The Facts About Building the Perfect Booty!
I don’t usually write about a specific bodypart, but I was inspired to by the recent development of companies selling booty building sneakers claiming to “help make your legs and butt look great…” The Reebok “EasyTone” sneaker probably being the best known, but there are others. The Reebok version claiming to be based on “balance ball technology” and “tones your butt up to 28% more just by walking.” I’m sure many of you have seen the commercial, but if not, here it is:
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qCHKXICefFw[/youtube]
Now before I even continue on about this booty shaping shoe, I just have to take a moment to rant a bit about this specific commercial. If you are going sell a shoe that (supposedly…) shapes up your gluteus maximus, shouldn’t you use a model that has one?! Holy Flat Backsides Batman! This gal has virtually no butt. Now I’m not hating on her; she’s a very pretty girl – and for a typical TV model type – in great shape, but she has no ass! I mean really, is that the behind most women really want today? Or put more succinctly, is that what the general non-athletic public considers a well developed booty?!
I see that commercial on TV and I want her to ditch those goofy sneakers and find the nearest squat rack! So back to reality: if you want a well developed shapely athletic butt and legs, no pair of sneakers is going to give it to you. Like any muscle, you will have to develop it the old fashioned way via exercises such as squats, lunges, split squats, and straight leg deadlifts.
As with any bodypart, some are more genetically gifted in that area then others, but make no mistake, anyone can develop a firm well shaped booty with the right choice of exercises, consistency, and other factors (i.e., good nutrition so said booty is not just made of muscle blurring blubber!).
Sorry, no sneaker is gonna do that for you…What’s a great booty look like as a result of proper training, nutrition, and consistency? Here’s an oldie but goodie video of well known fitness/figure model Monica Brant doing Straight leg deadlifts, and to paraphrase the classic line from the 80’s movie Crocodile Dundee, “That’s not an ass.. now THAT’s an ass!”
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FVg1T3adWw4[/youtube]
Increased potential for Injuries?
Another essential issue here is, do these shoes increase the potential for injuries? A site reviewing these sneakers says “… the shoes activate your lower body muscles when you walk creating natural instability which in turn tones your legs “
Natural instability? Women are already at greater risk of knee injuries, and adding instability to the foot, which will increase instability to the joints and ligaments of the ankles and knees, will only increase the potential for injury to women. Bad idea…
A slight increase in activity of the muscles of the legs and butt due to the added instability is not worth the potential increased risk of injury.
If you want to see more exercise vids, some of which will also help with your backside, see my video section as well as youtube page.
See you in the gym ladies!
Will Brink is the owner of the Brinkzone Blog. Will has over 30 years experience as a respected author, columnist and consultant, to the supplement, fitness, bodybuilding, and weight loss industry and has been extensively published. Will graduated from Harvard University with a concentration in the natural sciences, and is a consultant to major supplement, dairy, and pharmaceutical companies.
His often ground breaking articles can be found in publications such as Lets Live, Muscle Media 2000, MuscleMag International, The Life Extension Magazine, Muscle n Fitness, Inside Karate, Exercise For Men Only, Body International, Power, Oxygen, Penthouse, Women’s World and The Townsend Letter For Doctors.
He’s also been published in peer reviewed journals.
Will is the author of the popular e-books, both accompanied by private members forum access , Bodybuilding Revealed & Fat Loss Revealed.
You can also buy Will’s other books on Amazon, Apple iBook, and Barnes and Noble.
That is great Will…so glad I could help! : )
Good Stuff Will!
I also think these sneakers could increase risk of injury and have now added that to the blog above…
I’ve had a few questions come in to my site about these exact shoes and my response was exactly the same as yours…and I’d really like to know how they measured the 28% more “toning” when toning is an unscientific garbage term anyway. It’s like a Homer Simpson statistic that means nothing – and 96% of people agree with me on that 🙂
And stability training can be useful, in certain situations, but not all day!
Will, sneakers are surely a scam. I gotta say that the woman lifting doesn’t do it for me however. I like women that look like they do aerobics, remain non muscular(body builder type), and know how to move around. That woman in the first video would get my invite over the second. But the girl that sings “Don’t cha” wish your girlfriend was hot like me, now that’s an ASS!
Jim, to each’s own I guess, but I feel sorry for any man who thinks Monica Brant has too much muscle and looks like a bodybuilder…. Regardless, it’s also a functional issue: glutes don’t just fill out pants, they are a muscle group that play an essential part in structural integrity/health, and performance so having no butt is also potentially a negative from more then just a visual perspective.
Any shoe that claims it causes ‘natural instability’ and makes that into a good thing is just plain wrong. Totally agree, the only way to get ‘great booty’ is by the right training and nutrition.
I can imagine the meltdown it would cause with the guys (and some of the girls) in my gym if someone like Monica Brant came to train there, especially in her deadlift thong. Its inspired me to go do some more deadlifts this arv!
Well, I did not hear or see anything to explain and support their claims. Sounds like possible snake oil to me. It looked more like they were promoting her hind end more than the shoes. Yeah, it was funny, but I don’t making purchase decisions based on funny. I need facts and a need for what is being promoted. If one of the other is missing, so is my purchase.
On the other hand, I might have injured my eyes but I am not complaining.
I think the young lady in the commercial has the type of butt most women are looking for. Small, petite and not much muscle. Monica has the type of butt that shows hard work and dedication most people won’t do.
As for the shoes, I agree with you. They would probably cause more problems. Most people don’t need to be “unstable”, they have enough problems already.
Scott, there is a claim of a study supporting the numbers they are using. How good a study, I can’t say as I didn’t bother tracking it down due to severe lack O interest…as mentioned above, even if true, “A slight increase in activity of the muscles of the legs and butt due to the added instability is not worth the potential increased risk of injury.”
Oh, God… those are like the magic pills that are going to make you lean in two weeks or the silly machines that promise you great abs with just “5 minutes a day”. That’s just an easy card for lazy people that wants the perfect butt but do not want to work out. Too silly… besides, aren’t high heels unstable enough to have now “comfortable shoes” to be unstable too??? Weird.
Stole the worlds right form my mouth… that girl’s go NO ASS what-so-ever. If she wore those bubbly yoga pants or some sh*t, it would have at least given the illusion of a nicer ass.
Wow. Reebok just lost any respect I had for them. I guess if you can’t make good shoes, just make crappy ones with outrageous marketing and sell them to dumb people?
Evan, Reebok is not the only companies making these sneakers, but I agree, the marketing is silly.
Thanks for the useful info – I enjoyed reading it! I always enjoy browsing this blog. 🙂
Thanks for the useful information – I had fun reading it! I always love this blog. 🙂
Sneakers that build your butt? Bloody ridiculous.
Exactly! Hope springs eternal as these products are selling very well….
Thanks for this article. I am a first time visitor to your site but will definitely be back again because I love to educate myself on training and fat loss. I am a 31 yr old African-American woman who is currently on a fat loss journey and the first place to go was my butt! I’m pretty well proportioned and curvy all over except in that one area unfortunately. And my husband and I both laughed at that commercial because that’s the flatness that I’m trying to avoid!
Anyway, what do you recommend for someone with big legs and hips but flat butt? I’m scared to squat too heavy since I want my thighs smaller.
Thanks and I look forward to reading more of your excellent advice.
TJ
Just wanted to clarify, I am not afraid of “bulking up” so to speak. I love weight training and I get excited at seeing the muscular development happening in my body. I have just always had big legs, even as a girl when I was slim. I’m tired of buying pants that have to fit my thighs but are then loose in the waist and butt areas.
Hey Will what's your opinion on the Skechers shoes? Are they in the same category or is there something to there claims?
Hello there! I am on a weight loss journey and have been very successful. I have lost 115 lbs so far. I am currently 193. I want to continue to lose weight but want to increase my backside. It’s so strange because when I was a younger women my behind was much larger and protruded out a lot more than it does now. Is it possible tht my glutes have atrophied? How to I gain muscle mass in my glutes while still loosing fat on the rest of my body? Please help. 🙂
I’ve actually written a book on that topic: http://www.buildabiggerbutt.com
It does happen with the glutes when you lose weight – you’re definitely not along there. The glutes tend to be disappear faster than other muscles as many people really don’t activate them well in everyday life.
Lol love that video!
Will, thanks for exposing this scam. I know you’re a busy guy, but I’d like to know what your thoughts are on the minimalist shoes (eg. Vibram 5 Fingers, Merrell Gloves, New Balance Minimus) that are gaining popularity.
I understand there are suits filled over the deceiving marketing of these shoe’s due to injury’s. As is said, media ads are some of the most deceiving ads in marketing. It’s all about the $$$$!
Thanks Will, I’m sure I’ll see some ladies wearing these at the gym and out walking the paths. I hope they don’t think that shit eaten grin on my face is out of disrespect.