MBT trainers do they work?

HappySad

Are they any good?
http://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/health-and-families/features/mbt-shoes-do-they-actually-work-857532.html

Want to tone and loose weight with them.

Any usefule web links are very much welcome and your views on them.

jenniewb

I have a pair of these- I got mine from Sweaty Betty, they fitted me with them, told me how to walk, I did my research too, really believed they could work.

But instead I got blisters! My heel was rubbed so much I was bleeding! I soon found out that certain types have a harder plastic insert on the back of the heel, keeps their shape but it also can rub. Alot, and cause pain, and scarring. I can wear mine at best for a few days in one go, before the blisters are too big, haver too much pus or are bleeding. I have tried bliset patches, wearing two pairs of thick ski type socks (the shoes are too tight but wanted to see if it helped, it did not), tired 3 blistex blister plasters which gets me as far as 5 dyas before its too painful. Needless to say any tining is lost on me, I get the feeling they are supposed to be worn longer then a week at a time! My legs didn't feel any pain or aching what so ever, posture no differnce- infact I think I may have been slouching more as a result of feeling kore self concious with the height (I live in lfats normally) and also crunching over in pain with of my heels!

I would get fitflops, atlest my feet don't bleed even if I still don't notice any difference!

I should add though, I do many gym workouts a week, various spinning classes, aerobics classes, I am quite active anyway, so maybe the more subtle changes are a bit lost on me in comparison to everything else.

lostinrates

Mine are super comfy, and yes I can feel them a little, but I wouldn't say they made any difference at all to toning or weightloss. I walked miles and miles in mine when I first moved to Italy I walked every inch in my MBTs and I think they actually helped with comfort as they are really bouncy, but they are heavy so the foot comfort is slightly off set by that., I hate the complicated fastening on my trainers.

Point to note: its VERY easy to turn an ankle on them.

Jojo_the_Tightfisted

Got the Skechers version. I can't fault the cushioning and support, and my posture has improved. I'm still taking things carefully, but I would quite happily wear them all day and think I am more active as a result (whether I have lost any weight I couldn't say). I can feel them working, particularly as the pavements where I live are extremely uneven (the sideways slopes really get the lower leg muscles working to keep you upright). DD2 wears them as well, as the GP saw mine and suggested she got them as well (she has hypermobile joints and tends to not put her weight squarely on her feet). She loves them (but the dance teacher insists on dance sneakers - they are more flexible for sudden changes in direction)

I would imagine that, for such a dramatic transformation as you have done in the last 2 years (and well done for that), you probably bought some fairly good quality trainers to protect your joints when you started exercising at a higher weight.

I would look on it as trying a different style of trainer - bear in mind that sometimes a type doesn't suit (Nike wearers don't tend to be comfortable in Adidas, for example, because the fit is different).

I love them, but they don't suit everyone.

ema_o

I have MBTs, I love them, they are so comfy and I can walk miles in them, however I would say they have helped me tone up a little and maybe lose a little weight but only because I have been walking more in them - so I go out for a walk at lunchtime, park a bit further from work so I get more steps in.
Looking at your weight stats you are quite similar to me (in size and target). I don't think you would notice enough difference from walking alone (even in MBTs) unless you are currently very inactive. I have been doing interval training and lots of classes at the gym, and I think that and eating well is the way I will lose weight, not just from walking, however I have always been quite active so I need to do more to make my body lose weight.

Chyna-s

I also own a pair of MBT's. At first, they did rub my heels so I wore some Bliseze (sp?) on them but after a couple of weeks they were brilliant. They are now so comfy and my legs are toned (nice to see my calf muscle again lol) and even reduced my cellulite which I am ever so grateful for.

IlonaRN

My Mum has some, and thinks they are great! She mainly bought them for walking in (particularly when on holiday), as she has one leg shorter than the other due to having polio as a child. She says they are super-comfortable.

Steph998

I bought a pair of MBT's seven years ago. The pilates teacher who sold them ran a workshop...so we had to spend three hours walking round a room until she would let us 'loose' in them...lol.

I bought them because I suffer from painful joints (hips, knees) and was told MBT's could help. I would not buy them again. I didn't notice any particular benefits....no improvement in joint pain, and certainly no muscle tone gain in my legs, no weight loss. I did not diet or excercise in any other way while I was wearing them. They do make you more aware of how you walk, and the backs of your legs ache after a long walk, but I really would not say they were worth the money I paid for them. However...as a real money saver I was determined to get my moneys worth, so I wore them every day. Over time, in addition to my painful hips and knees, they also gave me very 'achey' ankles, (which apparently is quite common) so I stopped wearing them and sold them on eBay! :rotfl: