Vibram Five Fingers versus High Arches: Round 2!

I've been out for a while due to tension headaches, which I blame on a combination of job hunting stress and pushing myself too hard doing squats. After taking some time to relax, I'm back and ready to touch on my experience with Vibram Five Fingers again.

When I first got my Vibrams, they seemed like they were going to be the solution to all of my foot problems. They were comfortable, they didn't make my arches ache, and they were less expensive than standard running shoes.

After running and walking on them for a couple of months, I still really like them. I agree with all of the hype that they're a more natural, healthier way of running. However, the honeymoon is over, and I have had a few disappointments to share.

First of all, they weren't the magical cure-all for my foot problems. This probably is more my fault for getting overexcited than the fault of the manufacturer, but it was still something of a let down. They worked great for the first month and a half, but now I feel like I've pounded through all of the support.

Running leaves my feet feeling bruised on the bottoms. It's better than the deep, long term ache I would get from running shoes, but it still leaves me with my old problem: My feet obliterate shoes in 2-3 months, and I just can't afford to buy new pairs of $85+ shoes 4-5 times a year.

This is a problem that is pretty unique to my foot problems, though. If you don't have trouble breaking in shoes normally, Vibrams will probably have a healthy lifespan for you.

My other major beef - and this one is more universal - is the smell. I'd heard whispers of the Vibram Five Fingers smell and how the shoes take on an odor if you run in the rain or otherwise get them wet. Given that Texas is in a record-long drought, I didn't think this would be an issue for me.

A few weeks ago, we miraculously got some rain, so I managed to get them wet during a run. The infamous smell moved right in. I found that washing them with baking soda and letting them air dry curbed the smell, but my feet still stink after wearing them. I feel like I have to rush to the bathroom to scrub off every time I take them off to make sure my wife isn't choking on my stinky feet.

That said, I know there are a lot of resources online for tackling this particular problem. I haven't delved into them fully yet, but I'll report back once I have.

To sum up, here's my current take on Vibram Five Fingers:

They're great shoes. I would recommend them to anyone - whether they're runners or not - especially if they have a history of foot problems. They still break in much faster than I would like, but I blame that more on my anatomy than on them. Also,

Don't get them wet.

Vibram Five Fingers versus High Arches: Round 1!

I've had foot problems for as long as I can remember. I have what my friends and I like to call "Barbie Feet" - really high arches with a very pronounced heel and ball of the foot. This, coupled with the fact that I'm 6'3 and not a small guy, leads to a LOT of weight coming down on one small point every time I step. It's worse when I run.

Not only does this make it hard and painful to jog, it also means that I tear through shoes like no one's business. I can take a new pair of nice running shoes and flatten the support down to nothing in three months. Keeping nice shoes on my feet is a pretty expensive proposition, and running with bad support is a terrible idea long term.

I was resistant to getting a pair of Vibram Five Fingers for a while, for a number of reasons. Not the least of which - let's be honest with ourselves - they're really silly looking. I was also not sure that they would accomodate my strangely shaped feet. But after my latest pair of shoes gave out, I broke down and decided to see about sizing and prices.

After taking them out for an inaugural run, here is my initial Vibram Five Fingers review:

I like them. A lot. I didn't feel any of the foot or ankle pains that I'm used to associating with running (which can't be good for me, long term). Because of that, I felt like I could run further and faster. They're not too expensive, either. My pair was $85 from REI, which is less than I would pay for a pair of running shoes.

Here's a piece of advice for anyone getting started with Vibram Five Fingers or barefoot running in general: Start small. You're going to be running on totally new parts of your feet, and you aren't going to have the callouses you need there yet. I wound up running a few miles out before I realized that I was rubbing some nasty spots into the bottoms of my feet. I probably looked pretty silly hobbling back home in my Vibrams. Start with a mile loop around your house instead of trying to dive right into it.

I'll put up more thoughts and experiences with my Vibrams after I get some more mileage on them.

3 Fitness Truths That You're Not Allowed To Say

Whether you're looking at advertisements for supplements, muscle magazines, or the latest and greatest exercise contraption, you're bound to run into some common fitness industry lies. But sometimes the true things that they're not telling you are just as important as the lies they're spinning. Here are 3 fitness facts you most likely won't hear from the fitness industry:

#1 Genetics Are a Factor

A lot of the marketing for fitness supplements and gear is founded on the idea that ANYONE can easily turn into a hulking muscle monster or a trim swimsuit model - if they buy the right stuff. Mentioning genetics in a fitness crowd will usually get you lambasted for "making excuses."

The fact is that genetics do count. Some people are genetically predisposed to muscle building. Some people are predisposed to maintaining fat. Some people are naturally talented runners, while others can learn to lift their body weight with seemingly little effort at all. Some people are physically weak and will constantly struggle to add weight to their bench press.

I'm not saying that everyone is damned to whatever shape they were born in. Acknowledging the genetic factor in fitness is the first step to working past it. Understanding your own strengths and limitations can help you tailor your workout routine to your needs. And knowing that your body is unique means that you can make safe, healthy progress at your own pace.

#2 It Takes Time

From six minute abs to a waist size a week, the fitness industry promises fast results at every turn. With the right moves and the right tools, you can instantly look like whichever Hollywood actor's beach body is on the front covers at the magazine rack.

This breeds unhealthy, unrealistic expectations. Building muscle takes time. Losing fat takes time. In fact, you should expect to lose an average of 2 pounds a week for healthy weight loss, so beware anything to promises much more than that. Some people will lose weight a little faster, and some people will bulk up faster, too. But regardless of your genetics, it still takes time. Barring dangerous hormonal treatments, even a genetically gifted person won't go from out of shape to muscle-bound in a few months.

It's no surprise that this lie gets perpetuated. It can be disheartening to feel like your goals are so far away. Everyone wants to get there faster, but the truth is that you can't. Fitness has to become a part of your life. You have to love your runs and love your lifts. They're not a means to an end but a part of enjoying your life, enjoying your body, and improving yourself every day.

#3 There Is No Secret

"What's your secret?" It's a question that gets thrown around a lot. We all want to know what the local hard body did to get him or herself in such awesome shape. It's a question I've heard and asked many times. Here are a few of the answers I can remember off the top of my head:

"I eat a baked potato every day."
"I lift heavy weights and eat a steak a week."
"I drink two protein shakes every morning."
"I do body weight exercises instead of dumbbells."
"I go all the way down on my bench presses and eat a bowl of pasta after I work out."

Some of these things are good advice. Others are terrible. When I was getting started, I committed them all to memory, hoping that one of them would be the secret formula to a great body. I bought a bunch of potatoes, ate more pasta, and reached for heavier weights. But I made about the same, steady progress that I was making before.

I had a workout buddy named Seth who was in amazing shape. Seth was a short guy with broad shoulders, a slim build, and tons of definition. One day, we were resting and chatting between sets when another guy approached Seth.

"What's your secret?" the guy asked.
Seth thought about it for a second and said, "Well, I always run five minutes on the treadmill before I lift."
The guy thanked him, and I silently committed another ritual to memory.

A few months later, Seth disappeared from the gym for about a week. When he finally came back, I asked him where he'd been.

"I had to go out of town for work," he said, eagerly grabbing a set of dumbbells. "I'm glad to be back. I skipped more workouts than I have in eight years."
"Oh, wow," I said, not even on my second year, myself. It seemed like as good a time as any to dig deeper into his routines. "So are you into the nutrition side of things, too?"
"I love the nutrition side of things."
I waited for a second, hoping he was about to tell me what magical plant or animal he ate regularly. He didn't. That was it. Seth worked out regularly for many years, and he ate right.

That was his secret. It just isn't the one that we want to hear.

Getting Your Feet Wet

When you decide it's time to get in shape, it's tempting to want to dive head-first into fitness. You might vow to run a few miles every day or eat nothing but salads or hit the gym during every waking hour.

Take a breath, and slow down. That kind of excitement is admirable, but it usually leads to burn out. A few salads in, most people think, "Eh, I could really go for a Big Mac." Or their bodies get so exhausted that "running every day" turns into "running when I feel like it," which turns into "never running."

Integrate fitness and good nutrition into your life slowly. Set goals and make changes that you can comfortably add to your daily routine. You can worry about pushing yourself to your limits and making the really hard changes later. First, concentrate on laying a healthy foundation that you can build on.

Here are a few suggestions on how you can start making fitness and nutrition a part of your daily life:


Cardio: Depending on how much of a beginner you are, you can start with walks or light jogs. Just establishing a routine of walking a mile or two every day can help you stretch unused muscles and lose weight.

When you feel comfortable with your routine, consider jogging instead of walking. Getting your heart rate up and sweating some will not only help burn more calories, it will help you sleep better at night and wake up with more energy. Don't be afraid to alternate running and walking if you can't do a whole mile at a jogging pace.

Weight Lifting: Pacing yourself with weight training is very important for preventing injury. Don't dive in to lifting heavy weights 5 days a week without any fitness background. Start off using light weights 2 or 3 times a week. Use resistance machines if your gym has them. These machines are excellent for teaching good form and helping prevent injury.

Also, rather than switching between machines randomly, try picking a few muscle groups to target each time you go into the gym. Most resistance machines will have charts explaining which muscles they target, so spend one day working your biceps and back and another working your shoulders and triceps.

Nutrition: Cutting the crap from your diet can be a daunting task. Most of us don't eat right at the majority of our meals, and we eat even worse between meals. Don't kill yourself trying to carve every last bit of trans fat out of your meals, and don't throw out all of the food you love on a whim. Start small, and make easy replacements for unhealthy foods.

Soda is a major contributor of empty calories and too much sugar - not to mention that it doesn't hydrate you very well. Start ordering water instead of a soda when you sit down to eat, and start phasing it out of the beverages you keep around the house. Not only will you be drinking fewer calories, you'll probably also find that your skin and hair feel better the more water you drink. Your teeth will thank you, too.

Replacing your snacks with healthier foods is usually a pretty easy switch, too. The trouble with snacks is that we reach for them unconsciously. Even when we make healthy choices at breakfast, lunch, and dinner, somehow the things we eat in between "don't count" in our heads. Unfortunately, chips, chocolate, and candy are convenient when mid-afternoon hunger strikes. Keep granola bars, raisins, or carrot sticks around to fight bad snacking habits.


Establishing consistency and dedication is  the most important part of beginning a fitness routine. Eating a perfect diet and exercising like an Olympic athlete means nothing if you only do it for a month. Make small improvements that will last a lifetime, and you're on the path to a fitter, healthier you.

A Statement of Purpose

I was a late bloomer when it came to fitness. I never considered myself athletic. I didn't play any sports. I was completely uncoordinated and completely out of touch with my body. When I decided to get in shape, I had no idea where to begin. I signed up for a gym, and I met a few very supportive people who helped teach me the basics of weight lifting and nutrition.

Without their help, I probably would have gotten discouraged, lost interest, and eventually fallen back into my old, unhealthy routines. But because they were there for me, fitness is now an important part of my life. I enjoy walking into the gym every day. I have more confidence than I ever have in my life. I look better, and I sleep better, too.

What I want is to provide that kind of support and education for people who don't know where to begin. If you're a fitness beginner, you probably already know that gyms and communities aren't always very welcoming to people who are just starting out. Worse, the fitness industry capitalizes on the insecurities and uncertainties of people looking to improve themselves, selling them gear and supplements that often range from useless to downright harmful.

Cut The Crap isn't just about cleaning up your diet and lifestyle. It's about spotlighting the lies and misinformation that the fitness industry perpetuates. It's about making an educated, healthy, and fun fitness journey possible to anyone and everyone who wants to improve themselves. It's about giving back to a hobby that changed my life.