If you ever go to a gym, I will bet that you ALWAYS wear a pair of trainers. I mean why wouldn’t you because wearing anything other than that would be an instant end to your planned exercise as you wouldn’t be able to use the equipment wearing any other type of foot attire. Likewise, if you are planning to go for a jog or a hike or play a ball game, it would be a total exercise nightmare; therefore, I can predict with great certainty that you would also wear footwear befitting for the occasion.
At the gym (if you visit one) or any other planned exercise aside, a killer heel, a tight-fitting fashionable shoe or any uncomfortable but beautiful footwear can also have an adverse effect on your level of fitness. In fact, they may completely foil any chance you may have had to exercise say on a night out, at work or any other occasion. It is precisely at times like these, you can very cleverly fit a little (or a lot) of exercise into your life with minimum effort or additional time cost involved that produces huge results. Why is this you may ask? Well, any activity, be it social or not, holds within it an opportunity for exercise! To begin with, let me give you some examples:
Commute to work
Like many of us, you may have to commute to work. It may be that your commute is short, or on the other hand, you, like me, could be one of those people whose commute lasts over an hour each way (mine is 1.45 hours each way). So, even if you have a relatively short commute say a ten or fifteen minute walk, you may be currently driving or taking some sort of public transport. Stop and think about what a great opportunity it would be if you were to decide to add some exercise to this daily routine? Here are just two options:
Walk – Some or part of the way.
Cycle – Some or part of the way.
Social occasions
If you think about it, there are definitely opportunities that can be taken advantage of on a night out. In fact, you may already be taking part in these without even realising that you are exercising, but exercising you are!!
Dance – On a night out with friends, if an opportunity exists to dance, you can partake in this physical activity whilst actually enjoying yourself.
Walk – When making your way to meeting your friends, you can choose to walk all the way (if it’s not too far) or part of the way
But here’s the thing. If you choose to wear uncomfortable, tight fitting shoes, you will NOT be able to take advantage of these fantastic opportunities when you are faced with them. Whilst I am certainly not asking you to ditch those beautiful shoes that make you look absolutely awesome, I am suggesting that you make a couple of changes to your existing getting ready for work/going out routine:
- Buy a pair of very comfortable shoes
- Make sure they are a colour that will ‘go’ with anything or at least most things:
- Formal occasions – I have a pair of I have a black pair of trainers. These allow me to walk both comfortably and briskly.
- Social occasions – I suggest you purchase flat ‘shiny’ shoes. Trust me on this, dancing is a fantastic exercise and no one will notice if you are wearing flat shoes or not. If you really don’t want to wear them, opt to dance without shoes!
- Obtain a bag that you can carry your lovely shoes in to and from your place of work or social activity
- Place a plastic bag inside in case of rain resulting in wet shoes
Armed with this kit, you can easily flip from wearing the comfortable shoes for ‘exercising’ and your fancy shoes for when you are not. Win – Win if you ask me!!
Written by Sherry Taylor
Author of The Anti-Diet Lifestyle
