How To: Egyptian Hip Drop/Hip Drop Kick

As always, your will start with both of your knees will be slightly bent. With your weight on the standing foot (in this example, let's make it our left foot), bring the other foot (your right foot) in front of the standing foot with only the ball of your foot touching the floor. At this point, over 90% of your weight should be in the standing foot. To help your balance, you can lean back slightly, but you must keep your back straight. Now lift your hip up and towards your waist and "snap"/drop it down once on the beat. To perform the "hip drop kick" action, the next time you drop your hip, kick your heel out. Alternate with your foot touching the floor, foot kicking in the air, touching, kicking, etc... Remember, don't bounce.

Bellydance Movements Executed Slowly Build More Muscle

Did you know that one pound of muscle burns through 75 calories per day? By comparison, one pound of fat burns through 2 calories per day. Bellydance movements executed slowly build more muscle and help you burn fat while you are resting because it increases your metabolism. So S-L-O-W-L-Y shake it!

3 Reasons Why You Are Not Loosing Weight

That Darn Pina Colada
It's ok to indulge if you like the occasional drink, but drinks pack on the calories, lower your bodies immunity, and lower your inhibitions so that you eat the "whole darn thing" of pizza, tray of fried stuff, or whatever is left over. Ohh, and that pina colada packs on 245 calories!If you must indulge, make sure to pick lighter on the waistline options:

-Merlot - 5 ounces equals 123 calories
-Champagne - 4 ounces equals 88 calories
-Vodka mixed with diet tonic - 100 calories

Your Early Morning Workout
"What's wrong with that?" - you ask. Well, if you are skipping some zzz's for a run with the treadmill then medical studies state that you may be doing more harm than good. Less sleep (less than 7 hours per night) is linked to increased weight gain

Drinking Enough Water, But Not Enough Veggies and Fruits
No matter how many trips to the water cooler, you still should strive for more water coming from the food you eat instead of your glass. Shoot for water filled veggies such as cucumbers and leafy lettuce or fruits such as grapes or watermelon. Of course there are more items that can help you drop the pounds, but these are a great start!! To learn more, join our bellydance classes and enjoy our "Five Minute Bellydance Diet Presentation!"

Body Fat Percentage - The Key To Weight Loss

Although the number on the scale has long been known as "king" in the world of health and weight loss, the truth is that this number is not the "end all be all" in deciding if you are healthy or if you are on your way to weight loss. The real number that everyone should be REALLY concerned about is their body fat percentage.

What's The Benefit Of Knowing Your Body Fat Percentage?
It will help you understand if your weight loss goals are reasonable. For example, if your body fat percentage is less than 20% and you want to loose 20lbs, this may not be the best approach because you would loose muscle. It also keeps you from "jumping off of a cliff" when the number on the scale begins to rise. Since most body fat scales also measure the percentage of water in your body, it will help you understand when the increased weight on the scale is due to water weight gain instead of fat.

Ideal Body Fat Percentages
For women, the average body fat percentage is no higher than 25% although some would say 31%. Men have an average of 5% less body fat than women. See body fat chart.



Next Step: Buy A Body Fat Monitor Scale
Body fat monitor scales range in price from $40 - $200, but even the cheapest body fat monitor scale is better than no scale at all. Weigh yourself daily for at least 3 weeks when you first bring your scale home. The best time to weigh is in the morning after your first bowel movement, immediately after exiting the shower. Because your feet will be moist at this time, the electrodes on the scale will provide a more accurate reading.

Thank you for taking the time to read this post. Feel free to leave comments below!

Health Tip for a Flat Stomach: The Belly Roll

The belly roll is more than a "cool" move. It also aides in digestion as it moves food down your intestines to be digested or excreted from the body. In addition, it works the "pooch" muscle to tone your stomach and shrink your waistline.

To execute the belly roll, it is best if you attempt this laying down. Imagine that your stomach is divided into two sections. The first section is above the belly button, and the latter section is below the belly button. Next, try to suck in only the top section (the section above your belly button) ONLY. Next, try to suck in the bottom section - ONLY. Then alternate each section, top, bottom, top, bottom, and top, bottom.

Finally, try to "roll" the belly from top to bottom. It takes a moment to get the "hang" of it, but this is very helpful to reducing your belly size because it works the main muscle that most people blame for their "budda belly" - exclusively.

For best results, try belly rolls, 30 times a day, 3 times a week for results.

Bellydance Tip: Veil Work

Hold your veil and both arms up until it forms a soft "v". Drop one arm to the side at a 90 degree angle. Now in this example you will be turning clockwise and you will drop your left arm. So you should feel as if you are turning forward as the veil trails behind you fluttering. It looks beautiful with a silk veil!!

Ways To Fight Cancer

Did you know that there are certain plants that indigenous Amazon local natives use to fight cancer. One doctor named Leslie Taylor has taken on the task of researching every plant she could get her hands on (plus a few others) that local natives identified as cancer fighters. She has compiled an amazing reference guide called Rain Tree Nutrition. Not only does this amazing guide identify plants that could help fight cancer, some of the plants listed also fight colds, flu, reduces tumors and fibroid. To check out the whole list of plants CLICK HERE.

Below are a few interesting plants and their healing properties. If you know anyone that suffers from these aliments feel free to share this information.

Bitter Melon
Kills cancer cells, kills viruses, kills bacteria, prevents tumors and more. Since it is bitter in taste and flavor, local people add the fruit to soups. To kill some of the bitterness, locals may flavor it with salt. Bitter melon has many more properties and traits then listed here. CLICK HERE to read more about this great fruit!

Graviola
Kills cancer cells, kills tumor growth, kills bacteria (the cause of colds), and reduces fever. Natives usually eat the pulp and although it has a slightly sour taste, a lot of natives still eat the pulp straight. For more details - CLICK HERE

Cat's Claw
Kills cancer, stimulates the immune system and reduces inflamation. Natives boil the root to extract the medicine. For more details - CLICK HERE