Flipping for my FitFlops

Unless you have been living under a rock, or are, like the one person in the world who doesn't know who Oprah is, you have already heard of the media frenzy over FitFlops.

These are the famed fitness sandles that claim to burn fat and strengthen and tone leg muscles while you walk. According to information presented on Tip Top Shoes, the FitFlop ,which retails for $49.95, works by destabilizing your foot while you walk, wich creates continuous tension in the leg and foot muscles, almost as if you were walking on individual micro-wobble boards. Every step is said to trim and tone your legs, thighs, calves, and glutes because they are biochmechanically engineered to absorb shock, lessen joint strain, and recreate the gait of barefoot walking.

Well, that's all well and good, and Oprah might have given them the kiss of the success when she listed them as one of her Favorite Things for Summer, but do they work?

I've worn mine on a fairly regular basis since receiving them a few weeks ago, and let me start by saying that the little yellow warning card that comes in the packaging which tells you to start slow and build up how often you slide them on should absolutely be followed. And I can tell you that I know this because I didn't listen, wore them all day the first time I tried them, and my calves, legs, and butt felt like I had been attacked by an elliptical for a few days afterwards.

It wasn't pretty.

So, yes, wearing them, I would say, has actual benefits. And, to top it off, now that I am used to wearing them, they are the most comfortable flip flops I have ever worn in my life. I used to prefer being barefoot, but now that I have these little babies, I wear them more often than I go without. I wear them to and from the gym, when doing housework, and when I'm running to the grocery store.

Now, I know that the burning question in your minds is, "But do your legs and butt now look like the model's?"

Yeah...about that.

The long and the short of it is, well, no.

I have not suddenly morphed into Kate Moss in skinny jeans. I have not magically shed every ounce of body fat. Nor have I decided that celery is the new chocolate.

But that's not the FitFlop's fault, now is it? They only promised to help me work out while I walk. And I am plenty satisfied that they are living up to their end of the bargain.

If you'd like to try for a pair of your own FitFlops Walkstar, visit the Tip Top Shoe site and leave me a berrie (read: comment) comment telling me what color and size you would prefer if you won. I'll draw one winner at random at midnight (EST) on July 9. The winner's name will be submitted to PRIZEYWinners.