Since 2005, fans of the TV show Dancing With the Stars have watched celebrities dance away pounds and shape up after weeks of performing vigorous dance routines in addition to making ballroom dancing popular again for Southwest Floridians of all ages, the show delivers a clear message—dancing can play a serious role in weight loss.

“While one evening of salsa, jive and swing dancing won’t immediately help anyone to shed weight, all those dance steps quickly accumulate to reach the 10,000 steps we need to be healthy,” says Andrea Marta, a top professional dance instructor at All Star Dance Studio, in Naples. “What makes a larger impact on reaching that goal is becoming a regular in our private or group dance classes, combined with open dance nights and dance parties, which also make it possible for students to increase stamina, improve circulation, have fun and lose weight.”

To lose one pound of fat, the body must burn 3,500 calories more than they consume. While dancing several days a week can burn a vast quantity of calories, adding other lifestyle modifications such as eating small-portion meals loaded with healthy vegetables and lean protein, it helps to add regular strength training activities to increase weight loss.

Doctor-Assisted Weight-Loss Programs

Programs such as that offered by Christine Hoch, DC, owner of Fort Myers Chiropractic Studio, add professional guidance, encouragement and accountability for fat loss, maintaining muscle mass and improving nutrition. While on Hoch’s 30-day weight-loss phase, participants can expect to lose one-half to one pound per day. In the maintenance phase, they learn how to adapt lifestyle and dietary changes that help maintain weight loss, healthy habits and good nutrition for a lifetime.

“The program utilizes a sublingual form of the prescription hormone human chorionic gonadotrophin (HCG), which is a fat mobilizer. Combined with a low-calorie diet, HCG helps burn stored central body fat from hips, waist and thighs to be used for fuel. When the body burns fat for fuel, it produces ketones, which give you energy and suppresses the appetite,” says Hoch, who believes the program is successful because factors that interfere with weight loss—poor digestion and absorption of nutrients from foods, low vitamin D levels, stress on the adrenal system (actual metabolism issues)— are honored.

Barre Strength Training

“With Barre strength training at least twice a week, the body grows stronger, metabolism is boosted and individuals can feel more graceful, on and off the dance floor,” says Lisa Daniel, owner of Barre Fusion Pilates Studio, in Naples. Daniel’s clients frequently see the results of her unique blend of Pilates principles, strength training and Barre floor high-energy workouts that build muscle and burn fat. “Our classes are designed to transform your physique through a fusion of unique resistance exercises, flexibility training and cardio exercises that create a toned, shapely body. The focus on intense core and total body training incorporates many elements of Pilates (mat and machine) and Barre exercises based on classical ballet movements,” advises Daniels.

Local Resources

All Star Dance Studio, 4910 Tamiami Tr. N., Ste. 118, Naples, 239-304- 9013. AllStarDanceStudio.com.

Fort Myers Chiropractic Studio, 8971 Daniels Ctr. Dr., Ste. 304, Ft. Myers. 239-243-8735. FortMyersChiroStudio.com.

Barre Fusion Pilates Studio, 13040 Livingston Rd., Ste. 2, Naples, 239- 231-4178. BarreFusionFL.com.