When I was younger and had more patience, this was pretty much my daily routine - I’d pack my workout clothes into a huge bag, making sure I had everything: socks - a pair or two, the right workout shoes depending on the activities of the day, an outfit with two shirts just in case one got too sweaty, the coordinating workout underwear of course, weight training gloves, a couple of gym towels (hand towel size), scrunchy, clippy, jacket for afterwards, not to mention soaps, shampoo, big comb for wet hair, a bag for the used clothes, etc.  Whew!  It was tiring just getting ready.  Then when I’d get to the gym, I’d have to put everything I was wearing - shoes, clothes, bag and accessories into my locker, and after I was done working out I had to figure out whether to change back into ‘going out” clothes or stay in my workout stuff and just dump everything into my gym bag – mind you, it wasn’t all that easy fitting jeans, a belt, a shirt, shoes and everything else into one bag.  Sometimes when I wanted to have a drink or go to dinner after a workout, I’d have to bring another entire outfit in a clothesbag I could hang up.  Aargh.

Eventually, I – and I suspect the rest of the world – got tired of the whole double/triple outfit dilemma and that’s when designers got smart and created loungewear that worked great as errand wear, meeting wear, lunch wear, gym wear, after gym wear, and in a pinch, managed pretty nicely as dinner/drink wear.  This loungewear was made up of attractive separates for yoga, boxing, running, weight training, basically anything that had to do with exercise and looked fab in the gym or out of it, and if it was a bit too revealing it could be covered by a cute hoodie or the jacket could just replace the top altogether.  Very functional and I was all for it because it reduced packing time and bag size significantly!   However, there was a glitch – the shoes. 

I love workout shoes but for coffee or lunch or grocery-shopping, they just look too butch, especially since my feet have always been too large for the girls’ fitness shoes sold here.  I always end up having to get mens’ cross training shoes and aside from the fact that they fit me well, they’re just so much more kickass and well-designed than the womens’ shoes, at least in my opinion.  A possible alternative was sandals but most sandals were too dressy or too strappy or just not sporty enough to go with leggings or sweats.  Flip flops were an option but not a very good one – in some places designer rubber slippers look just like, well, rubber slippers.  I found the nicest pair of black wedge sandals but after a bit I realized that four-inch heels, even wedge heels, just didn’t quite go with leggings unless you were a Pussycat Doll or Fergie.

After all this I was getting pretty discouraged, so you can imagine how thrilled I was when I was checking out Victoria’s Secret online and the home page announced this new shoe called Fit Flops - described as “It’s the Flip Flop with the gym built in” – and more importantly, the photos were everything I was looking for in pre- and post-workout footwear!  As I pored over their description and photos I saw that they had an attractive but not high heel, were basically thongs (I love thongs because they show off the foot so nicely) and had several styles to choose from, super sporty for a workout walk or sprint through the mall, and shine and sequins for dressier occasions.  And as if this weren’t enough, the main selling point is that this amazing footwear was engineered in such a way as to tone and tighten leg and butt muscles while you walk.  Now after years of studying infommercials and over-the-top diet and exercise claims, I’m not as gullible as I used to be, so I started researching on the science behind the shoe.

There are many Fit Flop reviews online from people who have bought a pair and report that after wearing it, they now want it in every color and have even gifted their relatives with it, but the most interesting thing is that these testimonials are not only from fitness-conscious wearers but a large amount are from customers who find that wearing the shoe gives them relief from chronic lower back pain, plantar fascitis, heel spurs, sciatica, osteoarthritis, scoliosis, degenerative disc disease, restless leg syndrome (RLS) and even lessened joint swelling in their leg and feet.

How did this remarkable shoe come to life?  Melody Nubla, their brand manager filled me in on the history - Fit Flops were created by Marcia Kilgore, the founder of the popular Bliss day spas, who thought up the concept of the footwear and went to Dr. David Cook and Darren James from the Centre for Human Performance in London to develop it for her.  They came up with and patented what is now their trademarked  microwobbleboard midsole which reportedly increases activity in the muscles involved in walking, which are the calves, thighs and butt.  What it means is that while you wander around getting your groceries or go window-shopping at the mall, your entire lower body is getting a workout, more of a workout than you could get if you were just wearing a pair or regular workout shoes.  However, what they didn’t realize when they were building the shoe is that because of the structure of the Fit Flop, it realigns the way the force of walking travels through the body and into the pelvis, adjusting the gait and thus the spine and actually getting rid of the strain and stress that we’ve accumulated from years of improper alignment and bad walking habits.  Because you don’t overload the joints, it’s not only easier to walk, it can become a pleasure!  I couldn’t wait to try a pair and if I wasn’t sold enough before, I’m definitely a loyal customer for life.  I chose one for casual wear that’s not too sporty - the black Oasis, and the next one on my list is the gorgeous bronze Electra, perfect for an evening out after a good yoga class.  And because they’re reasonably-priced compared to workout shoes or dressy sandals, I can manage to get more in the future and not feel guilty.

You can check out the international site at www.http.fitflop.com or better yet, see what’s going on at fitflop.multiply.com.  They have promos where you can win free Fit Flops and you can find out about special discounts.

For comments, suggestions, reactions about the article, email wellbeing@mb.com.ph.