Shortly after the earth cooled, the Naturist Society http://www.naturistsociety.com/ and its dearly departed founder Lee Baxandall promoted the notion of "body acceptance" by means of nude recreation.
This concept is not the easiest sell, considering most people's almost mortal fear of being seen in public without clothes, and the virtually unattainable image of nude perfection that permeates from the "beautiful people" in the media. Not everyone can be Michaelangelo's "David" or Pam Anderson.
So does mean that you should merely accept yourself as you are, and therefore force others to do the same? Or can you be the perfect Barbie Doll or AH-NOLD when he won Mr. Olympia? Unless you are genetically gifted and really chose your parents well, the answer is most likely "no."
Do we have a quandary here? On one hand we have to be realistic about our bodies and accept what we have or don't have, but on the other we should try to reach the potential of our bodies......Exactly!
David Chizum, a 65-year-old Texan, has started the "Fitness Buff" Special Interest Group for members of the Naturist Society. He is a former fitness instructor and looks damn good for a seasoned citizen.
Many in the textile community revolt against nudism as they state openly that naked bodies are ugly...and then it the next breath they say that they would love to see (insert famous beautiful personality here) completely nude. Believe it or not this contradiction is very logical, and can explain why many in their 20s with nice, young, verile bodies leave nudity to those over 30, over 40, over 50......
"Maybe if we 'seniors' (I'm now 65 myself) paid attention to building our bodies up instead of letting them deteriorate, we could show the younger set a brighter future for their own aging process," Chizum wrote.
Chizum promotes aerobic exercise, strength training, weight management (e.g. Body Mass Index) http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/guidelines/obesity/bmi_tbl.pdf and sensible nutrition as the keys to looking as good as possible without clothes. In a way this recipe is a continuous cycle....if you work on aerobics, and combine with resistance training....and then "eat less; exercise more"....then you will look better in the nude....and in your clothes.....You will be more confident and feel better about yourself.....You will want to continue your exercise....continue your sensible nutrition....and continue running around without any clothes.
Kind of makes sense doesn't it?
David:
I strongly believe that the Naturist Society, American Association for Nude Recreation and other nudism advocates need to evolve from "body acceptance" to achieving "body potential." As society becomes bigger and bigger with all the inherent medical issues, we cannot accept these larger bodies. Instead, we need to be realistic about our bodies and then do everything we can (e.g. exercise, responsible food intake, sensible diets and reduced calories) to reach our full potential. Afterall, we only live once. Naturally yours, Godiva.
Posted by: Godiva | July 26, 2009 at 03:59 PM
Hey, Godiva,
Your bio didn't come up when I clicked on it, so I don't yet know who you are. However, thanks for the encouraging words about my article in "N" magazine,launching the Fitness Buffs Special Interest Group for The Naturist Society. Also, good words about Hill Country Nudists, of whom I am a member.
Fitness and nude living can be a combined lifestyle. Moreover, to repeat what I wrote in the article, it's a way to FEEL good as well as LOOK good.
Fittest and bare-est regards,
David Chizum, Austin area.
Posted by: David Chizum | July 25, 2009 at 09:12 AM