FitFlops: The Experiment: The Grand Finale

My good friend Catlin was in town this week and we have a long standing joke about how sometimes I choose comfort over fashion and wear as she puts it "orthopedic shoes".   And when she saw me in my FitFlops she screamed "What are those?!" and erupted in fit of giggles. 

I think that proves two things:  1) My dear friend is not reading my blog.  And 2) These things are really ugly.  

Do you remember when Uggs were on every third girl who walked down the street and all people could talk about was how ugly they were?  Well, I think FitFlops definitely have Uggs beat in ugliness department. Even my very neutral pair of beige flops stick out like an unappealing outfit anchor.  But I must admit this is really the only bad thing I can say about them.  As much as I wish I could say I regret ever buying them, I kind of secretly heart the FitFlops.  They're really the most comfortable shoes I've ever worn and what I love most is that the thickness of the sole keeps you above the ground and out of the subway muck.  Havianana's can't say that. 

In terms of their claim of being a workout in a shoe, I have to call shenanigans.  I really haven't seem much if any improvement in my legs however, I have started telling people I have.  I like to tell people I used be 20 to 50 lbs heavier (depending on my mood) and that I have FitFlops to thanks for my weight loss.  I think it helps me justify the fact that I'm wearing small Sloops on my feet.

So Catlin, my darling, I say to you "Eat it!".  I only have a few more months until the weather gets cold and I retire the FitFlops for good.  Also, I seem to remember a boxey pair of white and purple skater shoes that you used to wear on occasion, and you know what they say about glass houses.  Don't throw a shoe!

FitFlops: The Experiment

WEEK THREE

I'll going to keep it brief because honestly, what more can I say about these things?!   What I can say is that I'm stopped on the street more and more by fellow FitFlop testers these days and we love to chat with each other.  I always ask them if they're feeling any results and the answer I get most often is "not yet!".  I think it's pretty remarkable that so many woman are trying these shoes knowing they might not do anything, but will still wear them dutifully just in case it turns out that by week 11 you turn into a supermodel.

But yesterday I had the tiniest breakthrough, I was running around wearing my FitFlops and as I bounded up the stairs of the subway I noticed the slightest tightness in my thighs!  Hooray!  "Maybe these things actually work!",  I thought, then I began thinking something else and I will leave you to ponder this.  Since I've been wearing the FitFlops I have tried to walk and take the stairs more, and what is known to tones legs?  Walking and taking the stairs.  So I ask you- are my legs slightly more toned because I'm wearing the FitFlops more or is wearing FitFlops making me walk more which is toning my legs?   The questions and the experiment continues!

FitFlops: The Experiment- Week Two Review

WEEK TWO

I have made good on my promise and have been wearing the FitFlops a lot more over the course of last week and I even went so far as to measure the circumference of my thigh so that I can note any changes. However, don't think I'm going to be telling you the before and after measurements, I'm only going to divulge the difference if there is any at the end of the experiment. 

I do have some findings to report which I will list below under pros and cons:

PROS

1) These things are comfy.  Not the most scientific analysis but, if you want science go somewhere else.  I really am enjoying wearing these suckers, they are so squishy and supportive that I feel like I can walk all over the city without my feet getting tired or sore.

2) I'm not 100% sure but, I think I might be feeling the slightest reactions in my leg muscles during wear and after.  I think it's safe to say that my muscles are slightly more engaged when I'm walking around in the FitFlops then in regular sandals or flops. Again, if you want science you're at the wrong blog.

3) Not sure if this is a pro but, I was chatting with another FitFlop wearing woman in a store the other day who was pregnant and even though she didn't think they were working to tone anything, she thought that they may be giving her better support for her lower back than other shoes.

CONS

1) They are not cute.  As much as I am enjoying wearing them, it's a little annoying to be running around NYC with small floatation devices on your feet.

2) They styles for men are really not cute.  My boyfriend has totally abandoned the experiment because he found the flops so unsightly and he's not one to fret about what he wears.  He claims that since he has to wear dress shoes to work every day the FitFlops aren't really something that he can work into his wardrobe.  I understand this fact but, I still think they look more normal on his wider man feet then my dainty little lady feet.

3) I still want more wobble.  I wish these things were a little trickier to walk in, maybe if they had weighted soles or weights you could slip into the soles after a few weeks to pump up the "effects".   It would be nice if you had a way to "graduate" to another level of intensity for further results.

Stay tuned for more on FitFlops as the experiment continues and let me know how your own home tests are going.

FitFlops: The Experiment

WEEK UNO

"The flip flops with a built in gym!" is how FitFlops are described and with the promise of a tighter butt and thighs how could I resist making FitFlops my first product to review for The Tonnish.  I have always been interested in the the higher priced MBT shoes that make a similar claim but FitFlops are slightly less bulky looking and only $39.99.  They also claim to relieve the lower back and joint pain my boyfriend suffers from so, making this a "joint" test was also  appealing. 

There aren't very many rules to the test, we will wear the Fitflops as much as possible and report weekly on the results (or lack there of) for one month.  We aren't changing what we eat or how much we exercise (me: very little, him: more frequently), we're just wearing the "revolutionary" shoes.   Why should I work out when the FitFlops are doing it for me?!

The arrival of our FitFlops was coincidentally the same day as our departure for a long weekend with my family in Cincinnati. "That's perfect!" I said, to my boyfriend.  "We can wear them all weekend, even if they're ugly."  Shoes not being a major point of interest in Cincinnati, I intended to wear the FitFlops all weekend, rain, sleet or nice dinner be damned!

What I expected to feel when  I first slid "the shoes with a built in wobble board" onto my feet was the sensation that I was walking in sand or on a balance ball but, the results were not quite that dramatic.  They definitely felt slightly different the my other flip flops or sandals but, I'm guessing that's because Christian Louboutin hasn't integrated the wobble board into his shoes yet.  I expected them to be a little heavy to acted as little leg weights while I walk but, no such luck- they are light as air.   They are comfortable I will say that, they have a squishy sole that rivals Crocs (which I tried but, abandoned due to their unsightly-ness) however, they do give off a look that is something like small yachts strapped to your feet.  Apparently, they don't come in narrow. Plus, I didn't get a single blister after my first time wearing them which happens even with other brands of rubber flip flops.

I haven't noticed any soreness is my legs (except after swimming laps in my my parents pool) or decrease in the squishy-ness of my tush after one week but, I'm still hopeful.  Maybe I just need to amp up the amount I'm walking everyday to feel an improvement.   My boyfriend is still complaining about his back so, I guess he hasn't noticed any big improvement either.  So, as the next week of the experiment continues the only change I will be making is to try and walk more in the FitFlops, I'll keep you posted!