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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

To think your body can adapt to heels?

90 replies

FairTurtle · 05/11/2024 20:54

I wore some heels for the first time after ages yesterday. They were these: https://www.reiss.com/style/SU416555/AA4571?utm_content=search&gad_source=1&gclid=Cj0KCQiAoae5BhCNARIsADVLzZckMVGe6XrGvCeqMN4WHe8aS9mYOcfJcBNWe3AbZ0jmHIA8XZ3eyOQaAncOEALw_wcB&gclsrc=aw.ds#AA4571

About 7 inches. Today my lower back is killing me. So are my calves, hips and hamstrings. They weren't even that high, plus I was sitting down most of the evening as it was a dinner. Only walked for a total of 30 mins?!

Does anyone have any advice? I really wanted to buy some nice Esska heels, which I'm told are comfortable and high quality, but if they also result in more than a day of back pain, its not worth it!

Strappy Leather Heeled Sandals in Bronze - REISS

Shop for Strappy Leather Heeled Sandals in Bronze online at REISS

https://www.reiss.com/style/SU416555/AA4571?gad_source=1&gclid=Cj0KCQiAoae5BhCNARIsADVLzZckMVGe6XrGvCeqMN4WHe8aS9mYOcfJcBNWe3AbZ0jmHIA8XZ3eyOQaAncOEALw_wcB&gclsrc=aw.ds#AA4571

OP posts:
Laiste · 05/11/2024 21:15

I agree about the weight issue.

I was 10 stone nothing when i was comfy in mine. I stopped wearing them as much once pregnant with eldest DC.

Still wear them for car to bar sort of outings. NO running up or down stairs or for buses in them anymore for sure 😂

No health or foot problems here by the way 25 years on.

user873628 · 05/11/2024 21:12

Esska shoes are shit quality- the soles peel after one wear just FYI.

WhatsTheMatterDavid · 05/11/2024 21:11

Is your weight different from when you last wore them comfortably. I wore heels when young fine. Then chucked on about 8st and couldn't manage it. I then dropped the 8st and managed fine again. I'm now up again perhaps about 6st and was crippled the last time I wore them.

(the massive weight fluctuation is due to awful pregnancy gain both times with a delightful period of disordered eating in the middle, not healthy I know!)

Laiste · 05/11/2024 21:10

As with everything - do it a little bit each day and it gets easier. Strong ankles and calf muscles help.

Once you're out of the habit of heels it does feel weird to wear them again.

When i was late teens early 20s i would go to work in 6'' heels like these:

https://www.etsy.com/uk/listing/1473000466/stiletto-pumps-681012cm-high-heel-court?ga_order=most_relevant&ga_search_type=all&ga_view_type=gallery&ga_search_query=5+inch+stilettos&ref=sr_gallery-1-32&frs=1&local_signal_search=1&content_source=61d0ec954bf544f90aa6b1967286f92941b340b7%253A1473000466&search_preloaded_img=1&organic_search_click=1

be on my feet all day and run up and down stairs to the stock room in them, and run for the bus to get home!

Rollonsummerplease · 05/11/2024 21:07

When I was at school we were shown a short film about the effects that wearing high heels had on the body: the damage to the back and the legs and the feet and your posture etc.
That was many years ago.
But I must admit it had a lasting effect on me. I've never worn heels more than 2 inches high.
When I see women in high heels I always think why do that to yourself? And generally the way people walk in heels is so ungainly I don't see the point.

JollyPinkFox · 05/11/2024 21:07

I have very weirdly high arched feet which makes heels more comfortable than flat shoes, totally flat shoes give me foot pain. If heels hurt you you can train yourself to wear them by wearing them while you do household chores etc but I mean…I’d just find a nice pair of flats

Lickthips · 05/11/2024 21:04

If you mean will your feet and ankles deform to allow you to wear them, then yes, they will. You will pay the price later down the line though.

EmmaMaria · 05/11/2024 21:03

I recall Billy Connelly once cracking the joke that men invented high heels to prove that women couldn't do something as simple as walking.

If women were supposed to have heels, we'd have evolved with them already in place.

katepilar · 05/11/2024 21:03

Human feet and body are not designed to wear heels. The body is able to bear more when young.
I guess if you work on your overall fitness, core and body posture, it will help the heels to be less of an agony.

myearthisflat · 05/11/2024 21:02

It can get easier with practice, for sure.
But it's still not healthy as it requires your body to move in a particular way instead of freely and with full support of both feet and toes.

FairTurtle · 05/11/2024 20:59

Sorry, 7cm!!!! Not inches! I'm 32

OP posts:
DappledThings · 05/11/2024 20:58

7 inches isn't even that high? That's gigantic to me. Not surprised you're in agony. It never seemed worth that pain to get used to them to me but I'm sure like anything you can get used to it if you really want to.

whyeyeeyeeyeeye · 05/11/2024 20:57

They are nowhere near 7 inches! I wouldn’t break a sweat in those. Are you very out of practice wearing heels? Lovely shoes btw.

I was ready to sympathise as I used to wear stilettos every day for work and no way could I do that now but those don’t look daunting at all. Is that the right pair you’ve linked?

I do have Esskas and they’re very easy to wear and comfy.

LutherRalph1 · 05/11/2024 20:56

It may be the lack of support underfoot, something with a slight platform would be. Better

FormerlyPathologicallyHappy · 05/11/2024 20:56

How old are you?