Skechin Right Along~ Skecher Shape-up Review Continues

Its been 21/2 weeks since I met my sole's mate,the Skecher Shape-up.
I've taken them off once, about a week ago just to see what walking with 2 feet firmly planted on the ground felt like.

I didn't like it.

Now for me to nix my big heeled clompy boots for anything, especially for something I still find semi-unsightly, has to speak for itself.

After 2 weeks of wearing them non-stop I had forgotten how comfortable they are until I took them off for the day.

In fear of sounding like a broken record (actually I'm not worried about it at all~ and I don't know if anyone knows what a record is anymore) they are HEAVENLY for anyone who spends all day on their feet.

These shoes are a necessity.

At the end of 8 hour day, my feet and legs feel like they could go another 5 miles.

The Skecher Shape-Up's have gone with me to the gym every day; tread milling, ecilipicalling and rebounding. They've taken a run at tae-boing, country hiking, malling, and 10-6 everyday on the retail floor.

When I'm at home puttering, I have them on, when typically I am a barefoot kinda gal.

They are still just as wonderful as the first day we met.

I do find I walk straighter and taller.
So, thats one check for the claim that it improves posture.

My tushy and inner thighs are tighter when I walk.
I have noticed an overall firming in butt, abs, and calves.
But wheter its the shoes or the treadmilling, ecilipicalling, rebounding or tae-bo-ing, I can not say.

The shoe is designed to create an off balance effect that causes you to work more muscles when you realign yourself.
Skecher's compare it to walking in sand.
I definately notice the challenge more when I am moving slowly and am more concious of how I'm stepping then when I am moving faster.

Because of the comfort factor, I definately stayed on the tredmill longer.
I also loved them for weight training.
Very, very comfortable, and I found the cush under my heel actually gave a little opposition and bounce to my free weight sets.
It seemed to make me work harder.


The most resistant and effective excercise I discovered in the Shape-Ups were simple calf raises; right there where I stood on the retail floor.
After a quick set of 30, my calves were SCREAMING.

I don't think the shoes are miracle workers but the claims on the Skecher web site doesn't promise you miracles.
They do claim to help contibute to burning calories and strengthening muscles,and if you strengthen muscles you burn calories.

So yes, The Skecher Shape-up gets Your Natural Food Coach's Big Stamp of Approval.

The only thing that makes me a little meloncholy is that the weather is starting to warm up here in Canada and soon it will be short and cute little skirt season.

And my dear friend the ugly Shape-up will have to be replaced by a much cuter, but much less comfy little summer shoe.

I think my next review will have to be the slightly more esthetically adventurous Skecher Tone-up sandal.

Stay tuned...

Skechers Love Story continues...Day 3

Well, besides learning that I insist on wanting to spell Skecher with a "t", I am also learning that I walk like a penguin!

It has taken me a bit, but I think I finally got this one foot in front of the other thing down.

The benefits that the Skecher Shape-ups gives is very dependant on how you walk in them.

There is a rolling heel in shoe which is what gives the resistance to your leg and butt muscles.

It reminds me of a yoga ball for your feet.

When you walk as you should, the heel is unstable, Skechers compare it to walking in sand,
everytime you step down into the heel, there is a little bit of a wobble and squish (no, it really doesn't make the sound), and your hidden, lesser-used muscles, jump into action to balance you.
Your core muscles kick it up a notch to keep your bod alignment; shoulder, abs, back.. the entire shee-bang.

I find it quite fascinating how your entire body is strung and works together.
God really does do beautiful work, doesn't He?

I had been trying to find out why I'm not experiencing some of the dramatic sensations and work out "burn" others had with these shoes and was getting a little worried.
After all, no pain no gain, right?

There are testimonies about back pain instantly relieved (a posture thing), but back has never been a concern for me.

After careful analysis of each movement of my step, and detailed attention to how Skechers recommends walking in the shoe, (the shoe actually comes with a training video) I came to the conclusion that I WALK HORRIBLY!!!

I have discovered that when I walk, I step from the very back of my heel onto the tip of my toe.
When I am on the tred mill or elliptical machine, I keep to my tippie toes exclusively.
On top of that, I also am leaning to the outside edge of my foot when I walk.

Too many years in big chunky heels?
Dunno... how about child birth? Can't we blame everything on childbirth?

Skechers instructions are specific in that you walk pressing down into the middle of your heel, roll to the ball of your foot, and launch from the toes.

Phew... much harder than one thinks, when your natural step is something like walking in flippers.
This will take a wee bit more reprogramming than first thought

Combining this proper step, with shoulders up, back straight, (altho its hard not to walk with your shoulders up, back straight in these) REALLY MAKES A DIFFERENCE!!

I find I need to concentrate more on balance, and core.

Donna at work laughs and tells me I walk like I'm drunk.

I'm discovering walking slowly works better for me, as I can really think about sinking my heel down into that wobbly place in the shoe.
If I get in too much of a hurry and start zipping, I default back to my penguin walk.

As a matter of fact, as of Day Three, I found the best work out I got was trying to stand still for long periods of time in them. Not on my toes, not on the back of my heels, but completely still, knees soft, pushing my weight into the center of my heel and that soft floating heel in the shoe.

Tell me, who does not love a work out where all you have to do is NOT MOVE!!!


Verdict Day 3~

BRAVO Skechers!!
I think you have taught the blonde girl how to walk!

Skecher Test Day 2

Day 2 and still lovin' lovin' lovey-dove loving my Skechers Shape-ups.

I did take them off to sleep last night, but that was about it.

They went to work with me this morning, as fashionably twarted as they are, and my feet we so happy they didn't care how they looked.

Look me in the eyes, people!
Not at my feet!

The Skech's also met my arch nemisis, GYM, today.

We spent some time together on the ecliptical machine and the tred mill.

To be honest, wheter it made a difference or not, I can't say.
My legs, calves, and butt hurt regardless.
But I sure did notice the comfort and cushion under my feet, and that amazing spring up.
My feet didn't get tired at all, and if my gluts would have been more co-operative, I could have kept on going.

That nice little spring in the insole made them very nice doing weight training as well.
They are designed to force you to keep a straight posture which is always a bonus doing any resistance work.

I have been scouring the internet blogs and posts to find out why in the world I am not experiancing all the crazy instant effects that others are raving about.

Yes, they feel like I'm walking on pillows.
But I am not feeling anything particularly unusual in the calves or legs.

I think there may be a little more thought involved in walking in these than I first thought.

Verdict Day 2~

*Still keeping my two thumbs waaayyyyy up*

Meet the Sketch~ My Review of Skecher's Shape-Up's

12:35 P.M:
I just wanted to take a peek at Urban Trail to "check them out for a minute"
I had spent an entire afternoon surfing skechers.com humming and hahing, secretly very intrigued with these new creatures "The Shape-ups" shoe.

"Get in Shape Without Setting Foot in a Gym" they tell me... hmmm,

"Shape up while you walk! Designed to ; promote weight loss, tone muscles, improve posture'

Pretty vague claims, me thinks, but, please, continue...

"Improves blood circulation, strengthens the back, tightens abdominal muscles, firms buttocks muscles, reduces cellulite and tones thighs, firms calf muscles, reduces stress on knee and ankle joints"

Cellulite? Well, now... if an advertisement ever wants to catch my attention, just toss the "C" word in there.

This new "fitness footwear' is designed with what they call a 'rolling bottom', a special soft insert under the heel, and a dual-density mid-sole

The theory?
Create a shoe that mimics walking on uneven, soft surfaces and we are forced to engage muscles not normally used when walking on hard ground.

The testimonies were definitely impressive.
People were smitten, claiming that workout 'burn' on their legs , tighter butts, looser jeans and CONFIDENCE.

Put on a simple shoe, and voila... head up, shoulder straight, instant confidence.

OK, I'll bite...
lets go price these puppies out.

And, yes, I really did intend to just price them out.

But before I had the right shoe on, I was sold.

Puppies had a new home.

I had gone thru my share of crazy insoles; memory foam, reflexology pressure points, jelly insoles, but NEVER had I laid foot on something like this.

Heaven on earth for my tootsies.

Thank you Jesus, because on top of it all, the bill was picked up by my shopping buddy, who just wanted to "bless" me.
(pardon me, was my drooling that obvious?)

So long story short, ten minutes flat and one hundred and sixty something bucks later, I walked out of Urban Trails on air.


Skechers air not Nike.

Definitely the fastest purchase I have made in a loooong time.

The first thing i noticed, was that crazy "kinetic wedge".
It really does 'keep you on your toes" and takes you by surprise.

You have to walk very aware of your balance, which, from what I understand is alot of the muscle work out.

Ever tried to do a curls on a exercises ball, girls?
Did you find all sorts of hidden muscles? Yup, the patent-pending Skecher kinetic wedge will do that too.

Always trying to get the best possible opp that I can, I choose on the cute little Baby-Jane style...in black.

Truth be told, I despise to look of runners, always have.
To me they just look so big and clunky.

I mean, really! Shoes should be cute and sassy with at least a 2 inch heel.
Absolutely under no circumstance, no laces, eva!!
My sincerest apologise to all jocks, I know these are a staple to your wardrobe.
But it seems to more athletic they are, the bigger, chunkier and unsightly they get.
No matter how many swooshes you put on them.

Running shoes are just ugly, period.

I figured at least with the Baby-Jane numbers I could wear them to work.
Who knows, the brochure tells me they work while I stand.
Perfecto for an eight hour day on the floor.

Maybe this might be the place to mention, if you never have seen these shoes... Baby-Jane style included, they are still kinda ugly.
Large looking and clunky.

It's that wild insole in the heel that bulks them up, but goofy looking or not, it wasn't long before I was refusing to take them off.

So how was Day One with the Sketch?

Very very nice indeed.

I tried them out for the rest of the day, shopping.
We still had the rest of the mall to get thru and Wal*Mart.

Once at home, I cracked open the instruction booklet and instructional DVD... yes, instruction booklet. (there was even a 15 and 30 minute workout and warm-up techniques included)

Apparently, I need to learn how to walk properly in these.

Feet are shoulder width apart, back straight, chin up, eyes looking straight ahead ( wouldn't walking like that in any shoe give you a sense of confidence?) stepping into the middle of your heel, rolling your foot forward and pushing off with your toes.

This was the hardest part for me.
I have discovered that when I step, I tend to dig down with the heel of my heel, so walking on the middle made me feel quite flat-footed.

No worries, I made it thru the afternoon of shopping, the 15 minute workout and an 45 minute evening walk.

I definitely did feel a "something" in my legs and calves while I walked, but not so sure if it is the same "something" that everyone else raved about.

The manual actually advises you to consider these shoes a very serious form of exercise and to start with 25-45 minute increments for your first several weeks, until you level of strength increases.

Don't think I've done any serious muscle strain by wearing them all day, I've seem to have survived intact.
Certainly isn't because I am a prime example of muscular versatility and stamina.
Probably, I just haven't got the "rolling action" down pat, yet.


So to sum up Day One in the "Shape-up"~

Two thumbs up way up.
Even if they are uglyish, an absolute must for anyone dying for foot comfort.
If you are on your feet all day where ever you are, these are a life saver.
All waitresses, nurses, aides, retail service peeps, imagine me, leaning thru your computer screen looking you deep in your baby blues (greens, browns) and saying "YOU NEED THESE NOW!!)

My feet and legs never got that tired aching feeling.
Yes, I felt a "feeling" but I felt more energized the longer I wore them.

My big wide, size eights were comfy cozy all day long, no blisters, no rubbing.
That is a huge rarity for me and new shoes.

Cellulite or not, no need to hang on to the receipt, these shoes are not going back.

PS~

Speaking of "Summing it up" make sure you give my daughter, Summer a hard time if you see her/know her.
Little Miss High-End Label's jaw just about hit the floor when she came home and saw me wearing them.

"OMG, MOM!! What is on your feet?? You didn't actually pay money for those did you?"

(Did I mention they are kinda funny looking?)


Tomorrow, the Skechs meet Whitey's gym...