*For dress shoes, if not a boot style, we recommend LiftKits Universal insole as they work best in lower cut dress shoes.

We think Shape-Ups are great. However, if you don’t want to wear Shape-Ups, can’t afford new shoes or simply want to enjoy the benefits Shape-Ups allow but want to have them in your existing shoes, check out LiftKits and LiftKits for Chicks. LiftKits are a simple insole that you slip inside of your shoe that force your weight onto the balls of your feet. The result is better posture and a tightening of your calf, hamstring and buttocks muscles. Whether its Shape-Ups or LiftKits insoles, you’ll be standing tall and wearing shorts more often to show off your new toned look.

The causes of a leg length discrepancy, even the most common ones, are numerous and varied. A discrepancy can result from an injury as a child, such as in a fracture that damages the cells responsible for growth of the bone, while the corresponding bone on the other leg grows normally. Some fractures can also lead to overgrowth of bone during the healing process, resulting in a longer than normal bone.

Diseases of the bone, such as osteomyelitis, can injure the growth plate, where growth in length occurs, so that a discrepancy occurs gradually over time.

Some children are born with legs that are of unequal length or bowed tibias that are accompanied with a leg length discrepancy. Functional leg length discrepancy can also result from congenital (present at birth) problems, that alter alignment of the hips, such as coxa vara and developmental dislocation of the hip. Neuromuscular problems, such as cerebral palsy, which causes problems with alignment and posture can also lead to a functional discrepancy.

Bone tumors and treatments designed to eradicate them are related to leg length discrepancy. Tumors can invade the bone’s growth plate like an infection and treatments, like chemotherapy, can also damage the plate.

Most people cant afford expensive limb lengthening surgeries. Even having custom shoes made can be costly. LiftKits can help and may allow you to wear the same shoes everyone else does for a fraction of the cost of an expensive procedure or customized shoes.

*LiftKits works in most shoes but not all. Make sure to experiment with multiple pairs to find your best fit.

Here is what AskMen blog has to say about High Tops right now:
Tokyo lads are notoriously selective about their footwear. From sneaker geeks to couture-loving fashionites, it’s rare to see anyone strolling around with subpar soles. And while footwear trends may come and go, there are some classic shapes that never seem to go out of style. Case in point: the high-top sneaker. Young Tokyo types are all about blending comfort and fashion when choosing their preferred kicks, and high-top sneakers offer a good mix of the two.

Click here to see some popular high-top sneakers that Tokyo guys are sporting.

Lisa Ling reports on the recent beauty and cosmetic surgery boom on Oprah.com.

In this part of the world, Lisa says height is a sign of status, and oftentimes, it’s a prerequisite for success. “Minimum height requirements are not unusual for many jobs, for admission to some colleges, even to land a date,” Lisa says.

As medical technology improves, more people are going under the knife to have this painful, controversial procedure, which can help patients grow anywhere from a few inches to a full foot.

At the Shanghai Height Increasing Specialized Institute, Lisa meets Dr. Bai Helong, a Chinese doctor who modernized the leg-lengthening procedure. He says his patients want to be taller for many reasons.

“China has 1.3 billion people, so getting a job is quite difficult,” Dr. Bai Helong says. “As a result, a short person not only experiences difficulty in getting a job, but also trouble in their marriage, love life, family, career and many other areas.”

Jessy, a 27-year-old who’s interested in undergoing the procedure, says she’s willing to take a year off work to grow a few inches. Currently, she’s 5′3”.

“I want to be 5′6” or 5′7”. Just being tall makes me feel much confidence,” she says. “I’m always jealous when I see tall girls walking around. I just want to be just like them.”
Dr. Bai’s patients go to great lengths to stand a few inches above their competition. “Pain is definitely a part of the procedure, which is both horrifying and miraculous,” Lisa says.

To lengthen the leg, holes are drilled into the leg bone and screws are inserted to stabilize an adjustable leg brace. Then, surgeons carefully saw the leg bone in half below the knee, and the braces slowly stretch the bones apart. Over time, Dr. Bai says new bone grows into the gap and increases the person’s height.

Lisa says most patients are out of commission for at least six months after the surgery, and others remain in seclusion from friends and family for a full year. At this time, the bulky braces are removed, and the new bone is hard enough to withstand normal activity.

Despite the pain and price—anywhere from $10,000 to $40,000—Lisa says patients think it’s worth the sacrifice. “If this is something that does make people feel better, far be it for us to intrude our opinions,” she says. “But it certainly is very extreme. I had never experienced anything quite like it.”

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See what Dr. Matthew Pinto has to say about LiftKits and leg-lengthening procedures:

Moviemakers and celebrities gathered at the Tweet House during the 2010 Sundance Film Festival to discuss the convergence of film, branding and new media along with support the relief efforts in Haiti. In between panel discussion celebrities and media moguls rubbed elbows while enjoying a drink and grabbing some Swag from this years sponsors; Smashbox Cosmetics, G-Drive by Hitachi, LiftKits, Monster Energy and many more.

Adrian Grenier (Entourage), Beau Bridges, Joseph Gordon-Levitt (500 Days of Summer), Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (Los Angeles Lakers), LeVar Burton (Reading Rainbow and Star Trek) and Daymond John (Shark Tank) spoke on the Panel mostly centered around their individual experiences with Twitter – moderated by Steve Broback of the Parnassus Group.

During the Sunday Tweetup, the hosts invited talent and other Sundance Festival attendees to gather and “Tweet” messages encouraging their followers to make donations to the organizations that are accepting funds related to the Haitian disaster.
Proceeds raised from corporate sponsors of the event to be sent to benefit the victims. Matt McKenna CEO of GiveOnTheGo.com which powers Wyclef’s Yele organization was on hand to discuss the power of text, mobile and short messages after their recent fundraising success to benefit Haiti.

Other celebrities seen at the Tweetup event included:
Alicia Sixtoes, Amir Talai, Bob Saget, Camille Mana, Christy Carlson Romano, Colin Devlin, Hakeen Ke-Kazim, Jason Ritter, Jay Duplass, Jonah Hill, Josh Madden, Julie McNiven, Lily Holleman, Mark Duplass, May Wang, Michael Chiklis, Stephanie Reese, Steve Jones, Tyler Hilton and Wilmer Valderrama