2nd August '07
FitFlops are fab, according to AOL
As seen on AOL Stylelist, August 2, 2007:
FitFlop: Fact or Fiction?
See, FitFlops claim that wearing their shoes tone and trim your legs. I've worn more than my fair share of flip flops over the years and had yet to have the toned legs and a tighter butt that this pair of shoes claimed to give you. Described as half sexy streamlining, half muscle-toning trainer, FitFlops were developed by expert bio-mechanics Dr. David Cook and Darren James at the Centre for Human Performance at LSBU in London. How do they work? By loading your leg muscles more so you get a workout while you walk.
This is where the press release went berserk. I quote, "The FitFlop's uniquely built multi-density midsole activates muscles midstep to help tone thighs, calves and glutes by slightly destabalizing the foot as one walks, creating a continuous tension in the leg and buttock muscles." That made reasonable sense to me in theory, but in practice? I'd be the judge of that. Further in the press release... "In fact, FitFlops are biomechanically engineered to improve core muscle strength, absorb shock on feet, knees and back, encourage better posture, burn calories, help reduce cellulite and lessen joint strain -- all with a powerful new built-in micro-wobbleboard workout-enhancing mechanism."
Wow, do they do my laundry, clean my toilet and make me coffee in the morning, too? Do they read me stories before I go to sleep, and make my bed after I've awakened? It all seemed like a bunch of hullabaloo to me, but I was still determined to wear them for myself to find out.
I got my FitFlops a month or so ago and immediately put them on. I didn't really notice a difference in them when I was standing still, but when I started moving, I found myself working a little harder on my balance. I'd been having back pains for weeks, which made it hard to walk comfortably, but putting on the FitFlops helped me correct my posture so that walking wasn't a chore, and lightened the load on my knees and hips as well. It's not like you have to concentrate when wearing them, but you do notice a slight difference in the way your muscles have to work when you're walking. It activates little bits and pieces in your legs that you didn't know you had until you wear them.
So how do my legs look now? Check it out:
Okay, so that's not really me. But I can tell you honestly that there's a bit more definition between where my butt ends and where my thigh begins, the line that runs down my quads is more pronounced, my feet and calves look leaner. Believe me, I was as skeptical as the next guy, but it looks like I have to eat my words on this one. FitFlops really do as they say, and they've now entered my closet in heavy shoe rotation. Now if only they could make food this way ...
See the full story and reader comments at: http://www.stylelist.com/blog/2007/08/02/fitflop-fact-of-fiction/
