Do Toning Shoes Really Work?

The latest development in fitness footwear is toning shoes. These shoes promise to improve your posture, reduce impact shock during walking and to tone and trim your lower body whilst you walk around as normal when wearing them. Slogans such as “Get in shape without setting foot in the gym” (Skechers) and “A workout while you walk” (Fitflops) abound. It’s hardly surprising that these toning shoes are now one of the fastest growing market segments. After all, who wouldn’t want to get toned and trim just by walking around as normal? But do they actually work?

The precise mechanism varies from brand to brand – but a specially designed sole seems to be the common theme. This produces an element of instability whilst walking which triggers muscles which might otherwise be unused in an effort to regain balance. The upshot of this is that the wearers of toning shoes use more energy whilst walking than they would do if they were wearing standard fitness footwear. According to the various manufacturers, this increased level of muscle activity has a number of different benefits including better posture, muscle toning, using more calories and assisting with weight loss.

A wide variety of different manufacturers now offer toning shoes. Reebok Easy Tones, Fitflops sandals, Skechers Shape Ups Shoes and Masai Barefoot Technology are probably the best known and most popular.

Masai Barefoot Technology (MBT) shoes could justifiably claim to have been first on the market. They are based on reproducing the barefoot walking style of Masai tribesmen (hence the name) who are known for their good posture and who have a low incidence of back pain. This barefoot walking sensation is attained by the use of a thick, curved sole which creates an uneven walking platform. According to MBT, the curved sole tends to result in a gentle rolling motion when your heel makes contact with the ground which reduces impact shock whilst walking. It also encourages users to engage their leg muscles for a greater period of time than they would were they walking in conventional exercise shoes.

Skechers Shape Ups use a very similar technology to MBT shoes. They use a chunky, thick, curved sole which incorporates a special kinetic foam wedge, to mimic the sensation of walking barefoot over soft sand. Skechers claim to have introduced the first “stylish” toning shoes. Beauty is in the eye of the beholder, but what’s indisputable is that Skechers offer a massive choice of different toning shoes including exercise shoes, boots, sandals and Mary Janes.

Fit Flops sandals were developed in the UK by Marcia Kilgore – an ex-personal fitness trainer who didn’t have time to get to the gym due to her busy lifestyle. Fitflops started as a selection of brightly coloured sandals but – in response to customer demand – slippers, clogs and boots were subsequently introduced. Fitflops also incorporate a thick, specially curved sole – although it’s not quite as thick and chunky as Skechers and MBTs – which utilises materials of different densities in different parts of the sole. The end result is what Fitflops refer to as the “microwobbleboard” effect. Slight imbalance leads to extra work and a toning workout for the lower body.

The newest addition to the toning shoes market is Reebok Easy Tones. These are a little different to the shoes discussed thus far since they use special air pods in the sole of the shoe as opposed to a curved sole. Once again, the imbalance produced means that the muscles will perform additional work as they try to regain balance. According to Reebok, wearers will perform 11% more work with their hamstrings and calves and 28% more work with their buttock muscles than they would do were they to walk in normal fitness shoes.

So, do toning shoes actually work – or is it just a clever piece of marketing? It almost goes without saying that all of the different manufacturers have had independent clinical trials carried out – many of which seem to support their claims. However, some sceptics query the validity of some of these trials – citing small sample sizes as an area for concern. The fact that the trials, although carried out by independent bodies, were funded by the shoe manufacturers has also given rise to some doubts.

However, the fact that toning shoes have some benefits seems clear. The American Podiatric Medical Association (APMA) have, for example, granted their seal of approval to the Fitflops range of shoes. This shouldn’t be taken to be an endorsement of Fitflops claims regarding trimming and toning – but as confirmation that such shoes can lower impact jarring and reduce the stress on joints whilst walking. It’s interesting to note that, of the many positive user testimonials available online, many of them make reference to better posture and reduced joint pain.

One of the benefits that toning shoes almost certainly deliver, is to encourage their wearers to walk further and more often than normal. If they do nothing else, that’s still a huge step in the right direction.

Get all the facts on toning shoes like Fit flops and Skechers Shape Ups and see if you can get a workout while you walk.

Why Walking Should Be Part Of Your Exercise Program

Walking is increasingly being recognised by many people as a great way to take exercise. There’s no need to join a gym and pay expensive monthly membership fees. As a matter of fact, you don’t need to invest in any costly exercise equipment. You don’t even need any specialised sports wear.

The only thing you require is a pair of good comfortable shoes and outdoor clothing suitable for the climate and you’re all set. If you like, you might consider splashing out on an mp3 player (if you haven’t already got one). The miles, and the time, will fly by when you’re walking along listening to your favourite music.

Walking is a physical activity which is suitable for most people – the majority of us do it daily after all. It will provide you with a low shock, low impact workout which, in comparison with other types of exercise, is practically injury free. It can be carried out to a greater age than many sports and has a very much lower drop out rate than practically all other exercise types.

There are few health problems associated with walking. All the same, it is a physical activity and you should use a little common sense. In the beginning you should start of slowly and build up gradually over time, setting yourself realistic targets. In the event that you feel any discomfort or pain then stop your exercise routine and make an appointment with your doctor so that you can have it checked out.

If you haven’t taken any exercise for a long time, if you are more than 30 lbs overweight, if you have high blood pressure, or if you have any cardiovascular problems then it’s always a good idea to seek your doctor’s advice before embarking on a new fitness regime. However, even if you do suffer from any of these symptoms there’s no need to despair. Be sure to listen to your doctor’s advice, take it easy to begin with and walking will probably improve your condition.

The benefits of walking are numerous. It can reduce the risk of heart disease, lower your blood pressure and improve the stamina and efficiency of your heart and lungs. You will feel less fatigued and be more alert mentally. If you walk regularly you will lose inches and shed pounds without having to visit the gym or starve yourself on the latest fashionable diet. Most importantly, you will feel a lot better and have more energy – which will open up a whole variety of different activities to you and let you enjoy life to the full.

Check out the enormous range of Fit flops sandals, clogs, shoes and boots and see which ones are your favorites.

Lose Weight More Rapidly By Taking Regular Low Intensity Exercise

Losing weight is a very difficult thing to do. If it was easy, then the weight loss industry wouldn’t be the colossal multi-billion dollar giant that it is. Let’s be honest, dieting is no fun – you need to deny yourself all the things that you love and it seems to take forever before you can see any results.

If you wish to see results more quickly then the option of including some element of regular physical exercise, however low intensity it is, is a wise move. One of the great things about exercise is that, not only will you use up more calories because you are taking exercise, but the fact that you are exercising on a regular basis will boost your metabolic rate. You will burn off calories more rapidly, even if you aren’t exercising but just going about your normal daily activities. If you’re sitting reading a book, surfing the internet, watching TV – or even while you’re fast asleep – you will burn calories faster than if you weren’t exercising.

If you have any medical conditions, or if you haven’t taken any regular exercise for a while, then it would be advisable to seek the opinion of your doctor before you embark on any new exercise program. As far as the best form of exercise to perform, you will hear a variety of suggestions from different sources. When all’s said and done, the optimum exercise plan for you is whatever you are able to do and will be able to motivate yourself to do on a consistent basis. It may be true that riding a racing bicycle around a track at an average speed of twelve miles per hour will burn more calories per hour than walking at 3.5 miles per hour or jogging at 5 miles per hour. However, it’s a pointless distinction if you really dislike cycling and won’t be able to motivate yourself to get in the saddle on a consistent and regular basis.

Walking is, without a doubt, one of the very best starter exercises. It’s a form of exercise which requires no special equipment and which everyone already knows how to do. It’s also a low injury risk, low impact way to exercise which can be undertaken by a wide range of age groups and which has a very low dropout rate. You can pretty much fit it into your day whenever it suits you best – you can even increase your step count in two, three or even four mini sessions throughout the day if that’s what works best for you.

Don’t let the fact that walking is a relatively low intensity exercise mode fool you into thinking that it won’t deliver significant health benefits for you. There seems to be general agreement amongst health professionals that walking 10,000 steps each day will deliver a whole host of health benefits – including weight loss. That’s a total of 10,000 steps a day by the way – it includes all your normal walking activity. Get hold of an Omron pedometer and monitor precisely how many steps you take each day. It can also display the distance covered and the number of calories burned – if that is a better way to keep yourself motivated.

There’s no need to achieve the 10,000 step target value in one sudden boost. Look for ways to incorporate walking in your daily routine and then slowly build up to the target value over time. You’ll be amazed at just how easy it is. Walk around when you are on your mobile phone – a 15 minute long telephone call will allow you to squeeze in around about 1,000 extra steps. Get off the bus one or two stops earlier than usual and finish your journey on foot. Take the stairs instead of the elevator. You will be pleasantly surprised at just how fast minor changes like this can increase your daily step count. You will also be very happy at how much more quickly you will be able to both see and feel the benefits.

The only other piece of equipment that you really need for your walking workout routine is a good pair of shoes. Make sure that your shoes don’t give you blisters or cause any discomfort when you walk in them. It will otherwise be hard to motivate yourself to carry on walking. If you wish, you can make use of the latest advances in fitness footwear technology. Shoes such as Skechers Shape Ups, Reebok Easy Tones and Fit flops sandals are all designed to maximize the amount of work carried out by your lower body muscles. They increase the effectiveness of your walking exercise program and help to tone your lower body even faster.

Regardless of what type exercise you go for, and however you manage to fit it into your daily schedule, the most important thing is consistency. A little extra effort, performed consistently, will assist you to burn off calories more quickly – both by exercising itself and by raising your metabolic rate. You’ll achieve results very much faster than by dieting alone and – more importantly – you will feel great.

Discover how Fitflops exercise shoes can boost the effectiveness of your walking workout. Try using an Omron pedometer to monitor your progress and help you to stay motivated.

Take Steps To Trim Your Lower Body

Swiss engineer Karl Muller was walking barefoot through a paddy field in Korea when he realised that his backache was much better. Curious, he did some further research and learned that the Masai tribesmen of Africa do not seem to suffer from backache. They are also renowned for their excellent posture.

Considering the evidence, Muller deduced that walking on soft ground in bare feet was better for your back and joints than walking on hard surfaces. He decided to design a shoe which would attempt to produce the effect of this type of gait on a soft surface such as grass or sand.

The end result was the Masai Barefoot Technology (MBT) shoe. According to the company website, it is so different to conventional footwear that it merits the name of “anti-shoe”.

MBT shoes feature a specially designed curved sole which has no heel. This produces a gentle rolling action when your foot makes contact with the ground. In fact, it’s just like walking on grass. Different densities of material are used in different areas of the sole which helps further by minimizing jarring and impact shock.

Independent scientific studies have verified that this is genuinely better for your back and joints. There are further proven benefits in addition to better posture. For example, whilst walking in MBT shoes, the wearer’s muscles will be activated for longer (when compared to similar walking in traditional footwear). The muscles are used for about 16% longer. Wearers also tend to “walk properly” and take slightly shorter strides. Both of these effects mean that extra work is done.

What this means is that each and every step you take when wearing MBT shoes provides you with extra exercise. It’s like a lower body workout – but without the need to visit the gym. As well as reducing backache and improving posture, MBT shoes can also help you to tone your legs and reduce the size of your buttocks.

You would think that those benefits would be all the motivation required. However, some people do find MBTS a bit chunky and, dare I say it, a little ugly (beauty is in the eye of the beholder). However, there are now other, more cosmetically appealing, alternatives to choose from if you wish. Skechers Shape Ups and Fitflops both incorporate similar curved soles which will tone and trim your lower body whilst engaged in normal walking activities.

Regardless of what footwear you choose, the potential to reduce back and joint pain whilst simultaneously toning and trimming your lower body – and without requiring a visit to the gym – seems very attractive.

Find out more about Skechers Shape Ups and MBT Shoes

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Choosing The Right Footwear And Get A Stress Free Workout

When he was walking through a rice field in Korea barefoot, Karl Muller – a Swiss engineer – found that his back pain (which had been a recurring problem for him) was very much better. Intrigued, he did a little research and discovered that Africa’s Masai tribesmen do not suffer from backache. They are also known for their good posture.

Considering the evidence, Muller deduced that walking on soft ground in bare feet was better for your back and joints than walking on hard surfaces. He decided to design a shoe which would attempt to produce the effect of this type of gait on a soft surface such as grass or sand.

He developed the Masai Barefoot Technology shoe. This is, according to MBT’s website, so radically different from traditional footwear as to deserve the name “anti-shoe”.

MBT shoes have no heel – they incorporate a specially designed curved sole. When your foot makes contact with the ground, a gentle rolling actions is the result. It’s like walking on sand in fact. The sole is constructed using materials of differing densities which further aids in reducing jarring and shocks.

Scientific testing has demonstrated that this is better for both joints and back. There are also other additional benefits. For example, wearing MBT shoes means that the wearer uses their muscles for about 16% longer (compared to when walking in conventional footwear). There is also a tendency to reduce the stride length slightly. Both of these effects mean that a little extra work is carried out.

The end result of this is that every step you take wearing MBT shoes is providing you with additional exercise. It’s like having a lower body workout while you walk. In addition to alleviating back pain and producing improved posture, MBT shoes also help to trim your buttocks and tone your legs.

You would think that those benefits would be all the motivation required. However, some people do find MBTS a bit chunky and, dare I say it, a little ugly (beauty is in the eye of the beholder). However, there are now other, more cosmetically appealing, alternatives to choose from if you wish. Skechers Shape Ups and Fitflops both incorporate similar curved soles which will tone and trim your lower body whilst engaged in normal walking activities.

Whatever footwear you opt for, the possibility of reducing backache and joint pain whilst toning and trimming your lower body – just by walking – seems extremely attractive.

Find out more about Skechers Shape Ups and MBT Shoes

Fitflops Give You A Workout Without Visiting The Gym

Marcia Kilgore is an ex personal trainer who found that she just couldn’t fit visits to the gym into her busy lifestyle. The difference between Marcia and the rest of the world is that she decided to do something about it. Working together with the London South Bank University (LSBU) she came up with the concept of Fitflops – a range of specially designed fitness shoes and sandals.

These fitness shoes have a specially designed curved sole which incorporates a “microwobbleboard” and is subdivided into three zones. The microwobbleboard effect is produced by using materials of different densities in each of these zones. A high density material is used for the heel section. This helps to cushion against impact shocks whilst walking. The central zone is made from a low desnity material and the toe section is manufactured from a medium density material.

What this means is that the muscle activity period is extended when walking normally – by up to 16%. Each and every step that you take in your Fitflops trims and tones your legs and helps to reduce the size of your buttocks. It’s like getting a lower body workout just by walking normally.

Just walking in Fitflops can help you to increase calf, leg and buttock muscle activity, improve your posture, achieve better muscle tone and burn calories. As incredible as it may seem, you can trim your legs and buttocks simply by walking about normally – exactly as you would be doing anyway.

LSBU carried out extensive scientific research, after which the Fitlop range had its UK launch in 2006. They were an immediate success – many people had to join a waiting list in order to get hold of their Fitflops. The range was initially made up chiefly of flipflop type sandals. However, acting upon customer feedback, the range was expanded to include a variety of different colors and styles – including clogs and boots. Fitflops are now available, in both men’s and women’s styles, in the USA.

If you struggle to find time to vist the gym, or if you have difficulty motivating yourself to take exercise (many of us struggle with this), then Fitflops might be a good option. Wear them in place of your normal shoes and walk about normally to get the benefit of a lower body workout without modifying your daily routine.

It’s easy to workout while you walk. Learn how with Fitflops.

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