About 2 weeks ago, I received a complementary pair of Dr. Scholl's Active Series Insoles from Influenster and Dr. Scholl's. I have terrible feet. They are size eleven monsters with toes that my husband says could take the place of my fingers should I lose one in an accident. They are flat, painful and roll inwards. They have hurt for as long as I can remember and that is a long time! I have tried everything under the sun, from expensive 'specialty' shoes to custom made orthotic insoles from my podiatrist. The only thing that feels really good is going barefoot...or my favorite Birkenstocks'. Alas, you just can't run, walk, and exercise in them.
So when I got these insoles, I was skeptical to say the least. $300 insoles vs. Dr. Scholl's over the counter ones? Yeah, right. And I'm going to run a marathon next week. Not gonna' happen.
Boy, was I wrong. These feel like I am walking on flexible memory foam that supports just the right spot of my (nonexistent) arch. My toes have plenty of room in the toe box. My heel is comfortably cradled in a well of foam. They are fabric covered so my socks don't slide around like my orthotics, which are covered with a slick faux leather. All in all, these are the best insoles I have EVER worn. I am new to the walking/jogging community. I have been heavy for 20 years, since the birth of my twins. But the last 5 years I have bypassed 'heavy' and become morbidly obese. That shames me to say, but it is true.
In July my son, who is now 19 and majoring in college in Physical Therapy, raked me over the coals about my weight. He ended his tirade with "Mom, I don't want you to die before you are 50." Wow. Just, wow. Here I was getting ready to be 45. Did he really think I could die in the next 5 years? Come on! But the entire conversation made me take a good hard look at who I had become. I am a nanny. I struggled walking up stairs, much less doing it while carrying a child. I easily got out of breath while walking anywhere significant. Like the bathroom. My energy level was nil and I thought a good fun weekend was one that I could stay in my PJ's all day.
So on one extremely hot July day, I decided to try to make some changes. My other son, also 19 said he would walk with me if I would just do it. I started using the online board, My Fitness Pal, documenting every bite I put into my mouth. I was surprised some days when I thought I had done well and my calories were still over 2000. I had my first walk around the tennis courts while my boys and husband were playing tennis. I thought I was going to DIE! My face was beet red, hot, I was pouring sweat, and I felt like someone had hit me with a truck.
While the premise was great, I realized that maybe I needed to begin a little slower, and not exercise at 5 pm in 95* heat. I started walking on my own street and around the cul-de-sac for 15 to 20 minutes. It was all I could do. There were some days that my feet hurt so bad, I would cry at the end of my walk. I was eating better and walking around 60 minutes per week. Before long I was down 15 pounds. Wow! 15 pounds is good, right? In August I did even better and lost another 18. 33 pound total. I was really trucking now!
September came and my walks were getting old. My street is boring. So I decided that with a little bit of effort, I could wear my workout clothes to work, put both girls in the jogging stroller and set off on an adventure. I walk the neighborhood 4-5 times a week, trying to get in 40-45 minutes at a good 3.5-4 mile an hour clip. The girls love it. I love it. I am now officially down 40 pounds (weigh in is in a week) and if all goes well, I should be down 50 by November 9th. The insoles have made my walking/jogging a pleasure...Words I NEVER thought I would be saying.
So it all started with a fight with my son. It continues with the help and encouragement of countless friends and family members. And the comfort of a good pair of shoes and a $20 pairs of insoles. Makes it all worth it, don't you think?
