FitSugar

Do You Wear High Heels?

FitSugar — Sat, 12 Sep 2009 03:30:01 -0700

An outfit often isn't complete without a stunning pair of high heels. They're feminine, fun, and sexy, but the dazzle they add to your ensemble also comes with a price. High heels are linked to many health issues including shortened Achilles tendons and calf muscles, hammertoes, bunions, corns, ingrown toenails, posture issues, back and neck pain.

This doesn't stop me from donning a pair every so often, but heels are definitely not a regular thing for me. What about you?

Revamp Your Cardio: Move Your Feet

FitSugar — Tue, 01 May 2007 07:30:00 -0700

One way your body may be getting bored with your cardio workouts is that you're always working the same muscles over and over again. In order to constantly be challenging yourself, it is a good idea to use different machines. OK, but what if you own an elliptical machine at home?

Don't worry, you can still switch things around (and still use the same machine) simply with how you use your feet while on the machine. Use your toes to really work your quads (front of your upper legs) a little more. Use your heels to really work your booty and hamstrings (back of your upper legs) a little more. I like to alternate two minutes of pushing with my toes with two minutes of pushing with my heels. You can also try this while biking and while doing stairclimbers.

Fit's Tip: I also find that this technique can help with toe numbness, which can be a big problem.

Fit High Heels: Cole Haan Nike Air

FitSugar — Mon, 12 Feb 2007 04:00:00 -0800

At first glance you may think that I have lost my mind writing about heels but bear with me here.

My sister and my mom have been raving about these new heels that Oprah apparently loves. I'll admit I was skeptical, as they would love anything Miss Oprah endorses, even if it were the ugliest shoes ever. I was thinking Nike sneaker meets heel, which didn't sound so attractive to me but I did the research and can now say that these Cole Haan Nike Air shoes ($275 and up) are fabulous.

Each high heel shoe of the Cole Haan Nike Air collection utilizes Nike Zoom air bag technology to cushion the ball and heel of the foot. By lining the interior of the heels with strategically placed Nike Zoom air bags, the stress and pain caused by the weight transfer from the raised heel to the toe is counterbalanced. What does it all mean? Basically these shoes could be the most comfortable and sexy heels you ever wore, even despite the fact that the heel sizes average 3-4 inches.

The Cole Haan Nike Air collection of high heels comes in a wide variety of styles including boots, wedges, platforms, pumps, Mary Janes and sling backs. Now, I'm not saying you should run in them as you would your Nike sneaks, but it's nice to know you could if you wanted. To get a pair visit the Cole Haan site.

To see more of the cute and comfy shoes, read more

View 15 Photos ›

Surgery to Get Your Feet Stiletto-Slim?

FitSugar — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 03:00:48 -0800

According to Christian Louboutin, Barbie has cankles - but she's not the only one who needs a makeover to fit her stilettos. Apparently, donning perfectly crafted sky-high heels means women need perfectly re-crafted feet to match. In fact, even while most cosmetic procedures are on the decline - thanks to the recession - podiatrists report that the demand for cosmetic foot surgery is on the rise.

The fashion industry is already credited with making women feel inadequate when it comes to their figures, but I was surprised to learn that even a pair of strappy, heeled sandals can wreak havoc on female body image, causing some women to develop body dysmorphic disorder about their feet. Michelle Tzonov, a massage therapist from San Diego, always enjoyed an active lifestyle - an avid runner, hiker, dancer, and snowshoer - who decided her fully functionally, but bunion-covered, feet were in need of a makeover. Multiple surgeries to beautify her feet with intensive cosmetic surgery and a bunionectomy have since left her feet mutilated and saddled her with excruciating pain, likely to be lasting results of her botched surgeries.

To see how three inch heels affect your body, read more.

On their own heels are bad enough - even at three-inches high, they can increase the weight on the forefront of the foot by 110 percent, displacing bones and tissue, according to a recent study by the Journal of the American Podiatric Medical Association. But, surgery to get the foot stiletto-ready can cause severe complications that will eventually radiate throughout the whole body. While I'm certainly not an advocate of any kind of cosmetic surgery, just think of it this way - face work will never jeopardize your ability to walk, but feet support the whole body - mess with them and you're likely to jeopardize any kind of movement, especially the ability to strut your stuff in a pretty pair of Louboutins.

Cracked Heels and Running: A Painful Combination

FitSugar — Thu, 15 Nov 2007 10:15:00 -0800

Warm Summer weather is far behind many of us, and brutally chilly air has moved in. This cold weather makes us turn up our heat, and that takes the humidity out of the air. When there's no moisture in the air, it leaves our skin super dry. This is the perfect equation for creating dry skin.

If you enjoy running, you probably have some pretty tough feet, and the skin is probably rather hard. If that skin gets dry, it will create calluses, and the pressure of pounding your feet on the ground when you run can cause heel fissures, or cracks in the skin. If you continue to run, the fissures can split open further and become deeper. Ow! When that happens, the fissures can bleed and expose the underlying tissue to infection. Plus they're really painful, which makes running downright impossible.

Want to know how you can prevent fissures? Then read more

Drink lots of water throughout your day to help moisturize your body from the inside out.
Get a humidifier going in your home to return moisture to the air.
Before you go to sleep, lather your feet up with intense moisturizing lotion, salve, or body butter, and place socks over them.
Avoid moisturizing your tootsies before exercising, as this can make your footing slippery and lead to injury.
To get rid of dry skin on your heels, try using a pumice stone in the shower. It gently sloughs off dead skin cells, eventually revealing softer, smoother skin. If you already have small cracks, just be careful not to irritate those areas.
I know it's tempting to continue running, but if you have a deep fissure, the pressure of your pounding feet will only make it worse. Switch to walking until your fissure is under control.
If you already have a big crack, make an appointment with a podiatrist. They can help get rid of the hard, dry skin, so that your fissure can heal.

Source

Tips for Wearing High Heels

FitSugar — Thu, 31 May 2007 03:30:00 -0700

In a perfect world women wouldn't be subject to wearing high heels. The world is not perfect and I, for one, love putting on a sexy pair of heels when I can. The problem is that I always have a lingering guilt in my mind about the strain I may be causing to my body.

In case you're like me, even if you're not, here are some tips from The American Orthopedic Foot & Ankle Society on smart heel wearing:

Wear a shorter heel. A 2-inch heel causes less problems than a 4-inch heel. A shorter heel will give an elongated appearance if it is a thin stiletto type rather than a thick or chunky heel.
Try to save the use of your high-heeled shoes for functions where you will not be on your feet for extended periods of time; treat them as a limited-privilege accessory.
Take your designer shoes to a pedorthist to have them custom fit to your feet. They may be able to stretch the toe box to better accommodate your feet.
Try wearing a larger size than usual and insert heel cups into the backs for a better or more comfortable fit.
Wear open toe shoes instead of a similarly-styled shoe that causes discomfort in your toes. Partially open toe shoes have become more acceptable in many work environments, allowing you to further customize your shoes to your feet.
Remember that however appealing those high-heel, high-fashion shoes are, your feet need to carry you around for a lifetime. Treat them kindly!

Source

Wear Heels? Stretch These Muscles

FitSugar — Mon, 19 Mar 2007 04:00:05 -0700

We all know that high heeled shoes are pretty, and pretty bad for your body. Yet, we all end up wearing them sometime or another - a big meeting, a wedding, or almost everyday.

Basically the height of the heel pushes the weight of the body forward which interferes with your balance. The body likes to be in equilibrium so many muscle groups work harder to maintain your balance and keep you upright. Much of this muscular work occurs in the lower back since the lumbar curve get exaggerated while wearing heels. This exaggeration in the the low part of the spine affects the hip flexors in the front of the body. Plus the poor overworking calves get tight too after a day in high heels.

Since I know many of you still wear heels daily especially with Fab tempting us almost daily with the new shoes of Spring. I wanted to show you all some stretches that can help a girl out after a day in heels - if I can't scare you out of wearing them, at least I can help you feel better after a day in them. So check these recuperative stretches out, there's 2 options for you to try for each tight body part.

Low Back Stretches

Child's Pose

Squat in the shower

If you don't like to stretch in the shower, do this stretch on dry land.

There are two more body parts to stretch, so read more

The hip flexes the muscles that move your thigh bone toward your torso, can also get tight from wearing heels. You might feel the tightness when you try to stand up after sitting for long period of time, right where you legs start at the bottom of your torso.

Hip Flexor Stretches

Lunge

Psoas Stretch with Roller

If you don't have a foam roller you can try this with a yoga bolster.

Because the heel is lifted by the increased height of the shoe the calves get tight too. They can become chronically tight from wearing heels regularly, so try these stretches on for size. You can also do a Downward Facing Dog.

Calf Stretches

Hold up the Wall

Kiss the Wall

Fit's Tip: I say print these out and tape to the inside of your closet door...it'll help remind you to lengthen those short and tired muscles.

Strike a Yoga Pose: Head to Knee A

FitSugar — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 05:50:03 -0800

Looking to loosen up inflexible hips and hamstrings? Here's a yoga pose that's a popular stretch among runners because it'll target the oh-so-tight backs of the legs.

Sanskrit Name: Janu Sirsasana A
English Translation: Head to Knee Pose A
Also Called: Flag

To learn how to do this forward bend variation read more.

Begin in a seated position with both legs straight out in front of you.
Bend your right knee and place the sole of your foot against your inner thigh, pulling your heel as close to your body as you can.
Sit up nice and tall, lengthening through the spine and keeping your left leg straight. Then fold your torso over your left leg. Rest your hands on the floor on either side of your leg or on your shin. Or if your hamstrings and hips are more flexible, reach for your foot - the right hand holds the left wrist.
Rest your forehead on your leg and stay here for five breaths, being sure to continue lengthening the spine as you relax the shoulders away from your ears.
Then release your hands, sit up, and either take a vinyasa to switch sides, or just switch sides from here. This time the left knee will be bent, and the left hand will hold the right wrist.

Have any burning questions about yoga? Then post them to the Yoga Stretch and Tell group.

How-To: Heal Cracked Heels

FitSugar — Wed, 17 Jun 2009 08:00:00 -0700

Warm Summer weather inspires many of us to wear flip-flops and walk barefoot. When your feet are exposed to air, it can cause dry skin on your feet, which will create calluses. The pressure of pounding your feet on the ground when you run can then lead to heel fissures, or cracks in the skin. They most often occur on your heels, but you can get them anywhere you have extremely dry skin. If you continue to run, the fissures can split open further and become deeper. When that happens, the fissures can bleed and expose the underlying tissue to infection. Plus they're really painful, which makes running downright impossible.

Want to know how you can prevent fissures? Then read more.

Before you go to sleep, soak your feet in water or take a bath or shower. Then lather your feet up with intense moisturizing lotion, salve, or body butter, and wear socks over them.
Wear socks and shoes that cover your feet to help keep the skin moist. I know this can be a pain during the Summer, but it will really help heal your cracked heels.

Drink lots of water throughout your day to help moisturize your body from the inside out.

To get rid of dry skin on your heels, try using a pumice stone in the shower. It gently sloughs off dead skin cells, eventually revealing softer, smoother skin. If you already have small cracks, just be careful not to irritate those areas.
If you live in a dry area, try using a humidifier in your home to help keep moisture in the air.
I know it's tempting to continue running, but if you have a deep fissure, pounding your feet will only make it worse. Switch to walking until your cracked heel is under control.
If you already have a big crack, make an appointment with a podiatrist. They can help get rid of the hard, dry skin on your feet, so that your fissure can heal.

Getty

Class Act: High-Heel Workout?

FitSugar — Tue, 10 Feb 2009 16:00:00 -0800

Looks like there is a new fitness class on the scene. The focus is to get you in shape, but not in the traditional meaning. Rather than focusing on burning calories, the goal of the high-heel workout it to get you in shape to walk comfortably in heels. The first part of the class is done wearing your fave heels while performing simple dance moves and a few other exercises. After changing into sneakers, the second half of the class includes classic leg toning moves like squats and lunges along with core-strengthening moves to aid posture. Those three-inch stilettos can really throw off your balance. Here is a video snippet of the class.

I am the kind of gal that reserves high heels for special occasions, since they do funky things to my feet like create corns and cause some serious neck and back pain. I think this class is a little silly, but I fear I may be in the minority here, as many of you wear heels three times a week. What do you think about a high-heel workout? Is it silly or practical? Share your thoughts in the comment section below.