Fit Flops

 

This post is not sponsored.  I have not received payment or product in return for my review.  The opinions I've shared are my own.  Nothing in this review should be construed as medical advice. 

 

 

My FitFlops came in the mail today!  I couldn't be more thrilled.

 

My first pair of fit flops was my favorite pair of shoes I've ever owned.  I bought them in late 2007, just after they became available in stores.  At first, they felt strange; the sole was unusually soft and thick.  The FitFlops website explains that this is due to the unique technology hidden inside- technology that evens out pressure across your feet and helps to engage new muscles when you walk.  And it works!  After a week in these shoes, I swore I'd never go back. 

 

 

But what makes these shoes so perfect for those undergoing weight-loss surgery?

 

• As the brand name suggests, FitFlops were designed to help shape and tone your legs without any extra effort.  Since the idea was introduced, other companies (Sketchers Shape Ups, etc.) have dabbled with it, but I still like FitFlops the best.  Reviews are mixed as to whether or not these shoes actually succeed in building muscle.  I personally noticed a difference within a couple of weeks. Though my my legs weren't dramatically changed, I could clearly see more definition in the calves. 

 

• They help relieve pain.  Though FitFlops don't specifically claim to be useful for pain relief, many online reviewers have reported less back, neck, leg and foot discomfort with these shoes.  Because I have suffered for fourteen years from back/abdominal pain, these claims are exactly what drew me to the shoe; I was not disappointed.  The microwobbleboard (tm) midsole reduces pressure imbalances on your feet and promotes improved posture, which helps reduce strain on your muscles and joints.  I find I can walk faster, further and more comfortably in FitFlops.

 

• They are sized generously.  With an extra-wide foot bed and ample room in the straps, FitFlops are perfect for customers who are overweight or have foot problems.  The shoes are not available in half sizes, but because they're designed with comfort in mind, I find that I can order a half-size down and still have plenty of room.

 

• At $50 to more than $100 per pair, the price looks intimidating.  Don't worry- these are quality shoes!  I wore mine summer and winter, all day every day, for five years before they finally wore out. My FitFlops have been swimming in the ocean, exploring the desert, camping the forest, and even climbed the world famous Misery Ridge at Central Oregon's Smith Rock State Park.  And with all of the cute, new styles, you could even find a pair suitable for church.

 

 

 

No Excuses

As I mentioned in the previous post, it's time for me to give up the excuses.  But it would be stupid of me not to aknowledge the reasons I've gained so much weight.  Below I've listed what I feel are the three most important factors I'll have to overcome, along with their potential solutions. 

Pain
For fourteen years I've suffered from chronic pain in my right side.  The severity varies a bit long-term but never resolves.  Some months it hardly impacts my activity level, other months it is debilitating. 

For most of my twenties, I was tied to my heat pad. It's not that I didn't want to work out- it's just that it's difficult to get the cardio in from the couch.

In addition to the lack of movement, I've also dealt with the pain in ways that exacerbate my weight problem.  I turn to food- especially sugary food- for comfort.  I order out or prepare pre-made frozen meals several times a week so that I don't have to waste my good moments on cooking.  I take pain medications that leave me constantly exhausted.  

In preparation for surgery, I've been looking into new therapies.  I've found a warming patch that helps a bit.  I've been doing strengthening exercises twice a week in physical therapy.  I'm experimenting with acupuncture, massage, and cupping.  And I'm taking supplements and adjusting my diet to include more nutrients with anti-inflammatory properties. 


Medications 
Certain drugs, including antidepressants, mood stabilizers, steroids, and diabetes medications, seem to cause weight gain. 

In 2003, I was prescribed an antidepressant for severe postpartum depression.  Within six months of starting with this new medication, I had gained 60 pounds.  Nothing about my lifestyle had changed; I continued to eat appropriately and exercise as often as possible.  My body had seemingly just lost the ability to burn ten pounds of fat calories per month!

One pound of fat is commonly thought to contain approximately 3,500 calories.  At ten pounds per month, that leaves me with a 35,000 calorie deficit.  In a thirty-day month, I would have to cut 1200 calories per day from my diet or add two hours of moderate running just to maintain my current weight.    

Unfortunately, I can't stop taking my medications at the moment, but I've been working with my doctor to find those which are least likely to contribute to weight gain.   


Sexuality and Self-Image
I got my share of attention from men when I was young- much of it unwanted.  First of all, I'm extremely religious and I was never interested in casual relationships or one-night-stands.  Second, I had a traumatic experience at age 18 that helped solidify my view of all men as predators.

I got married at my first opportunity.  My husband and I met when I was 20 and were married two months later.  For some reason, I thought the attention would stop there.  I was wrong.  Without fully realizing the reasons, I began to gain weight, dress in baggy clothes and go out without styling my hair or doing my makeup.  I felt awful about myself but I enjoyed being insulated from men's advances. 

Happily, age has brought maturity.  I'm comfortable with who I am and I feel that I have more to offer the world than just something pretty to look at.  I'm not at all worried about the odd person who can't see that. 

Also, I'm 36 years old.  Even if I were at my physical best, men wouldn't look at me and think "She looks like a great lay," but "She looks like a great babysitter." There is something comfortable about having outgrown the expectation that I should be attractive at all times. 



What are your struggles with weight loss?  How have you addressed them? 
   

Ready to Work

Hi, my name is Erin.

That's probably the scariest sentence I've ever written.  It was never my life's ambition to be associated with gastric bypass surgery.  I don't like to admit that I'm fat and I hate to admit that I need help. 

The thing is, I have legitimate reasons for being overweight.  I'm not lazy.  I'm not uneducated on matters of health.  I'm not a glutton.  But I've reached a point in my life where I have to deal with things as they are and not as they ought to be.  My clothes refuse to fit better because the fat isn't my fault.  My heart doesn't beat any stronger because I intended to run.  The scale doesn't adjust for injustice.  And that's why my husband and I have finally decided to undergo weight loss surgery together.

Like many people, I used to think surgery was the easy way out.  I imagined a conveyor belt of obese people gliding in to one side of the hospital and emerging healthy and happy from the other.  I was more ashamed of the idea of "cheating" at weight loss than at the prospect of being overweight my entire life.  

But I've come to understand that there is nothing magic about the operating room.  Weight loss still requires discipline, knowledge and extremely hard work.  And I'm ready to work.