Dancing to lose weight: how does it work?

Dancing to lose weight: is it possible?

Dancing to lose weight, we say yes! A mix of sport and pleasure, dance is the perfect discipline for those who want to exercise and have a good time. But then, how to dance and lose weight? We take stock of what you need to know. 

Dancing for fun… 

It's well known, you dance, you let go, you clear your mind, you move to music that you like and it feels good! No need to be a professional dancer or to have taken 15 years of dance lessons to enjoy dancing. 

In nightclubs, at home, at concerts, with friends, there are no specific places to dance. You don't need any accessories, just some music and off you go! 

… but not only ! 

And yes, we don't necessarily think about it but even if we take great pleasure in dancing, dancing remains a physical and sporting activity ! By doing your choreographies, you burn calories And you lose weight without you really realizing it. 

What could be better than doing sports without realizing that you are exerting yourself and eliminating calories?

How does dance help with weight loss?

But how can dancing help you lose weight? What aspect does it act on? We'll explain this to you in detail and we bet you'll be convinced!

Refine

Some dances help you lose weight without making you gain muscle mass and volume. Indeed, this is possible in particular thanks to the dances which will work on the deep muscles.

As a reminder, the deep muscles are the muscles that are responsible for body posture. 

We think directly of the classic dance which makes it possible to refine the body thanks to the lengthening of the muscles in length and not in width. 

To build up muscle

Strengthen your muscles through dancing! There choreography rehearsal allows you to support and accentuate certain steps and therefore build muscle effectively. A regular workout is the key to success!

If you would like to know more about how dance to build muscle, check out our dedicated article!

Strengthen your cardio

Dancing helps strengthen your cardio because the sequence of steps and the rhythm of the music increase your heart rate.

But cardio can be worked on! If you are new to dancing, you will feel that the cardio may not be keeping up. Indeed, to see real progress, you must be diligent And regular in your workouts. 

Which dance to choose?

Depending on the dance you choose, you will more or less target parts of the body. So, if you have a specific goal, here are some tips for targeting your weight loss. We take stock of different types of dances!

Lose weight in your upper body

To promote weight loss on your upper body, several dances can do the trick:

• Hip hop : you use your arms a lot, especially to support yourself on the ground
• Ballet : very good discipline to work your back and improve your posture but also your arms
• Oriental Dance : ideal for effectively working the stomach and hips
• Pole dancing : complete sport, it requires strength in the abs and in the arms to perform the figures

Lose weight in your lower body

If you want to target your lower body more, here is a non-exhaustive list of dance styles to favor:

• Rock : being a fast dance, the legs are always moving and on the supports
• Latin dances : we think in particular of tango, salsa and rumba

Lose weight evenly 

Finally, if your goal is to work your entire body, here are some dances that will help you get there: 

• Pole dancing : you use all of your muscles
• Zumba : it is a very active dance which requires cardio, muscle strengthening and flexibility at the same time

To learn more about which dance to choose, go to our article in question!

Additional actions to adopt 

It is well known that practicing physical activity is not the only way to lose weight. You must complement the action of sport by adding a healthy and balanced diet but also an effective and restorative sleep schedule. We take stock!

A healthy diet

To see real results, it is important to complement your physical and sporting activity with a suitable diet. Diet plays a key role in your weight loss, although physical activity does too. These are two completely complementary aspects that should not be overlooked.

This prevents you from losing calories while dancing and then regaining them almost directly afterwards due to a diet that is too fatty, too sweet or poorly balanced. 

Favor unprocessed products and make recipes that are both healthy and tempting. You will enjoy eating healthily more!

Restful sleep

Sleep is a key element when you want to lose weight. We don't necessarily think about it and yet it has a considerable impact.

Indeed, when we are awake, the stomach generates a specific hormone that makes us feel the desire and the need to eat. So, when you go to bed too late, for example, your body will make you believe that you are hungry and you will surely succumb to temptation. 

Our advice is therefore not to go to bed too late so as not to be tempted by the desire to snack outside of meals. As a reminder, a good night's sleep oscillates between 7 a.m. and 9 a.m. on average, which varies depending on metabolism and habits. 

To conclude

In conclusion, dance to lose weight is totally possible and even recommended! You will have more motivation, desire and above all pleasure in doing sports and exercising.

As a reminder, certain dances may be favored depending on your weight loss goals:

• If you want lose weight in the upper body
• If you want lose weight in the lower body
• If you want lose weight evenly

All you have to do is make a choice and get started if you haven't already!

Dancing and losing weight at DECIBEL®

Come discover the universe DECIBEL® which combines workout and dance ! You will see that it is possible to do sport while having fun... who would have thought it!

At the house of DECIBEL®, each is in his bubble and lets off steam by following the choreographies of the coach as well as his advice. Coming out of a 50 minute session, you will feel light and ready to face everyday life!

Immerse yourself in a unique atmosphere and get ready to sweat !