Shoes made especially for weight loss are available today and can be quite effective. These shoes have been out for a while and some companies have risen to the top by proving that they can offer a quality product to consumers. One of these types of shoes is the MBT Shoe made by a company called Swiss Masai. In case you haven’t already, MBT stands for Masai Barefoot Technology. In this article we want to take a closer look at these special shoes.
The development and idea behind the design of MBT footwear is quite interesting. What the shoe tries to do is structure the shape of the shoe so that it simulates walking on sand. Specifically, they want to try to make it as if you are walking through the natural sandy environment of the Masai in Kenya. Sports trainers have known for quite some time that working out on dry sand is a great way to get excellent cardiovascular fitness. When you walk on sand, it creates an uneven surface on your feet and forces you to shift your center of gravity to an unnatural position. Your body compensates for this by using several different muscle groups in your feet, calves, thighs, and torso that you wouldn’t use while wearing typical shoes. This is the idea behind the MBT weight loss shoes and it seems to work for some people.
More specifically, MBT makes several positive claims and benefits from wearing its shoes. They will take muscle groups not normally used for walking and activate them. Shoes will give you better posture and a more effective gait when walking with or without shoes. It can potentially help you with problems you may have with your back, hips, legs, and feet. Shoes can help you recover from tendon, joint, ligament or muscle injuries. The shoes are also designed to relieve tension and stress on the lower joints.
Another particular MBT claim is that if you walk a mile in these shoes to lose weight, it will be like walking two miles in regular shoes and burn equivalent calories. One thing is for sure, users find that after the first few times they walk in the shoes, their calf and thigh muscles ache. Also, while you are just starting to wear the shoes, they will feel uncomfortable, but that feeling goes away after about twenty minutes. Once you get used to the feel of the shoes, wearers find that they can walk effortlessly and comfortably. The shape of the sole is designed so that you walk with a straight back and a flat stomach, and your entire stride is shortened and quickened. These are the main effects experienced by MBT shoe owners.
In general, MBT shoe owners like the results very much. It is typical that if you walk three to four miles at a time several times a week you will experience some weight loss. Some people wear them for everyday wear and find that this helps keep their legs toned and looking nice. These are just walking shoes you really don’t want to wear them for running. It is recommended that you go to a store and try them on, as you will want to make sure that the heel is snug and fits correctly. If the shoes fit you well, they should feel snug and you should feel like you are walking on stilts when you walk in them.