Get A Workout Without Visiting The Gym - With Fitflops

It’s probably fair to say that most people today know that it’s important to take regular exercise. Of course, knowing that you should do something and actually doing it are two very different things. There are just so many other demands on your time, so many other distractions - it’s hardly surprising that many of us find it difficult to summon up the motivation, energy and time to take the amount of exercise that we should on a regular basis.

However, if you want to take exercise but struggle to make the time, then help is at hand. Or, strictly speaking, help is at foot in the multi-colored shape of Fitflops exercise shoes. They were developed in the UK by Marcia Kilgore - an ex-personal trainer who found that she didn’t have time to fit visits to the gym into her busy lifestyle.

Rather than shrug her shoulders and relax on the couch like many of us might have done, the redoubtable Ms. Kilgore, quite literally took steps to find a solution to the problem. In partnership with the London South Bank University (LSBU), she worked to develop a special type of fitness shoe which would provide a workout for the lower body to wearers who were simply going about their daily business and walking around as normal.

The product of this collaboration was Fitflops – an exercise shoe with a specially designed sole which increases the length of time which the lower body muscles are used for during normal walking activity. This is achieved by the use of specially shaped sole which is subdivided into three separate sections – the heel, the mid-section (Arch) and the toe. Each of these sections uses a different density of material in its construction.

The end result, proven by an extensive series of scientific tests at LSBU, is that the lower body muscles are engaged for as much as 16% longer when walking in Fitflops in comparison to walking in normal exercise shoes. What this means is that every step you take whilst wearing your Fitflop shoes is providing you with an enhanced lower body workout – just by walking about as you would be doing anyway. No need to visit the gym, no need to break sweat and no need to allocate time in your busy daily schedule for exercise. It’s a free workout in effect.

Fitflops began life as sandals in the UK. Due to customer demand the number of styles and colors were increased and now you can choose from a wide variety of Fitflops sandals, clogs, slippers and boots. There are some very colorful and fashionable options on offer - they don’t look anything like exercise shoes. There isn’t really a downside – you can look good in a pair of fashionable shoes, get a free lower body workout – without ever having to set foot in a gym – and you won’t lose any time from your normal daily schedule. So why not take the first step to a fitter, trimmer you and have a look at the Fitflops range of shoes, sandals and boots?

Fitflop Shoes Expand Their Range

Ex personal trainer Marcia Kilgore found that she didn’t have enough time to visit the gym due to her busy lifestyle - so she decided to take steps to remedy the situation. In collaboration with the London South Bank University (LSBU) she developed a range of fitness shoes known as Fitlops.

These utilise a specially engineered three piece sole, called a “microwobbleboard”, to provide the wearer with a workout while walking. A high density material is employed in the heel section in order to reduce shocks whilst walking. The mid section of the sole, between the arch and just behind the toes, is made from a low density material. The front (toe) section is manufactured from a medium density material.

The three separate areas, and the different types of materials used, work together to prolong the duration of muscle usage during normal walking. The muscles work for up to 16% longer than normal – which means that every step you take in your Fitflops trims your legs and tones your buttocks.

In 2006, after extensive testing at LSBU, the Fitflop range was launched in the UK. They were an immediate success and some customers even had to join a waiting list just to get hold of their Fitflops. To begin with the range consisted mainly of flip flop type sandals. However, customer feedback suggested that other styles were required and the range was expanded. Today, you can choose from a wide selection of Fitflop sandals, boots and clogs in both male and female styles. Some of them look great. There are plenty of different colors and styles to choose from and, best of all, they’re now on sale in the USA.

So if, like Marcia Kilgore, you struggle to find the time to get to the gym, or if you just find it hard to motivate yourself to take exercise, then why not think about getting a pair of Fitflops? Just pull them on instead of your normal shoes and walk about normally to get the benefit of exercising your lower body without having to modify your daily routine.