Shoes.... Sore Feet and Feeling Heavy on My Feet

I have struggled with my weight since I was much younger. I have never been thin; it is not a concept that has ever existed for me. However, over the last few years, my weight has skyrocketed out of control, and I have reached my highest weight yet. My heart is broken. I am really struggling to get my head around everything. Trying to find ways that I can get my weight under control and everything that goes along with it.

So, I have decided to tackle this one thing at a time, and at the moment, that is fighting each battle as it comes up. My priority is my mental health and my feet. Can we please talk about shoes, sore feet, and how to take care of our feet?

Finding supportive shoes for larger feet

Cheaper shoes are not an option for me at all. Everything that I find that is possibly supportive to my body, my feet, and, in turn, my knees, my hips, and my back are wildly expensive. I already have big feet - a UK men's size 9. So, I have always struggled to find shoes. As I have gained weight, this has become harder, as my feet have also gained weight. My most recent purchase is Sketchers sneakers, and so far, I have been very happy with these shoes. They have no laces and are easy to slip on while offering good support for my body. So, I am cautiously optimistic.

Managing swelling with obesity

If I walk a lot or wear sandals and then add in the summer heat, my feet swell. This makes them very painful and has started affecting my everyday life. This is quite challenging as I am walking more to help with my weight and health. So what do I do when my feet are this swollen?

• Elevate my feet above the rest of my body, and yes, this means you will often find me with my feet against the wall.
• Soak my feet in bicarbonate of soda and Epsom salts.
• Wear compression socks for some time to help get the swelling down.
• I make sure to keep my hydration up and get some steps in.

Essential foot care

I do my best to stay up to date with my foot care, making a point of having decent pedicures done from time to time. This is to ensure that my feet do not crack and burst open at the bottom, especially at the heels. I am not always able to do this myself, but I try to make sure I moisturize daily (I could do better with this). If you are unable to reach your feet comfortably, you could lie down before bedtime, slap a generous amount on one foot, and rub your feet together to spread it around as needed.

Silicone socks are also an option. I like to lather my feet in moisturizer and slip on silicone socks. I often put my feet up and let the moisturizer work its magic on my heels and feet. This also saves the linen and sofa fabric from the oily, thick moisturizer that I use.