Never wear high heels – wedges or not – three nights before you’re supposed to run a 10-mile race.

I have given much thought to this, and my final conclusion? High heels suck.

They are HORRIBLE for you! Yeah, they might look cute, but they deform your feet, hurt your back and posture, and contribute to osteoporosis and abnormal musculature development. Yet women wear them all the time, sometimes for hours and days on end.

Why is it that we do this to ourselves?

I almost feel like high heels are even worse for you than high fructose corn syrup. Most people see a red stop sign when they read “high fructose corn syrup” on the nutrition labels, but very few women think DEATH when they see a pair of heels in a store’s window.

Why is it that we love footwear that is uncomfortable, painful, and can deform our feet?

I am guilty of this. Whenever I walk past a shoe store, I glance in and immediately think Oh, cute! and very rarely do I think about how painful it would be to walk a mile in those shoes.

I honestly believe that high heels are completely created for vanity purposes, so that women can look good but be rendered useless. I’ve never seen or heard of somebody running a full marathon in heels.

And I sure as hell hope that day will never come.

After I tortured my poor feet for four hours on Thursday night, I decided to go back to what I knew was completely comfortable, natural, and nourishing for my feet: Vibram FiveFingers.

Walking around DC fully barefoot would render even more awkward looks, so I decided to settle for the next best thing. So far, my FiveFingers (aka gorilla feet) have yet to fail me.

I enjoyed the lovely weather last night as I walked a few miles around town, soaking in the scenery.

And I learned that a few hours of vanity is not worth a few days of pain.

Never again.

I leave you with this: Few women resist buying heels, and most don’t even consider the detrimental effects high heels have on our bodies, yet MANY people – men and women alike – question how “safe” barefoot and minimalist running is.

Barefoot running is completely natural. It’s what our bodies were meant to do.

Heels, on the other hand, are designed with only vanity in mind.

Are you an avid heel-wearer?

What questions/concerns do you have about barefoot running?

Related posts:

1. My Guest Post: Barefoot Running
2. In Search of Shoes
3. 5 Tips For Running

I used to hate shopping.

Why?

Because I’m just not girlie.

Shopping is…
…a waste of time.
…a waste of money.
…a waste of living.

Instead of pampering myself with clothing, I chose to spoil myself with traveling, camera equipment, and records.

But the tomboy act was all an excuse.

Truth be told, I avoided the dressing room because I didn’t want to put on something that didn’t fit. Each article of clothing that was too small or too tight made me feel insecure and horrible about myself.

Clothes made me face the truth, the harsh reality that I am fat.

My frustration with my body turned into hatred for stylish, cute clothing because those types of clothes reminded me of everything that I wasn’t. I think a piece of me cried inside each time I couldn’t fit into a top I liked.

I masked my hurt and pain with dislike because hating something is easier than trying to fix the problem.

I was so convinced that I hated shopping. I think the last time I shopped for fashionable clothing was back in 2006.

Insecure much?

On Tuesday, I randomly decided to go shopping at Ross with my mom.

What the hell, why not?

I wanted new dresses. I wanted to feel good about my body, ditch the old clothes and embrace my feminine side.

And guess what?

Everything I tried on fit! The sizes ranged from 11 to 14 but it didn’t matter. Every dress and jacket I tried on zipped or buttoned.

I no longer have to buy clothes out of necessity. I can now pick my clothes and not have my clothes pick me.

I can choose to not buy something because I didn’t like how it fit, not because it couldn’t fit.

I ended up buying my first pair of leggings, and they actually look decent on me.

Who would’ve thought…

I realized that I thoroughly enjoy shopping, even though it is an extremely tedious and tiresome sport. Seriously.

Shopping is a workout in and of itself. An amazing one, too.

Here’s a look at me and my lovely haul (all for under $100) with special guests Monster Calves and Squinty Eyes.

Do you enjoy shopping?

What’s your favorite store to shop in?

How do you shop on a budget?

Related posts:

1. Project Bridesmaid & A Fast 5K
2. Day 122: Regrets
3. My Highest Weight, My Lowest Point