One of the easiest and most innovative ways of loosing weight while enjoying yourself has got to be dancing, and when we say dancing we mean you could literally dance all your weight problems away.

Since time immemorial the benefits of dancing have been widely recognized as an ideal means of loosing weight. This is primarily because, dance is a physical activity which is enjoyable to most people and this mingled with the fact that it is a great calorie burner adds to the growing popularity of the medium.

The best part about dancing is that one can practice it at any time and at any age. In fact age and health are factors which do not determine the ability to dance. Also, dance can be done whenever one feels like it. There does not have to be any regulation or proper format of practicing dance as a means to reducing weight. Whenever you feel like it just put on music of your choice and dance away.

However, like most other workouts, in this type of exercise also, you have to know what you should do to maximize the benefits of weight loss. The results of dancing on weight loss will be directly proportional to the type of dance you do and the amount of time you dedicate to it. It is advisable of course that while you are at it you enjoy yourself, The moment the feeling of a set regime comes to your mind you are put off by it.

One has to decide first and foremost the amount of calories that needs to be burnt on an average. Once you have estimated that do a bit of a mental calculation on how many hours you need to dance in order to achieve that figure. In case you need to burn a lot of calories you dance should support such movements which can be rigorous enough to burn more calories. Slow dances while being graceful and delicate lack the rigorous calorie burning moves which you might actually need. So if you have a taste in the sensuous and the erotic movements while burning some calories as a bonus, you might try your hand at salsa.

It is a difficult task to meticulously recollect how much calories you burn each day and which muscles you exercise more and which less. It would however suffice to remember, that whenever you dance, you use most of the muscle groups all in unison in a fine synchrony.

Now at times this might result in confusion in the body regarding which muscles loose more fat from which movement, the trick here however is to see the larger image and take into account the overall body affect instead of one particular portion. There are of course benefits to the bit of body confusion created by your dance movements. As a result you burn calories not only while you are actually in the act of dancing but beyond that! Sounds impossible? Think of the dazed affect of your partner stepping on those lovely pumps while you dance and the pain realized till much later and you have your answer down pat.

Also introduce new steps into your dance and if possible mix and match to create a fusion of sorts so that it is ensured that every bit of your body get affected and slowly but surely reduces its proportions, in the meantime you can enjoy the dance! One of the best ways of loosing weight is by elevating your heart rate, and dance does exactly that. Having said that, one must also remember that you can’t just dance in a night club and having attained the glow of sweat and the mental satisfaction of burning calories, douse yourself in a high calorie drink, now that ridiculous! Not only are all your efforts wasted but you actually go back all the way where you started off and sooner than later you will be cribbing about no weight loss through dancing.

So while you are at it, dance and enjoy your sessions while being conscious of what you eat so that you balance a great work out with healthy food too.

People who go to night clubs or dance parties to get their groove on can certainly work up a good sweat, and burn off some calories. With a good mix of music or a DJ who really knows how to work the crowd, it can really be a lot of fun, as well as a way to get some great exercise. Unfortunately, night clubs and parties usually come with ways to retard the weight loss benefit in the form of high-calorie drinks, snacks, and other foods.

If you want to just "cut a rug" and have a blast, then by all means, at least get the exercise benefit out of it, even if you aren't going to lose any weight. However, if you want to have the fun of dancing, and ALSO the weight loss benefit, here are some ways that dancing can crank up your weight loss efforts!

A Consistently elevated Heart Rate

One of the best ways to lose body fat is to keep your for long periods of time. Notice the term "lose body fat" as opposed to the term "lose weight". Many allegedly miraculous weight loss programs cause you to lose water weight or even healthy muscle tissue, both of which are unhealthy, short-lived, and can actually cause you to gain more weight back after the program.

Your mission when it comes to weight loss is to lose BODY FAT, not just to lose weight. Body fat goes away whenever your body has a need for energy that cannot be met by whatever calories are presently in your system. Specifically, whenever you elevate your heart rate into your Target Heart Rate zone (roughly 60%-85% of your maximum heart rate), you open the flood gates of your body's fat burning ability.

If you have ever really gotten into a dance set, at a party or otherwise, you know that you are breathing heavier than normal, you start to sweat, and your body starts to go looking for energy. That's the "sweet spot" whenever you are in a position to start losing weight, right there on the dance floor. However, that is provided that you don't hit the chips and dip table or suck down a beer as soon as you get off the floor…

Increased Metabolism

In addition to just raising your heart rate so that your body goes looking for additional calories from stored body fat, dancing raises your metabolism more than a more "traditional" exercise because dancing utilizes so many different muscle groups.

So, the next time you feel like getting a little "freaky" when you dance, go for it!

A Powerful Core

Your "core" muscles encompass many different muscles groups, including your inner and outer abdominal muscles, your side abdominal muscles, the muscles of your lower back, and also the musculature that supports your spine. Having a strong core is necessary for many reasons, not the least of which being the prevention of injury, increased mobility, and the ability to do activities that people with a weak core cannot do.

Although dancing uses many different muscle groups, it all starts in the middle, where your core muscles are. You can't gyrate your hips, bend over backwards, dip your partner, or do any other fancy (and calorie burning) dance moves if you can't control your core muscles.

Not only will dancing increase the strength of your core and your brain's ability to control those core muscles, but having a strong core also sets you up to do other activities later on with an increased sense of "solidity," for lack of a better term.

Whenever you feel like you have a strong core, it is the same idea as building a house on a solid foundation. Anything is possible whenever your central power unit is in great shape. The confidence of having a strong core will cause you to be more willing to do other physical activities later on down the road that will enhance your weight loss efforts, in addition to the calories that you burn during your dance routine.

Boost to your Self-Esteem

Right on the heels of a cranking up your confidence by building a stable core comes the related benefit of raising your level of self-esteem. Dancing in a manner that makes you feel good about yourself carries over even after you get off the floor. By getting in touch with your body and controlling it in such an intimate and precise way, you feel mentally more in touch as well.

Look at the crowd at any night club or party, and look at the people who are dancing vs. the people who are just watching. The dancers are having fun, they aren't bored, they aren't shy, and they are rarely all alone. Even a dancer who goes to a night club alone does not stay that way for long, as he/she gains momentum and self-esteem as their mind and body come together while dancing.

In addition to just having a dance partner at a party or a night club, however, that self-esteem tends to carry over into other areas of your life as well. When you feel confident and in touch with your body, and you put your body "out there" frequently on the dance floor, it becomes a lot more difficult to consciously pack on unnecessary "curves".

Picture yourself getting busy on the dance floor, shakin' your thing, and having a blast, and then try to picture yourself wolfing down a double cheeseburger, a large order of fries, and a sugar-filled soda. Those two pictures just don't mix, do they?