Fitflops workout while you walk, what a great invention!

I read an artical in Zest Magazine about the 'Fitflops', and I thought I need some flip flops anyway so I will order these ones.

Well I am glad I did! They not only look good, they are comfortable and have helped my posture. I can feel the muscles working after I ve been walking a while, and it is like a workout going out walking! I went to the seaside for the day yesterday just for a walk about, I had a fantastic day and worked out my legs and bum! My feet didnt ache like when I wear flat footware, I think these are excellent!

Below quoted from Fitflop:

7 REASONS WHY EVERYBODY IS WEARING FITFLOP FOOTWEAR:

FitFlop midsoles incorporate patent-pending microwobbleboard ™ technology, to give you a workout while you walk. Developed by Darren James and Dr David Cook at LSBU, the FitFlop’s unique safely-tapered midsole places varying densities of EVA under your feet each time you step, to challenge the support and balance muscles of the foot and leg.

They challenge hard to reach muscles more. FitFlop sandals are engineered with a multi-density midsole that stimulates your muscles more while you’re wearing them. In independent University testing, FitFlop sandals have been shown to trigger increase gluteal muscle response, increased hamstring response, increase rectus femoris (thigh) response and increased calf muscle response.

Every step you take in your FitFlop footwear helps tone and trim your legs: studies at Salford University by Dr. Philip Graham-Smith and Richard Jones have shown that the FitFlop midsole extends the amount of time that the slow twitch* muscles are engaged during each step (by approximately 10-12%). So just by wearing a pair of FitFlop sandals you’ll get more exercise while doing just exactly what you’re normally doing. (*slow twitch muscles produce energy by converting fats into energy aerobically)

FitFlop footwear works your bum muscles more. It has been proven to increase the amount of time that the gluteus maximus muscle is ‘activated’ during every single step.

FitFlop footwear has been shown to have a significant effect on the toning muscles of your thighs: the rectus femoris muscle (one of the large muscles in the group of muscles in your thigh) is activated for a longer period of time while walking in FitFlop sandals than while normally shod or barefoot.

Walking in FitFlop footwear is like walking barefoot, but a little bit better. According to a study done at the University of Salford in Manchester, UK, the FitFlop wearer’s gait is very similar to that of a barefoot walker, but the added cushion provided by the EVA midsole helps reduce joint strain and absorb shock. In fact, several FitFlop wearers have already reported relief from back pain after a few days of wearing them.

FitFlop sandals make it easier to stay in shape. Just throw them on while you’re running errands, walking to work, or working around your house. Most first-time FitFlop wearers report feeling their muscles working more, while ‘fitter’ wearers feedback has been more toward great comfort and cushion. One woman reported feeling like she’d had a ‘bum-blasting’ workout after a half an hour of FitFlop-shod walking.

I found a website that is the cheapest and offers free delivery, they are only £35.45 for the Walkstar pair I have, from the below site. I love them so much I am going to buy a black pair now, so go with more of my wardrobe!









Let me know how you get on with them.

K

Diets and PCOS - Losing weight helps manage symptoms

I have tried many diets, fitness plans, diet pills and patches over the years. Since I stopped dancing full time in 1999 I struggled with my weight and have had periods of depression.
I was diagnosed with PCOS in 2007 and diet has became my life, as I am always working against my body gaining weight due to the hormone imbalance.

I have finally found a diet and fitness plan that works for me with my condition that is healthy! Here is my story of how I got there.........

Previously I found the South Beach Diet to be the most effective diet, but due to my PCOS my dietitian strongly advised me not to go back on this diet due to my hormone imbalance and insulin levels. So she put me on a diet plan, which made me gain more weight and cause my symptoms to get even worse! Due to the severity of my symptoms and lack of help from my dietitian, I when on my own diet. Eating little and often not cutting out any food groups but only eating 900 calories a day. I had no energy and was still too ill to exercise, the weight was not shifting but I had not gained anymore.

I called my doctor to ask for medication to help as I was trying my hardest to lose weight and really suffering with my health, his answer was get your weight down from 10 stone to 8.5 stone to reduce your symptoms! I said I have tried my hardest and told him what I had been doing- his answer was: exercise 2 hours a day and eat less calories and fat, I said that i didn't think it was healthy to eat less calories than I already was, and he said with my PCOS I can eat less than 900 calories a day and starving children in Africa are not fat! Well I burst into tears, and could not continue the conversation, my friend was with me at the time and heard the doctor shouting at me down the phone, she could not believe the advice he gave me.

So next I was counting calories and fat content so that I could only eat 500- 600 calories a day, I didn't loose any weight in the first 3 days so I looked at the size 0 diet of even less calories. I started to replace some meals with the maple syrup lemon and pepper tea. My energy levels were even worse but I did loose 3lb i after 3 days! I tried exercising but due to having some large cysts on my ovaries, I just could not bear the pain. I kept going on the diet for another 5 weeks and got down to 9 stone, I was so pleased that I finally found a diet that worked for me again!

I had a follow up appointment with the dietitian and had to provide a food diary of the past month. She was pleased to see I had lost a stone in weight, but when she read my diary she was shocked to see I was eating very little. She told me I had an eating disorder, but I advised her that I had taken my doctors advice on reducing my calories even further to get my weight down to ease my symptoms. She said she was going to make a complaint about the advice given and told me to eat 1200 calories a day again. I just did not know what to do as I knew if I had that many calories I would just put the weight back on again.

I followed the advice a little a ate around 1000 calories a day and went to the gym every other day, after a month I had gained half a stone despite my efforts! So I started to take Pure Hoodia diet pills and use the Pink Patch at the same time. Crazy I know but I got down to 8 stone 12lbs after 3 months! My Wedding day was coming up and my dress had to be taken in, I was thrilled that I was starting to look myself again! Slim and toned.

While I was on my honeymoon I gained 7 lbs! But you do have to enjoy yourself dont you. When I got back I started fertility treatment and had to stop the diet pills and patch. As you can imagine the weight piled back on again and 7 months after I was back to where I started almost 9 st 12lbs and looked very untoned. I needed to do someting fast that was healthy. I subcribe to Zest Magazine and there was an artical on Maximuscle womens Promax diet.


I looked into this and seeked advice from a fitness professional, I went ahead and ordered the shakes and suppliments and downloaded the 8 week diet and fitness plan. I was easy to stick to and I did find the exercise hard to start with but I then found I had more engery. I felt happier in myself, I didnt feel depressed anymore and I lost half a stone in the first 4 weeks of the plan, the inche loss was even better, I had lost 2 inches from my tummy, 1 inch from around my ribs an inch from each thigh and half from each top of my arm. My body fat had reduced by 2% and water by 3%! I looked much more toned and I had a lot of comments from friends and collueges as even though I was only a little loss, it was very noticable. So I carried on and the results just got better :) :)





I had to stop the diet as I got pregnant, I then had a miscarriage and fell pregant again soon after, I was so upset to then have another miscarriage :( It is very common to miscarry with PCOS. My depression got so bad I didnt go back on the plan for a while, and I started to comfort eat and then make myself sick after as I was feeling guilty that my hard work had been wasted. :(

To beat depression I had to get out and exercise again. I decided to focus on my body and fitness again and leave the trying of the baby for a while, and if it happened it happened. So I am back on the Promax diet and exercise plan again! I am loving the buzz, and feeling happy again my body is improving. I want to enter the maximuscle womens body of the year 2009 in the summer, so I am working really hard for the perfect body!






If you would like the diet plan let me know as I have the PDFs saved. Maximuscle no longer have the plan on the website, but still sell the products.







Anyone else had good results from Promax diet?

K