Ive researched it quite a bit, but im still a little worried about diseases and cold footing (when winter comes around) Any helpful tips that you found useful when first starting? Some reassuring words would be lovely as well.
dont try too hard in the beginning. dont start off during cold months. always watch your step. be careful if you have cuts or broken skin in your feet. beware of extreme heat, some hot pavements can be challenging even for the seasoned barefooter, so carry some flipflops if you dont feel too confident. if your feet hurt, listen to them. never, never, never shuffle your feet. beware of rocks and other sharp objects, for a tough skinned BF'er hitting a piece of concrete with the big toe is a mildly painful annoyance, but for the tenderfoot most often that means a bleeding cut. dont go too far over harsh surfaces like thick gravel when youre shoeless, coming back could be challenging when feet start to swell. dont worry if your feet swell a little, theyre just getting back in use. carry some teflon with you just in case. if the skin over your heels tends to go excessively thick, soak and file the excess with pumice stone. avoid aggressive soap, just soak your feet and scrub'em thoroughly. keep skin moist, let it go too thick and dry and eventually it will crack. you may want to apply hand cream over your feet if that happens. enjoy pleasant surfaces like grass and sand and have a good time. oh, beware of snakes, if that applies. carry a stick if you go hiking or through dense grass. in snow or ice, if your feet go numb it is time to cover them: frostbite could be not far away. quick ! dont pass directly from ice to the stove to avoid chillblain. dont mow your lawn barefoot with a power tool .
Going barefoot is great fun! The fact that only a few do it MUST NEVER stop you. It feels great, and the best part is: IT IS HEALTHY! Walking is GOOD for you, and doing it barefoot is the BEST!. People WILL stare or make stupid remarks or (occsionally) make friendly remarks. People do not LIKE what they do not themselves do. You can always purchase barefoot sandals for use when you want to go into stores. As far as truly public barefooting---in your neighborhood---just take it SLOW, a little bit at a time to build up your soles. Best to do it in moderate weather---not too hot, not too cold---JUST RIGHT. And try smooth surfaces first or your nearest grassy park. Your leg muscles will need time to adjust, too, as you will likely lead with the forefoot instead of the shod heelstrike. That's just a natural adjustment. The principal fact about barefooting is how GOOD it feels and how NATURAL it is. All the social "hooey" is just that---you'll find a way to deal with those awful "others." TAKE IT SLOW and ENJOY it!
The points are right. The main deal is don't worry about your walking mechanics....nature will deal with it. sorta always scan ahead of you and you will see problems like glass and probably pick up a dime or two as well. looking down also relieves you of any looks good or bad and any possible disapproval. try bank atms, then lines, then bookstores and malls and you will begin to get very comfortable with the "social" aspect. Its more a physical care and psych deal. once ur over these ur good.
It feels so good that all your fears will fade away. It's like eating a Krispy Kreme Donut for the first time..........without the calories.
Thank you all. I usually barefoot around school and outside but i want to go fulltime. Ive purchased barefoot sandals to avoid confrontation from teachers and store managers. Do you know where i can get the stone to get rid of some of thick skin when needed? And how do i know i need to get rid of excess thick skin?
Well, the thicker padding on your soles is there for a purpose (toughening up the soles to a "living leather" condition) - therefore, you shouldn't worry about it. Walking on slightly abrasive surfaces, like pavement or beach sand will keep that in natural condition. When skin gets too think at the sides of your heels, for instance, you can always get rid of it with a pumice stone or Ped-Egg before it cracks. That should be done regularly, since deep cracks don't only look nasty, they can also hurt. Furthermore, you might want to use some moisturizing lotion to keep the skin supple and flexible - lotions containing urea work quite fine, but also plain old recipes like bag balm or even olive oil will work. Enjoy your barefooting! Wiggling bare toes, ~*Ganesha*~
