| Attending a single one-hour belly dance class per | | | | time you wish for slow music and finger cymbal |
| week and then sitting on the couch watching television | | | | practice. |
| the other six nights per week will never help you lose | | | | It matters what you eat and drink. |
| weight. Most weight loss experts recommend getting | | | | Although getting your 30 minutes per day of exercise |
| no less than 15 minutes of exercise per day, and I've | | | | will improve your body's ability to burn fat, you also |
| seen many that say you need at least 30 minutes. | | | | need to look at your eating habits. You are what you |
| So, if you attend a belly dance class one night per | | | | eat. There are a couple of bad habits that belly |
| week, what excercise are you doing the other six | | | | dancers can get into. Break these, and your weight |
| nights? If you're serious about losing weight, make the | | | | loss efforts will be more successful: Snacking After |
| commitment to get at least 30 minutes of exercise per | | | | Class. Do you fill up on snacks when you get home |
| day. Even though some experts say 15 minutes is | | | | from class? Take a bottle of water (at least one quart |
| enough, why cheat yourself of the benefits of just a | | | | or one liter) with you to class. Drink several swallows |
| little more? This can take the form of attending belly | | | | before class starts. At the end of class, before you |
| dancing classes, troupe rehearsals, performances, | | | | get in your car or on the bus to go home, drink the |
| teaching classes, or practicing in your living room. | | | | equivalent of 2-3 glasses more. When you arrive |
| Of course, it doesn't all have to be belly dancing. On | | | | home, before going in the house, drink another couple |
| some days, you can go for romantic walks with your | | | | of swallows. This will help prevent you from snacking |
| partner, attend an aerobics class at the gym, walk | | | | when you finally get in the house and settle in for the |
| your dog for an hour, or play catch in the back yard | | | | evening. |
| with one of your children. | | | | Sipping Wine After A Performance. Do you sip a glass |
| Just spend a minimum of 30 minutes (more is better) | | | | of wine at the end of a performance at the restaurant |
| doing it. | | | | or nightclub where you work? Stop! Alcohol is very |
| In some belly dancing classes, you start moving the | | | | high in calories! Take a bottle of water to work with |
| instant you get in the door and don't stop until the end | | | | you. Drink several swallows before you start your |
| of the hour. | | | | show. When it's over, drink the equivalent of 2-3 |
| In others, you spend a lot of time standing still while you | | | | glasses of additional water as soon as you walk into |
| learn finger cymbal rhythms, wait for the teacher to | | | | the dressing room. Then change your clothes. By the |
| correct other students, or listen to explanations. | | | | time you emerge, you should feel less craving for that |
| If weight loss is a priority for you, choose a belly | | | | wine. If you find yourself still wanting to sit at the bar |
| dancing teacher that keeps you moving continuously | | | | and drink something, try substituting mineral water or |
| throughout the class time. The class will be especially | | | | fruit juice instead of wine. |
| valuable if it involves traveling steps, because moving | | | | Look at your overall food and drink intake--you may |
| the large leg muscles burns more calories than moving | | | | need to change it. If necessary, get help from either |
| other, smaller muscles. The time you spend in class or | | | | your doctor or a commercial weight loss program to |
| practicing at home doesn't count for weight loss if | | | | learn how to adapt your eating habits for healthier |
| you're standing still a large part of it. | | | | living. But don't just pay your money into the program |
| When practicing at home, you'll get maximum weight | | | | and assume that will magically help you lose weight -- |
| loss benefit by using either drum solos, medium-speed, | | | | follow their instructions! I accomplished my 55-pound |
| or fast music and incorporating a large number of | | | | weight loss in 1999 through one of the commercial |
| moves that engage your legs and hips. | | | | programs, but most of the others who joined at the |
| You'll get less weight loss benefit from practicing rib | | | | same time as me didn't lose much. What made the |
| cage isolations to slow, undulating music, but it's still | | | | difference? I kept the journal they recommended, and |
| definitely better than getting no exercise at all. Standing | | | | every day I carefully added up the point values for the |
| still practicing your finger cymbals or sitting at your | | | | foods I was eating. I also made a point of exceeding |
| sewing machine making costumes won't give you any | | | | their exercise recommendations. The other people |
| weight loss benefit at all. | | | | who did not faithfully keep their journals or increase |
| Don't eliminate slow music and finger cymbal practice | | | | their activity levels found themselves unable to lose |
| from your practice time--they're good skills to have, | | | | weight. |
| and they'll make you a better dancer. But if you're | | | | Weight loss programs don't work if you simply pay |
| serious about weight loss, make sure you devote | | | | money and attend meetings. |
| enough time to the more aerobic fast music | | | | Your wallet gets lighter, but your body doesn't. You |
| movement when you practice. My advice: spend at | | | | need to follow their instructions regarding food intake |
| least 30 minutes on vigorous dancing to drum solos | | | | and exercise. |
| and fast music, then take however much additional | | | | |