They don't get fat! How???

[Twilight_Elena]

Okay, I just realised two points.
One, my teachers eat a lot of takeout food because they spend most of their time in the studio. A lot of that is pasta and fries and greek fast food (like McD).
Two. Most of them have incredible figures.
Erm.
How is that possible???

Twilight Elena

[lynn]

Genetics?

[wyllo]

They spend their days dancing instead of sitting at a desk?

[lynn]

that too....:oops:

[mamboqueen]

(a) age
(b) burning more calories than taking in

[PasoDancer]

Definitely the activity.

[Backstreet]

Genetics, some people have them others don't. I have 3% bodyfat and I don't do anything special. In fact, I usually eat fast food or stuff that isn't very healthy.

[SDsalsaguy]

Genetics, some people have them others don't. I have 3% bodyfat and I don't do anything special. In fact, I usually eat fast food or stuff that isn't very healthy. I really don't mean for you to take this personally Backstreet, but I absolutely, from the earth to the heavens to the stars beyond, hate you!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[lynn]

3% :shock:??? don't normal people have about 10%??? wow!!!!

[waltzgirl]

Sometimes young thin people who eat fast food don't eat much the rest of the day. You may see them having a fast food lunch, but they didn't eat breakfast and will grab a piece of fruit or soemthing for dinner, so their total calories still stay pretty low.

[lynn]

That's true, I remember seeing the teachers at my old studio having just a hot dog for dinner!

[mamboqueen]

Fast food=not good for you whether you gain weight or not, though. Better to eat healthy and be over your ideal body weight, IMO.

[lynn]

Fast food salads aren't too bad :)!

[mamboqueen]

Well, some of these places have finally smartened up and offer better and healthier choices, although some of the salads w/chicken are still high in calorie because they're breaded, fried, crispy, etc. Hey, I'll admit I've had my share of junk, but it doesn't even appeal to me anymore.

[lynn]

That's why i pick grilled chicken - anything "crispy" is off my chart!

[mamboqueen]

And I prefer to save my high cals for the libation sort...ie., margaritas.. :)

[lynn]

hmm, never had a margarita.....:oops:

[mamboqueen]

I'll fly up when you're ready for your first ;)

[DWise1]

hmm, never had a margarita.....:oops:

I'd never had one either in all my 33 years of legal drinking, until on the cruise two months ago. I had two (on two different days). They were OK, but I still prefer my tequila undiluted.

Story heard years ago on NPR:
Back in the 30's Hollywood stars would go down to Mexico to party; eg, Rosarito Beach. Of course, tequila was a popular drink, but one actress couldn't drink it straight. So the resort owner invented a mixed drink for her and named it after her, Marjorie Main. I seem to recall that it was the owner's son or daughter retelling the story.

At least that's what I remember hearing on the radio one afternoon rush hour about 15 years ago. Google'ing about just now, I found reference to another story: "It is reportedly named after Rita Hayworth, whose real name was Margarita Carmen Cansino." [http://encycl.opentopia.com/M/MA/MAR]

[DWise1]

It's surprising how much exercise we do get from dancing, even just from a class. During Viennese Waltz class last night, a lot of my partners were complaining about being tired and looked about ready to drop -- and some of them were rather young and slim. Not only was I not feeling it, but after leaving the two hours of class (waltz and VW) and seeing a man about my taxes, I dropped in to our Wed. Lindy venue for about an hour of Lindy and left feeling fine. I couldn't believe their getting worn out by a measly two hours of waltz class, but then when I was first starting out it was a bit of a push for me to make it through two hours. How quickly we forget.

[SPratt74]

Sometimes young thin people who eat fast food don't eat much the rest of the day. You may see them having a fast food lunch, but they didn't eat breakfast and will grab a piece of fruit or soemthing for dinner, so their total calories still stay pretty low.

That's how I am. I can have one big meal, but then I'm pretty much full for the rest of the day, and all I do is snack on little things after that. But even though I'm thin, I realized that I'm eating so much more now that I'm involved with dance than I have ever! So, yes, I think dancing has a lot to do with it.

[fascination]

I really don't mean for you to take this personally Backstreet, but I absolutely, from the earth to the heavens to the stars beyond, hate you!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!meeeeeeeeeeee toooooooooooo

[fascination]

And I prefer to save my high cals for the libation sort...ie., margaritas.. :)most definately

[fascination]

hmm, never had a margarita.....:oops:WHAT!!!!OMG>>>>coming to rescue you postehaste lynnie:car:

[phixgrrrl]

One meal/day? 3% bodyfat (assuming you're a woman)? Extremely extremely unhealthy. Eat 5 small meals/day. That way you are burning what you take in and not storing any carbs. Avoid sugar (harder to burn than reg. carbs); I've always been thin and even though I was a sweet tooth queen in hs, and my figure never changed, I am now eating healthier. It will make a big difference esp. when you get older. Eating s*** won't cut it, unless you would like to drop dead early or get sick a lot. Doesn't sound like much fun to me, but hey, that's me....

[liangjz]

Ok.. this is me replying to a bunch of notes.

Fast food=not good for you whether you gain weight or not, though. Better to eat healthy and be over your ideal body weight, IMO.

The good thing for me is that I actually really like salads. When I'm on a business trip with $35 a day reimbursable food budget(I don't get paid extra if I pay less for food), my ideal thing to eat is a Panera salad for lunch and dinner. Resturants like Applebees serve meals that are too heavy for me. It always winds up slowing me down and ruining my appetite for up to 24 hours. (Usually more like 9 though.)

The downside is that I'm already under my target weight. I weightlift and take protein, but it's scary when I can see my own ribs or tips of bone on my shoulders.

As for dance, I think many people underestimate how good of exercise dancing can be. I definitely get more exercise out of a good night of ballroom dancing than I do during a 4 mile(approx 30 min) run or an hour lifting.

I can't imagine what I'd be like if I actually danced every day for a living instead of on weekends and light practice once or twice during the week. I'd probably have to double my food

As for fast motabolism.. it's not all it's cracked up to be. I enjoy eating, but it really sucks when my body crashes if I miss a meal by more than 2 hours. I'm know as the cereal guy at work 'cuz I always keep a box of cheerios or other cereal in my office and in lab. If I didn't, I'd crash by 10:30 from hunger for lunch at by 4pm from hunger for dinner. It's insanely inconvinient.

[phixgrrrl]

I like chicken salads, grilled, no dressing, or just oil/vinigar. If you add, like, ranch dressing, thats like 30 grams fat. Might as well have a big mac!! Just b/c it's a salad does not at all mean its low in fat. Look at what's in it. If you're up for eating a good 35 grams of fat, just splurge on a pizza...
I'd love to dance for my aerobics. But I thought, since its a lot of starting/stopping, it wouldnt count as a 30 min workout, and, thus, not good for losing weight, if one wanted to.
I'd KILL to have cereal again! :(

[PasoDancer]

I found that the more I danced, the more my appetite just plain CHANGED. Went from liking fried garbage to much different things. Now, my ideal meal is Subway (I won't lie, a footlong turkey with provolone, black olives, and lettuce on wheat, toasted), or a butter-only baked potato- but a gargantuan iced tea with whatever I have. I eat one meal a day, and might eat a handful of almonds sometime during the day. I still drink lots of junky "fake healthy" drinks, like V8 Splash (zero percent fruit juice, a bunch of sugars and fillers), or I am rather hooked on Monster, because it actually has 70% fruit juice and a ton of caffeine.

I'm by no means "normal weight", but since I've started dancing, I know that I've went from too close to 300 pounds to 165. We put in an hour to two hours a day dancing, and on weekends, four hours a day, plus whatever parties/socials/dancing venues we attend.

Dancing is like a drug addiction- you start out slow, like it, and then, BAM! The rush hits you, and pretty soon you're hocking the fillings in your teeth to get more, and at 3 am, you're modeling skirts in your mirror for an event a month from now. You ditch friends, start skimping on stuff you really need, like decent food and sleep, and all of it's for three minutes and fifteen seconds of your favorite song.

[RIdancer82]

Dancing is like a drug addiction- you start out slow, like it, and then, BAM! The rush hits you, and pretty soon you're hocking the fillings in your teeth to get more, and at 3 am, you're modeling skirts in your mirror for an event a month from now. You ditch friends, start skimping on stuff you really need, like decent food and sleep, and all of it's for three minutes and fifteen seconds of your favorite song.

How true, how true!!:rolleyes:

Does sewing a dress bag until 3am for a comp 3 weeks from then fall under the same category as modeling the skirts at that time?

I can't even begin to count how many times I've had to tell my non-ballroom friends that I can't go out because I have dance practice or lessons. In fact, I can't even remember the last time I went out with some of them, it's been that long. Don't get me wrong, I don't regret having done this, and I wouldn't change my decisions if I could. Dance just means that much to me that I'm willing to sacrifice almost anything for it.

As for skimping on the decent food and sleep.... yea, I seem to be doing that more and more lately. :( the food part couldn't hurt, lol, but as for the sleep, well, I'll catch up at some point, maybe....

[PasoDancer]

Yeah, I'll sleep as soon as I figure out the choreography for our spotlight cha-cha, find the right width shoes without compromising heel safety, finish decorating my jeans and shirt with matching colored rhinestones for a Friday dance, get that extra closet space cleaned out to bring home the Standard gown.... zzzzzzzz :p Lol

[liangjz]

I like chicken salads, grilled, no dressing, or just oil/vinigar. (

You mean the salads with shredded chicken or stuff with chunks of chicken? I could never get used to the shreddec chicken. I also love spinach, cucumbers, and mandarin oranges in my salads.

Hm.... too bad I can't go get some food right now...

[Mr. Dance]

They spend their days dancing instead of sitting at a desk?

We should all be so fortunate to be able to spend our days dancing rather than a 9-5 boring desk job. Fortunately DancinGirl and I get to practice at work 3 days a week for an hour, it definately helps us not only to improve our techniques and patterns of course, but the physical activity is a plus for the old cardiovascular system not to mention the metabolism ;)

[Backstreet]

One meal/day? 3% bodyfat (assuming you're a woman)? Extremely extremely unhealthy. Eat 5 small meals/day. That way you are burning what you take in and not storing any carbs. Avoid sugar (harder to burn than reg. carbs); I've always been thin and even though I was a sweet tooth queen in hs, and my figure never changed, I am now eating healthier. It will make a big difference esp. when you get older. Eating s*** won't cut it, unless you would like to drop dead early or get sick a lot. Doesn't sound like much fun to me, but hey, that's me....

If this was directed at me I am a male so that might make a difference. I recently got a personal trainer that I meet with now approximately 5 days a week at my gym. They ran tests on me (Some electronic test) to test my bodyfat and it was so low that it couldn't read my bodyfat it kept saying error. Whenever I've done a buyouncy test (That spelling is way off but it is EXTREMELY accurate bodyfat test) I usually end up 3%-3.5%.

They also ran some strength conditioning tests on me and my strength trainer (Ex-Marines guy) was telling me he couldn't believe how strong I was. It really just is my genetics.

Here's an older picture of me if anyone is curious: http://www.dance-forums.com/album/showphoto.php/photo/1095/cat/500/ppuser/2703

I can take another photo if anyone is interested showing my arms from the side. My triceps literally look like a Shark's Tooth (Some people even nicknamed me that) because of the lack of fat of my arms so they are very defined.

[SDsalsaguy]

My previous comment stands!

[Shooshoo]

My previous comment stands!
:friend: don't feel bad..


But Backstreet, how old are you? My brother was one of those who never had any body fat, but after 30....things change. Then one needs to work hard to keep the fat away.

We also need SOME fat in our bodies (as lond as isn't in the healthy range, then it's o.k.)

[Sabor]

i'd say its 2/3 genes and 1/3 lifestyle.. OR life style enhances what nature provided .. kinda like talent vs. practice issues of dance..

i'm 33 and i pretty much in the same shape i was at 20.. i eat whatever i want whenever i want.. dance maximum 3-4hrs a week socially.. workout without any weights for just 15 minutes a day with various flex/relax tone exercises.. and thats about it..

i'm in ok shape i would say..

[mamboqueen]

Ok
The downside is that I'm already under my target weight. I weightlift and take protein, but it's scary when I can see my own ribs or tips of bone on my shoulders.



I was at my doctor's office yesterday for a physical and he told me I am slightly under my "ideal" weight too, and that studies are showing that people under their ideal weight don't actually live longer as once thought (although I think they mean a LOT under your ideal weight...like Nicole Ritchie). So, he suggested I eat several (5-6) small meals a day and include some healthier fats like nuts, whole weat bagels, etc. Like you....my bones and ribs are showing more and I don't really find it very attractive. But with me, I think it has to do with the aging process and body changes in general.

Here's an older picture of me if anyone is curious: http://www.dance-forums.com/album/showphoto.php/photo/1095/cat/500/ppuser/2703




You wear your toga well!


I'm by no means "normal weight", but since I've started dancing, I know that I've went from too close to 300 pounds to 165. We put in an hour to two hours a day dancing, and on weekends, four hours a day, plus whatever parties/socials/dancing venues we attend.




High fives!

[Twilight_Elena]

DWise... 2 measly hours of waltz have me running for rehydration and foot massages. And since you are much older than me... Yikes. :???:
Backstreet... What can I say. You sculpted Greek god thing. (That's coming from a greek girl, too.)

Twilight Elena

[RIdancer82]

Here's an older picture of me if anyone is curious: http://www.dance-forums.com/album/showphoto.php/photo/1095/cat/500/ppuser/2703 (http://www.dance-forums.com/album/showphoto.php/photo/1095/cat/500/ppuser/2703)

nice.....:D ;)

[mamboqueen]

And since you are much older than me...


It's funny how the word "much" can be as devestating as any 4-letter word I know!

[fascination]

hey thats about DWISE babe, not us....(i am yound I am young I am young, I am young)

[DWise1]

DWise... 2 measly hours of waltz have me running for rehydration and foot massages. And since you are much older than me... Yikes. :???:

Oh, I do still need to keep up with hydration. And waltz feels very leisurely (well, ballroom; Viennese does get the heart pumping a bit more)compared with Lindy, salsa, and WCS, which are my primary dances.

The thing is that there is a lot of physical conditioning going on in dancing that we don't even notice because we're having fun. This year I was amazed when I noticed one day how tightly toned my leg muscles have become. If not for seeing the newbies pooping out I'd have completely forgotten what two hours used to do to me.

BTW, I said "two measly hours" because most of my classes and workshops are three, four, even five hours. Though at the end of a 5-hour salsa workshop I was beginning to feel it.

Keep dancing. You'll build yourself up to it too.

I'm 54, BTW. And a youngster still compared to Clint, who's in his 80's and still dancing -- it's mostly Lindy and WCS where I see him.

----------------------
Comment a few years ago to my partner after the instructor told us to stagger our lines:
"I don't usually start to stagger until the third hour of class."

[lynn]

It's surprising how much exercise we do get from dancing, even just from a class. During Viennese Waltz class last night, a lot of my partners were complaining about being tired and looked about ready to drop -- and some of them were rather young and slim. Not only was I not feeling it, but after leaving the two hours of class (waltz and VW) and seeing a man about my taxes, I dropped in to our Wed. Lindy venue for about an hour of Lindy and left feeling fine. I couldn't believe their getting worn out by a measly two hours of waltz class, but then when I was first starting out it was a bit of a push for me to make it through two hours. How quickly we forget.

:shock: :shock: :shock:

Gosh, you must have amazing stamina!! I get exhausted after probably 5-min of foxtrot....hmm, i must be getting old :rolleyes: ....

[Twilight_Elena]

It's funny how the word "much" can be as devestating as any 4-letter word I know!

People, people! He's old enough to be my father! That constitutes "much older" in my book...
@ lynn: You're my kinda gal. What's stamina again? :lol:

Twilight Elena

[RIdancer82]

:shock: :shock: :shock:

Gosh, you must have amazing stamina!! I get exhausted after probably 5-min of foxtrot....hmm, i must be getting old :rolleyes: ....

Stamina is a funny thing.... I have plenty of stamina to do dance after dance after dance etc, and am fine. I used to play soccer and basketball too and I had plenty of stamina to run all around the field or court for as long as the coaches wanted to keep me in for. BUT, I just can't do the straight out running thing.... forget treadmills or street running or whatever, I try, but it doesn't work. (Although I think I will start trying to force myself to do it once it gets a tad bit warmer so I can go to my local park for that.)

[Backstreet]

:friend: don't feel bad..


But Backstreet, how old are you? My brother was one of those who never had any body fat, but after 30....things change. Then one needs to work hard to keep the fat away.

We also need SOME fat in our bodies (as lond as isn't in the healthy range, then it's o.k.)

21 I'll be 22 in May. Yeah some fat is good even in your diet you need to eat a little bit of fatty food.

[lynn]

People, people! He's old enough to be my father! That constitutes "much older" in my book...
@ lynn: You're my kinda gal. What's stamina again? :lol:

Twilight Elena

He's more than twice my age and i couldn't even do 1/2 of what he does...o.k., maybe not even 1/10....:oops:

TE, i'm the kinda gal that goes gasping for air after a 3-min waltz and takes 25 min to finish my 6 laps - boy, i was so happy when there was no mnore P.E.!!!!

[lynn]

Stamina is a funny thing.... I have plenty of stamina to do dance after dance after dance etc, and am fine. I used to play soccer and basketball too and I had plenty of stamina to run all around the field or court for as long as the coaches wanted to keep me in for. BUT, I just can't do the straight out running thing.... forget treadmills or street running or whatever, I try, but it doesn't work. (Although I think I will start trying to force myself to do it once it gets a tad bit warmer so I can go to my local park for that.)

Must be all those pasta :rolleyes: .....

Maybe I should start a thread "why don't they get tired! How???" ;) !

[fascination]

last night a couple of youngins....late teens early twenties... came in to our workout...and us 40 year olds kicked their butts...hands down baby....

[DWise1]

:shock: :shock: :shock:

Gosh, you must have amazing stamina!! I get exhausted after probably 5-min of foxtrot....hmm, i must be getting old :rolleyes: ....

Not really, I don't think, but I'm probably in better shape than the average person. Certainly better than most my age (my sister has commented that I appear stronger and in better shape than she's ever seen me). I wouldn't normally be exhausted after a 5-minute foxtrot, but I'd probably want to sit the next dance out. Though last night I did three moderate-tempo WCS in a row.

It's not like we're constantly dancing while in class. We watch the instructor demonstrate the move and she talks about it a bit. We try it a few times with a little less than a minute pause between attempts. There are many many short breaks that we are taking during that one-hour class. I remember reading an article decades ago about the effects of aerobic exercise and it said that dancing didn't count because it wasn't continuous motion over the required period of time (20 minutes, from what I recall) -- but then they were talking about professional performance dancing, like ballet. Of course, some classes are harder than others; fast Lindy and the Big Apple especially felt very aerobic.

People, people! He's old enough to be my father! That constitutes "much older" in my book...
I forget what had brought it on, but between Lindy classes one day a girl was arguing with an older guy (just a bit younger than me) about why the older guy should view her differently than he would an older woman (like I said, I don't know just what had brought that on) and I volunteered my observation that I tend to view these younger girls paternally instead of lustfully (the latter was not my word choice at the time, but I seem to recall that was the jist of the discussion). She responded that she was no kid, but rather a 24-year-old adult. It took me a moment to do the math but I didn't have a chance to reply before class started: my son is 24 years old so, yeah, she's the right age for me to view her paternally.

BTW, in case others were thinking that I'd be offended by your remark about my age, I'm not. I earned this gray hair! Just as I've earned the senior discounts that should start to kick in next year.

Though the funny thing is that I still have difficulty thinking of myself as "middle-aged", and here I'm about to officially become "senior".

[alemana]

the stamina of which i am most in awe is the stamina it takes to dance one private lesson after the next with followers of variable ability, the worst of whom hang like long-dead weight.

after having practiced with one's own partner for several hours, of course.

[Twilight_Elena]

Maybe I should start a thread "why don't they get tired! How???" ;) !

You're in my mind, sista... I was an inch away from posting a new thread when I had a sudden urge to see the first Matrix movie again. For some reason I'd never seen the beginning with the pills and the rabbit and all... feels so much better now. :D

Twilight Elena

[Twilight_Elena]

the stamina of which i am most in awe is the stamina it takes to dance one private lesson after the next with followers of variable ability, the worst of whom hang like long-dead weight.

after having practiced with one's own partner for several hours, of course.

EXACTLY. Hey, what is this today, mind reading session? :lol: I know so many teachers who dance hour after hour after hour and then practice for hours with their partners and still look at least 20 times better than what I'd look at my current best performance. Am I missing something?

[Mr. Dance]

last night a couple of youngins....late teens early twenties... came in to our workout...and us 40 year olds kicked their butts...hands down baby....


The smart money is always on the veterans in a situation like that..and I thought it was "40 years young" not old ;) .

You all are definately inspiring to us newcomers to dance, just another thing to keep me motivated.. as if I needed anything else as it is :lol:

[delamusica]

last night a couple of youngins....late teens early twenties... came in to our workout...and us 40 year olds kicked their butts...hands down baby....

Haha! My boyfriend's sister is 21 years old, and majoring in kinesiology or something like that. In any case, she had to teach an aerobics class for seniors a couple of months ago, and they all totally kicked her butt (this is according to her). :)

And she's in much better shape than I am . . . bleh! I DO need to get back to the gym . . . :(

[lynn]

Not really, I don't think, but I'm probably in better shape than the average person. Certainly better than most my age (my sister has commented that I appear stronger and in better shape than she's ever seen me). I wouldn't normally be exhausted after a 5-minute foxtrot, but I'd probably want to sit the next dance out. Though last night I did three moderate-tempo WCS in a row.

I don't drink too!! But aside from that I'm in pretty poor shape otherwise - *sigh*...definately been an office potato for far too long!! They should confiscate our chairs in the name of fitness :lol:!!

[lynn]

EXACTLY. Hey, what is this today, mind reading session? :lol: I know so many teachers who dance hour after hour after hour and then practice for hours with their partners and still look at least 20 times better than what I'd look at my current best performance. Am I missing something?

Gosh, it must be all those fast food they have :lol:!!!!

[Twilight_Elena]

Gosh, it must be all those fast food they have :lol:!!!!

Y'think??? *runs to order hamburger with fries*

Twilight Elena

[DWise1]

The smart money is always on the veterans in a situation like that..

Part of it could also be technique. Once you've learned how to do it right, then it's easier to do, whereas while you're still struggling to figure it out you waste more energy and effort. A veteran is much more efficient than a beginner is.

Analogy from an entirely different situation. In high school and college I worked light construction with my father. In teaching me how to handle lumber, he told of these young school athletes who worked at the lumberyard for the summer. Big young strong weightlifters working alongside this "old guy" (maybe in his 40's or 50's) who'd been there for years. They were worn out and exhausted by noon, whereas the "old guy" just kept on going lifting and loading lumber all day long. The "old guy" knew how to pace himself and how to lift and move the lumber most efficiently, whereas the young guys were mainly muscling their way through the work and as a result they couldn't even begin to keep up.

I'm not sure I can even point out specifics in dance of where beginners waste energy. Part of it could be that beginners tend to take bigger steps than they should, especially when the tempo is faster. And they tend to pick up their feet too high (in beginning WCS class, you clearly hear the anchor clop-clop-clop like a synchronized stampede, whereas an experience dancer does more of a shifting the weight while hardly moving the feet -- you'll see the hips moving more than the feet). Both of those things would waste energy. And not being relaxed but rather holding the frame with tense muscles will also tire you out. And, I'm sure, hundreds of other things that I just can't think of because they're what I do naturally now.

OBTW, not being relaxed and taking big steps will also slow you down, then you waste more energy frantically trying to keep up.

And being out-of-step and not well-connected/in-sync with your partner can cause the two of you to wrestle a bit, which would also tire you out.

[lynn]

Y'think??? *runs to order hamburger with fries*

Twilight Elena

I think both of us will need to say "supersize me, plz" :tongue:!!

[Twilight_Elena]

Part of it could also be technique. Once you've learned how to do it right, then it's easier to do, whereas while you're still struggling to figure it out you waste more energy and effort. A veteran is much more efficient than a beginner is.

I've thought of that. When I was a beginner a swing (and I mean swing basic, not even turns, closed hold position) would have me panting. But while the rumba wouldn't really tire me, it is now much more demanding: Keeping your core straight and your frame good and all that requires much more out of me than a rumba basic ever did when I was a newbie. So the more I progress, the more tired I get because of all the extra technique that keeps getting added up. And the fact that I'm a better dancer now and don't waste energy on wrong things so much is still not balancing it up.

Twilight Elena

[SPratt74]

Gosh, it must be all those fast food they have :lol:!!!!

Not if you can't find someone to eat with you. I have that problem. My sisters are especially sensitive, but we all have different body shapes though. To me it's no biggie. :(

[DWise1]

I've thought of that. When I was a beginner a swing (and I mean swing basic, not even turns, closed hold position) would have me panting. But while the rumba wouldn't really tire me, it is now much more demanding: Keeping your core straight and your frame good and all that requires much more out of me than a rumba basic ever did when I was a newbie. So the more I progress, the more tired I get because of all the extra technique that keeps getting added up. And the fact that I'm a better dancer now and don't waste energy on wrong things so much is still not balancing it up.

Twilight Elena

Good point. Doing it wrong in the beginning can also mean doing it in a "lazy" way; doing it completely right can be more demanding than doing it sloppily [poor word choices -- it is after midnight, I've been dancing WCS since 5, and the tequila is just starting to kick in -- but I think you get the idea]. For example, a beginner could do certain pilates exercises and think they aren't so bad, but then when they begin to do them correctly ... .

But still, there are undoubtedly aspects of rhumba technique that you haven't quite learned yet that would make it easier, along with a certain degree of physical conditioning that your body needs -- and I'm refering in large part to muscles that probably don't get used for much of anything other than holding the frame.

[Ron Obvious]

(a) age
(b) burning more calories than taking in

Actually, it's only b). It's really as simple as that, if you waste more energy than you take in, then you will lose weight.

[mamboqueen]

I guess I just put in (a) because I've noticed a decline in my metabolism from 30's to 40's. Of course, it does partially result in me eating less....

[lynn]

Not if you can't find someone to eat with you. I have that problem. My sisters are especially sensitive, but we all have different body shapes though. To me it's no biggie. :(

Ow, that's true.... but what about the lighter choice menu?? I find it a good thing that fast food co. are being somewhat health-conscious nowadays (or maybe it's $$ driven?) so at least they offer an alternative for those who are not into burgers & fries.

[SPratt74]

Ow, that's true.... but what about the lighter choice menu?? I find it a good thing that fast food co. are being somewhat health-conscious nowadays (or maybe it's $$ driven?) so at least they offer an alternative for those who are not into burgers & fries.

Yeah, that is so very true. I like the salads and stuff like that as well, so yeah... thank goodness that companies like that are offering a variety of choices for everyone! ;)

[Twilight_Elena]

Um. So bottom line of this thread is... they dance the fast food away?

Twilight Elena

[lynn]

it's "fast" food - wouldn't take that long to dance it away :lol:!

But joking aside, TE, when you look at the fast food choices - they're not that high in calorie (they're high in fat, not sure what the significance of the 2 is) - but are high in protein. I suspect it's b/c protein gives you the stamina to keep going and going so you have the energy to keep on dancing off all those fat you had for lunch!

[Twilight_Elena]

it's "fast" food - wouldn't take that long to dance it away :lol:!

But joking aside, TE, when you look at the fast food choices - they're not that high in calorie (they're high in fat, not sure what the significance of the 2 is) - but are high in protein. I suspect it's b/c protein gives you the stamina to keep going and going so you have the energy to keep on dancing off all those fat you had for lunch!

A cycle. Hmm. Interesting...

Twilight Elena

[dancenut]

It's mostly about metabolism and genetics. If they are exercising..their metabolism is faster. Some lucky people are born with a high metab. It's about burning more than you consume. :)

[delamusica]

Ow, that's true.... but what about the lighter choice menu?? I find it a good thing that fast food co. are being somewhat health-conscious nowadays (or maybe it's $$ driven?) so at least they offer an alternative for those who are not into burgers & fries.

Still, one has to be careful. I've begun counting calories fairly religiously lately, and I was looking online at some fast food chains' nutrition info last night. Many of those salads have just as many calories as a bacon cheeseburger.

[lynn]

Still, one has to be careful. I've begun counting calories fairly religiously lately, and I was looking online at some fast food chains' nutrition info last night. Many of those salads have just as many calories as a bacon cheeseburger.

Definately! I was surprised as some of the "lighter" choices aren't light at all :shock:!

[yanka]

fyi, if you're sitting on your butt all day - quite literally, your body will burn almost 2000 cal (you burn about 70-75 cal/hr while "sitting"). Since dance teachers at least stand, we're already upping the ante. Just wandering around will burn 200-250 cal/hr, and once you add in physical activity beyond that (usually involved to some extend when teaching a dance class), you're well over 3000 cal for the day, esp. since most teachers are in the studio for 12 hrs or more. Moral is, you have to eat a fair bit to come out even, let alone to gain weight.

[delamusica]

Definately! I was surprised as some of the "lighter" choices aren't light at all :shock:!

Yup. For example, from the Wendy's website - all of their salads vs. their bacon cheeseburger:

Southwest Taco Salad - 700 calories - 41grams/fat
Chicken BLT Salad - 680 calories - 46grams/fat
Mandarin Chicken Salad - 550 calories - 26grams/fat

Classic Single w/ Bacon and Cheese - 530 calories - 28grams/fat

Chicken Caesar Salad - 500 calories - 34grams/fat
Spinach Chicken Salad - 450 calories - 16 grams/fat


So out of their five salads, only two have fewer calories than a bacon cheeseburger, and one only barely. And only two have fewer grams of fat, and again, one just barely.

Not that I advocate eating cheeseburgers all the time. But seriously. Don't be fooled.

[lynn]

Goodness, i was just thinking of going to Wendy's site to see which salad i'll be having for lunch :lol:!!

Spinach chicken salad looks nice though!

[mamboqueen]

fyi, if you're sitting on your butt all day - quite literally, your body will burn almost 2000 cal (you burn about 70-75 cal/hr while "sitting"). Since dance teachers at least stand, we're already upping the ante. Just wandering around will burn 200-250 cal/hr, and once you add in physical activity beyond that (usually involved to some extend when teaching a dance class), you're well over 3000 cal for the day, esp. since most teachers are in the studio for 12 hrs or more. Moral is, you have to eat a fair bit to come out even, let alone to gain weight.


I wonder how many calories I burn every time I walk into the kitchen, forget what I went in for, go back to the living room, retrace my steps...maye 3-4 times before the "aha" moment comes. I should be in pretty good shape!

[Fretful_Porpentine]

I've found that the more often I weigh myself, the more weight I gain. It must be some psychological thing....

[mamboqueen]

Too funny...just stay away from the scale. It's never right ;)

Did you happen to see the first episode of the Sopranos? Tony gets on the scale and isn't happy with the 280 he sees. He steps off, takes his shoes off and then gets back on again. Not happy with that, he gets off, takes his belt off and gets back on. I had to chuckle, because I've been known to do silly things like this! Or ask my doctor to take 2 lbs. off for the clothing....

[Shooshoo]

...just stay away from the scale. It's never right ;)



Yeah, I stay away from scales, prefer using clothes to see whether I need to loose any weight.

[Sabor]

ok.. so who's fat? lol

joke .. kindly, don't answer

[HF]

Genetics can not beat physics after all.

Looking from a physical point of view it becomes very simple:

Everything that we eat or drink during a day brings a certain amount of energy into the body. That is the input.

Then we loose energy by moving. That is one part of the output.

Also we have body functions like digestion, metabolism, perspiration, blood circulation, sweating. Also the brain uses up a lot of energy. That is a second part of the output.

And then there is a part of the energy that leaves the body the natural way (expulsion). That is a third part of the output.

I am a little rough in this description but this is the idea.

Take the input minus the output and you get the amount of energy the body will keep inside and store, first in blood sugar, then preferably in fat. Which is a good thing per se.

If the output is bigger than the input then some energy has to be taken from the body - fat reduction.

If the output is smaller than the input then some energy has to be stored - fat production.

If the output equals the input then the system stays stable.

It does not matter how old or young people are, and whether they eat many meals a day or just one, or late or early ... these are basic physical principles and can not be beaten unless somebody invents a perpetuum mobile.

Now if people talk about "good genes" meaning that they stay thin while eating much without doing much sports just means one or more of these:

- The amount of energy they lose by expulsion is bigger than normal. That may keep them from getting fat but that does not mean that is is healthy. It could meant that their digestion is not working like it should, though.

- Some people have the habit of performing little moves nearly all the time. They wiggle the feet, they wobble the arms. I am one of them :raisebro: It seems that this takes more energy than one would think.

- Heavy brainwork costs a lot of physical energy too.

If you have done it through this text, congratulations! :raisebro: :cool: :D

[RIdancer82]

Some people have the habit of performing little moves nearly all the time. They wiggle the feet, they wobble the arms. I am one of them :raisebro: It seems that this takes more energy than one would think.

:oops: ...my friend made fun of me for this all weekend.... I very rarely sit still. I always seem to be moving around somehow, whether it's hands or feet or whatever... luckily he mostly only noticed my hands while I was talking (forget about keeping them still when I'm talking, that's near impossible! lol.... but at least I have an excuse for that.... I'm Italian :D )

[Sabor]

Genetics can not beat physics after all.



Now if people talk about "good genes" meaning that they stay thin while eating much without doing much sports just means one or more of these:

- The amount of energy they lose by expulsion is bigger than normal. That may keep them from getting fat but that does not mean that is is healthy. It could meant that their digestion is not working like it should, though.

- Some people have the habit of performing little moves nearly all the time. They wiggle the feet, they wobble the arms. I am one of them :raisebro: It seems that this takes more energy than one would think.

- Heavy brainwork costs a lot of physical energy too.

If you have done it through this text, congratulations! :raisebro: :cool: :D

although this is logical.. where genes are concerned its more about chromosomes inheritted and the rate of which they result in a person being more/less responsive to food types in a certain way than others.. its reallly chemistry rather than physics in that sense..

plus.. among other things, is that our fat cells are distributed in different areas than others depending on our genetic map.. that along with what is called the 'white fat cells' and the 'brown' fat cells and their distribution map around the body.. this is genetic.. again more cell biology here rather than physics.. not to mention genetic disorders in this process and its degree..

now past all that.. physics comes in and u do your best with what u have by having the best food input for you and best output to keep a fit balance..

but make no mistake.. u can only go so far without the genes.. unless u go for plastic..

and given everything is equal..its the better genes that will sport the better standard.. so indeed.. it is about genes IMO

[dgcasey]

It should be a given that most people would understand that the more active a person is, the more likely they are to be in good shape. If you want a much better example of this than just dancers, take a look at the top professional bicycle racers, like Lance Armstrong. These guys will eat over 8000 calories a day during training and racing. And Lance stands 5'11" and doesn't even weigh 170 pounds.

[Twilight_Elena]

It should be a given that most people would understand that the more active a person is, the more likely they are to be in good shape. If you want a much better example of this than just dancers, take a look at the top professional bicycle racers, like Lance Armstrong. These guys will eat over 8000 calories a day during training and racing. And Lance stands 5'11" and doesn't even weigh 170 pounds.

Good point. 8000 calories. :shock: Sounds like SO much yet these guys are really burning them up.
Welcome to DF, dgcasey! :D

Twilight Elena