If someone was to tell you that you could tone your legs and trim your bottom down to size just by wearing a different pair of shoes as you go about your daily business then you would probably be somewhat dubious. However, that’s exactly the promise that FitFlops toning shoes make to their wearers.

They were developed in the UK – the result of a collaboration between Marcia Kilgore, the founder of the Bliss range of spa products, and bio-mechanical experts at the London South Bank University (LSBU).

The secret is a specially designed “microwobbleboard” sole which generates a small amount of imbalance when you walk in FitFlops. This makes the muscles in the lower body react by trying to restore the body’s natural balance – and this means that they do a little bit of extra work with each and every step that you take over the course of the day.

You won’t notice any difference in the amount of effort that it takes to walk. It’s only a small amount of additional effort, but since this happens with every single step, you will get a toning and trimming workout without the need to visit the gym.

That’s pretty amazing stuff – but FitFlops have even more to offer. The special sole provides extra support and increases the contact area between the sole of the foot and the sole of the shoe.

What this means is that FitFlops are astonishingly comfortable to wear and to walk in. The extra contact area reduces the average pressure exerted by the wearer’s body weight on the sole of the foot. Many people wear FitFlops as a result of this rather than to get any toning benefits – although the toning benefits are pretty neat. FitFlops even have a range of clogs which are designed for medical staff who spend a long time on their feet during the course of their working day.

So, if you’re in the market for a new pair of shoes, why not try a pair of FitFlops? You might be pleasantly surprised at the benefits which toning shoes can offer you.