These ridiculous looking shoes claim to tone your butt, burn off more calories, and improve your balance. There are a lot of these kinds of shoes on the market, but the Skechers are my favorite because it seems like such an unlikely company to produce a product like this. Everything I say, however, can double for most of the other products as well.
They work (I use this term loosely) by putting you off balance to engage more muscles from your ankles to your booty. The rocking sole is also meant to enforce more extension and so you will use more of your muscles and really feel the burn. They are also heavier than normal shoes, so you burn a tiny bit more calories when wearing them.
I don’t know if anyone has ever told you this, but running or walking for extended periods of time with ankle weights on is probably the worst thing you can do to your joints. These shoes are the exact same thing. They are heavy and chunky and put unnecessary pressure on your joints, especially the knees, forcing you to walk with an unnatural stride.
Many people report feeling a burn in their leg muscles, but that’s because they are dragging around these ridiculous, heavy monstrosities. Eventually, yes, this will tone your muscles, but that’s only if you can stand walking around in them for that long. But, of course, walking in general is going to tone your legs, so how much these shoes have to do with anything is debatable.
On a completely superficial note, these things look horrible! I mean just awful. They remind me of that episode of Seinfeld where Kramer wears corrective looking shoes to enhance his basketball game, but everyone thinks he’s mentally handicapped.
I still don’t understand why people just can’t work out. This is what I don’t get: you have to walk in order for the shoes to work, so just walk and be done with it. Any results you get from these things above and beyond just walking in general is going to be negligible. Oh, and by the way, they run about $110. Does that sound worth it to anyone?
Comments
David
October 16th, 2009 - 12:18:02 AM
"I don’t know if anyone has ever told you this, but running or walking for extended periods of time with ankle weights on is probably the worst thing you can do to your joints. These shoes are the exact same thing." First of all, "exact same" is redundant. I guess they will let any cheerleader write articles these days. Second of all, I picked up a pair of these shoes just yesterday, in fact. I didn't buy them because I really don't want to spend that kind of money on shoes right now, but I physically picked them up with my hands. These shoes are not nearly the same weight as even the lighter ankle weights. Also, the weight displacement and fit is different with ankle weights. For the weights to feel right, you have to contort your ankle and strain your joints in an unnatural manner so that they don't feel like they're falling off of you. Besides, boots weigh twice as much as these shoes. Are you gonna make the same argument for boots? This is not even mentioning the fact that one usually ADDS ankle weights to shoes they're already wearing, so having JUST the shape ups on will not be any trouble for one's joints. YOU, my dear, don't know what you're talking about. Just like conspiracy theorists use half truths to explain their arguments, you have done the same thing in this article.
Kelly Turner
October 16th, 2009 - 6:18:41 AM
David- You know, normally I would respond with many other credible sources that sited the exact same findings I did, as well as the fact I did wear these shoes (do you really think I would write about something I didnt actually try?) but when you lower yourself to insulting someone you have never actually met, over something as stupid as shoes, I won't waste my time because you obviously aren't concerned with having an adult discussion about this topic. I won't get ensnared in a name calling match, which is obviously how you argue. Soprry to be redundant, but this is a blog, blogs are written with colloquialisms -its a writing style. Relax. and where the hell did calling me a cheerleader come from? I'm not, and never have been, but why is that supposed to be insulting? I love the internet- only here do people find it acceptable to come to your job and call you names
Tricia
January 7th, 2010 - 9:58:24 PM
I got these shoes as a Christmas present and I like them. They make me taller, aren't any heavier, and are comfortable. I don't like to exercise, so I wear them when I take walks to help get my heart rate up. I did a 2.5mi walk this evening with some tiny upward slopes and I feel like I got some good exercise in. I wouldn't suggest wearing these all day though.