Buy shoes, lose weight
Incredible as it sounds, the type of shoe you wear can determine how many calories are used while walking round (and shopping)
Sarah Jessica Parker recently admitted to ELLE magazine that heels have destroyed her body. The Sex and the City star said: “I used to spend 18 to 20 hours filming in heels. I’ve totally destroyed my body by running and dancing in heels. My knees are shot.” Studies have shown that regular use of wide and high heeled shoes make a person more vulnerable to knee arthritis because of degeneration of the joint.
But what does it do to your feet? Podiatrist Diamanto Malliotou explains: “High-heeled shoes, such as stilettos, which have no support base, can cause various problems if worn for years but the same goes for flats, which can be comfortable on one hand but can make feet more vulnerable. Foot types vary and everybody’s different but if you have frequent back and feet pains, then maybe it’s time to consult a specialist or a podiatrist to figure out what type of shoe is good for you.”
Having said that, Malliotou maintains that a 2 or 3cm heel can actually be good for some people as it can solve back problems without putting too much pressure on the back. She also explains that wedges or platforms may be a bit easier on the foot but a heavy shoe will do nothing for your balance, so make sure those beloved thick shoes are light enough for you to carry!
However, before you begin mourning over the health risks your shoes carry, remember that it’s all about variety and making sure you spend as much time relaxing your feet as you do restraining them in tight, high stilettos. On the plus side, wear the right shoes and it can be a great way to help burn those calories off!
Stilettos
The science: The quads, hamstrings and calf muscles have to work harder in heels, so your legs become more toned, even when you’re standing still. Walking in heels can burn 312 calories an hour, if you can last that long!
The exercise: For Posh-like pins, stand with feet hip-width apart. Hold the handles of a large, heavy handbag close to your chest with both hands, keeping your knees soft, your spine straight and your stomach muscles tight. Bend forward from the hips to a 45-degree angle, hold for five seconds then return to standing. Repeat 15 to 20 times.
Platforms
The science: Platforms or wedges give you extra height and put less stress on the foot than normal heels. Walking in wedges works your core stability muscles, buttocks and thighs and burns 228 calories per hour.
The exercise: For legs like Jessica Alba’s stand up straight with your feet hip-width apart on the edge of a stair, just hold onto the banister for support. Now rise up onto the balls of your feet, hold the position for one second, then slowly lower yourself back down so your heels go well below the stair you’re standing on. Repeat 15 to 20 times.
Ugg boots
The science: Uggs contract and lengthen leg muscles without overworking them like heels can. They also make your toes curl to grip the sole, which works the front of your thigh and calf muscles helping you to burn 264 calories an hour when you walk in them.
The exercise: For toned legs like Sienna Miller’s, hold onto the back of a chair and stand with your feet hip-width apart. Lift your right foot several inches off the floor, extending your leg in front of you. Tighten your abs and bend your left knee as much as you can, distributing your weight evenly for balance. Hold for two seconds and repeat 15 times each leg.
Ballet pumps
The science: The lack of support makes the muscles in your inner thighs and buttocks work harder than usual. You burn fewer calories than in some other styles (240 per hour) but you can wear them for longer, which means you’re likely to burn more calories in total.
The exercise: For legs like Kate’s, stand with your feet slightly more than hip-width apart and your hands on your hips. Squeeze your buttocks, slowly bend your knees and drop your hips down towards the floor (don’t let your knees go beyond your toes). Then slowly return to a standing position. Repeat 15 times.
