Walking for weight loss is extremely popular due to the fact that nearly anyone can do it, no matter your fitness level. With the introduction of the new shoes that claim to tone your legs and bum, the promise of slim, sexy legs is too alluring to pass up. I have tried several different models and plan to review each one as they are all very different. The pair I have used the most to date are my Reebok EasyTone trainers. I purchased them on eBay about six months ago. I use these trainers almost exclusively for dog walking, unless the ground is entirely too wet and requires boots. I also wear them to the grocery store and any errands I have to run. By far, these are one of the most comfortable pairs of shoes I have ever owned.
At first glance, the Reebok EasyTone is just like any other trainer, however, there is a difference. The use of “balance pods” on the bottom of the shoe are supposed to work in much the same way as balance balls do at the gym only on a micro scale. This “microwobble” effect is supposed to increase fat burning, muscle toning and shaping in the legs and backside. Do they work? It depends.
I was reluctant to buy these shoes at first because there were a lot of negative reviews about people stepping on tacks or something sharp and the balance pods actually popping and ruining the shoes. They are quite pricey so that put me off at first. However, I found a great sale and decided to try a pair. Plus, they were purple so that clinched the deal. When I first started wearing them, I didn’t notice a thing. I couldn’t tell they were making a difference at all. They were incredibly comfortable though which encouraged me to wear them more.
The Reebok EasyTone shoes have a “one piece technology” where there are no seams on the inside of the shoes and this makes them very comfortable. The insoles are actually pretty substantial and I didn’t have to trade into my orthopedic ones. I have flat feet and have had trouble with capsulitis where the capsule around a joint in my forefoot becomes inflamed and is extremely painful and I have had to endure painful cortisone shots to help ease the condition. These shoes seemed to help that with the cushioning of the balance pod in the forefoot. And although I didn’t notice the toning effect, its not to say that there was nothing happening. My calves have actually started to slim down which has never happened to me. I do have extremely muscular legs from walking loads and from riding horses and doing loads of stable work. When a friend of mine had bought a pair, she walked in them for an hour or two and said her inner thighs were incredibly sore. My inner thighs are as muscular as they get so that may be why I didn’t feel anything. I did feel a bit of tiredness in my lower back with these shoes and with the other toning shoes, but I fixed this problem by walking with correct posture and going a bit slower at first. In doing this, I noticed the toning ability a bit more and my legs started toning up a bit more. The only other disadvantage of these shoes is there is very little grip on the sole so be careful not to slip on wet or soft grass and floors.
If I’m recommending these shoes for weight loss, the only thing I would say is please give yourself time to adjust to the shoes and be sure to work on form instead of speed. If you are very unfit, please start slowly and don’t go too far. If you have loads of leg muscles like most horse riders, wear them all the time and you will find comfort and an extra toning benefit. I don’t think they will cause you to lose loads of weight but because they are so comfortable, maybe they will encourage you to walk more which will certainly have a knock on effect to your fitness level.
