Fat Loss – Body Transformation – Advanced Nutrition

Hey San Antonio,

I hope everyone is having an amazing Monday after a nice, warm weekend. I kept a very low profile this weekend, relaxing and recovering. If you’ve seen the replay of the UFC fight from the weekend, you’re probably as in awe as I am of Anderson Silva’s pain threshold whether you are a fan of MMA or not!

I know a lot of people have seen the Vibram Five Fingers, and more times than not, have probably been more repulsed by the way they look than to ever consider buying them. I’ll admit, I was in the same boat. I’m definitely not one of those people who follows the masses “to be different” for no reason. But shoes have always been an issue for me.

My feet are completely flat. Since I’ve continuously added small amounts of muscle mass over the years, my feet have continued to grow (I’m 5’11″ and I wear a 13.5 shoe). I’ve worn every brand of shoes, different width, different levels of supports, Orthotics, special socks, etc, but have never felt a great deal of comfort in my feet. Throw in the fact that I enjoy lifting extremely heavy weights that would obviously apply some form of pressure to the feet (squats, deadlifts, leg presses) and it doesn’t take a rocket scientist to figure out why my ski size feet are usually a bit tender. Well, WERE tender.

I’ve had my Vibram Five Fingers for almost two weeks now, and I must say they are unlike any shoe that I have ever owned. Yes, I totally get that they look a bit weird:

But don’t judge a book by it’s cover. The model I have (Vibram KSO) is the version of their shoe that can be used for anything: climbing, running (yes, barefoot running is becoming extremely popular), swimming, surfing, and LIFTING/FITNESS. In short, the shoe provides the comfort of being barefoot with the safety of a shoe. The sole provides a great deal of traction on most any surface.

Here’s a quote from the Vibram website: “The typical human foot is an anatomical marvel of evolution with 26 bones, 33 joints, 20 muscles, and hundreds of sensory receptors, tendons and ligaments. Like the rest of the body, to keep our feet healthy, they need to be stimulated and exercised.

Many experts believe the shoes we wear not only cast the foot in a protective form, but also weaken our foot and leg muscles, leaving them underdeveloped and more prone to injury. And while there are many occasions where traditional footwear is essential for protection, safety, and security, it is equally important to stimulate and exercise the foot in a more natural state on a regular basis.

That’s why we recommend wearing FiveFingers for exercise, play, and for fun. Stimulating the muscles in your feet and lower legs will not only make you stronger and healthier, it improves your balance, agility and proprioception.”

I completely agree with this analysis. From a user standpoint, my feet have never felt better. At a weight of 5 ounces, the shoe is so ridiculously comfortable that I usually forget that I have shoes on at all.

I paid $85 for my shoes at Run Gear Run here in San Antonio. They are sized in European sizes, so I’d recommend trying them on. I’ve found them on the internet for as low as $67, but with shipping, one might as well actually check them out in the store to ensure proper fit. Also, beware of fakes (which, at $67 may be a concern).

It does take a little bit of time to get used to them. I’d recommend wearing them for a few days before making your final judgement. Initially, you may have a bit of soreness in the lower legs as some of the stabilizing muscles adapt (depending on your activity) but I personally didn’t experience this. Oh, and putting the shoe on may seem a bit awkward at first, but I’ve found if I get the two big toes in first and then go to the smallest toe and work my way toward the center, it is pretty simple. They are machine washable and extremely durable.

Again, I know they may not be the most stylist of shoes, and you probably aren’t going to wear them to the office (unless, perhaps, you’re a personal trainer and your office is a gym as mine is), but in any other activity (pool, beach, river, exercise, hiking, etc) I would not hesitate to recommend them.

If you’ve tried them out, I’d love to read your comments on them!

Boyd Myers
Personal Trainer in San Antonio
Owner, San Antonio’s Top Personal Training Studio
16613 Huebner Rd (corner of Huebner and Bitters)
210.391.1454