Losing weight through bellydance

A

Amira2

New member
Hi all,

Yes, I'm a newbie here, but have worked with weightloss almost my entire life. In my early 20's, at 240 pounds, I started bellydancing, and lost 50 pounds the first year and another 50 over the next 5 years.

Bellydancing has kept me fit into my 40's, when all of a sudden I started gaining weight like a freight train. I was all the way up to 170 and even with dieting and working out like a fiend, I couldn't lose the weight. I was starting to think I'd have to stop performing as a dancer - I was just way too fat.

I went on the Type II Diabetes Diet (Ezrin & Kowalski) and lost 50 pounds, going from a size 14 to a size 4! Lovely. That lasted about 3 years and now I'm gaining again. It's hard when you exercise all the time and can't lose weight. I don't eat badly (except when I get really frustrated, then I binge).

So, my purpose here is two-fold: First, to try and find some long term solutions to my own weight loss. Second, but really more importantly, is to share my dance knowledge with anyone who is looking for an exercise form that is fun and engaging. I've been dancing almost 30 years, and I love it.

If anyone has any similar challenges, with high fitness and smart food choices but continuing weight gain, I'd love to hear any hints you might have. I'm really desperate.

Hope to get to know you all online. Here's to helping each other toward success!

Jana ("Amira")
 
Welcome to the forum.

I adore belly dance too, although I'm definitely new school - I didn't get into it until I saw a video of Rachel Brice. I really admire the women who can pull of the fringes and sequins, but I know I'd just look like a cupcake.

It's really cool to have someone here with so much knowledge of dance. I'd love to know more about your belly dance history. What forms do you practice? Do you have any recommendations to make undulations easier to do?

At any rate, I won't plague you with questions in your intro thread. If you start a journal, I'll be sure to stalk you like a rabid salamander.

~ Trish
 
Hehe I love to watch belly dancers dance ;)

I too am a newbie here, and I understand the whole 40+ problem when it comes to weight loss.

Also at this age, work/family requirements take so much of our time. When is it ever possible to do a workout session on a regular basis???

I set aside my favourite taped programmes for the week (from our HD recorder) and only ever watch TV whilst working out. It's a great rule in our house as the incentive of my favourite programme is enough to get me on the treadmill!

Anyhow, I wish you the very best on your journey!!!
 
Hi Trish :)

I've been a professional bellydancer for almost 30 years. I've danced and studied with Rachel Brice when I lived in California. She's fabulous. I also was a member of the Suhaila Salimpour Dance Company for a few years.

My style is Egyptian Cabaret but I also do American Tribal and East Indian styles. I normally teach around 8 classes a week and do several performances a week, but at the same time, I just moved to a new state and am just getting started again. My first performance up here in Washington, I tore a ligament. Nice. So I'm off my feet for a couple weeks while that heals up. My average is about 300 performances a year for almost 30 years. That's why I find it so funny that I struggle with my weight so much.

Undulations...yes. Ok, let's say you're thinking of ribcage undulations. Focus on your breastbone, and draw a circle with it: forward, lift up, tip back (shoulders slightly behind your hip bones) then roll down the top of your spine. If you focus on drawing a circle, you'll get there. If you still have trouble, let me know and I'll film a video clip for you.

And as far as looking good in a costume goes... the dance is the beauty, the body just the vehicle. I'm as guilty as anyone of wanting to look good in a costume, but women of all sizes do this dance, and there are ways to costume for any body type. If you want suggestions, I'm happy to help. I do costuming as well, and have a lot of experience on costuming for body flaws. I'm going to try to get one of my recent performances up on my website, and you'll be able to see that with a clever costume, even someone several sizes too big for their body type can look decent.

I'll look into doing a journal. I'm happy to support the dance demon within you :) I've been bit by that bug for almost 3 decades, and it's the one thing that gets me out of bed every morning.

I'm not supposed to post a website yet but maybe they'll let me tell you my bio is online at howtobellydance.com - just look for the bio tab.

I'm VERY happy to know there are more dancers out there. One of my newest students just told me she's down 20 pounds just from dancing with one of my videos, so I know it helps others beyond me. And like I said, I'm always happy to help in any way, rabid salamander or no!

Thanks!
Jana
 
Ah, cool. I'm so excited to have you here.

Grace and coordination have never been my strong points. I was quietly asked to leave ballet after a year without progress, so seeing Rachel Brice dance and wanting to do it so much shocked me.

You have videos? To dance to? I am SO there as soon as I get my tuition money.

Right now I'm doing Michelle Joyce's Bellydance for Beginners DVD, just to get the basics locked in.

I wish you were local - sigh - I'd kill for good local lessons. I did take a lesson in Sacramento with Unmata, and they've very good, but it was a little intimidating.

I'm going to take your advice on the undulations. I'm glad you didn't mention feet - a lot of dancers do this little rising and falling thing with some little leg lift in the front. I know it's to emphasize the look of the undulation, but I always assume it's required. But if I focus on the feet, any focus on the undulation goes out the window.
 
I've been interested in this for a while myself, but I haven't signed up for a class yet. Sounds like so much fun!!!
 
I'm Shimmying with Joy!

Oh, YAY!!!! Another who knows the joy of bellydance!!!

I too have bellydance to thank for a lot of my progress with the weight loss. Maybe more the toning side, but it is still a major part of my exercise.

I've only been bellydancing since January 07, and I LOVE it! For a year I took lessons from a wonderful woman who goes by Sharifa in the dance community, but right now my practice consists of DVDs.

I adore Rachel Brice. I have both of her DVDs. Michelle Joyce is another of my favorites. Funny thing is I used to teach at the same school she taught at. Not bellydance but a college out here in the SF Bay Area. Talked to her a couple times, then had this flash of recognition when I saw her web site.

I'd love to start taking lessons again someday, but I think I want to go more tribal than cabaret. And more sword dancing!!! I'm nuts about sword dancing.

Happy to see you here!
 
Hey Phoenyx

Great that there are other dance enthusiasts out there! I'm more on the cabaret side, but I do a lot of techno-tribal fusion too. I'm also an expert sword dancer - I sell sword dancing DVD's on my site, but that's not why I'm here.

Sounds like both you and Ferocity are Bay Area girls....so was I....sigh. I love SF! But the hubby got work up here in Washington, so that's where I am now. I do come down for the dance events, though.

Try using several different videos - it will keep it fresher longer. To find a class in the area, try posting on Tribe.net, and I'd suggest "The Indigo" - that was Rachel Brice's troupe, and Ariallah, who still dances with them to the best of my knowledge, is fabulous. If she's not teaching, she can give you an idea where to go. If you can't find a class you like, let me know. I know everyone in CA and can help you find something that will work for you.

Come chat dance with me anytime! :)

Jana
 
Hey Ferocity,

If you would like to try a video, just pm me your mailing address and I'll mail you one. If they can't help people, what good are they??? I'll send my Beginning Level One, which has a really nice slow stretching section too. You'll want to see how I do moves and what I call them anyway. Some will be the same, some will be a bit different. I have several more levels after that, too.

UNMATA are fabulous dancers, but it sounds like a lot for a new dancer. You need to focus on one thing at a time, and once you get a move down, THEN think about adding the next level to it. Are you near Sacramento then? There must be some good teachers in that area. If you get a bug to do live classes, let me know and I'll see if there's anyone there I'd recommend.

With the undulations, you can layer them, and that's what you're seeing. The fact is that drilling the circular movement by itself until you've got it, THEN adding more levels, means you'll have a BETTER undulation than those who learn the whole body move at one time.

Hey, us dancing girls gotta stick together, right? Maybe with a little support from you guys, I'll get back down to my performance weight too. I'd love to lose 35 pounds, but I'd be happy with 10 just for now, then work on the rest. Right now, I can't fit into very many of my costumes! I gain topside first, and dance bras are not flexibly sized!!! I HATE that feeling of 'my cups runneth over' if you know what I mean. I'm not a stripper, so I don't care if the guys like it - I DON'T!

I've lost a LOT of weight dancing. Now I just need to figure out how to outsmart my hormones and food allergies.

Jana
 
I already have several DVDs in rotation, but its time to change them up a bit. I may put the 'Body By Bellydance' away for a while and focus on the Drills one. There's a couple out there I may acquire to add to the rotation as well. I understand Jenna has an intermediate one out to compliment the Basics & Beyond.

I may need to get your Sword DVD too. Your site's pretty cool by the way.

I do other forms of exercise too. Started taking Mixed Martial Arts a little over a year ago, and recently added weight lifting back in to my repertoire of exercise. Back in my college days I used to focus mainly on weight lifting. And since the form of martial arts I'm studying is really a mix of a lot of different disciplines, I get to play with escrima and silat... great stuff! I know the coordination and balance I've acquired in dance has helped with the martial arts, and probably vice versa.
 
I love to watch bellydancing, even though I am a complete amateur and know nothing about the different styles or anything. I just find it amazing.

There is actually a belly dancing class around here, and it says that it's for all ages and all sizes, but surely 350 lbs are a little too much? I mean, when I look at those costumes, they don't really cover much, do they?

Do you think it would be worth for me to look into it at this stage, or should I rather wait until I have shed a few (well...a lot) of pounds before even thinking about it?
 
Hey San...

When I first started dancing, I was 240 pounds and 5'2. And I was NOT the biggest girl in the room!

If you feel uncomfortable, start with videos, then go take a class. If you end up loving it like I do, then it becomes an exercise form you can do and love instead of endure. So, no, don't wait. Try it either at home or with a class and maybe it will do for you what it's done for me.

There are many ways of costuming to cover up. And for class, you can just wear yoga or sweat pants and a t-shirt. Find a nice big shawl you can use to tie around your hips - you know, the triangular ones with fringe? I've seen them at the department stores lately. They work great. Or you can buy a hip scarf on ebay, but make sure it's big enough to fit. I prefer shawls when my weight is up.

One of the great things about bellydancing is that it's an art form that will help you feel better about yourself right from the beginning, and that is crucial to losing weight.

If you need any advice or support on dancing, just holler. Add me as a friend if you want, too :)

You can do it!
 
Hi Nia,

Yes, and it also helps with pulling in the extra skin when you lose enough to have that! Even with all the extra weight on me right now, I still have well defined abs. When I'm thinner, you can see all the definition. I like that :)

I also like that you can get a really good workout no matter what your mood: fast and furious, or slow and concentrated.

Have you seen many dancers?

Amira
 
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