My friends suggested a GLP-1 for my weight gain. I found my answer on the dance floor.

The author (not pictured) said dance has reinvigorated her fitness routine. I was working out six days a week but still gaining weight. People urged me to try a GLP-1, but I my doctor said I didn't meet the requirements. I started incorporating dance classes into my routine and the weight started to come off. I'm petite, have a small frame, and have never had to struggle with weight issues. I regularly went to the gym six days a week, and have done so for years taking a combination of strength training and boot camp-style classes in addition to walking. Despite my efforts, I started adding on weight — just over 10 pounds in about 24 months. I didn't know why or what to do about about the weight gain. I was working out almost every day, but I felt exhausted and defeated. Others suggested I turn to medication. "Don't stress, just get on a GLP-1, and if your doctor won't give it to you, just grab it online," one friend told me. My BMI wasn't high enough for my doctor to prescribe medication, and I didn't want to override my provider's advice. But despite all of my effort, I wasn't seeing the results I wanted. The author said she started getting bored and the gym and washing pushing herself. She returned to dance, which she loved as a child, and transformed her mind and body. Courtesy of Leslie Vooris. I was bored at the gym Then, during a gym class, I realized I had become lazy. I was picking up the easiest weights and would go through the motions, never pushing myself too hard during workouts. The repetitive movements were just so boring. After that class, I tried to think of an activity that might bring me more joy. Wasn't there something else that could be more fun? That's when I decided to take more dance classes, instead of just the one I was already taking on Saturdays. I was hesitant to dance like I used to years ago I was a danced into high school, but I had to leave the program because of difficulties at home. The author, second from left, said she enjoys the sense of community that comes from dancing. Courtesy of Leslie Vooris. I always felt sadness and disappointment about quitting. I had continued dancing on and off as an adult, but I had never really returned to it in a meaningful way. I thought about how much I loved to dance as a little girl, grinning ear to ear even when I forgot all the steps. Research has shown that the surprising benefits of dance extend beyond physical fitness. Now I take four to five dance classes a week, a combination of modern, and West African. It's fun and doesn't feel like the same drag that the gym was to me. And I finally lost those stubborn pounds I had gained. When I take classes every week, I mix up levels to keep challenging myself and track my progress. Dance has also given me a community where we hold one another accountable and empower one another as we cheer one another on. Dance was the true exercise I really needed Returning to dance has helped me shed those few extra pounds, but it has also helped me connect to a part of me that is more accepting of myself and others. I'm happier and healthier than I've been in years, and no longer associate something I love with failure. I've learned that the workout that keeps me coming back is the one I enjoy, and it's never too late to try again. Read the original article on Business Insider

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