Does the word cellulite make you cringe? It is estimated that over 85% of post-adolescent women have cellulite. Yes, even skinny women have it! There are many misconceptions out there about cellulite, so I thought I would try to set some things straight.
First, cellulite is not a special or different type of fat. It is plain old fat. Its appearance is what is different. Cellulite is characterized by that dimpled, “cottage-cheese” type look that we hate so much. We all have connective tissue that separates fat cells into compartments. These are fibrous cords connecting your skin to the underlying muscle and fat cells that reside in between these cords. As fat accumulates, it begins to push against the flesh, thus causing the cords to pull down. It is this pulling and pushing that creates the uneven surfaces and dimples that people call “cellulite”.
The patterns of women’s compartments versus men’s gives fat a greater chance to bulge, resulting in the dimpling. For this reason, cellulite is much more common in women than in men. It typically strikes people in their 30s, and as we age our skin gets thinner which makes it more noticeable. Common areas for cellulite are the hips, thighs and abdomen, but it can appear anywhere on the body. Factors that influence whether or not you will get cellulite are genetics, activity level and nutritional habits.
Tips to Remove Cellulite
Reduce Body Fat
The first step you will need to take in your endeavor to combat cellulite is to lose weight and reduce body fat where necessary. This is achieved through proper dieting and exercising. Even if this approach fails to completely eliminate your cellulite, you can at least improve the appearance of your dimpled skin.
Start Exercising
So many people are always going on and on about doing “spot reduction” exercises which are focused on losing fat in specific areas. This is, for all intents and purposes, a myth. Spot reduction doesn’t really exist because body fat is lost from all over the body, not just from one specific area. The best thing you can do is invest in resistance training with cardio workouts to build the muscles in the areas infested with cellulite and, in the process, providing your skin with some additional tone and tightness.
Eat Healthy Foods
You need to eat right and focus on fresh fruits and vegetables as well as whole grains, healthy fats and lean proteins. The idea being to provide your body with all of the vitamins and minerals it requires to efficiently burn fat, while also keeping your skin healthy. Some foods with healthy omega-3 fatty acids (such as nuts and fish) can help to maximize skin health, essentially removing the valleys and peaks from cellulite, making the condition less extreme.
Drink Water
Be sure to consume an appropriate amount of water each day. Drinking fluids compels your body to expel excess fluids. This process helps to flush your system of dangerous toxins, especially from cellulite prone areas.
Get a Massage
The best massage is unlikely to bring about any permanent changes to ugly cellulite but there are numerous benefits to using a professional masseuse once in a while. Getting regular massages will not only increase blood flow but it will help remove toxins and even eliminate excess fluids which goes a long way in improving one’s nasty cellulite.
Skin Creams
There are two primary issues related to using cellulite creams. For one thing, there are so many of them on the market that selecting the right one can prove difficult. More importantly, there isn’t a single study that can prove the effectiveness of creams in fighting cellulite. That being said, there is hope in retinol cream (a derivative of vitamin A) whose use has, over the years, proven effective in beating back cellulite.
There is a surprising large number of products on the market today claiming that they have the power to eliminate cellulite, sometimes permanently. And one might be forgiven for giving into their desperation and spending their hard-earned money to acquire a bottle of whatever “miracle” substance they are convinced can combat cellulite effectively. You should know that there is nothing you can apply to your skin that will cause fat to disappear. It is possible that some creams may tighten the appearance of the skin, but they will not get rid of cellulite. Even liposuction, which removes fat, cannot change the appearance of the fat that remains.
What you need to understand is that medical and pharmaceutical approaches to removing cellulite will, at best, deliver temporary reprieve and at worst, cause serious damage. There are numerous natural approaches to helping reduce the cellulite problem. One need not worry about dangerous side effects when utilizing natural options for reducing cellulite.
To diminish the appearance of cellulite, follow the basics of healthy living which includes daily cardio exercise to burn excess fat, strength training exercises to build muscle and good nutritional habits. Clean up your diet and stay well hydrated while getting a lot of exercise and you will be on your way to achieving a tight and toned physique!
