I danced my weight off from a size 20 to size 6
Lara Besbrode, 56, is a transformational coach and the founder of a match-making agency. She lives in Manchester and has three children. Here she shares her incredible weight loss journey, from an unhealthy size 20 to a super-fit size six, thanks to a passion for dance.
If anyone had told me in Christmas 2023 that a year later, I’d be at my 56th birthday party dancing all night in a tiny, silver, size six dress and cowboy boots, I’d have said they were crazy. Yet last month, that’s exactly what I was doing.
Only four years ago, I was a size 20, I could barely walk upstairs without getting out of breath and every joint in my body ached. I was taking HRT and other medications to help with menopause, but now I’m the fittest, healthiest and most confident I’ve ever been. And it’s all down to a birthday gift from my three children a year ago.
Throughout my life I had always yo-yo-ed with my weight. In my twenties, I enjoyed an 'Ab Fab' kind of career in PR in London, so was always out at parties with celebs. It was easy to stay in shape.
By my late twenties, I had married my (now ex) husband and we had our first child. I went up to a size 16 during pregnancy, managed to drop back to a size 12 and then gained weight again with my second baby, two years later.
I put on lots of pregnancy weight but was soon back to keeping fit, weight-training, dancing, swimming and walking so within a year I’d lost the weight again.
However, as I got older the pounds began to creep on. Sadly, I suffered three miscarriages before having my third baby, at the age of 41. My stress levels were high and my marriage was on its knees.
Comfort eating and drinking
I was completely depressed and turned to food and drink for comfort. The marriage ended and I was focused on looking after my children and building a new life – I barely thought about my own health or happiness.
Over the years, I was getting bigger and bigger, and finally realised I needed to do something. I tried all sorts of diets – WeightWatchers, SlimFast, shakes, Cambridge, Keto – and while I’d lose weight, I’d always pile it all back on again and more. It was miserable.
Over the years, I was getting bigger and bigger, and finally realised I needed to do something.
At the age of 48, I had started perimenopause and things were going from bad to worse. At 5ft 5ins tall and a size 16, I was staring down the barrel of diabetes. I couldn’t go on like this.
My first turning point came in lockdown. Everyone was on TikTok and I’d been watching videos of people doing 'shuffle dancing' – a dance that originated in Melbourne and involves complex, fast choreography and ‘running’ style movements.
In my younger days, I used to go clubbing a lot, often dancing on the podiums at places like the Ministry of Sound and this dance took me back to those happy times.
But by now, in my early 50s, I was 17½ stone (111kg) and a size 20, and my health was really suffering. My knees and joints were sore. I would cry with frustration that I’d let myself get so big and thought I’d never be able to dance again.
A life-changing gift
It was in 2021, when I saw myself on television interviewed as a dating expert, that I couldn’t believe how I looked. I started to take charge of my health.
Although my doctors were hesitant, with their permission, I came off the medication and started weight-training again after lockdown. Slowly, month by month, the weight began to drop off. I cut out caffeine and processed food, and started eating more protein and healthy, nutritious meals.
The Eureka moment was my 55th birthday when my kids presented me with six 'shuffle dance' classes as a gift.
The Eureka moment was my 55th birthday in December 2023 when my kids presented me with six shuffle dance classes as a gift. After that, my figure – and my life – really changed for the better. They knew how much I’d loved watching Shuffle on TikTok and wanted me to try it.
By now, I’d lost several stones in weight and was feeling stronger and fitter. But I was still terrified when I walked through the door to the dance studio in the first week of January, 2024. I needn’t have worried. The teacher was wonderful and I fell in love with shuffle dancing straight away – so much so that when my six lessons were finished, I booked more weekly private lessons. I loved it.
I started to share my journey and chart my change on my Instagram to show other people – particularly women in their menopause – that it was never too late to learn to dance. I picked up the moves and my body began to change shape. I was more toned, much stronger and leaner.
Weight falling off
In less than six months, I dropped another two dress sizes – from a size 10 to a size six. In total, I lost nine stone (57kg) and weigh less now – 8st 8lbs (56kg) – than the total weight I’ve lost. I feel amazing.
But it’s not only about dress size or weight. In fact, dancing has changed my whole physiology – I can eat loads of food but remain strong and slim. Because the moves are so complex, it not only trains your body – shuffle can burn up to 1,500 calories an hour – but also your brain. Concentrating on the choreography has trained me to be sharper and I have no brain fog.
Dancing has changed my whole physiology – I can eat loads of food but remain strong and slim.
My Instagram reels of me learning to dance have gone viral. I’ve now got over 45k followers on various platforms – women and men – who love seeing the dances and many have taken up the dance themselves. Several of my reels have had over two million views. People can’t get enough and I’ve had loads of people thanking me because it’s inspired them to try it and they love it too.
A new life
Before starting to dance, I’d considered a skin removal surgery due to the huge weight loss. Shuffle dancing has toned me up and I’m delighted I no longer need the surgery.
I’ve embraced cardio fitness again and this year even went to Boomtown dance festival with 56,000 people where I danced/walked 45,000 steps every day, for five days, dancing for hours. People say they can’t believe that I’m a woman in my mid-fifties.
People say they can’t believe that I’m a woman in my mid-fifties.
I will never look back. For me, 2025 is all about embracing change, having recently turned 56, and knowing that it’s never too late to change your life.
I'm dedicated to helping others on this journey and recently launched as a transformation coach. I have a new mantra in my life – the four Ds: determination, discipline, dedication and devotion. I want to show others that there’s no such thing as 'I can’t.'
Follow Lara’s journey on Instagram @larabesbrode1 and see her website at www.thematchmaker.uk
Read more on weight loss:
The two words that inspired mum's 13st weight loss (Yahoo Life UK, 5-min read
Man shares weight loss tricks that saw him drop 6st (Yahoo Life UK, 4-min read)
12 weight loss tips for physical and mental health (Yahoo Life UK, 7-min read)
