Cellulite Solutions | Beating Allergies | Pregnancy Guide | Back Pain | Sleep Deep

MBT Shoes

Walk your way to firmer, sexier legs - with a little help from MBTs, or Masai Barefoot Technology trainers.

Can the type of shoes you wear really make a difference to the dimply stuff on your bottom? Here's the lowdown on the trainers nicknamed 'fatburners'.

Sounds like a fairytale, doesn't it? You put on a pair of shoes and, as if by magic, your cellulite starts to disappear...Well, let's not get too carried away - you do have to actually walk in them. And learn how to walk in them first - they are very different to any other trainers. They look different, for a start. Their thick, curved soles give them a platform, and make you walk in a different way, so that your feet are 'rolling' rather than the heel absorbing most of the impact as it does with normal footwear.

Like many aids to reducing cellulite, these trainers were designed for their health benefits, with the inch loss to orange-peel thighs a welcome bonus. They were originally developed in the 1980s by a Swiss professor, Karl Muller, to help cure back and joint problems by correcting the posture and altering the load on the spine.

Now that their many benefits have been revealed, celebrities as well as sports professionals have had themselves fitted for a pair. Jemima Khan, Madonna, model Gisele Bundchen, Sadie Frost and Zoe Ball have all been seen rolling along with a pair of MBTs on their feet, and glossy magazines including Vogue have featured them as well as health and fitness publications.

How do they work?

The curved layers of the sole emulate walking on natural, uneven surfaces - which are bodies were designed to do - as opposed to the artificial hard and flat surfaces we mostly walk on today. This forces the body into a more upright posture and means you use muscle groups that are normally neglected. With better posture - think of a proud Masai warrior walking across an African plain - your back and joints are strengthened, circulation is improved and you even breathe more efficiently.

Because the body is working more efficiently and extra muscles are being used, more calories are being burned and weight loss is speeded up. MBTs improve muscle activation by 38% - making any workout 38% more effective. Bottom and leg muscles are toned up more quickly - even while standing the muscles continue working to maintain a centre of balance.

Losing excess fat on bottom and thighs will mean less cellulite. With improved muscle tone over the whole of the lower body, any remaining cellulite will be less visible, and more efficient circulation will boost blood supply to the skin tissues, further improving skin texture

What do they feel like?

MBTs will take a bit of getting used to before you can walk in them properly. The thick layers of curved sole feel awkward at first because they make you feel as if you're walking on an uneven surface (that's the point). After wearing them for the first time - usually for just half an hour's walking - you will feel as if your legs have had a good workout (which they have) and may ache a bit. But once you've got used to them it feels like floating - some wearers can't bear to be parted from them.

Other wearers have felt a burning sensation in their feet after walking in them. This is due to the increased blood flow to the foot muscles and should disappear after a few weeks. However, if it doesn't, the manufacturers advise a visit to your GP as it could indicate some kind of vascular problem.

If you get backache after wearing them it's because the back muscles are getting used to a different posture, and should settle down after a while. In fact, some MBT wearers have reported a big improvement in their back problems, including lower back pain.

Why sports people wear them

Can the entire of the Austrian National Ski Team be wrong? Dozens of top professional sportsmen and women, including footballers and Olympic medallists, wear MBTs for training to improve stability, flexibility, endurance, speed and to help prevent injury. Skiers, including the Austrian National Team, wear them to improve balance and make the muscles work more efficiently.

Quicker recovery from injuries, especially knee problems, Achilles tendons and muscle and ligament damage, is another reason why sports professionals wear MBTs. There is less impact on the joints and the improved blood circulation promotes healing, while muscles are still being exercised.

The right fit to get fit

But the big plus of MBTs is you don't have to change your daily routine at all to get any of these benefits- you just put on a different pair of shoes. MBTs come in several styles and colours and there's even an open-toed sandal for summer. They are not much more expensive than high quality 'normal' trainers, so whichever way you look at it they are probably a worthwhile investment.

You can't buy MBTs mail order because they need to be properly fitted to make sure you are using them correctly. They come in slightly more varied sizing than standard footwear and need to fit snugly. The trained fitter will also give you a lesson in how to walk properly in them. There is now an international following and MBTs are becomng more easily available through sports shops and department stores. For prices and where to buy visit www.mbt-info.com. Roll on!


Custom Search