Dance The Pounds Away!

When most think of exercising or the common term “working out” what usually comes to mind are treadmills, weight rooms, and ellipticals.  For some that may seem boring or even a bit intimidating.  A great way to get some exercise that is FUN is to get dancing! The great thing about dance is there are many options to choose from. Here are some of the great choices that can help you get those calories burning and pounds gone:

• Hip Hop

Hip hop is a high energy, super fun, in-your-face dance with a fun attitude and an awesome dance style to help you lose weight.1

Hip hop involves large movements of the entire body, which places it high on the expenditure scale. It also often involves freestyling, meaning that muscle groups are kept guessing and are less likely to stop responding to the exercise or hit a plateau. In 60 minutes, hip hop will use between 370 (for people of lighter bodyweights) to 610 (for those weighing 180 and up) calories.2

• Ballet

This is a great way to improve your flexibility and it also strengthens the back, abs, hips, and thigh.1

It is estimated that there are 380 to 450 calories burned per hour during ballet. As an added bonus,  Ballet is known for building that long and lean look that women so often strive for, but make no mistake; ballet requires a great deal of strength. For example, pro football players have

been known to use ballet training to improve their performances.2

• Belly Dancing

Belly dancing is among the more popular kinds of dance that help you lose weight. Although it isn’t as energetic as other dance forms, belly dancing nonetheless has its virtues. For those that are interested in less vigorous movements and prefer a gentler approach to their dance, belly dancing is an interesting, not to mention beautiful alternative.1

Roughly 270-320 for less intense versions, and between 290 and 360 for faster & higher intensity styles.2

• Salsa

Salsa is yet another exciting dance form – one that requires you to have a partner, though. You could invite your friend over for the classes or head there with your boyfriend or husband. If having fun while losing weight is your main goal, you cannot go wrong with salsa.1

Salsa burns roughly around 405 calories per 60 minutes for someone weighing 140, or around 480 for a 180 lb person.2

Dancing is a great way to get your heart rate up, get rid of extra body fat, and build lean muscle. Because people enjoy doing it the likelihood of adherence is high.2 It is important to find a dance style that fits your activity/fitness level best.

References

1. P.R., Mishka. 8 Kinds of Dance That Help You Lose Weight. Retrieved on November 22, 2015 from http://weightloss.allwomenstalk.com/kinds-of-dance-that-help-you-lose-weight
2. Fitness Blender. Calories Burned By Type - How Many Calories Does Dancing Burn? Retrieved on November 22, 2015 from https://www.fitnessblender.com/articles/dancing-calories-burned-by-type-how-many-calories-does-dancing-burn