How Diane Hayes Lost 40 Pounds by Dancing at Home

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How Diane Hayes Lost 40 Pounds by Dancing at Home and Finally Made Exercise a Habit

Last update: 5 Jun﹒

4668

4 min

It's a part of my day that I look forward to, and I never thought I'd say that about a workout.

I'm 46 years old, a mom of two, and for as long as I can remember, I've struggled with my body image. At 185 pounds, I constantly felt weighed down, not just physically but emotionally.

But the real battle? Trying to lose weight and actually keep it off. I've tried everything — dieting, group fitness, even hiring a personal trainer — but nothing ever stuck.

For the longest time, I blamed myself. I thought I was too weak, that I didn't have the willpower to push through. I would lose a few pounds here and there, but I always ended up right back at 185, frustrated and defeated.

Then, I discovered a secret about exercising that no one ever told me, and that's when things finally changed. In a few months, I lost 40 pounds.

But let me start from the beginning.

I've always been the one dieting, constantly trying to lose weight.

From counting calories to low-carb, I've done it all.

I used to wake up every day at 5 a.m. before work to cook separate "super-healthy" meals for myself and then get breakfast ready for the rest of the family. It was exhausting, but I thought it was the only way.

And yet, no matter how hard I tried, the results were barely there — I would lose a pound or two, only to gain it back because I couldn't keep up with the constant pressure.

Along with the diets, I tried incorporating different activities into my life, starting with group fitness classes.

I thought they'd help me stay motivated, but they ended up being more of a hassle. The sessions were late in the evening, which never worked with my schedule. By the time I picked up my daughter from school and handled the basics around the house, I was already exhausted. I'd skip meals to make it to the gym on time, showing up tired and hungry, which only made the workouts harder.

The classes were mostly circuit training, and honestly, I hated it. I always got so bored repeating the same exercises over and over again. I never looked forward to going and skipped sessions often, so I wasn't staying consistent.

I remember thinking, Is this really what people enjoy?

Over the span of a few months, I barely lost 10 pounds. The weight I hoped to shed wasn't budging, and I started feeling like I was failing.

Next, I thought hiring a personal trainer might be the solution.

At first, I was relieved because I could schedule the sessions whenever I wanted, which helped a little. But even with the flexibility, it still didn't work.

The one-on-one sessions left me feeling exposed. I could tell my trainer was trying to motivate me, but I always felt like I wasn't good enough. I constantly compared myself to others at the gym, wondering why this wasn't clicking for me.

After a while, I realized I was doing it to say I did it, not because I wanted to be there. I forced myself through a month of sessions, but I didn't enjoy it. By the end of the month, I'd lost 3 pounds — but it wasn't enough to justify how miserable I felt, not to mention the cost. When the membership expired, I quit, and I was sitting at 175 pounds.

Walking helped... Until winter came.

After the frustration of the gym, I thought walking might be a more manageable way to get some movement into my day. Everyone on the Internet talked about the magic of 10,000 steps, so I gave it a try. I started walking my daughter to school and then walking to work — a 40-minute walk each day.

At first, I thought, This is it. This is something I can stick to. But three months later winter hit, and there was no way I was going to brave the cold just to get my steps in. I lost about 4 pounds in those three months, but as soon as I stopped, they came right back. I was stuck at 175 pounds, feeling like another failure.

So, once again, I found myself searching for something new to stay active during winter.

That's when I stumbled across Dancebit.

It was an app for dance fitness, and honestly, I didn't think much of it at first. I'm not a dancer, never have been.

But I figured, why not? It was at home, easy to fit into my schedule without the stress of going anywhere in the winter cold, and it didn’t require me to dress up in workout clothes or buy equipment. So I downloaded the app.

I chose the beginner level and signed up for the 28-day dance challenge. After answering a few questions, I received a personalized plan for newbies. I selected dance styles I love — Latin, salsa, and Afro beats — and set my goal to weight loss.

My first dance workout was a game-changer.

I decided to try a 20-minute Latin dance workout while I was home alone. I pressed play, and to my surprise, I enjoyed it.

The moves were simple, but they got me moving. I didn't feel overwhelmed, and before I knew it, the 20 minutes were over. I felt good — not exhausted, but energized. For the first time in years, I finished a workout and thought, I could do this again.

But it wasn't all smooth.

The next day, life got hectic. My 9-year-old daughter got sick, and I completely forgot about the workout. The app sent me a reminder to work out, but I was too busy to think about dancing. I didn't follow through that day. And that's how it usually went with me — I'd start strong, then stop, and never pick it back up.

Normally, this would've been the end of my routine. But a few days later, my daughter found the app's notification and started the workout herself. I walked into the room, saw her dancing, and joined in. We laughed, we moved, and for the second time in a row, working out felt like something fun, not a chore.

That was the turning point. From then on, I made dancing a regular part of my life.

Sometimes my daughter joins in, and we turn it into a little game!

The workouts in my plan are packed with cardio-based dance moves to help me burn calories. They are short, fun, and easy to fit into my day.

Some days, I only have 10 minutes, but I still squeeze in a quick dance session. And because I can do it at home, it is much easier to stay consistent. I don't have to worry about finding time or dragging myself to the gym.

I lost 10 pounds after completing my first 28-day dance challenge.

For the first time in years, I stuck with a workout routine and enjoyed it. I've since completed three more challenges and am now 35 pounds down. But more than the weight, which is now at 150 pounds, I have finally found something that works for me.

I've discovered that one secret to exercise that actually works.

If there's one thing I've learned, is that to stay consistent with weight loss, you have to choose activities that bring you joy and fit into your life easily. With Dancebit, I don't have to leave the house or change into workout clothes. I can dance in my pajamas with my daughter, and it still counts!

It's not about exhausting yourself like I did at the gym. If you finish a workout feeling tired and defeated, it's not because you're weak — it just means you haven't found the right activity for you yet. When you find something that excites you and fuels your energy, sticking with a habit becomes much easier.

For me, Dancebit has been the thing that finally clicked. I never thought dancing could help me lose weight, but it turns out, all I needed to do was start moving in a way that made me feel good.

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Comments (8)

Sarah W

7 August, 2024 at 5:58 PM

Diane’s story hit home for me. Her struggles sounded like my own — always trying, always falling short. Reading about how dance finally made exercise enjoyable and sustainable for her gave me so much hope.

Lisa Robinson

2 August, 2024 at 8:37 PM

I loved how Diane found joy in exercise again! I can relate to her frustration with gyms and diets. Her journey shows that sometimes, all it takes is the right approach to make a difference.

rachel

1 August, 2024 at 8:12 AM

Reading Diane’s story was like reading my own. The part about dancing with her daughter touched my heart. Exercise doesn’t have to be a chore; it can be a joyful experience with family.