Exercise and shrinking feet

So, I learned a weird thing about losing weight. Especially when going the gym and exercising.

That weird thing?

Feet shrinking.

Yes, my feet have shrunk and I've had to buy new shoes for the gym so I don't risk hurting myself during a treadmill session or when doing squats, or pretty much anything that involves me being on my feet.

I posted on my FB about needing new shoes and a friend of mine who started their own fitness journey over a year ago messaged me to say that losing a shoe size or two can be a side effect of weight loss. With that in mind, I did some Google-fu and discovered that this is something that does indeed happen! As a person grows older, shoe size CAN change, especially as one's weight increases. Edema in the feet is a common thing for larger folks, especially those who deal with diabetes and/or high blood pressure, but if you get more active you can alleviate the extra weight and fluid build-up which can result in losing a shoe size or two.

It makes sense, because I know several months ago I had to size up to a size 9-9.5 in ladies shoes because anything smaller hurt way too much, and that was even when trying wide-width shoes. I may have spent too much money trying to find work shoes that didn't hurt to wear before I clued into the fact that I needed to go to a larger shoe size...oops.

My gym shoes I bought when I first started working out are a ladies' size 9W, and at first they fit a bit tight. I tried a 9.5W in the same shoe but it was too loose, so I figured tighter would be better...until within the last week my feet started flopping around in them. Now I'm in a size 8 normal width, and they are just snug enough to be comfortable and there is no extra wiggle room.

At one point I wore a size 7-7.5 depending on the shoe style and I wonder if I will get back down to that size. Maybe, maybe not, but who knows what the future will bring!

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