As 2013 begins, many of us are, once again, seriously thinking about how we’re going to lead healthier lives. Diet and exercise is a big part of this. But, with all good intentions, if you don’t have the right equipment and clothing to reach your goals, it is harder to accomplish them. One of the most important things you need to exercise safely and efficiently, is good footwear.
When I go to buy shoes at the athletic shoe store, I’m overwhelmed by the choices. I can’t figure out which ones will work best for the exercise I’m doing. And I dislike the gaudy colors, designs and weird features that often just mirror the mens shoes. Worse, the shoes may look comfortable on the rack, but once on my feet, they’re not so nice!
Enter Therafit by Dr. Lisa to save us! Therafit is a unique line of footwear designed specifically with women in mind. Inside the girly hot pink and purple box, there are shoes that look simple on the outside, but really, they’re quite sophisticated. The bottom has a patented tread design for traction and to prevent sliding, that looks like little chocolate squares at the toe, smart phone keys at the heel. The inner part of the shoe features an Aegis Microbe Shield interior that protects against odor, staining, and deterioration that might be caused by fungus, bacteria and other gross microorganisms you don’t want on your skin! The shoe design has a patented technology that uses multiple layers of cushioning and support with varying densities inside each and every shoe, so the shock of each step is distributed downward and outward. The result is extremely comfortable shoes that cushions your foot on impact, helping to reduce the aches and pains that come with even the most mundane, daily activities. As someone who suffers from a lack of padding on the bottom of my feet, this makes the Therafit shoe a godsend.
Dr. Lisa is Lisa Masterson, M.D. and among other things, co-host of the Emmy Award- winning television series, The Doctors. Her motivation to create a “better mousetrap” as the saying goes. “I wanted to develop a shoe that would empower women. No matter where they are – at work, at the gym, or just running the countless errands that we do. We need a shoe that multitasks with us, and my shoe does. It taps into the latest technology with performance that can be customized and styles that work around the clock. It’s the 12-hour shoe for the 12-hour day,” she explains.
As you can see from the graphic above, Built into each pair of Therafit by Dr. Lisa, is their patented cutting-edge technology; the outsole can be adjusted to allow an increase or decrease in impact resistance. The Therafit Personal Comfort System (PCS) Technology also utilizes three specially designed dual-density adapters located within the shock-absorbing wedge that can be removed to change the shoe’s impact resistance and cushioning. Tired, aching feet? Remove one, two or all three of the Personal Comfort Adapters to change the resistance. Ready for a different feeling on your feet the next day? Pop them back in and get going!
Although Deborah and Renee are the only two models available and both are attractive and tasteful. It is a treasure to find shoes that are not just comfortable, but that I feel comfortable wearing! 
Renee ($95.00) comes in basic black or white, a walking shoe made with leather and a soft, synthetic lining. This shoe is simple without gaudy colors or accents, so it’s perfect for doctors, nurses and other professional who are on their feet all day long.
I liked Deborah ($95.00) which comes in colorful combos of Pink, Black/Pink, Red, Black/White and Silver/Blue.
Deborah is a lightweight athletic trainer crafted with breathable mesh and soft, synthetic materials, the Deborah is one of the most comfortable shoes we have tested. Deborah features a molded, removable foot bed giving even more cushion and support. If you’re going to be on your feet, you’ll appreciate the fact that these shoes are lightweight but with a lot of padding and support. You can also feel the arch support inside, so you know your feet won’t ache.
The shoes are really lightweight, although they appear to be nicely made. That means you can wear them in the Summer or in hot weather without your feet feeling like they’re on fire.
The Therafit web site is nicely done with some short, to the point videos that can tell you a lot about the shoe. That’s a nice touch. But I am still not sure why these shoes are endorsed by the National Posture Institute. Although the company motto is: “Their motto is: “Make Your Whole Body Happy!” Nowhere does it say that these shoes help with posture alignment, although I could assume that if your feet don’t hurt, you’re going to stand up straighter so that’s good for your posture. I was also a bit confused about one of the major unique selling points of the shoes, the three rubber pin adaptors in the shock absorbing wedge of the heel, that you can adjust to various comfort levels. With all three pins in place, I was in foot heaven, but why would you want to change the levels of resistance in the shoe? Trust me, I’m not a runner, so the only reason I’d have to take out a pin, is if I needed the shoe to be less squishy and padded, so maybe that’s necessary when you’re doing high impact aerobics? Or is it the other way around? Customer service was busy so I sent an email with that question. When I get the answer, I’ll add it here.
Women like to feel good about their purchases, as well as purchase things that make their feet feel good. Therafit gives back through their One Step Forward Giving Campaign. With every purchase you make, Therafit Shoe will donate $1 to one of the charity partners they support. It’s your choice which one they will donate to. Their Current Partners Include:
Maternal Fetal Care International – A U.S. based non-profit helps mothers and children enjoy better healthcare in some of the poorest regions around the globe. Donations will help purchase fetal monitors, prenatal vitamins, surgical supplies, and HIV/AIDS medications to the regions served.
Educate Tomorrow – An international non-profit organization that believes the best way to end the cycle of poverty is through education. The organization helps 15 to 23-year-olds who are aging out of the foster care system by matching them with mentors.
Animal Recovery Mission – A non-profit organization dedicated to raising awareness on animal abuse while fighting to stop illegal horse slaughter, shutdown illegal slaughter farms, animal sacrifice farms, animal fighting farms, and halting the round ups of the American wild Mustangs.
Breast Cancer Research Foundation – BCRF is a U.S. non-profit organization whose mission is to help achieve prevention and a cure for breast cancer by providing the critical funding for innovative clinical and translational research at leading medical centers worldwide. The majority of donations received go to research and awareness programs.
The Bottom Line: These shoes are very comfortable. If part of the reason you don’t exercise is the risk of discomfort, these shoes will help you feel like working out more, walking more, and smiling a lot more! Dr. Lisa’s tag line is “Fitness for Tomorrow” but you’ll want to get Therafit shoes on your feet, today . Visit the Therafit web site to gets yours.
