Healthy Benefits Of Dancing For Your Health

There are many forms of dance, from ballroom to barn and disco to morris. Dance has been a part of human culture, rituals and celebrations forever. Today, most dancing is about recreation and self-expression, although it can also be pursued as a competitive activity. Dancing is an enjoyable way to be more physically active and stay fit. I'm a big advocate of dancing especially ballroom dancing. It has changed my life to getting fit and healthier. It is also an excellent way to exercise and simply have fun. I usually recommend dancing to my nutrition client's who want to get healthy without being bored with regular exercise. So, get your dancing shoes on and start dancing for your health.

Health benefits to DANCING

Dancing can be a way to stay fit for people of all ages, shapes and sizes. It has a wide range of physical and mental benefits including:

• Improved condition of the heart and lungs
• Increased muscular strength, endurance and motor fitness
• Increased aerobic fitness
• Improved muscle tone and strength
• Weight management
• Stronger bones and reduced risk of osteoporosis
• Better coordination, agility and flexibility
• Improved balance and spatial awareness
• Increased physical confidence
• Improved mental functioning
• Improved general and psychological wellbeing
• Greater self-confidence and self-esteem
• Better social skills.

Getting started

You can dance in a group, with a partner, or on your own. There a lots of different places where you can enjoy dancing, for example at dance schools, social venues, community halls and in your own home. Dancing has become such a popular way to be active and keep fit, that most fitness clubs now offer dance classes in their group exercise programs.

Dancing can be performed both competitively and socially. It can be a great recreational and sporting option, because anyone of any age can take part. It doesn’t matter whether it is cold or raining as dancing is usually done indoors.

The gear you require to dance will depend on the style of dancing you choose. For example, tap dancing will involve purchasing tap shoes, whereas ballet will require ballet slippers and ballet attire. To get started, simply choose a style you enjoy, or would like to try, and join a class.

Types of dance

There are numerous styles of dance to choose from, each with its own attractions. Some popular types of dancing styles include:

• Ballet – mostly performed to classical music, this dance style focuses on strength, technique and flexibility.
• Ballroom dancing –: this involves a number of partner dancing styles such as the waltz, swing, fox-trot, rumba and the tango.
• Belly dancing – originating in the Middle East, this dance style is a fun way to exercise.
• Hip hop – performed mostly to hip hop music, this urban dance style can involve breaking, popping, locking and free styling.
• Jazz – a high energy dance style involving kicks, leaps and turns to the beat of the music.
• Pole dancing – this style of dancing has become increasingly popular as a form of exercise. It involves sensual dancing with a vertical pole, and requires muscle endurance, co-ordination, and upper and lower body strength.
• Salsa – involving a mixture of Caribbean, Latin American and African influences, salsa is usually a partner dance and emphasises rhythms and sensuality.
• Square dancing – a type of folk dancing where four couples dance in a square pattern, moving around each other and changing partners
• Tap dancing – focuses on timing and beats. The name originates from the tapping sounds made by the small metal plates on the dancer’s shoes touch the ground.

How to choose a dance style

When choosing a dance style, ask yourself:

• Do I want to dance to improve my fitness?
• Am I trying to improve my flexibility and co-ordination?
• Do I enjoy fast or slow dancing?
• Do I want to dance with a partner, or on my own?
• Do I want to join a group, or have private lessons?
• Will I enjoy competitions, or do I want to dance just for fun?

Some general tips

Suggestions include:

• See your doctor for a check-up if you have a medical condition, are overweight, are over 40 years of age or are unfit.
• Wear layers of clothing that you can take off as your body warms up.
• Do warm-up stretches or activities before you begin a dance session.
• Drink plenty of water before, during and after dancing.
• Make sure you rest between dance sessions.
• Don’t push yourself too far or too fast, especially if you are a beginner.
• Wear professionally fitted shoes appropriate to your style of dance.
• Check with your dance instructor that you are holding the correct form.
• Sit and watch new dance moves first. Learning new moves increases the risk of injury, especially if you are already tired.
• Perform regular leg-strengthening exercises.
• Move as fluidly and gracefully as you can.
• Cool down after a dance session, including stretching.

Things to remember

• Dancing can be a way to stay fit for people of all ages, shapes and sizes.
• Dancing can improve your muscle tone, strength, endurance and fitness.
• Dancing is a great way to meet new friends.
• See your doctor for a check-up if you have a medical condition, are overweight, are over 40 years of age or are unfit.

Eating Healthy Tips For Thanksgiving

Ah, Thanksgiving. A holiday filled with family, gratitude, and food, food, food! An interesting statistic about the day: an average plate of Thanksgiving classics contains anywhere from 1,600-3,000 calories — that's over most people's recommended daily allowance. While I am not trying to deter anyone from enjoying a great meal that can take hours, even days, to make, there are ways to make sitting down at the Thanksgiving table healthier.

• Don't skip breakfast. Whatever the day, whatever the occasion — don't skip breakfast. Missing the first meal of the day slows down your metabolism, which causes your body to store more calories later, and you may end up gorging at dinner because you're extra hungry. Besides a hungry person is a grumpy person, which is no fun on a holiday!
• Give your plate a healthy makeover. Besides candied yams, creamy green bean casserole, and mashed potatoes, vegetables tend to be noticeably absent in many Thanksgiving meals. Make sure to throw in a salad or a side dish of fresh green beans or Brussels sprouts, or give classic dishes a healthy twist.
• Socialize at the table (and don't forget to chew). I have seen too many heads on Thanksgiving pointed straight down at a plate while eating at warp speed. Talking to your friends and family will encourage you to slow down and not overeat, as will chewing. And the better you chew your food, the better your body will digest it.

See more healthy Thanksgiving eating tips when you read more.

• Practice portion control. Thanksgiving plates often resemble small food mountains — people just pile it on! Give yourself reasonable portions of each food. Use a smaller plate, or don't feel the need to fill a big one and eat everything off of it. But if you're still worried about having too much of a good thing, just have a small taste of the unhealthiest foods, and only splurge on a full portion of one of these dishes.
• If you're full, save dessert for later. After such a big meal, dessert may be too much. Make a small plate for yourself to enjoy later — even the next day.

And...most important enjoy this time with your family and friends. Be thankful to God for giving you another year to even enjoy such a meal. On behalf of Pampering4life Lifestyle and Wellness Company..."HAPPY THANKSGIVING"

How To Prevent Your Ankles From Looking Like Cankles

Have you been looking for ways on how to get rid of cankles? According to some training professionals, there is light at the end of the tunnel in some cases of cankles. The term cankles is a combination of calf and ankles. Cankles are those legs in which there is no clear differentiation between the calf and the ankle. What you only see is a straight lower leg with no shapes or curves.
You might assume that cankles are just for people that are overweight but it can affect anyone. There are many individuals who have cankles who are skinny and fit. So how do you get rid of cankles? Let's take a look at the 4 easy steps that you can do to say goodbye to your cankles.

Cardiovascular Exercises
Weight gain is the most obvious reason for having cankles. You can try doing some cardiovascular exercises for at least 30 minutes a day. Personally I like jumping rope for 20 minutes with some marching in between but you should first consult your doctor before doing any extreme cardiovascular activities. It is wise to start out slowly especially if you're working out for the first time.
Cardiovascular exercises are very effective in getting rid of the unwanted weight that surrounds the lower portion of your leg. Doing these kind of exercises will greatly shed those excess weight all over your body including your legs.

Change Your Diet
Aside from exercising regularly, adjusting your eating habits is something that a lot of people are having a very hard time following. Make sure to include more natural and organic foods in your diet such as fruits and vegetables. Avoid foods that contains too much fat, sugar and carbohydrates. A good well-balanced diet will help in losing excess weight around your ankles.

Prevent Water Retention
Water retention is another cause why your ankles are getting too fat. Possible causes of water retention are standing or sitting for very long periods of time, congestive heart failure due to decreased pumping action of the heart, low protein levels in the blood, hormone changes due to pregancy, weakening of valves in the veins and eating too much foods with sodium.
The best exercise that you could do to lessen water retention is swimming. Swimming is also a great cardiovascular exercise. Drinking lots of water and avoiding salty foods will also help a lot. Simply putting up your feet can also help the excess fluids go down from your ankles.

Tone Your Calves
There are specific exercises that you can do to strengthen and tone your calves. You can do regular calf raises while having some weights. This will greatly help in reducing the fat around your calves much faster. As your calf muscles grow, it will make the area between the calf and ankle look thinner - thus getting rid of your cankles.
Many people won't really consider these steps and will take the easy way out by covering their cankles with long pants or thick socks. At the end of the day, your cankles are still there and it's only going to get worse if you're not going to do something about it.

Habits That Lead To Excess Weight Gain

No matter how serious you are about watching your weight, practicing portion control, and maintaining good eating habits, it’s easy to find yourself in certain situations that can really test your willpower. Here are some common “danger zones” to watch out for when you’re trying to stick to a healthy, low-calorie eating plan. It’s important to know your overeating triggers because then you can plan ahead and deal with the situation, says industry leading expert Nolan.

Feeding in Front of the TV

The problem with eating in front of the TV is that you’re not giving your meal or snack your full attention. Realistically, though, if you’re alone, you might want the TV for company. “If you are going to watch TV and eat, prepare your meal fully and portion it out,” Nolan says. Once you’ve eaten what’s on your plate, stop. Also, give yourself a set timeframe. Eat during just one half-hour show and not all night with the TV on.

Overboard at the Buffet

Here’s a way to approach the buffet table without overeating: Fill up one plate with small portions and stop. Practice portion control by taking less of the unhealthy choices. Another trick: Make several trips, but limit yourself to one food group each time. For example, start with portions of vegetables, go for protein the next time, and carbs last. “Filling up your plate according to food groups helps you be more in control and have a sense of what you’re eating,” Nolan says.

Weekend Indulgences

“We always talk about how not to overeat at the party,” Nolan says. But the day after can be just as challenging. People rationalize by saying, “I’m already overeating, so I’ll wait until Monday to resume my good eating habits.” It’s fine to overindulge for an evening, but start back on your eating plan with portion control immediately afterward. You’ll only make it worse if you continue overeating. “It needs to stay just at that party or evening,” Nolan,says “Give yourself a specific timeframe.”

Dining-Out Diet Disasters

Never arrive at the table famished. It’s really hard to maintain good eating habits and have portion control when you’re starved. To avoid overeating, have a few carrots or almonds before you leave to meet your friends. If you’re drinking alcohol, limit yourself to two drinks at most to save on calories and keep from getting inebriated and losing your self-control. Another tip: Space your two drinks at least an hour apart. That way you won’t feel deprived, Nolan says.

Vacation Eating

A good way to avoid overeating while on vacation is to decide each morning which of your three meals will be your special one. “Keep it to one indulgent meal a day, not three,” Nolan says. One day it might be breakfast, the next dinner. Having one meal a day that is beyond your normal eating habits and higher in calories is fine as long as you’re not doing this all day. If you want dessert, share the portion with fellow vacationers.

Meals on the Go

Pack healthy meals and exert portion control on snacks for when you’re traveling. “I rarely leave it up to the gods where I eat when I’m on the road because you never know what they’re going to have,” Nolan says. “If you pack non-perishables and don’t eat them because you found a good restaurant, you can save them, and you’re not wasting.” Portion your snacks in individual baggies. If you must take the original bag, include a measuring tool so you can eat the right portions.

Emotional Snacking

Some people find themselves overeating when they’re upset or under stress. If you’re having an emotional time, the solution is to be conscious of how your eating habits are being affected. Keep a food journal to help you see the portion sizes you’re eating. Another trick is to do something fun that doesn’t involve food to distract you from your worries. Get your nails done. Call a friend you haven’t seen in a while and have a long chat. Take a hike. Ride a bike.

Eating on the Job

When you’re really busy at work, you tend to eat quickly and not pay attention to portions or calories. Again, the answer to portion control is to plan ahead. Pack lunches and snacks the night before that will fill you up during the day. You won’t have to run to the convenience store around the corner and grab the first thing you see or risk overeating. Also, force yourself to stop work for just 15 minutes to eat. You need the break, and you’ll feel fuller if you take time out to eat.
 
The bottom line is to curve your habits by taking small steps to better more healthier living. You will find that it will not happen overnight, but it is better to do something now rather then to struggle with it later.