 "Photo: illustration by Joe Oliver / UCD Advocate")
Supposedly, you’ve got to have your cardio. From working the elliptical to pumping out some extra jumping jacks, it’s worth trying most anything to get in cardiovascular exercise to drop pounds.
While these endeavors can show results, the excitement and fun are, well, lacking. But get ready, because the fun is starting. Girls, strap on a pair of high heels. Guys, swipe in some hair gel. You’re going to a new gym: the club.
Dancing at a club isn’t usually what you would think of when you’re considering weight-loss strategies, but according to Ryan Smith, a Fitness Together personal trainer, if done correctly it’s possible that club dancing could be the equivalent to a cardio workout at the gym.
“If someone were to get their heart rate between 130 and 150 [beats per minute] while dancing, and if they were doing it a few times a week,” said Smith, “they would probably see results.”
The key is in the calories, according to Smith. If you are dancing vigorously, you can burn up to 430 calories an hour, which is about an hour at the gym. But check yourself. One of the main complements to clubbing is, of course, drinking.
Getting overwhelmingly drunk will have an ill effect on this weight-loss strategy, according to Smith. So be careful what you consume. Look for alcohols with a lower calorie count so that you don’t cancel out the cardio. April Chase, a bartender at Bar Standard, said that the drinks to pick are vodka and club soda with a splash of lime, or any of the wines—champagne being the champion of low-cal.
When you’re on the floor make sure you’re moving. Now is the time whip out that special move your significant other hates so much and stop being the chubber in the tight band T-shirt. According to Smith, the more you move your feet and hips, the more your heart rate rises. Stay on the floor as long as possible. The longer you’re on, the more you burn, the thinner you get.
The cost of clubbing is around the same or cheaper than a drop-in yoga class (cover price at Bar Standard is $10 while a drop-in at Corepower Yoga is $17). So you can’t feel too guilty about the price of your workout, especially if you’re going easy on the drinks.
Remember, the club is a dangerous place. The guy in the band T-shirt is known for his wit and charm so stay focused—you’re working out. Besides, experience says he won’t be so cute in the morning.
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