Bullplop
Have you seen all those clunky new fad sneakers out on the market recently, marketed as "toning" shoes? They promise to get you in shape just by walking around. Sweet! Where can I throw about $250??? With names like "Shape-Ups" and "Easy Tones", I'm bound to get my bum looking tight, and my calves all cut and sexy.
If you buy into the whole hype that MBT's, Skechers, or Reebok are coming out with miracle products, let me sell you this magic bean I found - it promises to increase your IQ by 50 points!
These shoes will get you in no better shape than if you walk in regular sneakers, or even barefoot (if you're cool like me.) In fact, walking around on an unstable surface all day sounds might dangerous to me. I guess the people who are buying these things have never had a sprained ankle, or else they'd think twice before sticking them on their feet.
ACE, the American Council on Exercise, recently came out with a study finding that these shoes do nothing different than the typical walking shoe. John Porcari, Ph.D, says, “Don’t buy these shoes because of the claims that you’re going to tone your butt more or burn more calories. That’s absolutely wrong." ACE conducted a scientific test on two groups of women and found no substantial differences in muscle use while walking on a treadmill at different inclines (these shoes are too dangerous to go running in.)
Will this study, or any rantings by barefoot fitness professionals, do anything to sway the public into buying regular sneakers, or better yet, minimalist shoes? My guess is probably not, though over time the fad, like any other fad, will fade away, and we'll all have a good laugh about "toning" shoes.
If you buy into the whole hype that MBT's, Skechers, or Reebok are coming out with miracle products, let me sell you this magic bean I found - it promises to increase your IQ by 50 points!
These shoes will get you in no better shape than if you walk in regular sneakers, or even barefoot (if you're cool like me.) In fact, walking around on an unstable surface all day sounds might dangerous to me. I guess the people who are buying these things have never had a sprained ankle, or else they'd think twice before sticking them on their feet.
ACE, the American Council on Exercise, recently came out with a study finding that these shoes do nothing different than the typical walking shoe. John Porcari, Ph.D, says, “Don’t buy these shoes because of the claims that you’re going to tone your butt more or burn more calories. That’s absolutely wrong." ACE conducted a scientific test on two groups of women and found no substantial differences in muscle use while walking on a treadmill at different inclines (these shoes are too dangerous to go running in.)
Will this study, or any rantings by barefoot fitness professionals, do anything to sway the public into buying regular sneakers, or better yet, minimalist shoes? My guess is probably not, though over time the fad, like any other fad, will fade away, and we'll all have a good laugh about "toning" shoes.
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