Shape Up

Can "toning shoes" really do the work for you?

When you are rocking around on Reebok Easy Tones, MBT's (Masai Barefoot Technology), Sketchers Shape Ups or flipping across the beach in Fit Flops you can't help but wonder, "Do these shoes really tone my body?"

The American Council on Exercise, a non-profit group, commissioned a study of these fitness shoes with independent researchers. They found "Across the board, none of the toning shoes showed statistically significant increases in either exercise response or muscle activation during any of the treadmill trials." ACE also noted that, "There is simply no evidence to support the claims that these shoes will help wearers exercise more intensely, burn more calories or improve muscle strength and tone.”

The companies like Skechers, Reebok and MBT that all sell versions of toning shoes, from $100 a pair to as much as $245 a pair all disagree and have their own experts that expound the fitness virtues of their shoes. For example Sketchers Shape-Ups claim in their ads that wearing their shoes:

* Improves posture
* Strengthens the back
* Firms buttocks muscles
* Reduces cellulite and tones thighs
* Firms calf muscles
* Improves blood circulation
* Tightens abdominal muscles

That all sounds fabulous of course; but the bottom line (no pun intended) is that you need to exercise and eat right to get and stay fit, not just wear a funky looking pair of sneakers.

Owner and personal trainer, Dominic Novak, of Peak Physique shared his workout wisdom with me.

"When you get into your 40's you can not turn your back on one thing. You have to stretch, do strength training, keep your core strong, and eat right to maintain the best quality of life as you age." His oldest client is 88 years old. Dominic Novak has been a personal trainer for 26 years and opened Peak Physique in 1992. He says, "The only thing that I've ever seen that has worked with people has been the idea of hard work and great sound nutrition. Everything else is sort of fluff."

Exercise Tips

Vary your workouts with balance and posture exercises.
Bosu ball: focus on the core and glutes.
Mini-bands:  put them around your ankles for resistance. Do  "side walks" and "diagonal walks". It's great for hip flexors and glutes.
Figure 8's:  lie on your side and lift your upper leg, keep it straight, then trace figure 8's in the air.

Diet: eat 6-7 small meals during the day. Your biggest meal is in the morning and your lightest meal is 3 hours before you go to bed.

Dominic meets with each new client to find out their background and goals. He puts together their exercise program and matches the client with the right trainer. (There are 13 trainers at Peak Physique.) Clients go to Peak to get a tailored workout program in a comfortable environment—10,000 square feet of training space—with at least two different trainers teaching sound exercise techniques. They offer monthly rates and session packages.

Located at 50 Holly Hill Lane in Greenwich, (203) 625-9595 or email dn565@aol.com.