Shape Up Trainers

TugaGirl

Hi there. I was wondering, has anyone heard of shape up trainers?

http://www.fitnessfootwear.com/p-2493-skechers-shape-ups-metabolize-white-and-silver.aspx

Apparently they have the funny design because they are supposed to help you tone up your bum and legs.

Has anyone got them and if so, what do you think? I am thinking of getting them, but they seem a bit expensive. I do a lot of walking anyway, and if I could make my exercise better and loose more whilst I do it that would be great.

Thanks

jenniewb

Yeah- they look a bit like MBTs (http://uk.mbt.com/) and I'd go as far to say they ripped the idea from MBTs and have a cheaper version.

I have MBTs and quite a few on the boards do too with mixed reviews. Most people seem to like them but bear in mind several things:

Toning up is great, but unless you deal with any excess body weight (if you have any/if you are overweight) then any toned muscles will at best not show and at worse will become slightly larger and then make you look bigger as a result This is because on your body you have bones/skeleton which is essentially covered with muscles and then on top of the muscles you get any body fat. If you have too much body fat, basicly any muscle underneath wont get a chance to show, no matter how much hard work you do walking in these! The only way to drop some of the body fat (and you do need some of it!) is to have more calories going in then coming out. Diet and exercises combined is the best way.

Be aware that you can also adopt a bad posture even with shoes like these. I have a problem when I wear shoes like these- I poke out my belly to help balance myself without even noticing!! This means when I'd not focusing on holding myself in, I'm actually training my muscles to give me a pot belly! Be careful of this one, on speaking to others it appears I'm not alone in that!

If you do decide to get a pair of these, try and test them first! They need to fit snugly as your feet will be working in a new way and may become tired sooner. You need to make sure things feel comfy. I didn't do this. I wore mine and ignored the strange pressing feeling on my heel, I thought I'd just need to wear in the shoes. But actually this didn't go away, my boots caused me really bad blisters which soon turned into flaps of skin hanging off my feet and socks soaked in blood! I can wear the shoes now but only if I wear 2 pairs of thick ski-type socks and also 2-3 blister plasters on each part of the foot where the shoes rub. Be careful and try on the shoes first- I'm sure they're not all like that but it will make me more cautious anyway!

Good luck and I hope it works out for you!

Gopppers

Hiya, sounds just like Fitflops to me. Never had them as they are really expensive!! But have read some reviews that they do work... Proof is in the pudding i suppose!

Gops x