Wednesday, June 23, 2010

Day 17: Circling the toilet... And Fitflopping our way to a GIVEAWAY!




TODAY WAS THE DAY. I wore my home-made bathing suit & hit the water park in Redding, California.  There were three mothers & four little ladies, all together, and we had a wonderful time! I have not been to a water park in about 25 years. I can't believe I've been alive long enough to make a statement like that. Ugh... We were at the park all day & ended our trip with dinner at the Olive Garden. I wish I could say I made some good choices there... but I didn't. I'm BAD. And trust me... I'll punish myself tomorrow. I hope you and I can take this negative experience, learn from it, and move forward. Shall we? 

What do you think of the new "exercise shoe" craze? I'm sure we've all seen them... the Skechers Shape-Ups, Reebok Easy Tones, Avia iTone Shoes... Dr. Hempel remains unconvinced. VERY unconvinced that a shoe can help you lose weight or tone your muscles. With me, the jury is still out. I have a neighbor who stopped by last week and she was wearing a C-U-T-E sandal. I asked her what the brand was & she said "I don't really know but they are the most comfortable sandals I own!" I'm all about foot comfort so I grabbed her shoe & took a closer look and her sandals were made by FitFlop. These shoes were designed by a personal trainer and were made to "stimulate your leg and bottom muscles more every single time you take a step, can help improve your posture, re-energize your aching feet, and lessen the daily stress on your joints and on your back." (can they also clean my bathroom & do my taxes? SOLD.)



BECAUSE I am WEAK when it comes to... marketing... buying things... shoes... comfort... Internet shopping... sandals... (I can keep going) I ordered a pair. Today was the first day I debuted these beauties. I chose a *SPARKLY* pair in black although the pewter and bronze sequined pairs were calling to me.... I read the reviews on Zappos.com & people RAVED about them. They said they were SO comfortable & they could FEEL the burn when wearing them. After walking all day in these shoes... here's what I'll say: YES! YES! YES! they were comfortable. However nothing was burning on THIS body except for the areas on my back I forgot to spray with sunscreen. I'm going to keep wearing them & I'll also wear my Bodybugg so I can see if any additional calories are being burned. 

But today... TODAY, my friends, since I didn't get to buy ALL of the colors of FitFlops I wanted to... I'm going to give ONE PAIR away! Here's what you need to do to enter:

Leave a comment and tell me - - Have you ever worn or been tempted to wear some of the new "fitness/toning" shoes? What do you think of them? 

I'll accept entries through 12:00AM Pacific, June 25th, 2010. Only one entry per person. Winners are drawn, randomly, via a coffee mug. The winner will be posted on my blog on Saturday, June 26th, 2010.

That's all I've got for today! Tune in tomorrow and watch as I punish myself for eating at the Olive Garden & not exercising today. It's going to get UGLY.

38 comments:

Andrea said...

I never heard of these until i read your post, then i searched the internet and now i'm addicted!
By the way, thank you for your wonderful blog, it's such a great pleasure, every morning when the kids left home, i switch on my computer and read, what you have to say, i have so much fun with this!

Kris said...

My understanding in the sneaker versions of these anyway is that the instability created by the bottom of the shoe forces your muscles to work harder.
I have never tried them out, but have looked into them a few times. It's a really great concept to squeeze in a little extra work if they really DO work. Slip on the sandals to grab something from the store or run to the post office or a quick errand park a bit further away and you've got a bit extra burn for nothing at all!

Amanda said...

Shoot, a shoe to shape me up?!?! Bring it on!! I have hundreds of shoes in my closet, in storage, and given away and all they did was make my feet look good for a short period of time. These say they can make my butt and legs look good too?? Sounds too good to be true, and we all know how that works!

TimCote7 said...

All I know is watching Mom chase around the 4 and 5 year olds seems like plenty of imbalance; she doesn't need instability from her shoes too. It's really good nutritious food in and keep moving...now Sue is all about incredibly comfortable shoes or sandals.

WWSuzi said...

I've wanted to try some for a while but never did! I love to win a pair :)

christina said...

I have been tempted over and over and over again. I love the idea of the tennis shoes and I have alot of coworkers that wear them and swear by them but the what has held me back every time with the tennis shoes is that I dont particularly think they are very cute. I have 8.5 sized feet and they make your feet look even bigger.

BUT those sandals are CUTE! Fingers crossed on this giveaway!

AND fyi you are doing great!

Christina said...

I love pretty shoes and those are sparkly. I would try something to add to my fitness routine, but I'm not sure I would let the shoes take all the credit. I hope they work! At least you'll be in style.

Heather Tramp said...

I've been tempted but I'm not sure they work. A friend owns a pair of the shape-up sneakers and says you have to walk a specific way in order to get the benefit.

I've felt like that at the very least maybe they encourage someone to walk more. The friend I mentioned above found herself walking thousands of steps more per day. She lost weight but she thought it was more because of all the walking than the specific shoe.

The Tennessee Nobles said...

I have seem the sneakers on TV and if it's on TV then it must be true right? I have personally never tried it but since I am lazy, I'm willing to give them a try!

WrayLynn said...

I am always on the lookout for comfy, cute sandals! I currently have zero. I haven't been tempted to buy shape up shoes because I seriously doubt they work.

Kinder said...

I have never been tempted to buy a pair, I guess because i have a brand of runners I like, and I think, like Dr. Hempel, that it is a bit of a scam. That being said, if it was a beautiful pair of shoes, I wouldn't NOT buy them because they claimed to burn, burn, burn!

Glad you had fun at the waterslides!

Michelle said...

I looked at the Reebok Easytones before our trip to Disney in May but I just couldn't justify the cost unless they started giving a guarantee on them or something. I have a trip coning up in July and will be doing a bunch of walking and it would be great to be able to try these out.

Stephanie O. said...

My good friend got a pair mostly because they're so cute but also because of the promise of a new rear and thighs! She says they are super comfortable and loves, loves, loves them. She hasn't had them long, so the jury is still out on the toning part. But her feet look killer!! ;)

Allyson Zakour said...

Hi Amy!!! I do own a pair of sketcher shape ups. The first day I wore them I didn't feel anything just like you. The second day I didn't put them on at first and my legs burned. I put them on and my legs felt better. I also noticed me rocking back and forth until I really got use to them. I still own a pair haven't seen any pounds fall off. I don't feel any burning anymore and I don't rock back and forth.

stephanie said...

I have only recently found your blog and I just love you!!
I have never even been tempted by the tennis shoe variety... they are just not terribly cute and, I too, doubt that they work.... but these fitflops are CUTE!!
Don't beat yourself up too badly about Olive Garden:)

Jennifer said...

I always look quizzically at the TV and think "really??"

Unknown said...

Nope never thought about it but would love to give it a try!! I love reading your blog Amy it's great!

natioam said...

I just bought a new pair of Nike walking shoes. I almost bought a pair of the shapeups, but can't decide if I can rock the style yet. A nurse friend of mine wears them, but only because she says they help her stay on her feet for 10 hour days. She said her first week on the job (she is a new nurse...yea Holly!) she wore regular tennis shoes and just about died. She notice most of the other nurses were wearing shapeups so she broke down and got a pair. She said it was amazing the difference it made for her feet and back. Now, I regret that I did not buy a pair.:(

Lisé said...

I have never been tempted to purchase a pair, maily because I didn't want to look like I had a club foot AND freckles. However, those are cute. I wouldn't mind wearing them if they didn't look like the "special shoes" that I first saw on TV.

Drea K. said...

I've been temped to buy fitflops, but have been waiting to hear from other people who have already bought them to decide if they are really worth the money!

I have a couple of friend who bought the Sketchers Shape-Ups, they said they were comfortable but many haven't noticed a "burn" yet. The shape-ups aren't that attractive looking either.

But these fitflops look very cute, maybe they would be worth it just for their looks if nothing else!

Thanks for sharing!

chcmama said...

I have been enjoying your blog, this is my first comment though. I have seen the shoes but have never been tempted to buy them, they look a little weird. The FitFlops on the other hand I have been tempted but haven't given in. I have heard wonderful things about them.

Probst Pride said...

I have seen the sketchers shape ups display but the ridiculous looking soles are a huge turn off... your oh-so-cute flip flops on the other hand have me intrigued... I'll just use this credit card I have here, it's for the airmiles right?

Laurie (TheSafestScents.com) said...

I agree with the majority - the soles on the tennis shoe ones look a little ridiculous, but the sandal ones are much more reasonable looking. I'd definitely give them a try, especially if I won them for free! haha!
Love reading your blog :)

Unknown said...

I have a pair of the toning tennis shoes and I like them but cannot really tell if they are working my legs like they are supposedly designed to! These are really cute sandals-way more my style too! Draw my name!!

Tracy said...

Just found your blog and I love it!! You look wonderful. Can't wait to check on here every day. I have not tried the sneaker version but those are some CUTE sandals. I am going to the website to check them out...

Fish's Guppy said...

I've truly been tempted but the tennis shoes are so expensive when I go looking. I didn't know there were sandal varieties too. I'm going to have to go looking now.
PS - Thank you for your blog. You've made some amazing progress on the weight loss and I hope to get there soon!

Unknown said...

I have been tempted as with any pair of shoes...they are a bigger weakness of mine than ice cream! I haven't ventured to purchase yet as I have just bought a new pair of tenny runners and I doubt I would get away with telling my hubby they would be part of my fitness ensemble!

Cupboard Love said...

Sometimes I'm tempted...but I haven't found any pairs that I like well enough to try. I tend to be very picky about my shoes.

Alison West said...

HI AMY - Even tho my hubby is not a dcotor he is so neagative on these things, remember the pads for the bottom of your feet to remove toxic well he said that's just DIRT !!!!!!!!!!!!
I have been very tempted to try those shoes - I really wanted the tennis shoes by Reebok. Have not bought them due to the cost but hoping my hubby will surprise me one day or HEY maybe winning from YOU !!!!!!

Haylee said...

I've never heard of these but i'd sure be open to trying them!

happy_haylee_3@hotmail.com

Unknown said...

I was just reading about them in that too expensive sky mall mag. sure would love to try 'em.I'd wear them in my before and after photos for Aspen Family's Mdical Weight Loss' website. I mean jeez, I alreay have the, uh, before picture.............

sarah said...

I have been tempted to buy them but I haven't. Because I have heard mixed reviews. I have heard they work and I have heard they don't. So I wasn't sure if I should waste my money. I hope that they work for you though.

qwerty said...

I've been tempted to get the Sketchers Shapeups. My brother hurt he knee in his early 20s and had pain for almost 20 years. About a year ago he bought the Shapeups and he doesn't have pain when walking anymore. I've had back pain for years and was wondering if they would help me. I actually was looking into those FitFlop things last week when I saw them posted somewhere else. But I thought they were only made to support your foot correctly not for working out any muscle group?

Unknown said...

I just think those sneakers look hideous. It would be fantastic if your super cute sandals did the same thing while looking so good. Love them, and love that you went to the water park. A couple of gals over in 5th and 1st have made noise about taking a day trip down there.

Unknown said...

I have wanted a pair of fit flops forever, but haven't wanted to spend the money. Definitely worth a try though!

WindyLou said...

OK. I've got to try to win some of these.

Flip flops are the ONLY shoes I wear (if any shoes at all) from the time the snow melts until it's too deep to walk in. I've seen the shoes versions which remind me of the kids at school that got made fun of for having one leg shorter than the other. I can't quite bring myself to buy and wear those, so the idea of fitflops gives me a goofy grin.

Sign me up!

Brandy said...

I must say, I've been tempted to buy shoes, but I just can't shell out the extra bucks for shoes that may or may not work. I too am a sceptic. I do, however, LOVE flip flops and live in them all summer. I might have to try these FitFlops.

Rachel Garcia said...

I want some please please !!