Working out without shoes on.

chelso1
chelso1 Posts: 25 Member
in Health and Weight Loss
So I'm wondering if it is a bad idea that I work out without my shoes on. I do workout videos and I usually wont wear shoes, but if I am on my eliptical I will wear my shoes. Im just wondering if it is going to become a problem later since I used to have knee problems? The only reason I do it is because I feel it's a lesser impact noise on the the floor, so my neighbor wont freak out because I live on second floor.
So my question is should I just forget what my downstairs neighbor thinks and just wear shoes, or is it ok that I dont?
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Replies

  • crazyassmomma
    crazyassmomma Posts: 8
    i dont wear shoes when i do my workout videos either.
    when i do wear shoes, my feet hurt really badly afterward.
  • BrendaLee
    BrendaLee Posts: 4,463 Member
    I workout barefoot, but only because I don't have sneakers. My arches hurt like heck, and I find myself babying my feet. Some people are huge proponents of working out barefoot- even running.
  • ready2glow
    ready2glow Posts: 2
    Wow! This is interesting! I never heard of people doing this except for yoga or pilates. I suggest a good pair of shoes. I can't imagine this will be good in the long run....
  • mamaturner
    mamaturner Posts: 2,447 Member
    I don't wear shoes while using videos and such, Eliptical I do. As long as it's comfortable keep goin!
  • SugarHi
    SugarHi Posts: 452
    Personally I think you're fine going either way. I like running barefoot on my treadmill... but that's just me. :flowerforyou:
  • Nikki143
    Nikki143 Posts: 491 Member
    I ride my stationary bike without shoes.. when i do videos, I don't wear shoes; but I am the type of girl who would walk around bare foot 24-7.. I hate sneakers!!
  • chrcos24
    chrcos24 Posts: 12
    As much as I hate shoes, too, I always wear tennis shoes when I workout! Whether I'm at the gym or am doing workout videos at home, I wear tennis shoes. I can't imagine exercising without shoes. I don't know what the long-term effects would be, but make a new pair of shoes a reward for a goal you reach!
  • ldchandler2
    ldchandler2 Posts: 2 Member
    Check out this article:
    http://health.msn.com/fitness/articlepage.aspx?cp-documentid=100167637
    Thanks
    Laura
  • AnneElise
    AnneElise Posts: 4,206 Member
    I read this awesome book on ultra marathons and its proven that if your feet are strong enough its great to workout barefoot!
  • AnneElise
    AnneElise Posts: 4,206 Member
    As much as I hate shoes, too, I always wear tennis shoes when I workout! Whether I'm at the gym or am doing workout videos at home, I wear tennis shoes. I can't imagine exercising without shoes. I don't know what the long-term effects would be, but make a new pair of shoes a reward for a goal you reach!

    research actually shows that running shoes (more expensive ones usually) cause more injuries! They now make "barefoot running shoes" to protect your feet while giving you the same illusion and support of bare feet!
  • cmurphy04722
    cmurphy04722 Posts: 254
    If you're interested in barefoot workouts but don't want to be barefoot in gyms or outside, check out the vibram five fingers.

    http://www.vibramfivefingers.com/indexNA.cfm

    I have a pair and wear them when I run, but use shoes on the elliptical. I used them a lot during outside workouts for softball (when not wearing cleats) and I feel like the wind when I run in them!
  • shanerylee
    shanerylee Posts: 298 Member
    work it whichever way feels best.
  • slm638
    slm638 Posts: 64
    Wear shoes...if you're doing anything with a fair bit of impact (and of course on equipment/machines). I learned the hard way why you should. I did one of Jillian's videos (metabolism one I think) at home shoeless. It has a lot of jumping and side to side movements. I could barely walk for 3-4 days! Your body (aka calves and knees) shouldn't have to absorb all the shock. My calves were so tight after, stairs were almost impossible. My fitness instructor AND my massage therapist both gave me heck. Moral of the story...wear running shoes. And if they hurt, get shoes that don't.

    (that being said, if I'm doing a light workout at home with no weight bearing moves or machines, I might not always wear shoes)
  • randilynn113
    randilynn113 Posts: 227 Member
    I find that my feet ache when I wear shoes - is this normal? I've bought some expensive shoes, and it seems that no matter what, the sides just ache - I find if I am doing a cardio workout, I'll just take them off and it goes away.

    My dad is a runner and he says that it will go away, but I am just not sure if it is me, or the shoes since it goes away when I take them off. No matter what shoes I wear! Help! :)
  • AwMyLoLo
    AwMyLoLo Posts: 1,571 Member
    :flowerforyou: bump
  • AnneElise
    AnneElise Posts: 4,206 Member
    I find that my feet ache when I wear shoes - is this normal? I've bought some expensive shoes, and it seems that no matter what, the sides just ache - I find if I am doing a cardio workout, I'll just take them off and it goes away.

    My dad is a runner and he says that it will go away, but I am just not sure if it is me, or the shoes since it goes away when I take them off. No matter what shoes I wear! Help! :)

    From my research (which I have been doing a lot of lately on this topic) I think that shoes can be the cause of your pain even if they are expensive. Check out barefoot running shoes. Now, they may be hard to use at first because your foot strength is weak from wearing shoes but they are suposed to help end running and workout injuries.
  • blondie76
    blondie76 Posts: 552 Member
    If you're interested in barefoot workouts but don't want to be barefoot in gyms or outside, check out the vibram five fingers.

    http://www.vibramfivefingers.com/indexNA.cfm

    I have a pair and wear them when I run, but use shoes on the elliptical. I used them a lot during outside workouts for softball (when not wearing cleats) and I feel like the wind when I run in them!


    love the 5 fingers! i have the classic!
  • laurasmeag
    laurasmeag Posts: 1 Member
    I was lifting low weights with no shoes and noticed bad Achilles heel pain after a few weeks. I do ride my recumbent bike without shoes but wear good shoes for weights. Listen to your body. If something starts to hurt, change it. Good luck!
  • Terytha
    Terytha Posts: 2,097 Member
    Barefoot runners and generally being barefoot have entirely solved all the foot pains I was having. And I'm someone who wore medical orthopedic inserts since childhood because my left foot is sorta deformed.

    Barefoot is awesome.
  • KickboxFanatic
    KickboxFanatic Posts: 184 Member
    This post is over 10 years old
  • mullanphylane
    mullanphylane Posts: 172 Member
    Raised on a farm, I didn't wear shoes except to go to school and church, and during winter. But, just because I did it then doesn't mean it's a good idea, or even healthy, to do so now - as a T2D it is not safe. But experiment with works for you. If your feet or knees or other joints hurt after exercising barefoot, put the tennies back on.

    No, you should not forget what your downstairs, or any other, neighbors think. In most circles that would be considered rude and antisocial to disregard their needs.
    KickboxFanatic wrote: »
    This post is over 10 years old

    And so what if the original post is over ten years old? Just having it pop up again could be beneficial to a lot of folks who haven't been here that long, not to mention that new answers might add value to the discussion.





  • DancingMoosie
    DancingMoosie Posts: 8,619 Member
    I don't wear shoes if I don't have to! I tried my treadmill barefoot, but the texture of the belt hurts/rubs my feet raw. I do have to wear shoes if in a gym or outside. I also have a dance and gymnastics background, so grew up mostly barefoot. Your feet, ankles, calves, etc can take a lot, but you should build up gradually, just like anything else.
    Oops, just realized it's a zombie thread. Oh well, I've actually been thinking about this subject lately.
  • NorthCascades
    NorthCascades Posts: 10,968 Member
    I don't wear shoes when I swim at the gym.
  • heybales
    heybales Posts: 18,842 Member
    edited June 2020
    After I recovered from plantar fasciitis (from race with too little training) after years of continuous incomplete healing, I slooowwwly eased into barefoot running and got the feet very strong. Vibram & Merril barefoot shoe trail running very helpful in that regard.

    Any shoes I use that might interfere with natural impact absorbing of shock by the feet (inch of foam ain't going to do anything for you really) I make sure are super flexible so feet can do the job they are meant for.

    Any rigid shoes where that won't work (biking shoes, dress shoes) I still wear my custom orthotics.

    Except backpacking depending on total distance being done, if short distance feet can take inflexible shoes even with extra weight.

    The secret is slowly - our feet are so accustomed to rigid shoes and not complete flexibility and slight impact shock absorbing that most of us walk in manner not great for barefoot activities until we get used to it.

    I also stopped wearing shoes swimming at gym. The aerobic's ladies just gave me strange glares.

    ETA - considering how many more are working out at home - this thread coming back is probably very useful.
  • lemurcat2
    lemurcat2 Posts: 7,885 Member
    edited June 2020
    I don't wear shoes doing strength stuff at home or yoga or pilates. I do for strength stuff at the gym, and I do when biking and running, of course.

    I pretty much never wear shoes indoors except when riding my bike on a trainer.
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  • Megan_smartiepants1970
    Megan_smartiepants1970 Posts: 43,253 Member
    I use to work out barefooted until I fractured my foot last April .... and again this year ... just had foot surgery in March where the Dr. put a screw in my foot ....just becareful
  • hawkeye45_
    hawkeye45_ Posts: 812 Member
    I've heard of people purposefully kicking off the shoes and socks for kettlebell and weighted club exercises.
  • AnnPT77
    AnnPT77 Posts: 34,222 Member
    edited June 2020
    I don't wear shoes on the erg . . . um, er, Concept 2 rowing machine. Long time ago, going to a big indoor race, I contacted the organizer to make sure this was OK (socks, not barefoot), because it's eccentric. She said it was fine, but told me afterward she thought, when I emailed, that I was a teenager. I was (IIRC) 48 at the time. ;)

    Fun fact: Kind of, most of us on-water rowing people don't wear shoes in boats, because boats have their own shoes atttached, mostly. Really!

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