Let me start this post by saying that this is not a sponsored post. I bought these myself and wanted to share some hard, objective data with you to potentially help you with your own weight loss/fitness journey!
A few months ago when I reignited my fitness journey, one of the first conscious decisions I made was to take a risk and try something different. I have very flat feet and have been wearing orthotics for the past decade… ever since I stopped my intense training in the martial arts. With my arches so flat, I always felt at the end of the day like I had been walking around Disneyland for the past 13 hours; even if I hadn’t walked that much. So, I sought out a podiatrist and began looking into picking up some prescription orthotics. Eventually, I picked up a pair and it was heavenly! Though it was pretty harsh walking on plastic footbeds (with padding on them), my feet weren’t sore like they were before. That is how I was fixing the problem of dealing with my flat footedness. Conventional wisdom. Conventional medicine. Like I said though, this time around I was going to try something new.
Minimalist Shoes and the Hype
Back to present day: When I decided that it was time to do better, it wasn’t a whim that lead me to the notion of going with barefoot running and minimalist running shoes. I’d heard about VFF’s, as they’re called by the minimalist faithful, roughly two years earlier and had been following the research and headlines off and on since then. They looked pretty cool (I have a thing for camo) and at the time I first found them I was looking for water shoes not knowing that Vibrams were so much more than that. So, the day I decided I was getting back into shape I immediately ran out to REI and picked up a pair of Vibram Five Fingers’ TrekSports. It was love at first run! My calves were sore but I could feel them getting stronger and as an added bonus, I could actually see them getting stronger. There was just one nagging concern in the back of my head… hype. One of the claims of the barefoot and minimalist running evangelists is that running shoes actually weaken arches and the supporting muscles in your feet and by running the way that nature intended, you will actually strengthen those atrophied muscles. A large part of my decision to go the minimalist route was various posts I’d read by large guys like myself who were now running without shin splits or knee or hip pain, thanks to Vibrams. I was 250lbs and figured that if other 250 or 300lb guys were seeing results then it was probably not too far fetched that I could as well.
Vibram Five Fingers and the Foot Scanner
Being the nerd I am, anecdotal evidence wasn’t enough for me. I decided that around the 3 or 4 month mark I would have my feet rescanned to see if my new running posture (I’ve been using the Pose method), which I attribute to the wearing of the VFFs, had yet effected the muscles in my feet for the better. That meant that I should also see an improvement in my arches. During this time I also wore my VFFs at work, for short walks around the neighborhood and to work out in. In other words, I practically lived in them. They’re so comfortable that I wanted to wear them all the time! The only time I didn’t wear them was when summer got into full swing and I started wearing flip flops. This week, I went and had my feet rescanned, the results of that scan are below, along with my baseline scan which shows how my feet looked prior to wearing VFFs.
The scan above is my baseline scan. This is what my feet looked like after having worn prescription orthotics. I wish I had scans from before I began wearing the orthotics, but I don’t. The right side of the page shows what healthy feet should look like and the left are mine.The dark areas of my foot are where the most pressure is being placed on the contact surface. Notice how different the arch on my right foot looks than the left? My right arch is pretty collapsed, which means the left side of my body is doing more work. This can lead to lower back pain (and it has), very tight thigh muscles (IT band issues) and sore, tired feet. I’ve experienced all of the above.
This scan shows my feet today. Notice how balanced my arches are now? That’s because my right foot actually has an arch now! I thought it was a pretty dramatic difference myself. I could’ve had the doc send my scans to the lab to have them pour over them with precision and give me hard data for the improvements in my arch, but I figured I’d save the doc and myself the expense since the pictures are fairly striking. I can tell you that I’ve been running now for four months, averaging 3-5 miles a week, and have had no shin splits, no lower back pain and no running associated knee pain (they’ve been a little tender but that’s because I’ve also been doing a lot of squats).
So, there you have it! Let me make one thing clear though. I’m always asked by people, “how do you like your Five Fingers?” I tell them that I love them and how much better I “feel” having worn them but I’m also careful to let them know that the shoes themselves aren’t a “magic bullet.” Vibram Five Fingers didn’t do this to my feet, running with no cushion, on the balls of my feet like a sprinter did this to my feet. Walking around in them all the time, did this to my feet. Not pushing myself too hard and injuring my feet (people are seeing instances of plantar fascitis and top of foot injuries from overuse) did this. The shoes, as awesome as they are, were the catalyst for all of this though. If I hadn’t stumbled upon the site while looking for water shoes years ago, I may not have stumbled upon the barefoot and minimalist running movement and added one of the most important tools in my fitness journey to my toolbox.
15 Reasons Why You Shouldn’t Ignore Best Slot Payouts hacksaw Slots casino games
The Best Assessments For Adhd In Adults The Gurus Are Using
Three Things adhd Assessment uk free
The Top Reasons People Succeed In The Emergency Window Repair Industry Windows
5 Common Myths About Online Casino Slots You Should Stay Clear Of Jackpot winners slots (images.google.ad)
The No. One Question That Everyone Working In Truck Crash Should Be Able To Answer truck
Accident attorney; Socialleadwizard.net,
See What Online Shopping Figures Uk Tricks The Celebs Are Making Use Of online Shopping figures uk
14 Cartoons On Amazon Online Shopping Clothes Uk That’ll Brighten Your Day Extra Sticky Post-Its
Everyone loves what you guys tend to be up too.
This kind of clever work and exposure! Keep up the wonderful works guys
I’ve incorporated you guys to blogroll.
How Slot Symbols Propelled To The Top Trend On Social Media
evoplay slots innovations; http://speechpanel.readspeaker.com/cgi-bin/rssp/7d625149d89a543c57545869/Start/jp/http://extension.unimagdalena.edu.co/extension/Lists/Contactenos/DispForm.aspx?ID=1546854,
Nine Things That Your Parent Taught You About Online Famous Shopping Sites Organic Mindfulness Balm;
https://vimeo.com,
11 Ways To Fully Redesign Your Slot Themes Themed Slots
You’ll Never Be Able To Figure Out This Online Shop Designer Suits’s Benefits online shop designer suits
5 Killer Quora Answers To Veleco Luxury Electric Scooters Veleco Luxury Electric Scooters
15 Gifts For The Asbestos Mesothelioma Lover In Your Life cassylawn
3 Reasons 3 Reasons Why Your Car Accident Law Is Broken (And How To
Repair It) Car accident lawyer
Ten Stereotypes About Window Repair Near That Aren’t Always The Truth
upvc window repair
The Reason Why Everyone Is Talking About Door Fitting Bedford Right
Now double glazing Windows bedfordshire
Guide To Uk Online Shopping Sites Like Amazon: The Intermediate Guide
On Uk Online Shopping Sites Like Amazon Online shopping sites
Simply wish to say your article is as astounding. The clarity to your post is
simply nice and that i can suppose you’re an expert on this subject.
Fine together with your permission allow me to snatch your
feed to stay updated with drawing close post. Thank you 1,000,
000 and please continue the rewarding work.
Slot Graphics Tips To Relax Your Daily Life Slot
Graphics Trick That Every Person Should Know Slot Graphics
Five Things You’re Not Sure About About Mesothelioma Legal Question mesothelioma Attorneys
11 Strategies To Completely Block Your Modern Slots evoplay slots Mystical
This Is The Advanced Guide To Slot Rankings exciting Slots
15 Latest Trends And Trends In Upvc Windows Repair upvc window repairs near me
What’s The Current Job Market For Double Glazed Window Repairs Professionals?
Double Glazed Window Repairs
14 Businesses Doing A Great Job At Mental Illness Assessment mental health Assesment
How Double Glazed Replacement Windows Is A Secret
Life Secret Life Of Double Glazed Replacement Windows glass
window replacements near me – Maxwell,
The 10 Most Scariest Things About Round Sectional Sofa round sectional sofa
What’s The Job Market For Bed Couch Sectional Professionals?
bed couch Sectional
Guide To Uk Online Shopping Sites Like Amazon: The Intermediate Guide To Uk Online Shopping Sites Like Amazon uk online shopping sites like amazon
Are You Able To Research Motor Vehicle Lawsuit Online motor vehicle accident lawsuit – Darci
–
14 Common Misconceptions Concerning Slot Innovations hacksaw slots games;
Marylyn,
Who’s The Most Renowned Expert On Progressive Jackpot Slots?
top casino slots (https://m.pethroom.com)
Excellent way of explaining, and nice article to get information regarding my presentation topic, which i am going
to deliver in college.
10 Things We Hate About Mental Health Assessment Online primary care mental health assessment
15 Of The Best Pinterest Boards Of All Time About Mesothelioma Litigation mesothelioma lawsuits (Preston)
15 Terms That Everyone Involved In Workers Compensation Compensation Industry Should
Know Workers’ Compensation Lawsuit
10 Books To Read On Machine Coffee Coffee Maker Price
The Most Underrated Companies To Follow In The ADHD In Women Checklist Industry Adhd Screening Women
It’s quite interesting thi site , Check and this Get more info
How To Beat Your Boss On Cerebral Palsy Attorney Cerebral Palsy attorneys
Why Affordable SEO Uk Will Be Your Next Big Obsession affordable seo packages united kingdom – alenapitrova.blog.idnes.Cz –
The 10 Scariest Things About Upvc Windows Repairs upvc Windows Repairs
Why We Do We Love Online Clothes Shopping Near Me (And You Should Too!) cheapest online shopping uk (Darell)
The 10 Most Terrifying Things About Classic Casino Slots Classic Casino Slots (Images.Google.Com.Sv)
15 Amazing Facts About Dangerous Drugs You
Didn’t Know dangerous Drugs lawyers
The 9 Things Your Parents Taught You About Upvc Front Doors Supplied
And Fitted Near Me upvc front doors supplied and fitted
How To Know The Car Accident Case Which Is Right For You car accident lawyers
15 Assessments For Adhd Benefits Everyone Should Be Able To cost of adhd assessment uk
What Are The Reasons You Should Be Focusing On The Improvement Of Lightest Electric Wheelchair power chairs
for handicapped – m.w-ww.luzzibag.com –