Work out with or without shoes?
Which shoes are recommended for training your lower body❓
No nonsense—getting straight to the point, lol—the main tip is to avoid trendy shoes with elaborate cushioning for lower-body workouts involving squats, lunges, deadlifts, and similar exercises!
Oh, Thiago… but are these modern, expensive shoes bad for working out? No… they’re great for upper-body workouts, running, going out… but I don’t recommend them for a SERIOUS LOWER-BODY WORKOUT, because they can affect your results and, above all, your safety.
Running shoes
Running shoes with cushioning use advanced technology designed for specific situations, where much of the impact energy is dissipated as your foot hits the ground. To explain it simply, they work like shock absorbers. They’re ideal for running, but unnecessary—and I’d say not recommended—for anyone who wants a truly effective lower-body workout!
Choosing your shoes
In this situation, we don’t want to dissipate the energy; we want to concentrate it to create a greater mechanical advantage and produce force safely. Choose shoes with a FLAT, RIGID sole.
For example, I’ll mention Converse All Stars, since it’s a brand we all know. When we do exercises with added weight, especially those that involve supporting our weight on our lower limbs, we need STABILITY, particularly with our heels firmly planted on the floor.
Working out barefoot
Oh, and you might say now… I’ll work out barefoot… yes, that’s an option for many people… Working out barefoot can be a viable alternative in some cases, since your heel will be directly on the floor, and if the surface is stable, it will provide all the benefits
of suitable footwear—but in this case, it’s free of charge!
HOWEVER… any slip-up could cost you dearly… who here has never seen or let a weight plate or bar fall to the floor… now imagine the damage if it fell on your foot WITHOUT the protection of a SHOE!!
Find out which shoes are best for working out
Regardless of your shoes, there’s no reason to give up physical activity altogether. Keep working out, and do it mindfully! Your health will thank you!
In addition to working out, your diet needs to be rich in protein, carbohydrates, fiber, vitamins, and minerals to gradually build your muscles.
You’ll need to make some sacrifices—sweets and ultra-processed foods should be kept out of your daily routine—but it’s important to find a diet that’s easy to follow. Let sweets and fried foods be the exception, never the rule, okay!
