The Wonders of Gel

The other day I was talking to the husband about the difficulty I was having with my tennis shoes.  The outer part of the shoe was fine, but the inside was ridiculous.  I had pretty much worn the insole down to the rubber, and when you looked inside the shoe, you could see ball, heel, and toe indentations in the sole.  So, he says "why don't you get some of those gel insoles?  I love mine!!"  Huh??  Aren't those for old people?  I was seriously contemplating just buying a new pair of shoes, but I already had to buy new work shoes because my other work shoes literally fell apart (I have trouble with change...).  It would NEVER occur to me to even look at those things.

Ultimately, out of desperation, I whisked myself off to the store and began studying the gel insole options.  About five different people gave me very confused looks when they saw me looking at the insoles and realized I was under the age of 85.  (Not really...that's just my imagination getting to me).  I decided on the off brand that Target sells because they were about $5 cheaper than Dr. Scholls.  It's a "one size fits most".  I brought them home, read the directions, cut them to fit perfectly inside my shoes and BAM!  Super comfort!!

I am 98% positive this is going to be a life-changing event for me.  I think my shoes are actually more comfy than they were the first day I bought them!!  I seriously can't believe the change.  I warn you, though--it's not a perfect solution.  Once in awhile, my feet do make a slight squeak when I step.  However, this might be resolved if I were to get new laces so I could tighten the shoe, so as to avoid a negligible slip.  The insoles also make it a bit warmer down there, but no worries since it's winter.  I may have to update when summer hits, but for now, I am able to tolerate these minor side effects.

Comparatively, it's like walking on astroturf, or a cushiony gym/yoga mat.  It's so wonderful!!  I've tested most scenarios at length to ensure my endorsement before writing.  I've walked, jogged, and ran in them.  I've attempted Wii Just Dance 3 with them, and I've done a yoga pose and a lunge with them.  I did NOT jump rope in them because I do not recommend this activity past the age of 10....(see previous post regarding this topic).  In fact, I'm probably going to wear these little gems in all of my shoes for the rest of my life.  And so it goes...I am now a hard core believer in gel insoles.  Don't judge. ;)