Skechers Shape Ups – Another Fitness Gimmick?
Posted by Brad Campbell
10
Feb, 2010
A Fitness Product Review of Skechers Shape Ups…by Brad Campbell
“Get In Shape Without Setting Foot In a Gym.” That’s the slogan I’m reading off the front page of this advertisement for the new Skechers Shape Ups…
Are you serious? How can they claim this shit?
Those were my initial thoughts when I first saw the brochure my mom brought home from the mall last night (the p’s are visiting on vacation and they’ve been getting their shop on during the day, while I get my grind on with TopFatLossTrainer, as usual).
Back to Skechers Shape Ups and the brochure that instantly made me a little heated.
In case you’re wondering what the hell I’m talking about, I’m referring to the shoe company, Skechers, and their new shoe line that apparently does everything but cure cancer.
According to this clever little handout for Skechers Shape Ups:
Shape Ups feature a unique soft kinetic wedge insert and dynamic rolling bottom to simulate walking on a soft giving surface like sand. With the comfort of Shape Ups, you will feel your heel sink to the ground as you step, roll forward as your weight shifts to its center, and push off with your toes. This movement will result in stronger leg, back and abdominal muscles as you stabilize your steps.
Shape Ups are designed to enhance the benefits of walking by stimulating muscles not utilized with standard walking shoes. They also reduce the impact on joints by providing a more natural, forgiving walking surface. Walking on a soft surface may seem awkward at first, but your body will compensate by activating muscles in your legs, back and stomach to center your body, resulting in improved coordination and posture, stronger muscles, and increased blood flow.
Shape Ups will have a positive impact on you physically. Regular use of Shape Ups help you sleep better and can play an important role in combating stress. It’s as easy as walking in Shape Ups.
Also according to this infomercial on paper, Skechers Shape Ups are designed to:
Promote weight loss
Strengthen and firm the back muscles
Tone and tighten leg muscles
Firm calf and butt muscles
Tighten abdominal muscles
Relieve muscle tension and fatigue
Increase cardiovascular health
Improve posture
Reduce cellulite and tone your thighs (on the women’s brochure, of course)
Alright, so here’s my two cents, for what it’s worth. The theory behind this new Skechers shoe makes sense. I don’t disagree with the thought that this design could have many benefits over the traditional shoe design. In fact, I have to admit it’s pretty freakin’ creative, so kudos to the nerd who came up with the Shape Ups concept.
However, the marketing campaign is where I start to have serious issues. It really aggravates me because the FTC has just recently cracked down on how online marketers can advertise (probably a good thing, because there’s way too many shade balls out there trying to steal your money and then run and hide, making it impossible for you to figure out why there are mysterious charges on your credit card statement)…
Notice how I don’t show any before and after pics or testimonials on my TopFatLossTrainer Inner Circle sales page? That’s because I’m scared to put any up, because your entire business could get shut down thanks to these new rules.
Like I said above, I’m glad they’re starting to protect the consumer and weed out the scammers, but it does make it hard for the few honest people left (like myself) to show any of their greatest success stories (the FTC is really strict with weight loss testimonials, due to the ridiculous amount of supplement and gimmick scams that show misleading results and prey off peoples’ hopes of finding the “magic bullet”).
Well, apparently, they didn’t tighten up the offline marketing, because I see the advertising for these Skechers Shape Ups as being equally misleading. This brochure is implying that you buy a pair of these Shape Ups and go about your normal walking and standing…and all of a sudden you’re going to lose cellulite, get a booty like Fergie, improve your posture and sculpt a 6-pack like Cam Gigandet…all from walking in a pair of shoes.
What’s that smell? Oh yah, that’s the B.S. that’s plastered all over this flyer, lol.
Once again, you have a “miracle product” that says nothing about hard work or diet, that’s going to supposedly turn all buyers into lean fitness models that are the epitome of optimal health…
Other than the claims of improving joint health and posture, I just don’t see how they’re getting away with saying the rest of this crap.
It’s very misleading and I know thousands of people are rushing to the stores as I type, to throw their hard-earned money across the counter and into Skechers’ corporate bank account.
These people may very well love the feel of the Shape Ups and they might even notice an improvement in their joints, but I guarantee they aren’t going to turn into a ripped Ryan Reynolds from walking in a pair of Skechers – no matter how cutting-edge the design.
Another negative that you’ll notice immediately, especially if you’re fairly stylish like myself, is that the Shape Ups won’t be winning any “best looking shoe” awards. The things look like a bloated, broke down pair of clodhoppers (but that’s just my take).
I will say that my mom was pretty hot on these things – I guess she tried on a pair and said they’re really comfortable, so they do have that going for them. My final take is this: if you do a lot of standing or walking, especially at your job, and you could benefit from taking some of the stress off your joints and lower back, give them a shot. Hell, you may even burn a few more calories throughout the day.
BUT, if you’re looking for a way to lose fat, build muscle and firm and sculpt your trouble spots, please don’t get reeled in by the tricky advertising used to promote the new Skechers Shape Ups. You should know by now that there’s no magic bullet and if a fitness product is claiming amazing things without stating that there’s lots of effort, discipline and motivation involved, then it’s probably a gimmick.
I wouldn’t go so far as to call the Skechers Shape Ups a gimmick, but I would say their advertising is totally misleading and preys off our inherent desire to find the easy way out.
I’d like to hear your feedback – has anyone bought a pair of Shape Ups yet? If so, what’s the verdict? Ladies, did the cellulite jump right off your thighs and guys, did you notice a dramatic tightening of your abs?
For anyone who hasn’t bought a pair, what do you think about this shoe design and about the benefits Skechers is claiming the Shape Ups will provide?
Your Coach,
Brad Campbell
For a more realistic way of losing fat, my partner has a FREE report that I think women MUST READ… it’s a little controversial and it might go against much of what you *think* you know about losing weight, but that’s a good thing — trust me. Anyways, it’s totally free, like I said, so sign up below and get instant access:
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