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Health
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Health
Slideshow
Anytime you're promised something for nothing, you know it's too good to be true. Diet pills? Don't work. "Toning" shoes? Recent research reveals they don't work your muscles and may also put you at a higher risk of injury. Still, if you're anything like me, some claims are just too enticing. Appealing enough that you just have to try the products out anyway.
It was with this attitude that I viewed body toning clothing, the latest trend in fitness gadgets that promise to do the work for you. How could a shirt or a pair of stretchy pants or even underpants possibly give me "a better body with every move" as the Reebok ads brag?
What I learned: Toning apparel falls into three categories: underwear, compression garments and workout clothes. While all three make the same promises (to activate more muscles, burn extra calories, improve posture and generally make you look better), I'll admit the last one really got my attention.
Toning underwear, like Shapercise, is designed to be worn all day every day. The product claims to "increase muscle work" during daily activities through strategically placed resistance bands. Did they do that? If they did, I didn't feel it but they did suck me in and smooth me out nicely and for half the price of Spanx. Would I wear them every day. No. Personally, the product came off like a glorified girdle.
Compression garments have also become more popular in recent years. Brands like SKINS use "gradient compression" (code for these pants are tighter than liquid latex but without all the fun colors) to help you perform better and recover faster post-exercise. After a brutal bootcamp workout, I think they did help me as promised. I felt more supported and less sore. Unfortunately, they were about as flattering as liquid latex and really expensive (leggings start at $100!)
The most versatile of the bunch, toning clothing from Reebok and Fila, can be worn to the gym or when you're out running errands. The Fila toning pants got me so many compliments on my booty that I couldn't care less whether they worked my muscles more - I probably burned more calories just from all the smiling I did!
The bottom line: No item of clothing will replace a good workout. You still have to exercise and eat right to get the results you want. I wouldn't call these a workout in an outfit but I will say they're a nice combination of the smoothing powers of a good shaper with the look of cute clothes. Plus, if you think you look good, you're more likely to hit the gym and work harder, right?
Are you sold on the concept of toning clothes? Chime in below!
