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Do Toning Shoes Live Up to the Hype?

There are several shoe brands now marketing 'toning shoes' that are supposed to tone your legs while you walk and burn more calories.  The shoes are designed to simulate walking barefoot or walking on an uneven surface.

The idea behind this is the unstable design forces the wearer to use their leg muscles more, therefore burning more calories and toning at the same time.  However, a nonprofit fitness organization did an independent study and found no evidence wearing toning shoes improved muscle tone or burned more calories.

However, if you like the way toning shoes look and find them confortable and stable, there is no harm in wearing them.  And if you increase your activity then you are doing your overall health a great service, and well worth the price of the shoes.  The key is getting active, it doesn't matter what kind of shoes you're wearing, as long as they are comfortable and supportive-the benefit comes from getting active, and walking is a great way to start.