never go back unless forced to due to injury.

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So what toilet setup do you use most frequently? In the western world, all the toilets are the sitting type, as opposed to the squat-type ones commonly found in India and elsewhere.

I just lift up the toilet seat and squat over the bowl. It's only tricky on taller toilets but normally works perfectly fine. In fact, using public toilets it feels a little more hygienic as you don't actually have to touch the toilet seat or bowl.

I believe it's part of the reason my upper leg muscles have remained strong even when work has put a halt on exercise for longer periods of time.

I would be open about this if asked but never bring it up unsolicited in conversation as in the past I have found it regarded as outright bizarre.

Even if you squat over the bowl — that’s not a full squat... I’m quite familiar with this maneuver from a lifetime of squatting over public toilets to pee. Using a squat tube potty is a much more natural squat position.

Look into a Squatty Potty. An extension that is basically a stool to help you raise your feet and knees into a more squatted position to help defecate into the toilet. Or just bring a wide stool to the toilet with you that raises the same.

I got a $150 chinese thing that fits over the toilet and folds up. but the squatty potties are like $30.

As gross of a conversation can be, I always found proper squatting in the back-country pretty much makes toilet paper unnecessary.

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