A NATURIST who even goes to his local pub completely NAKED claims the unusual lifestyle saves him a "fortune" on clothes and energy bills.

Stuart Gilmour, 43, said he feels his most confident naked, and now only gets dressed if he's going to work or nipping to the shops.

The dad-of-two said that he'd always been comfortable naked, and when he'd holiday with his parents as a teen would nip away to find a quiet spot where he could sunbathe nude.

Despite his stripped-down lifestyle, it wasn't until his wife Karen, 42, googled 'why is my husband always naked?' that he came across the word 'naturism' – a lifestyle and cultural movement advocating social nudity.

The wagon driver, from Middleton, Greater Manchester, claims that baring all has saved him a "fortune" in energy bills.

As well as needing to do minimum laundry, Stuart said being a naturalist is beneficial to his mental, physical and emotional health.

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The 43-year-old claims that embracing the alternative lifestyle "lifts his spirits" and that the support he's received from family, friends and the public has been overwhelmingly positive.

Stuart, who has even cycled in the nude for charity, created a Facebook page to promote naturism and all its benefits, which has amassed more than 1,100 likes and followers.

The body positivity advocate is keen to spread the message that "every body is beautiful" and that naturism shows everybody that it's "ok to be different" – whether that be size, shape or colour.

Stuart, of Middleton, Greater Manchester, said: "I'm more comfortable and confident without clothes, believe it or not.

"I feel better in myself, have more self-esteem and self-confidence – It's saved me a fortune in clothes and energy bills as I've not got the washing or dryer going as much.

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"A lot of people have body issues, if I wear a pair of pants or a shirt, I'm always conscious and wondering 'is this shirt too tight? Or are the jeans too tight? Or is it digging in?'

"But when you're naked you don't have any of them hang ups."

Stuart said that he was comfortable being naked from a very young age, adding: "I used to go on holiday with my parents and say to them when I was about 16-17 'I'm going off'.

"I'd do some rock climbing but then I'd just find a quiet spot where nobody was about, take my clothes off and sunbathe for a few hours, get dressed and then come back."

Stuart said that at first he'd only strip off in the comfort of his own home and in the garden, but while on a canal one scorching hot day he decided to go for a bike ride naked.

Stuart said: "I was absolutely petrified.

"It was very nerve-wracking because you don't know how you're going to be perceived.

"When I did that, everybody was like 'oh my God, it's amazing'."

He claims there's many benefits to naturism, such as topping up your natural vitamin D levels and during the winter months he enjoys wild swimming, which he says is great for his mental health.

Stuart said: "For me it just lifts my spirit and I'm an all round much happier person.

"I go for walks and did a local one the other day down the reservoirs. It's actually a conversation starter with people.

"You have a chat and they're like 'oh, are you a naturist?' and you just have a conversation with people you would never have a conversation with, it would just be 'hiya' and then you'd carry on.

"It's making you feel better, it's better for your circulation because your body's doing what it should be doing to control your temperature, just everything seems to work a lot better."

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He added: "There's a local pub to me who allow me in as a naturist.

"Another pub allow me in as a naturist but I ring up first and ask if they're ok with a naturist visiting their property, rather than just walking in.

"Because it's private property at the end of the day and I'm not out to upset anybody.

"It's not illegal in public so they can look at you or turn away from you but when you're on private property then it's a bit different, it's just mutual respect isn't it really?"

"I just love to be able to experience everyday life without the restrictions of clothing, promoting body positivity and embracing the individuality that is our bodies.

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"Naturism shows people it’s ok to be different whether that be size, shape or colour and the general wellbeing it can give you.

"Every body is beautiful."

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