10 WAYS TO REDUCE CELLULITE
Oh, the dreaded word C-E-L-L-U-L-I-T-E. We hate it, fear it and unfortunately, most of us have to live with it. I put cellulite in the same category with root canals, speeding tickets and stepping in dog poop. I was thinking about cellulite a lot yesterday as I was laying on the beautiful beach in my new hometown of Naples, FL. You can’t help but people watch on a gorgeous, crowded beach day like yesterday. As a person who makes her living off of making people’s bodies better, I people watch, really it’s “body watch” a lot. Putting aside the young teeny boppers, most women, skinny and fat, struggle to some degree with cellulite. As I watched the array of bodies stroll by, the truth became even more apparent. Cellulite is a fact of life, but there ARE ways to combat the cottage cheese.
What is Cellulite?
According to Medical News Today, Cellulite is a term used to describe the dimpled appearance of skin caused by fat deposits that are just below the surface of the skin. These fat deposits push up against surrounding fibrous connective tissue and create that awful-looking cottage cheese appearance. It generally shows up on skin in the abdomen, lower limbs, and pelvic region, and it usually occurs after puberty. Although cellulite can occur in both men and women, it is much more common in females because of type of fat and connective tissue women have in our body. Life just isn’t fair.
What Causes Cellulite?
There are quite a few different things that can cause that cellulite:
- Genetics. You may be born predisposed to it. Bummer, right?! A slow metabolism, certain genetic makeups, gender or race can all contribute to the development of cellulite.
- Diet. Listen to me folks- you are what you eat. I know I say it all the time, but it’s TRUE! People who eat poorly (too much fat, salt, sugar) are much more likely to have cellulite.
- Lifestyle choices. Inactivity and smoking are can cause increased amounts of cottage cheese to reside on those butts and legs.
What Can You Do About It!?
If you haven’t heard it by now, let me tell you, there is NO cure for cellulite. Unfortunately, there is no magic pill, cream or potion. BUT, you can improve your cellulite problem. You can definitely decrease it, camouflage it and learn to co-exist with it. Here’s 10 simple, cheap and effective ways to reduce cellulite:
- Drink lots of water. Water will help flush your system and get rid of any excess sodium that causes fluid retention.
- Eat better. Eat regular and healthy meals. Eat slowly and until you are 70% full.
- Include foods that have Essential Fatty Acids. Found in olive oil, fish oil and flax seed oils, essential fatty acids help strengthen the connective tissues around fat cells, helping to reduce cellulite.
- Lose those extra pounds. Nothing will the exaggerate the appearance of that cottage cheese on the back of your legs like extra weight. Shed some pounds, lose some cheese.
- Exercise regularly. Do circuit training, weights, yoga and pilates.
- Get a tan. Cellulite doesn’t show as much on tanned skin. Lay in the sun for a bit or get a spray tan to help reduce the appearance of the dimples.
- Try Dry Brushing. I do this a few times a week and I love it! Not only does it remove dead skin cells and promote circulation, but it encourages the release of toxins which can cause cellulite.
- Stop stressing. Stress causes hormonal changes that negatively impact your skin. Cortisol, a stress hormone, causes thinning of the skin and increased fat storage, which can increase cellulite.
- Get your Z’s: Sleep does the body good. It is important in revitalizing our bodies, repairing damaged tissues, and recharging our energy levels.
- Use a foam roller. According to FitDay, foam roller exercises help to massage areas and break up the interwoven fat fibers. They increase the flow of nutrient rich blood to these areas. It also helps to stretch connective tissues and improve circulation. This enables the body to expel abnormal fluid retention and toxins.
If you would like to learn more about cellulitis, check this article: http://www.thebabbleout.com/health/cellulite-how-to-get-a-thigh-gap/
