Lucky us; 90% of all women suffer from cellulite.
Over 150 years ago in French literature cellulite was thought to be a disease, but is in fact, the protrusion of fat cells into the epidermis or outermost layer of skin. While overweight people may have more pronounced cellulite, it is still common in very slender women largely due to the structural conformation below the skin – much of which is heredity. That explains why when you lose weight, you may not necessarily lose your cellulite because the underlying fat cell chambers do not change with weight loss. The thickness and tautness of the epidermis layer is what determines how much or how visible cellulite is, and thus as women age, the appearance of cellulite is exacerbated.
Many of us think that if we simply exercise enough, cellulite will disappear – but this expectation isn’t totally realistic. Nonetheless, liposuction, topical creams, massage, and skin kneading really don’t work. The most effective recommendation is aerobic exercise; female athletes who typically have less body fat seem to have the appearance of less cellulite.
Aerobic exercise, such as running, dance, cycling, and swimming 3 to 5 times a week for at least 20-60 minutes will help reduce the appearance of cellulite, but you must also incorporate lower-body strength training into your workouts. Try 15-20 reps of hamstring curls, squats, lunges, step-ups, and hip abductions twice a week, using different selections of exercises.
Also, watching your diet is important:
DO:
LOTS of water
Lots of raw fruits and veggies
Beans and lentils
Brown rice and rice noodles
Potatoes
Rye crackers, rice cakes and oatcakes
Fresh fish like Tuna and Salmon
Unsalted nuts
DO NOT:
Coffee and Soda
Alcohol
Salty, spicy, fried, and oily food
Fat & cream
Too much sugar
Smoking
Stress
Factoid: Smoking can contribute to cellulite formation because it weakens the skin due to the constriction of capillaries and can damage the connective tissue that causes the dimpling effect of cellulite.
Quicky cellulite appearance reduction tip: Try a self-tanner to brighten the skin and reduce the appearance of cellulite.
