Written by Jenny Catton
Could something we wear actually make a difference to our weight? Well, there has been a massive rise recently in the popularity of fitness shoes which promise everything from weight loss to increased fitness, toned legs, and even a decrease in cellulite. But do they actually deliver on the promises?
Yes – Carol
Dieting is really boring and I’d much rather lose weight through exercise than through restricting what I eat. I think fitness shoes are great – it may be the novelty factor but they really encourage me to walk more each day which has made a big difference to my activity levels.
The first time I tried fitness shoes, my legs ached the next day which shows that they were working muscles which normally don’t get any exercise. The more I practised wearing them, the more comfortable they became.
It’s often hard to remember to fit exercise into a busy day but whenever I see my fitness shoes it gives me the motivation to get moving. I even leave the car at home now and walk to the shops instead and I get off the bus a couple of stops earlier on my way to work so that I can fit in an extra 20 minutes walking. All this additional exercise has helped me lose a stone in just a couple of months.I’ve noticed my posture has improved too as I’m focussing more on how I position myself.
The great thing is many styles of fitness shoe look just like normal trainers or flip-flops, so you can wear them as you’re going about your daily routine. This means you’re keeping fit without even noticing – which has to be a good thing.
No – Tia
I bought a pair of fitness shoes after being seduced by the adverts but I can’t say that I’ve seen any benefits from them. The first time I wore them, they felt very odd and I didn’t feel stable walking in them. I certainly wouldn’t dare attempting to jog in them – I’d be scared of falling over! After wearing them for just one day, I really ached because they force you to walk in an unnatural way – which can’t be good for your body.
I bought the shoes because I wanted to lose a few pounds and thought that they would help me burn off extra calories whilst walking around. However, I quickly found that the shoes are far too uncomfortable to wear for any length of time. They are really difficult to get the hang of and I’ve since heard that they can cause all kinds of muscle injuries.
Having tried these types of shoes, I don’t believe they are anything more than an expensive fad. They certainly won’t help you lose weight. After all, walking cautiously in wobbly shoes is never going to burn as many calories as putting on a pair of normal trainers and walking at a brisk pace.
The shoes aren’t very flattering either – I certainly couldn’t wear them for work. So my expensive fitness shoes are now gathering dust at the back of the wardrobe and I haven’t lost any weight at all.
