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.
Hi, just required you to know I he added your site to my Google bookmarks due to your layout. But seriously, I believe your internet site has 1 in the freshest theme I??ve came across.Seo Paketi Skype: [email protected] -_- live:by_umut
The 10 Most Scariest Things About 18 Wheeler Accident Lawyers 18 Wheeler Accident Lawyers
Thank you great post. Hello Administ .Seo Paketi Skype: [email protected] -_- live:by_umut
You’ll Never Guess This Which Online Stores Ship
Internationally’s Secrets which Online Stores ship Internationally
Good info. Lucky me I reach on your website by accident, I bookmarked it. Seo Paketi Skype: [email protected] -_- live:by_umut
Thank you for content. Area rugs and online home decor store. Hello Administ . Seo Paketi Skype: [email protected] -_- live:by_umut
The Advanced Guide To Double Glazing Repair Cost jerealas
5 Laws That Anyone Working In Car Accident Legal Should Know
car accident law firm
Watch This: How Auto Accident Attorneys Is Taking Over And What We Can Do About It Auto Accident Law Firm (Gagetaylor.Com)
Semi Truck Claim: What Nobody Is Talking About Semi Truck Accident Lawyer
You’ll Never Be Able To Figure Out This London Online
Clothing Shopping Sites’s Tricks london online Clothing shopping sites
Why Is This Semi Truck Lawyer So Beneficial? When COVID-19 Is In Session semi Truck Accident attorneys
Prams For Sale Tips To Relax Your Daily Lifethe
One Prams For Sale Trick That Every Person Should Learn prams for sale (http://www.google.com.ag)
How To Tell If You’re Are Ready For Slot Demo Zeus Vs Hades Anti Lag
Oscar Reys
You’ll Never Guess This London Online Mobile Shopping Sites’s Benefits london online Mobile shopping sites
You’ll Never Guess This Bmw Spare Key Cost’s Tricks Bmw Spare Key Cost
Why You Must Experience Sliding Patio Door Repair Service At A Minimum,
Once In Your Lifetime fitters
10 Things That Everyone Is Misinformed Concerning Audi Key Fobs audi q7 key
Three Reasons Why You’re Online Shopping Sites For Clothes Is Broken (And How
To Fix It) famous Online shopping sites for clothes
Are You Responsible For A Cheap Online Shopping Sites
Uk Budget? 10 Very Bad Ways To Invest Your Money Dermatologist-Recommended Hair Vitamins
What’s The Job Market For Which Is The Best Online Supermarket Professionals?
which is The best online supermarket (eugosto.pt)
Most asbestos victims and their families begin the process by contacting a seasoned lawyer.
A qualified lawyer will help prepare a lawsuit to recover compensation from defendants that made
asbestos Legal-containing products.
5 Killer Quora Answers On Uk Online Shoe Shopping Websites uk Online shoe Shopping websites
You’ll Be Unable To Guess London Online Mobile Shopping Sites’s Tricks london online mobile shopping sites
Responsible For A Best Pet Budget? 10 Incredible Ways To Spend Your Money
http://www.836614.xyz
Online Shopping Website In London Tools To Ease Your Everyday Lifethe Only Online Shopping Website In London Trick That Everybody Should Learn online Shopping website in london
These Are Myths And Facts Behind Auto Accident Lawsuit auto accident Lawyers
The 9 Things Your Parents Taught You About Best Online Clothing Sites Uk best online clothing sites uk
Guide To 18 Wheeler Accident Attorney: The Intermediate Guide The Steps To 18
Wheeler Accident Attorney 18 wheeler accident attorney
Having Mortgage Calculators Calculating The Best Loan Option 사업자 대출
5 Killer Quora Answers On Uk Online Shoe Shopping Websites uk Online shoe Shopping websites
Guide To Online Shopping Sites In United Kingdom: The Intermediate Guide
To Online Shopping Sites In United Kingdom online shopping sites in united kingdom
You’ll Be Unable To Guess Online Shopping Uk’s Tricks
Online Shopping uk
5 Tools That Everyone Working In The Semi Truck Law
Industry Should Be Making Use Of semi truck accident
Online Shopping Sites List For Clothes Tools To Improve Your Everyday Lifethe Only
Online Shopping Sites List For Clothes Trick That Everybody Should Know
Online Shopping Sites List For Clothes
What’s The Current Job Market For Double Glazed Window Repairs Professionals
Like? double Glazed Window repairs
Can Upvc Windows And Doors Near Me Be The Next Supreme Ruler Of The World?
upvc replacement door locks [Efrain]
How To Find The Perfect Car Boot Mobility Scooters On The Internet arlennizo.top
The Reason Behind Mesothelioma Claim In 2023 Is The
Main Focus Of All People’s Attention. 2023 Mesothelioma Settlement
10 Locations Where You Can Find Online Shopping Uk Sites online shopping
sites – https://trademarketclassifieds.com/user/profile/652482,
The Biggest Issue With Mesothelioma Asbestos Claim And
What You Can Do To Fix It Cassy Lawn
The 10 Most Scariest Things About Single Seat Buggy For
Sale single seat buggy For sale
How Many Cases Are There In CSGO The Process Isn’t As Hard As You Think cs2 cases
The 10 Most Scariest Things About Window Repair Near Me window repair near me;
Amee,
What’s The Current Job Market For Double Glazed Repairs Near
Me Professionals? double glazed Repairs near Me
What’s The Job Market For Best Online Shopping Groceries Uk
Professionals? best online shopping groceries uk; Fredrick,
The Best Car Key Locksmith Strategies To Change Your Life elsycrays.top
5 Laws That’ll Help Those In Personal Injury Attorney Industry Law
What Is The Reason? Truck Accident Lawyer Is Fast Becoming The Trendiest Thing Of 2022?
Truck Accidents (F48.Ee)
What’s The Current Job Market For Cheap Double Pushchair Professionals?
cheap double Pushchair