Articles

Something of Value

We are starting a new year and the economy is still in a sluggish state, so most of us are concerned about what we are going to buy and how much we are willing to pay for what we do buy. Recently, there was an article written that said 46% of the people in the US will be obese by 2018. This article covered only adults and as we have seen with other studies, kids are even more at risk of being obese. With obesity comes diabetes, heart attacks and strokes, along with a poor quality of life. Most people know that stage 2 diabetes comes with being overweight and can be controlled with proper diet and exercise. The “something of value” I am talking about is the one life and the one body that we are all given. Diet is not my area of expertise; however, I know that if you keep a record of what you eat and how much you exercise you can find out how to balance the two for your desired effect.

When it comes to exercise, especially involving running shoes and related equipment, I feel my 35 years of experience does allow me to explain why running shoes can also be “something of value”. The main points you need to remember when buying running shoes is that they must match your foot type, they must fit, including the width, and that you should buy them for their performance value. I recommend you go to a specialty store where you are dealing with knowledgeable salespeople. These people should do a gait analysis, measure your foot and explain to you why they are putting you in a particular shoe. Your foot type should be explained by the salesperson and generally will fall into three categories; stability shoes if you tend to roll inward when you walk, neutral or cushioned shoes if you don’t roll in or if you roll outward, and motion control shoes if you have a flat foot. You should always try on at least two different brands of the same type of shoe just to make sure the fit is right. If the shoe feels tight on the sides of your foot or if the laces are spread too far apart you should be thinking about trying on a width shoe. Make sure you have about an inch of extra length from your longest toe because your foot can swell up half a size to one and one half sizes bigger when you exercise. Good shoes in today’s market are going to be in the $100+ price range. Although they look the same, shoes in lower price ranges do not have the support features built in and will not last as long, so there is no money saved in the long run.

The exercise program you choose should be one that you will stay with. When buying the shoe either for running or walking, it should be purchased as a performance shoe not as a fashion shoe. In today’s retail market the store where you buy your shoes should be of value and guarantee not only the product but also the fit. I recommend you take the shoe home and try it out on a treadmill or wear it around the house for while. If it does not feel comfortable, take it back to the store. The gift of life that we have been given should not be taken for granted so make the most out of your “something of value”.