Bike Shorts, Body Image, Thigh Chafe, and Self-Acceptance

[kiss-o-matic]

and a nevernude.

There are dozens of us...

[Thecatman]

Simon says he's 6'5" and 165lbs
I'm on the other end...5'6" and 185lbs and have never been critisized because of my probabl self-inficted physique at BM.

[Oldguy]

And I am the mean, 5'10" and 330#.

[Drawingablank]

[stinkyfoot]

The people in the videos are pretty, but the people out running around at all hours are mostly just fit enough to cope with the desert climate, easier to maintain homeostasis in heat, dry, cold if you're fit, and that category involves a great deal of body and age diversity. Fit people are not so bad either, because most of us are more impressed with how much fun you're having than by how closely your body resembles some kind of ideal form.

You should definitely get some exercise before hand (i'm working on my core and upper body so I can climb more domes!), because you will appreciate that effort when you get there are realize how much harder moving around is in that heat and altitude.

[StevenGoodman]

[quote="stinkyfoot"]You should definitely get some exercise before hand (i'm working on my core and upper body so I can climb more domes!), because you will appreciate that effort when you get there are realize how much harder moving around is in that heat and altitude.[/quote]

Getting some exercise before BM is a very good idea. Especially if you are taking a bicycle, and don't ride them regularly. Riding a bike without some prep, especially in playa dust, will get you sore really quick!

Drat, I should have taken a bike ride today. Didn't think of that. I went to the beach instead...

Martini Steve

[Savannah]

You should definitely get some exercise before hand (i'm working on my core and upper body so I can climb more domes!), because you will appreciate that effort when you get there are realize how much harder moving around is in that heat and altitude.

My shade structure is so insanely heavy that it's excellent reinforcement to use the chest press machine at the gym. No joke.

[Roberto Dobbisano]

[cristaewb]

This will be my first year, but i already love you guys thanks so much for this thread. It pretty much made my night, and helped assuage some fears i was having about my voluptuous body and the playa. <3

[thecrunkbabe]

omg i totally know how you feel. i too have lost a lot of weight, ive lost about 80 pounds. the result is really upsetting (due to hanging skin that really needs to be surgically removed) and watching a lot of the videos of burning man of some of the ladies has gotten me a little scared and a little envious bc i could NEVER be that bold to reveal so much! but i think that its great that people can and are comfortable doing so.

i mean honestly, i really dont think that it matters, and there have been many times ive seen, i guess, "bigger" ladies reveal a lot, and i really think that they still are totally amazing looking, i mean women in general are just better looking so i mean...its just true. just as long as you are healthy then thats all that matters. and also, it's probably not as bad as you think. but i dont want you to think that i am invalidating your feelings but sometimes we tend to think of things about ourselves being worse than what they really are. i bet you look awesome! really!

also, i think that the overall crowd is rather accepting. ive been hearing a lot of things about it and its a kind of 'come as you are we love you regardless' kind of thing. but also, this is my first burn too so i dont know by experience but i really feel that to be true otherwise i WOULD NOT be going, no way.

anyway i hope you enjoy yourself. make sure to buy some bike shorts that really fit your personality, like really colorful, really ridiculous, put glowing things on them, paint like an awesome saying on them. have a lot of fun!

[FeetOfClay]

hey crunkbabe--welcome to E-playa!

i love your post, and congrats on weight loss/self-acceptance and all good stuff

what's funny is--my OP probably sounds kinda insecure and shy...but really, i have worked as a nude artists model, alt photography model, and have no problem being nudie...it's not so much that i don't want my thighs seen--it's more than without some kind of cloth barrier, they will rub together and i will practically bleed (my thighs are VERY good friends--always be each other's side)

and when i saw all the videos of girls with thighs that don't touch, i was kinda like "oh great--another reason to start doubting myself".

but i have made so many amazing costumes for the Burn, i am no longer too worried. and besides, i can always just have my breasts out, and that makes me happy. breasts have a way of kind of making everything all better

[Lonesomebri]

If you really want to dodge the attention, bike shorts are nothing, but you may want to avoid wearing the bike helmet.

This thread could be full of snark, as the OPer has nothing to fear. Rock on sister, bring it.

".....breasts have a way of kind of making everything all better"

No, seriously, what are you worried about? Other people need to be explaining their worthiness to you.

[wh..sh]

".....breasts have a way of kind of making everything all better"

No, seriously, what are you worried about? Other people need to be explaining their worthiness to you.

Oh no! How am I EVER going to prove to the world that I am awesome and I rock, without having my breasts out?

[FIGJAM]

Bold is beutiful!!!

[Lonesomebri]

".....breasts have a way of kind of making everything all better"

No, seriously, what are you worried about? Other people need to be explaining their worthiness to you.

Oh no! How am I EVER going to prove to the world that I am awesome and I rock, without having my breasts out?

Just be you.......? Whatever rocks your boat. That's all....
Heck, I'm as awesome as they come, and my breasts have nothing to do with it . Breasts aren't the issue, the proof is in the pudding.
Delicious creamy pudding.

[wh..sh]

Just be you.......?

Well, that's a long shot.

Whatever rocks your boat. That's all....
Heck, I'm as awesome as they come, and my breasts have nothing to do with it . Breasts aren't the issue, the proof is in the pudding.
Delicious creamy pudding.

Of course, I was being sarcastic.
It's just that, at times, I sense much pressure among women to bare the body, to prove sensuality.
I really hope the definition of "secure" doesnt start and end with the willingness to do what the crowd considers "cool".
Again, whatever rocks your boat.

And for good reason, I am being vague.

[theCryptofishist]

Just be you.......?

Well, that's a long shot.

Whatever rocks your boat. That's all....
Heck, I'm as awesome as they come, and my breasts have nothing to do with it . Breasts aren't the issue, the proof is in the pudding.
Delicious creamy pudding.

Of course, I was being sarcastic.
It's just that, at times, I sense much pressure among women to bare the body, to prove sensuality.
I really hope the definition of "secure" doesnt start and end with the willingness to do what the crowd considers "cool".
Again, whatever rocks your boat.

And for good reason, I am being vague.

*shows wh..sh how to set the eplaya screen device so she can be vague automatically*

[wh..sh]

*shows wh..sh how to set the eplaya screen device so she can be vague automatically*

My laziness is my automatic vague setting. I am not particularly fond of typing long posts.

From my personal experience -
Every single time (not just on eplaya), when someone comes forward with the willingness to bare breasts/go naked, there is always a response along the line of "you are cool, kick ass and a secure person".
There is hardly any other one liner that will quickly put me in that "cool" person image box. Make a screaming declaration to take your top off and you are suddenly THIS incredibly secure goddess person.

Of course, it all comes down to how each society defines security and self-image. None any better than the other.

Oh and my point is - I disagree

[AntiM]

At our regional, I wandered over to the potties topless. Our neighboring newbie camper said, "You're so brave". I though she was talking about dealing with the stupid drain in a camp setting (I was carrying my shotglass I'd just emptied of lymphatic fluid). Nope, she was talking about not giving a shit about body image. Oh. Yeah, that. Went right over my head.

[Lonesomebri]

"......and that makes me happy. breasts have a way of kind of making everything all better"

Who am I to tell her she is wrong? It's her happiness with herself that I think is awesome and should rock on........or was that desire taken, by some, to have a purely sexual intent? Interesting. Breast in or out, that really isn't the issue........to me. Make yourself happy !!!!

I don't automatically consider nude people more secure, sometimes the opposite, seeking strange approval.... In fact, the more nudes there are around me, the more unstable I become.

[wh..sh]

I am not questioning any intents or Feet's happiness. People should do what makes them happy.
I just refuse to agree with the general notion that naked people are more secure and vice versa. There are all kinds in both nudist and non-nudist groups.
Clothes (or lack of it) don't make a man.

I just had to state my unpopular views when Feet presented comfort with nudity as a counter-statement to insecurity.

[Machina]

All I have to say is, I plan on rocking makeshift bike shorts (a.k.a. booty shorts, made of cheap leggings I cut short) much of the time, and it's going to be awesome. Seriously.

[surreal55]

Hi all, this is my very first post and this summer will be my first Burn!
I'm a somewhat voluptuous lady myself who has had serious body issues dating back to childhood. Over the years, I've been on a gradual (sometimes painfully slow) journey towards loving and accepting myself – and I truly do love myself and my body now ---- most of the time!!

Two years ago, I lost some weight and started feeling better about myself than I had before.... then came grad school, tons of stress and little time for exercise, and recently, the weight has come back on much to my dismay. I too am committed to a healthy lifestyle of exercise and healthy eating (I'm a certified yoga instructor and hit the gym several times a week, but my appearance doesn't reflect that of a stereotypical 'yogi'/exercise fanatic) Since re-gaining this weight, I've realized I have a choice: either torture myself with self-loathing, or the much simpler and happier solution: just try to love myself, dammit!

Every time I watch some inspiring, colorful, sexy new Burning Man youtube video, my first thought is usually something like: "God, it's so (beautiful/surreal/artistic/emotional) there, i really NEED to go!" But, to be honest, my *second* thought is usually more along the lines of: "Wow, everybody there seems really thin" or "I wish I could rock something like what she's wearing" or "i wish i could afford cool boots like that"

I've had similar thoughts of wondering how I will *compare* with others on the playa. In a way, I hate to admit it, because I'm certainly not going to BM in order to try to look better than anyone, or to 'rank' others either. That's exactly what I *don't* want this experience to be about for me OR for anyone out there! But we all have egos and a desire to feel attractive, along with whatever our personal insecurities may be, and it's sometimes good to just admit it!

I have no idea what to expect at BM, but my hope is that I will be able to push myself out of many of my comfort zones.... Including in the area of my body image. I'd like to 'experiment' with nudity, and begin to shake off the years of self-loathing and trying to hide my skin under "flattering"/slimming clothing. Not because I have to, or feel that I should, but because I can, and I can't think of a more perfect place for me to do so. I'm also excited to be around many other body types bared underneath the desert sun, because it's bound to be amazing de-conditioning from all of the tapes that still sometimes play in my head about what a 'beautiful' body is. I look forward to seeing all sizes and shapes confidently rockin' it out there - nekkid, costumed, or in 'normal' attire!!

Anyway - I know that going nekkid at BM wasn't what the OP was about, but the body image concerns struck a chord for me, and I'm happy that this conversation is being had!

[BBadger]

It kind of defies logic that people who think themselves less attractive think they're going to be actively compared against more attractive people. Think about it: if someone is truly more attractive--turning heads or whatever--are people really going to pay any attention elsewhere? Like you?

I think people have this sad illusion in their heads that others actually pay attention to them. Do you pay attention to people on the bus? On the street? At the mall? Most people I classify as background noise. I can barely remember anybody I run into during the day that I don't already know.

GET OVER IT.

This all reminds me of women at the gym thinking that people (men) are, um.. judging(?) them while they work out if they're big or whatever. That insecurity leads them to want to work only in the womens rooms or maybe will stop attending altogether. NEWSFLASH: nobody is paying attention to you. If they are, they're probably admiring you for getting in shape. Most people, however, are zoned out working on their own stuff.

Every single time (not just on eplaya), when someone comes forward with the willingness to bare breasts/go naked, there is always a response along the line of "you are cool, kick ass and a secure person".

Yeah I remember some woman doing that with a female friend of mine at one such event when the latter decided to be naked. It gets really annoying.

Yeah lady, WE GOT IT. So "confident and secure" to be naked.

Now leave us alone.

This isn't a women's rights statement. It's not a demonstration of confidence. It's just being naked because we we're at an event where we can be (safely) and it's fun. You don't need to voice some acknowledgement of some sort of "motivation" behind it. GET OVER IT LADY.

[Simon of the Playa]

i am a never nude, but i am all for people doing whatever they want, however, stay away from me, no hugs, dont sit down on my furniture, and keep your junk away from my food.

otherwise you get a cattle prod where the sun dont shine.


seriously.

[AntiM]

It kind of defies logic that people who think themselves less attractive think they're going to be actively compared against more attractive people. Think about it: if someone is truly more attractive--turning heads or whatever--are people really going to pay any attention elsewhere? Like you?

I think people have this sad illusion in their heads that others actually pay attention to them. Do you pay attention to people on the bus? On the street? At the mall? Most people I classify as background noise. I can barely remember anybody I run into during the day that I don't already know.

GET OVER IT.

This all reminds me of women at the gym thinking that people (men) are, um.. judging(?) them while they work out if they're big or whatever. That insecurity leads them to want to work only in the womens rooms or maybe will stop attending altogether. NEWSFLASH: nobody is paying attention to you. If they are, they're probably admiring you for getting in shape. Most people, however, are zoned out working on their own stuff.

Every single time (not just on eplaya), when someone comes forward with the willingness to bare breasts/go naked, there is always a response along the line of "you are cool, kick ass and a secure person".

Yeah I remember some woman doing that with a female friend of mine at one such event when the latter decided to be naked. It gets really annoying.

Yeah lady, WE GOT IT. So "confident and secure" to be naked.

Now leave us alone.

This isn't a women's rights statement. It's not a demonstration of confidence. It's just being naked because we we're at an event where we can be (safely) and it's fun. You don't need to voice some acknowledgement of some sort of "motivation" behind it. GET OVER IT LADY.

Ah, but men GET to take their shirts off in public in defaultia, women do not. So even though no one may be paying attention, the first time you get naked where anyone can see... even if no one is looking....there is an emotional response for many women. That no one cares is in itself a powerful thing. Letting go of all those years of self judgement is awesome. No, not every woman feels it, and I imagine some shy guys who dare to take off their clothes in public for the first time outside of a gym shower feel differently too. And yes, the emotional response can encompass confidence.
"Get over it", yeah, well, you can get over being annoyed too. Just because it isn't true for you does not invalidate anyone else's feelings. Don't you have a good set of earplugs?

And yeah, keep your naked ass off my camp chairs, Skidmark.

[BBadger]

"Get over it", yeah, well, you can get over being annoyed too. Just because it isn't true for you does not invalidate anyone else's feelings. Don't you have a good set of earplugs?

Some earplugs might've been nice, as it was like 10-15 minute of that, not just the passing statement that gets the thumbs-up.

[AntiM]

Ah. She could have at least let you motorboat them in appreciation, huh?

[BBadger]

Ah. She could have at least let you motorboat them in appreciation, huh?

Well the other woman wasn't topless. Maybe it was one of those "I wish I could do that..." kind of things? Really, I would've been happy enough to just have the conversation cut short.

[AntiM]

I'm trying to be sympathetic, but I just keep laughing. I think I feel the same when someone insists I hold their baby.