Body Positive Nudes
Try to lift each other up and bring a little body positivity to the world, your shape, size, ethnicity are less important than your attitude. A great place to feel good about yourself no matter who you are or what you might have been told previously.A place to discuss issues you might have or just to try and share your positive experiences and encourage others to come to peace with themselves
- created by Former User
Is body positivism just another unhealthy diversion?
Return to DiscussionsAs a father, I want to support that everyone should have have healthy acceptance and confidence of themselves as well as a long, healthy and vital life. Somewhere in between those goals I am torn with the concept of body positivity. From the way I've seen the term used in the media, it does not seem to focus on all-body acceptance, such as tall/short or endomorph, mesomorph and ectomorphic body types. Rather I see it fighting against an unrealistic airbrushed media image and for acceptance of being overweight or obese.
Given the medical issues associated with being overweight or obese, I consider it a health risk that reduces long-term life quantity if quality, lifestyle if not span. At the same time, I'm certainly not I'm pro body shaming.
First, I recognize that a majority of the population is overweight, approximately three-quarters from two-thirds prior to the pandemic. Part of this is misleading statistics. Per BMI tables, I'm included as overweight with a 36 inch waist, though though my doctor disagrees.
Second, I blame society, government and the media. Here's a quote that sums up how I understand the problem:
Experts mostly agree now that obesity isn't caused by a lack of willpower, but by stress, a lack of sufficient sleep, a sedentary lifestyle, and a food system seemingly built to deliver empty calories. ~ Bob Cronin
I can go on about this, being perplexed why Walmart charges more for two fresh apples than a baker's dozen glazed donuts, but can I change a dysfunctional food system? How can I help fight stress, lack of sleep, and sedentary habits for myself, my sons, and encourage others to do so? That's not an easy question either.
In this regard, I feel like body acceptance is a way of diverting focus on core issues which we need to address as individuals and as a society: stress, sleep, access to exercise opportunities and healthy, affordable food options.
A healthy body of course means different things to different people. But I'd still like to say: I'm all for healthy body acceptance.
I have taken several overweight young men in and given them a loving home. Many of them have been overweight most of their life. They have been shamed, teased and bullied and have no self esteem. There are just two rules, 1. He and I are naked at all times, even if we have clothed guests. 2. All doors stay open whether we are taking a shower, brushing our teeth or sitting on the toilet. First they need to learn to be proud of their bodies, and not ashamed to be seen by others, regardless of color, weight, height, penis size, etc. I expose them to other nudists so they can see that not every male is tall and muscular with an 8 inch penis. Along with tem getting used to living a totally open and nudist lifestyle, we work on improving their body through exercise and eating healthy. We also have a special time every night where we lay in bed, cuddle with each other and just talk about anything and everything. I feel it's important for them to know they are loved and together we can work to improve their body, both mentally and physically.
I have taken several overweight young men in and given them a loving home.... I feel it's important for them to know they are loved and together we can work to improve their body, both mentally and physically.
You are transforming lives. Do you realize how few fathers (much less elders/mentors like you) accomplish that kind of magic? Kudos to you!
"I can go on about this, being perplexed why Walmart charges more for two fresh apples than a baker's dozen glazed donuts, but can I change a dysfunctional food system? How can I help fight stress, lack of sleep, and sedentary habits for myself, my sons, and encourage others to do so? That's not an easy question either.
In this regard, I feel like body acceptance is a way of diverting focus on core issues which we need to address as individuals and as a society: stress, sleep, access to exercise opportunities and healthy, affordable food options.
A healthy body of course means different things to different people. But I'd still like to say: I'm all for healthy body acceptance."
You have pointed out some important considerations when looking at issues of weight, acceptance and health. To answer your post question, my opinion is no. In it's best sense, body positivism is about a general positive outlook and claiming or reclaiming self-esteem. I know many very able people who are overweight or obese, and it's an unfortunate distraction for them to constantly be preoccupied with society's rebuke of them because of their weight. They have important work that they're accomplishing. And many of them eat much more healthfully than the general population. Weight loss is a challenge, and when one embarks on any challenge they approach it best when they have a positive image of themselves to begin with.
I also know many folks who have looked at their situation and have decided weight loss is a low priority, often for excellent reasons.
Look closely at some of the new research on the effects of historical trauma (epigenetic influences that affect hormones, fat cell growth, etc) affecting not only offspring but 2 generations out (at least). Combine that with multigenerational poverty (SES is a very strong inverse predictor of weight) that often results from historical trauma and we are faced with biology that is bigger than just "why don't you just eat less?" The obesigenic diet cannot be discounted, though; pop is cheaper than milk, doughnuts indeed cheaper than apples. People eat what they can afford, and then what tastes good.
I tend to think that nude lifestyle has only a small benefit in promoting body positivism; maybe it helps in building more acceptance. But perhaps among the same people who would accept bodies of all shapes and sizes when they're clothed too.
I have taken several overweight young men in and given them a loving home. Many of them have been overweight most of their life. They have been shamed, teased and bullied and have no self esteem. There are just two rules, 1. He and I are naked at all times, even if we have clothed guests. 2. All doors stay open whether we are taking a shower, brushing our teeth or sitting on the toilet. First they need to learn to be proud of their bodies, and not ashamed to be seen by others, regardless of color, weight, height, penis size, etc. I expose them to other nudists so they can see that not every male is tall and muscular with an 8 inch penis. Along with tem getting used to living a totally open and nudist lifestyle, we work on improving their body through exercise and eating healthy. We also have a special time every night where we lay in bed, cuddle with each other and just talk about anything and everything. I feel it's important for them to know they are loved and together we can work to improve their body, both mentally and physically.
This is incredible! Big ups to you.
Second, I blame society, government and the media. Here's a quote that sums up how I understand the problem:Experts mostly agree now that obesity isn't caused by a lack of willpower, but by stress, a lack of sufficient sleep, a sedentary lifestyle, and a food system seemingly built to deliver empty calories. ~ Bob Cronin
All true... except the willpower thing. Once a person is aware of the problem, yet does nothing, that is then their own fault.
The comment someone made about "eat what they can afford" is also true... yet rice is cheap. Beans are cheap. Potatoes are cheap. It might suck eating the same meal every day, but it's only our expectation of delicious variety that makes us miss what we miss yet our ancestors lived well enough on rice, beans, & potatoes. Some still do!!! Ever have a Peruvian breakfast?
Sedentary lifestyle is also a choice... once you realize there are alternatives.
No, it's not easy with all the social norms suggesting donuts, ready-to-eat cereal, and frozen pizza are the way to go and having an apple as a dessert is weird. But it doesn't mean you must.
I'm no hunk. I don't pay to exercise - walking is probably less damaging for the body than the gym as most people don't know enough about weight training - but I do pay for food... and I'm cheap... which is good since I'm poor.
Lots of celebrity doctors like to talk about "changing your relationship to food."
Great! Let's just call it food.
Don't dine. Eat.
Put the calories in that you need and find a different hobby.
Writing this isn't shaming someone's body or their personhood, it's pointing out personal responsibility & the options available.
After that. It's your choice. Every choice you make is yours. Some choices are easy, some are hard, and some require a little effort to do the unexpected. But every action a person does is a choice... including doing as everyone else does or doing what has "always" been done. (That's the one that grinds my gears - playing a victim or blaming some illusionary "subconscious.")
If you accept the consequences, then fine. A 10" cheesecake as supper - as I do more than is healthy - is fine, but then don't complain about the consequences. Accept you chose to eat an entire cheesecake for supper. Maybe even be proud, it's no small matter. Same for having a box of cereal or Hamburger Helper with an extra box of noodles and 1/2 a jar of extra alfredo and turning down the cut vegetables Mom left on the counter when you went to visit (yes, also me). But when your size 36 jeans are feeling tight, maybe think about how much money you wasted on those calories while you're shopping for another $60 pair of pants... like maybe how many potatoes that would get you... with a bit of butter and several underused spices just to see what goes with marjoram. Not that it matters, it's just food.
When I started this group I posted more often, al kinds of topics, hardly any received any attention but I know they were getting read, hopefully someone out there who perhaps isnt confident enough even to comment might read it and take something away to help them with their own battle.
I have confidence to comment about my own battle, though I'm uncertain many will relate. On the outside I lack identifiable body issues and internally I'm also functionally healthy. My issue is more abstract. In plain English it's been: I ain't got no gut bucket. Now I do, but it's about half full and I've got my work cut out. At about age three I experience emotional trauma that desensitized me and kept me from feeling my feeling, my emotions, my guts. For 37 years, the term "gut feeling" was about as relatable as "elbow feeling." I didn't have any. Through a series of dreams I was given memories of what happened which were vivid enough to verify, and this started my journey of claiming my gut bucket of life.
I go to the gym and work on micro muscles that can't be pumped or noticed, but help me claim core feeling and stability. Hip flexor lifts anyone? It's slowly and surely transformative. However, having one centimeter six pack hip flexors or underwear model six pack abs isn't important. It's the process, the process of self-study, self-care, self-compassion, self-improvement, self-acceptance and self-love. Call it body positivity. Call it saying yes to life. Call it. Live it. Do it. Be well.