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Finn Comfort Shoe Review Day 3: are they Winners or Losers?

If you’ve been following along thus far, you know I went out seeking a pair of shoes that would alleviate the pain I’ve been experiencing from my current pairs of shoes.

What I stumbled on was a shoe brand called Finn Comfort where they claim the most "luxurious, healthy and comfortable" shoe on EARTH.  There was talk around the store of Finns fixing knee and back pain and an exercise benefit to wearing them.

Curious as ever, I had to pick up a pair of their Finn Comfort Dijon and see what the hub-bub was all about.

This is day 3 of my journey.  As such, since these shoes are rather particular as far as break in and adjustment, you should take a look at the first two days of the review:

Part 1: Review of Finn Comfort Dijon

Part 2:Review of Finn Comfort Dijon Day 2

My observations from day 3 of breaking in the Finn Comforts:

Unlike yesterday, there was no aching in my feet or lower legs.  I took this as a good sign that the break in period is just about done.  Since I am trying to be thorough for you, my dear readers, I am paying far more attention to the feelings and outcomes of wearing these shoes.  I’d never pay so much attention otherwise. 

But I still find it interesting some of the early effects of these shoes.

For as long as I can remember, I’ve walked with emphasis on the outside edges of my feet.  This is a family trait according to my mother.  The Finns seem to be adjusting that as I notice that I’m stepping more squarely with the ground as I walk. 

And speaking of walking, these shoes almost feel better walking than they do just sitting at a desk typing.  There is a spring-like effect feeling almost ‘bouncy’ as I step.  I remember this same bounce feeling from my first pair of Doc Marteens years ago.  And I like it.  Maybe my dreams of slamming a basketball aren’t dead after all. 

I still feel a slight ache in my right foot around where the various supports are pressing into the muscle.  I am right handed and I am sure I favor that side as I walk.  Coincidence?  It’s not a big deal for me, but for some of lower pain tolerance may feel like switching their shoes for a day.

One concern I do have is heel pain.  If I am doing an abundance of walking during the day, then my right heel can get in trouble.  There have been evenings where I don’t want to exercise because it feels like my heel is crushing a bone. 

So far, I see no lessening of the heel strike effect with these shoes.  However, time would probably be the best judge of whether they help or not. 

Oh, and this small observation… I noticed my toes on both feet are spread further apart when I have my shoes off while standing.  Perhaps this is a benefit to my overall balance?  Dunno.  I certainly wasn’t tripping and falling beforehand, so this may be a mystery that is never unraveled.  Like Stonehenge, scientists may be puzzled for centuries over whether these shoes improve my balance. 

Well, that’s all for today’s shoe observations.  If anything interesting happens between today & tomorrow I’ll post the next follow up.  I think however, that I should return to this review in a couple of weeks to give a final opinion.  These are expensive shoes and regardless of style, you’ll want to make sure the technology you are purchasing is worthwhile.  Otherwise you can just grab something you like the looks of…

Finn Comfort Shoe Review - Day 2

Yesterday I wrote about my new shoe experiment with Finn Comforts. I wanted to see if the claims of comfort and improved bone alignment were true. Though, I have no way of telling if my bone alignment is bad or not. So no nagging.
Today I’ll note that after getting [...]

Is Finn Comfort The New Shoe of Champion Achievers?

When I was a kid I wanted a pair of sneakers that would help me jump higher. That’s how salesmen used to market shoes back then. They’d imply some tennis shoe would rocket a 6 year old into slam dunking a basketball on a regulation goal.
Back then, there were maybe two pair worthy [...]

The Luminous Adds Windows to Window-less Offices

I like a lot of sunlight.  Apparently, I’m not alone.  A company called SkyCeiling is now manufacturing virtual skylights for offices which will throw off daylight amounts of LED light.  And a realistic background to make you at least feel you are seeing real daylight.

Basically, you’d cut a hole in the ceiling and [...]

Hacker or Loser?

The past four days I’ve been fighting off and recovering from a hack attack on Persistence Unlimited. 
I noticed a week ago that Windows Live Writer wasn’t connecting to the Blog and letting me post anymore.  WLW was throwing "parse errors" in the connection string as it tried to post.    So I had to use [...]

10 Tiny Things That Make My Life Easier

Beth Ziesenis a blogger at Avenue Z posted her 5 favorite things that make her life easier.

I happen to agree all the shortcuts she listed and have written my comments below her list:

As a sometimes stressed small business owner, I appreciate little things that save time and make my tasks less difficult. Here’s a little list:

1. Recent Documents Lists

2. Avery Write On Tabs

3. The Rules Wizard in MS Outlook

4. Two Screens

5. A Programmable Keyboard

Recent Documents - Although I’ve known about the recent documents list for ten years or more, I only recently started using it.  I had written a Word doc and forgot what I named it.  A friend said "Just look in recent documents."  aha.. yep, that was simple.

Avery Write On Tabs - I don’t know if brand names make any difference, but I like the post-it flags.  They make great bookmarks for important data I want to remember.  The colors are nice, sometimes I color code sections of my journal.

There’s a great mailbox overload fighting feature in Outlook in the Rules wizard.  I use it to flag my most important emails for follow-up.  And emails such as newsletter subscriptions get filed automatically.  Really handy for keeping a squeaky clean inbox.  (P.S. If you are drowning in email, you might want to give Speedfiler a try)

You’ve seen my enthusiastic recommendation for 2 monitors.  Dual mons allow you to switch between views without having to minimize windows.  It’s a great way to boost your computer productivity.  You have to get used to turning your head though.

A programmable keyboard is a great time saver when you’ve got a start menu (schwartz) as big as mine.   Rather than search through the muddied start menu, I can click my quick button and launch Visual Studio, Mind Manager or Live Writer.

Good list Beth, here are 5 back at ya:

Five little things that make my life easier

Dash Command

Dash Command is a light and quick launcher application that is great for quick launching every application on your computer. 

But it goes beyond launching.  It auto-pastes text snippets (like email signatures).  And it has some perks built in such as searching the dictionary from any program and getting to the command prompt instantly.

Jott

Jott is one of the best productivity apps out there.  Like a personal secretary, it takes notes, sets appointments and transcribes your blog posts.

I find that while driving, I get hit with many brainstorms.  I think of great blog posts or Achieve-IT! software enhancements.  These would often go to waste because I didn’t want to key it in while driving or I’d record them into my Pocket PC - which would sit for weeks until I transcribed the notes.

But now, I call Jott and insert reminders into my Google Calendar.  My GCalendar syncs with my Outlook, so it all ends up in one place.  Also, I often outline blog posts in it by calling Jott and getting it to transcribe my notes to Evernote.  Check out my Lifehacker post on the subject if you haven’t already.

MobiPocket Reader

MobiPocket is a free eBook reader for the Pocket PC. Sure, there are a lot of different readers and I’ve tried most of them.  I like MobiPocket because it supports both a large collection of bestsellers and you can also load in different formats such as text and html.

But most importantly, you can load it up with the Concise Oxford English Dictionary.  It may not sound thrilling at first, but hear me out.  When I’m reading a book and I come across a word I don’t know, I just highlight it and a menu pops up "look up in dictionary." 

This turns almost any book, article or novel into a learning experience. 

As someone who resisted reading novels (as being a waste of time) I can now read a novel with the feeling that at least I’ll pick up a few new words to increase my vocabulary.  That’s my story anyway…

Google Desktop

Where Beth points out the obvious benefit of the recent documents feature in Windows, what if the document you need isn’t so recent?  That’s where Google Desktop comes to the rescue.  I use it about every day to track down emails and find code components that are scattered about my hard drive.

The indexing system of GDS is remarkably fast and can pull up my results in less than a second. 

free download: http://desktop.google.com/

NotePad

Yes, you read that right, I said Notepad.  Notepad is the most basic word processor on your computer, yet it’s simplicity can be a great time saver. 

With all the CSS, XHTML and sophisticated document formatting, you can’t just copy and paste text anymore.  It picks up all that formatting and inserts it into the target document.  That formatting can sometimes wreck havoc on the document you want to save.

Notepad will instantly strip out any and all of that formatting.  Just paste in that text and away goes that hidden formatting.

Well, those are mine.  What are 5 simple things that make your life easier?

Facing an Uncomfortable Past and Rolling Hard…

“One cannot and must not try to erase the past merely because it does not fit the present.” ~Golda Meir

I don’t like to revisit the past. If I move — I move. If I quit a job, I’m gone — that’s it. A prior home just doesn’t feel right — almost gloomy if I have to spend too much time there.

My friend says I “roll hard”. Meaning that when I roll, I roll on and do not return. If I quit a job, there’s no sense in me going back and hanging out. Back when I was in the dating scene, when I would stop dating someone, she would probably never see me again. I would fail miserably as stalker.

Part of me wonders if this is not true of all “forward thinkers”. I think about tomorrow, the next week, and the next year. Today is okay, but I’m always anticipating.

I like that quality about myself from the perspective of optimism. It tomorrow is going to be better than today, it is tough to get depressed. I am always optimistic about life working out well – even if it appears bleak at times.

But there is a weakness in forward thinking. Since today is better than all days in the past, my past feels bittersweet at best and miserable at worst. Not always… But sometimes.

I’ll sometimes look back to a time when I was having a great day and it feels, how should I say? Creepy. I think to myself “you call that happy? It’s not near as great as it is now.” It is sad to put it into writing because suddenly it feels like I’ll never have one of those “rocking chair moments” when I’m 85 years old. A rocking chair moment is where I am sitting on the porch with my wife as an old man reminiscing about the “good old days.” There is no way to reminisce about “the good old days” if there aren’t any.

I can see why some people run away and never go back. As if someone walks into your past life with an ax to chop up and defile the memories. You just don’t want to go back there.

Sometimes however, going back is required. A funeral of a loved one, a 100-year birthday, or a business trip… The first day of going back is hard, but he gets easier in the coming days.

Why? Because you aren’t really going back. Things are different. People have aged. The endless tick of the clock forges forward. Not even a bad memory can stop it. Today in Kansas is much different than it was 30 years ago. Progress has been made; they even have HDTV and computers! It’s just the filters through which I look are flawed.

The beauty of studying self-development is I have the tools where I can change those filters. Sometimes I do change them. But more often I just leave them be. I leave them alone because of the experience. After all, you can’t go around all day with a goofy grin on your face. There needs to be a balance — the yin and the yang. Awkwardness, sadness, and longing is part of the human experience. Accepting the feelings (as uncomfortable as they may be) is the strong thing to do.

Are you a forward thinker, past thinker or present thinker? How does that frame of mind affect your day to day life? Does it make it easier, more difficult or does it affect you in other ways?

Build Your Very Own Meditator — Or Not…

Ha ha ha… An funny retro piece over at Modern Mechanix shows a 1970 excerpt from the magazine Popular Mechanics. In it, they show how to build a meditator ‘tank’ for relaxation and reflection.
‘Bye for now, says the man of the house as he retreats into think tank….’
Aside from the contraption being huge, [...]

Top 20 DIY Headache Cures That Bring Quick Relief…

Last week, I was suffering from a ragin’ headache.  Not only was it painful.  It was like the Energizer bunny…it kept going and going and going. 

I asked you - my marvelous readers if you had any advice to cure the 3 day headache and you really came through!  With so many tips, I went past having a headache to feeling energetic and breathing clear.  Considering it is springtime, breathing clear is a tough one.  But you did it and I thank you.

1.  C.G. writes:  You might want to have your eyes checked (if you haven’t done so already). I had a new pair of prescription contact lenses made for me about 4 years ago. But they always gave me problems. I stopped wearing them and I noticed that when I was working (and staring at a computer screen) I got headaches. But the headaches would last and last. I thought there was something else wrong with me. Long story short (too late), I had PRK laser correction surgery done and I’ve been headache free since. I’m fortunate not to have allergies so I don’t have to deal with that possibility.

2.  Royal8 writes:  Peppermint oil applied under your nose. (Be careful with application and wash hands!!)  Rice packs heated in the microwave for four minutes applied over eyes / back of neck.   Also take a hot shower w/ Dr. Bronners Peppermint Castile Soap (the liquid version) Oh it makes you tingle - see http://www.drbronner.com/DBMS/PEP.htm   **Have your blood pressure checked.**

3.  Sylvia writes: … during allergy season I would suggest you use a sinus rinse like Neilmed. Once I started using it regularly, it cut down on my headaches.

4 - 11.  Ria Kennedy sends in 8! tips : 

1.  Tiger balm on your temples, rub tendons in back of neck to release tension,

2.   Snort this twice a day:

• Sinus Rinse
• 16 oz. H2O
• 1 tablespoon kosher salt
• 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
• Mix.

       Pour some into palm of hand and snort.

3.   Brush teeth with flossing and mouthwash. Something about swishing, gargling, changing teeth positions, spitting, etc., makes it so you can clear your head a little.

4.  Gargle with salt water periodically to clear head/get rid of drip.

5.  Take a bath in fairly warm water. Submerge your head so your ears are covered. Even allow them to fill with water to put pressure on the inside of your head and help it drain. Then — KEY — sit up in the tub so that your wet hair gets cold. This is supposed to help shrink the nasal/sinus membranes and gives some relief. I imagine using a cold wet towel on the head might also help, but I think the bath steam helps and that’s why this is good.

6.  Eat hot stuff like chili peppers, salsa. Again, this helps drainage. Even a little bit of heat helps break things up.

7.  Cold compress over eyes to help the eyes stop swelling and bring some comfort.

8.  PS — Lie down and let head drain. Try with and without a pillow, side to side, head nose pointed up toward wall, and head pointed down toward feet, and rolling from one side to another.

12.  Terra Andersen writes:  Sleep, lots of fluids, and perhaps a walk. (I know this sounds lame,) but it helps the lack of blood flow, which is the initial cause of most headaches.

13.  Ruth writes  My daughter has used something called “Mygrastick.” It’s peppermint and lavender essential oils in a rollerball applicator. You apply a small amount to your temples and she said that she felt relief almost immediately. She recommended it to a friend of mine who gets migraines quite often, and she said that, although her headache didn’t go away immediately, it only lasted about 1/10 as long as usual. We bought it at a small, local health food store, but I saw that Amazon has it, too.

14.  Kate Davis writes: I suffered from a headache for several days earlier in the year. I went to a regular chiropractor appointment for my back and she adjusted my jaw and the headache went instantly. Apparently my jaw was slightly misaligned (apparently due to stress causing me to tense my teeth) and this was leading in uneven pressure in my head when I moved my jaw.  If the other suggestions don’t work I would recommend going to have a check up a chiropractor.

15.  Dianne (Moondreamer) writes:   I usually find headaches are due to dehydration, stress or tiredness. So upping my fluid intake, getting plenty of sleep or having some time-out (maybe a walk in the fresh air) will usually sort it out.  But if my sinuses are at all involved, steam inhalation helps (put your head over a basin filled with hot water and cover your head with a towel for 10-15 minutes. You can add aromatherapy oil or some herbs or a spoonful of vicks if you like.  A little lavender oil on your temples, the bridge and sides of your nose and across your forehead will help to relieve sinusitis and stress headaches.

16.  Andrew Seltz writes:  If your headaches are allergy related, I have started using a neti pot on a regular basis and found it to be very helpful for relieving sinus congestion.  The result is similar to the nasal rinse suggested above, but I’ve done both and much prefer the neti pot. I mix a little sea salt with warm water in the pot and rinse out my sinuses during my morning shower. 

17.  Bill Ferrante writes:  My worst headaches from barometric pressure. When I feel one coming on, I’ll typically check the weather to see if a front is moving in. If it appears the weather is causing it, I’ll take an Excedrin migraine early on. I hate taking pills, so acting early really does the trick in my case.  I’ve wanted to purchase a barometer for some time now so that I can get used to seeing the measurement every day. This way I’d intuitively know what my “feel good” vs. “feel bad” ranges are.  Was there some poor weather in your area while you were in pain? If so, a barometer may be a wise investment so you can start using your peppermint oil early on. =)

18.  Liz Layne writes:   (1) Chlorpheniramine Maleate 4 mg tablet (Walgreens Wal-finate Allergy 4 Hour Tablets)  (2) Ibuprofen 200mg each and an ice pack. Usually he find that it starts to go away in 20 minutes, but he gets a little sleepy. Try it next time. I also use this for tension headaches.

19.  Leigh writes:  I found that when I reduced my wheat and milk intake my headaches disappeared.

20.  Paul writes: Make sure you are hydrated. You can get migraines triggered from dehydration.

Do You Have Any Cures for a 3-Day Headache?

The past 3 days I’ve had a low-level headache and could use your help…
I am chalking it up to springtime allergies, which so far have not affected my sinuses as much as last year.  But I still have the headache - whoopee. 
I’d describe it as starting behind my eyes (pressure) and running up to [...]