Vibram FiveFinger Shoes- Have you ever saw someone running on the street and thought they were barefoot?

I have to admit, that I was skeptical at first because it’s a funny looking shoe but once I use them I was sold.  I have two pair!!!!!!

The Vibram FiveFingers shoes considered a “barefoot” shoe that improves your body mechanics by letting your foot work the way it should and not the way it does in a shoe. It is literally like running barefoot.  

The Vibram FiveFingers are a “barefoot” shoe. That is they try to mimic going barefoot while providing the protection of a shoe sole. They differ from other “barefoot” shoes by giving you individual toe pockets.

The shoes themselves have a very thin responsive sole that lets you feel the ground beneath you, but you also have the use of your toes. That may not seem like much, but you’d be amazed at how much your pinkie toe can do if you let it. 

By spreading out your toes, the Vibram FiveFingers give you greater control at your base. This translates to better balance, agility and body control. It can also lead to improved posture and less hip, back and shoulder pain if you suffer from those.  Your hips and spine have better alignment and your heel strike (a major cause of back pain) is better.

To make things even better the Vibram FiveFingers are topped (or bottomed) with the legendary Vibram rubber sole perfected perfect for any activity like running, aerobics, water sports, rock climbing and other activity you can think of.  This means the shoes fit your foot like a second skin and have an incredible grip. It is almost like having gecko feet. 

Balance, agility and body control are all enhanced. The Vibram FiveFingers are available with as an open top slip on, an open top with straps, a mesh top with straps and a neoprene.

Getting into them the first few times is a little difficult, but you quickly learn.

Word to the wise, be cautious when you first use them

-Do not overdo it at first. Chances are that the ligaments and musculature of your feet is underdeveloped. Use them for no more than 1/2 – 1 mile in the first 24 hours, then take a day off.  I didn’t listen to the advice of the salesman at REI and went for a 5 mile run the next day.  I paid the price and my legs, quads, calves, basically every muscle you can imagine and even the ones I didn’t know I had were inflamed for the next five days.  If any advice I can give you, take it slow the first day or two ;-0

  

I used to wear New Balance 992 sneakers for running and aerobics but after trying the FiveFingers, I can never go back.  I definitely recommend you try them out for yourself.

What has been your experience with FiveFinger Shoes?  I would love to get your feedback?

Formaldehyde in my Ice Cream, Reallly???

Yes ladies and gentlemen, it’s true. 

 

Ice cream usually contains 20-25% cream and milk products, 15% sugar and sometimes egg and then lot of chemical additives as stabilizers, emulsifiers, buffers, synthetic colors, surfactants, artificial flavors and preservatives. Stabilizer is used in order to retain the smoothness of the ice-cream by preventing the formation of coarse ice crystals.

 

Many commercial ice creams today are simply chemical concoctions presented in appealing packaging designed to sell a product that is not fit for human consumption. Everything from hydrogenated oils, high fructose corn syrup, and dry milk solids are used to produce something still allowed to be called ice cream.  Many ice creams are also filled with air to double the volume.

Research shows methylcelluose is formaldehyde used as a thickener in medicine and food including ice cream and avocado dip.  Same stuff used to emulsify wallpaper paste.  If you’re lucky you might find other chemicals like caroxymethyl cellulose, butyraldehyde, and amyl acetate are additives in some commercial ice creams. How about some diethyl glycol — a cheap chemical used to take the place of eggs, which is also used in anti-freeze and paint removers.

 

Now don’t get me wrong, I love ice cream like the next person. In fact, most ice creams have the benefit of containing vitamins A, B2 & B12 plus they contain calcium. But, wouldn’t it be great if they also had things like real raw cream, egg yolks, and pure maple syrup.

 

Just because most of these additives are on the GRAS (generally recognized as safe) list by the FDA, doesn’t prove they aren’t harmful.   In fact, the FDA does not require ice cream makers to label all of their ingredients. Really???

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Here it is- 2012

Here it is—2012—and we all have a clean slate! Whatever we didn’t get done in 2011 no longer matters. Christmas projects we never got to? Maybe next year. A goal we didn’t reach? It’s over, forget it, set a new one. Changes we meant to make and never did? We’ve got a whole new year to get it done. Don’t waste energy beating up on yourself. Drop it and move on.

Saturday, New Year’s Eve was for looking back. Yesterday, January 1, was for resting, recharging, and reorienting ourselves. From today on, we look forward.

As you get going and refine your goals—personal, professional, health, and spiritual—don’t aim too low. If you’ve never failed, you’ve been playing it safe. If you’ve never missed a goal, you’ve been aiming too low. Dare to aim high; be reasonable as I talked about on Saturday, but don’t lowball. You’ll only be cheating yourself of the great things you could accomplish if you aimed higher.

What are you going to do with 2012?

And what are you prepared to do today? 

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