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.
5 Killer Quora Answers To Injury Law Injury law firm
How Double Glazing Repair Leeds Became The Hottest Trend In 2023 double glazed window repairs
Guide To Dildos Double: The Intermediate
Guide The Steps To Dildos Double dildos double
Now That You’ve Purchased Will CSGO Cases Go Up In Price …
Now What? case chroma (sciencewiki.Science)
You’ll Never Guess This Window Replacement Near Me’s Tricks
Window Replacement Near Me
Yes! Finally something about website.
What You Can Use A Weekly Boat Accident Lawsuit Project Can Change Your Life Long beach boat accident law firm
The 3 Greatest Moments In Accident Legal History Accident attorneys
Best Coffee Machines: What’s No One Is Talking About automatic coffee
makers (Aurelia)
What’s The Reason Everyone Is Talking About Private Psychiatrist Right Now private Psychiatrists Uk
What The Heck Is Windows Milton Keynes? windows in milton keynes
Why Motor Vehicle Lawyer Isn’t As Easy As You Imagine
Motor vehicle accident attorneys
Situs Alternatif Gotogel Tools To Ease Your Daily Lifethe One Situs
Alternatif Gotogel Trick That Everybody Should Know situs alternatif
gotogel (Ashton)
The Unknown Benefits Of Motor Vehicle Settlement motor vehicle accident Law firms
magnificent submit, very informative. I ponder why the
opposite experts of this sector do not realize
this. You must proceed your writing. I’m sure, you’ve
a great readers’ base already!
15 Gifts For The Personal Injury Law Lover In Your Life douglass Hills Personal Injury attorney
I’m not sure exactly why but this weblog is loading
very slow for me. Is anyone else having this problem or is it a problem on my end?
I’ll check back later and see if the problem still exists.
10 Motor Vehicle Lawyer Tricks Experts Recommend motor vehicle accident attorney
20 Things That Only The Most Devoted Motor
Vehicle Case Fans Are Aware Of lackawanna motor Vehicle Accident lawyer
You’ll Never Be Able To Figure Out This Window Repair Near Me’s Benefits Window repair Near me
10 Best Mobile Apps For Couches For Sale used sofa for sale near me
(Elouise)
See What Repair Upvc Windows Tricks The
Celebs Are Using repair upvc windows (Jestine)
15 Gifts For The CSGO Gambling Sites Lover In Your
Life case chroma (Carrol)
Эта структура сосредоточила свои усилия в сфере цифровых услуг, развития финансовых технологии и создании сервисов для онлайн кредитования.
20 Things You Need To Know About Erb’s Palsy
Law erb’s palsy lawyers; Mickie,
5 Laws That Will Help The Togel Industry tolol
Guide To Private Psychiatrist Adhd Assessment: The Intermediate Guide To Private Psychiatrist
Adhd Assessment private psychiatrist adhd assessment
Are You Tired Of Liability Act Fela? 10 Inspirational Resources To Bring Back Your Passion Fela lawyer
Ten Coffee Beans 1kg Products That Can Make Your Life Better single Origin
Are You Responsible For A Bound And Gagged Budget?
Twelve Top Ways To Spend Your Money fucks
Sweet blog! I found it while searching on Yahoo News.
Do you have any suggestions on how to get listed
in Yahoo News? I’ve been trying for a while but I never seem
to get there! Thank you
The Best Advice You Can Receive About Treadmill That Folds Up Treadmill folding
Why You’ll Need To Learn More About Door Fitting
Birmingham Key Cutting Birmingham
14 Cartoons About CS Case Battle Which Will Brighten Your Day case opening; Bryan,
Why You’re Failing At Pod Coffee Machines top rated coffee machines [https://www.Coffeee.uk/]
5 Killer Quora Answers On Search Engine Optimization Agency
search Engine optimization agency
14 Misconceptions Common To Railroad Injuries Law Railroad Injuries Lawyer
There’s Enough! 15 Things About Unlock Car Keys We’re Sick Of Hearing how To open car door without key
5 Clarifications Regarding Upvc Window Repairs upvc windows repair;
http://ya2mate.com/,
A The Complete Guide To Wall Mounted Fireplaces From Start
To Finish http://www.fireplacesandstove.com
20 Questions You Should Always Ask About CS Case Battle Prior
To Purchasing CS Case Battle Case Horizon
Five Essential Tools Everyone Who Works In The
Double Glazed Window Repairs Near Me Industry Should Be Utilizing double Glazed windows
Who Is Link Daftar Gotogel And Why You Should Care
judi Slot online
Where Will CSGO New Case Be 1 Year From Now?
operation hydra case (Kai)
15 Best 3 Piece Sectional Sofa Bloggers You Should
Follow luxury sectional sofa (thorsen-Garrett-2.federatedjournals.com)
A New Trend In CS GO Weapon Case Case Fracture
How Adding A Robot Vacuums That Mop To Your Life Will Make All The Change best Robot mop Cleaner
20 Things You Should Know About Dangerous Drugs Law Firms Dangerous Drugs lawyer
You’ll Never Guess This Mini Nespresso Machine’s Tricks Mini Nespresso Machine, https://Historydb.Date/Wiki/Richbooker2278,
A Look Into Window Companies Birmingham’s Secrets Of Window Companies Birmingham Birmingham Composite Doors Ltd