lindy hop diet

Nobody likes to be overweight, but it seems that it is hard for people to find a way to lose weight that suits them well. I myself am not "morbidly obese" but I do claim the "overweight" category. I have been trying for three years or more to get back down to that ideal body weight that I was so comfortable with, but to no avail, until March. I attended lindyfest, and have been dancing consistently ever since.

Does lindy hop cause weight loss? Nope, not really. I don't dance frequently enough to burn enough calories to lose a significant amount of weight. However, up until Lindyfest I had been struggling with depression, and turning to food for consolation. So, by targeting the thing that caused the weight gain in the first place--depression--I have been able to stay clear from emotional eating and lose weight (among other benefits).

I will also say that my weight loss has not been due solely to an absence of emotional eating, but has included really watching what I eat, and exercising six days a week. Because I have an analytical personality, I have a checklist of what to eat every day, and when I run out of boxes to check off, I am through eating for the day. My checklist includes grains, fruits, vegetables, beans and a serving of nuts or some other high fat food. It also includes cardio, resistance, and stretching in an exercise category. Through my daily checklist, I am able to lose weight whereas if I were to only stop eating emotionally I would probably just maintain my blasted weight. Of course I reward myself with music, like I have mentioned in other posts. All in all I have lost 23 pounds so far and I have 42 to go. And back to the root of the problem--because I am not depressed like I was, I am able to carry out this checklist, whereas before I may have tried the same exact thing and it wouldn't work because I relied so heavily (excuse the pun) on food to alleviate depression.

The reason I write this is because different things work for different people, but the important thing is to get to the root of the problem. Why are you gaining weight/overweight in the first place? Sometimes getting to the root of the problem can include counseling or some form of professional help. If you can find a solution for that, then chances are you can be successful in your weight loss (or other) endeavors.

I don't like writing about my personal weight loss because then I take the chance of not being successful and having everyone know that I failed once again, but who knows, maybe someone will benefit from this. I also don't like writing about the fact that I have been struggling with depression, but I guess this information helps explain why being involved in the swing dancing community is so important for me--someone who is totally new to the area, who wants to belong somewhere, and who has loved lindy hopping since I was 14 years old--but my dance story is another story for another post.