Welcome to the Get Fit Guys, quick and dirty tips to slim down and shape up.

My name is Ben Greenfield and I'm the Get Fit Guy.

Recently, I read a fantastic book by author Katie Bowman called Whole Body Barefoot, Transitioning Well to Minimal Footwear.

In the book, she outlines how conventional shoes

can cause your feet to lose mobility and muscle, the importance of walking on natural and uneven

surfaces, and the specific corrective exercises that can safely and effectively allow you to

transition shoe-adapted feet and legs to more natural minimalist footwear.

And then, earlier this week, someone brought to my attention an article in the British

Journal of Sports Medicine, and I'll link to that article in the show notes over at

quick and dirty tips.com. Just look for episode number 228 of the Get Fit guy.

The article on the British Journal of Sports Medicine discusses one core that we need to be training but that we often don't think about, a core that goes beyond the traditional abdominal and low back core.

You guessed it. It's the foot core. So although way back in episode number 91, I taught you how to start running barefoot,

I thought it would be quite appropriate to expound even more on how to get strong feet.

After all, the strength of your feet affects your ankles, hips, lower back, abs, posture, walking,

and even the space in your chest where your lungs live.

Well, here's the problem with most shoes.

Even though most shoes are engineered for things like performance, protection, limiting overpronation, and of course, fashion,

they don't really take into account some very important health factors.

One such factor is the toe box in a conventional shoe.

The toe box in shoes often presses your toes together,

which can weaken foot muscles and affect nerve health. Another problem with many conventional

shoes is the thick soles with plenty of cushioning. While certainly comfortable, this can reduce

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