Why can't you lose weight if you're overweight?

This was my response to a girl who was almost on the right track but wasn't quite losing weight yet. She was drinking her water, and exercising every day, and not eating a lot.

Our response:
Whether you lose weight or not, rembmer you're always doing good for your cardiovascular system when you exercise. You're drinking water so that is great and keep that up. Not eating a lot is where things are going wrong actually.

Because you don't eat your metabolism isn't going to be very productive. Here's how you begin:

• consume no sugars and adapt a lower carb lifestyle - do this by eating natural foods and keep the use of shakes and bars to a bare minimum to do it in a healthy way. It will also cost you less money doing it naturally.
• Eat 6 small meals a day, 2.5 to 3 hours a part to keep your metabolic rate on the go. To do this prepare your snacks and meals so you always got something on hand
• Begin your meal as soon as you wake up so never skip breakfast - think of what vitamins you're getting into your system as you figure out what to make for breakfast
• If you crave sugar, then go for a sugar-free snack but try to keep this to a minimum. Try just liquids at first like non carbonated sugar free drinks because the carbonated ones are not good for belly fat
• Don't eat late so stop eating 4 hours before you sleep and try to get 8 hours sleep
• If you need a snack and it is late, go for a source 0% yogurt or a partially frozen sugar free non carbonated beverage.

i.e. eat meals like eggs with veggies, tuna with salad, celery for negative calories, chicken breast. Try to stay away from highly saturated fatty meats like pork and beef as it will slow down your weight loss. If you can afford it, fish is awesome for weightloss because it's low in saturated fat and high in omega fish oils

I've done it myself and shead 30 pounds in less than 4 months. You can do it! and safely with natural foods with better than bars and shakes - safe as in the anti -cancer way

How to Belly Dance

I decided to add a page on my website http://www.zumbaworkoutscanada.com/ on how to belly dance. It includes handpicked http://www.youtube.com/ videos on belly dancing techniques. I managed to find some pretty awesome stuff.

I took belly dancing lessons in Toronto a few years ago, only for fun because I married into a Middle eastern family and I wanted to be able to fit in. Who knew that it would actually turn out to benefit me years later.

If I end up teaching Zumba Fitness classes which is my goal, belly dancing will surely be something that will be in there. And not just the shimmies but more advanced techniques. I went up to intermediate level only because in the advanced level you had to begin handing props like canes and balancing things on your head more; basically to become a belly dancing goddess. It was all great fun too!

Did I mention that belly dancing lessons are pricey?? You can expect to pay about 300.00 per level and possibly more for the advanced level! ouch!

I did a little bit more research at http://www.zumba.com/ and found that the Basic 2 Training involves focusing on Belly dancing, Samba, Tango and Flamenco. Unfortunately I didn't see any upcoming training sessions for that so at the point I have no idea how to take that level. I've taken maybe 50 or more Zumba Cardio Workout Classes already so I'm pretty familiar with all of them. The main point of these movements, fast or slow is to get your body out of your usual comfort zone and as time goes you get your body and your heart into better shape.

Did you know that with diet and exercise you reduce your risk of a stroke by more than 80%??

Got news recently that a Nascar driver got a stroke in his 40's - I was surprised to hear that because he's still young right. I automatically said maybe he wasn't working out or exercising. It's sad because I don't think he can drive after that.

Because there are so so many techniques in belly dancing, I believe it's the dance that gets you out of your comfort zone the most - of course second to doing latin moves of course which Zumba workout classes are known for.

I truly appreciate the zumba class instructors that appreciate using belly dancing and latin moves in their routines - some even encourage wearing coin belts during that point in the workout session - and all the more better when you can see in their expressions that they love it;)

Check out the Belly dancing tutorial videos posted on my website and get your freak on at The Zumba Soul at http://www.zumbaworkoutscanada.com/

Adding Styling to Latin Steps

What inspired me?

I wasn't too fond of cha cha cha but now I have now changed my mind. Why? I was at a Goodlife Fitness Centre in Mississauga and I noticed a woman at the front of the class for how much rhythm she had in all her steps. I said to myself "She's probably Latin ...that's why". All of her moves had a latin flavor - the way she swayed her arms, the way she shifted her rib cage area above her waist and how she made slight pauses in between her moves. As I did my workout that day I studied what she was doing and 2 classes later after that information sunk in I had developed an awesome sexy Cha Cha Cha. - Since then...I like to do this dance in the zumba cardio classes. Kudos to her because watching her helped me to improve a basic 1 2 step so that it has a Latin flava as well. I complimented her at the end of the class and she accepted it with a smile:)


Styling in 1 2 step:

A 1 2 step is where you alternate your feet by taking 2 steps forward and 2 steps back (i.e. right leg forward, left leg forward, right leg backward, left leg backward) - and you do this over an over again to the beat. Some mix it up by adding arm movements, a hop, a cha cha cha and go back to the same 1 2 step.

So! If you want this step to look for Latin while you're doing it, take the step as though it is a merengue movement by shifting your rib cage and swinging your elbows back as though it were a merengue type step. It's fun to do


Styling in merengue:

For a more Latin flare, use rib isolation movements side to side as you do this step


Styling for Cha Cha Cha:

Involve rib isolation movements and arm movements in a graceful fashion


Styling for salsa:

On the 3 count use pauses in between each side step or forward or back step, and move your hips in a 1 2 3 fashion (right, left, center) - incorporate shoulder shimmies when you reach 3 count or whenever if you can focus in your foot steps;)


Styling with whining your waist:

This may be one of the hardest ones actually. This requires a lot of rib isolation movements and moving your hips round at the same time - it's a Latin way of whining - so hott! Suitable dancing to reggaeton music, calypso, and reggae


Styling for belly dancing:

When you're doing the standard side hip movement with your coin belt on and your arms gracefully in the air and your fingers positioned accordingly - lean back a bit more and bend the leg that you have more of your weight on. Arabic dancers love to do that leaning thing because it's more sexy and appealing as they flick their hips to that tabla beat;)


Styling for batchata steps:

With out styling, the batchata step will seem as a 1 2 3 step, when it is actually a 1 2 3 4 step. On the count of 4 is where you flick your hip up to the beat before you begin at step 1 again. Your leg steps go to the right left right flick, left right left flick. The more rib isolations you involve as you take your steps the more sexy this step becommes. Do it better and better and it becomes better for your abs and it is tiresome too because it involves balance and isolations and good breathing.

Awesome mp3 such as arabic belly dancing music, salsa, reggaeton, batchata, etc to practice available on my site to listen to www.zumbaworkoutscanada.com

Zumba Instructor Training

Went to the http://www.zumba.com/ website today to see how many other training sessions are being held worldwide. It was so surprising to see how much of a hot item this is in even as far as Australia, UK, France and of course USA and Canada - Sold out classes everywhere!

I wanted to take the training session in the month of June but I found out about it too late and it was sold out. I was even considering going to BC or Saskatoon to take it where Zumba Basic 1 training is still available. Crazy eh' and way too expensive for my budget at this point in time.

I almost signed up for the Zumba Gold in error thinking it was a more advanced class or something. It's actually designed to teach an older aged group or those who have problems with their joints and for who need to take it much easier. Phew! That was close, because in my class I'm jumping around like a jack rabbit! weeeeee!

I'd like to bring that energy to a class I'll teach one day. I was taking a Zumba workout class and as I was going out the door this lady complimented "I want your rythem!" - I winked at her and smiled. Feels good when people see that in you. I was also in the change room at another Goodlife fitness facility in Mississauga - you know the Mavis/Dundas location and this lady asked me "How long will it take me to get to your level?" - With a smile I asked her what she meant and I told her about a month or so. She felt I had a lot of energy and I can't help but bring it out sometimes because I love to dance to the latin music so I gotta move my feet to the beat!

So anyway, I was on the site again and woo hoo one popped up for Toronto, Ontario WOO HOO! It said the cost is 279 with the infamous asterisk* - in the end it cost me almost 500 bucks. Shhhh, don't tell the husband though - it can be our little secret ;) *wink*

Well I don't care and I'm actually quite excited! 2 and a half months n' counting. I'm looking forward to this than my own birthday;)

Don't forget to visit my website and get free advice on how you can get started and find a class near you: www.zumbaworkoutscanada.com

Zumbaworkoutscanada.com

I'm having lots of fun creating a website with yahoo. It's nice to get into a new thing. I've gotten myself into a lot of things but nothing really clicked yet.

• Sheridan to become a systems analyst - 2 out of 3 years completed
• Extra sales training as aimed for inside sales jobs - where no doesn't really mean no;)
• Web, Graphic Design & SEO Experience through self learning
• Fashion Construction & Design at George Brown College
• Oh yeah, Beginner and Intermediate Courses in Belly Dancing ;)
• And now Fitness Class Instructor and A Zumba Soul brought me to this point:)

I've been saying lately that it would be nice to have a career that I'd actually love doing. I like to inspire people and to make lives better. It's surely icing on the cake when it involves dancing because I love to dance. Maybe this is the silver bullet venue I needed. If you have any suggestions about the website let me know. http://www.zumbaworkoutscanada.com/

What is a Zumba Soul?

The Zumba Soul

It is a soul that laughs, smiles after being invigorated by taking a zumba workout class near you. Allow a zumba workout release good endorphins into your body as you continue your day. Zumba is not about working out. It's about having fun around great music and as an added perk, you lose weight the more often you do it. To do zumba you don't need to come with a positive attitude because that attitude comes right to you during your sessions so that you leave an invigorated soul.

My name is Farida, and I am in the process of becoming a Certified Zumba Workout Class Instructor - And I look forward to sharing my dance talents with you all. My thanks go to everyone who encouraged me to take this step. My specialties are Belly dancing, Batchata to work the abs, Salsa!, Reggaeton, Reggae, Merengue, Mambo and of course to get you to learn a sexier Cha Cha Cha.

Check out my website at: http://www.zumbaworkoutscanada.com/