Archives September 2013

This is a question that many women have on their mind. There is no shortage of anti-cellulite products and services on the market. Cellulite creams, special gadgets which use light therapy, cellulite massages, lymphatic drainage, anti-cellulite pills, etc. This is an industry that sees women spending over 12 million yearly.

With so many products, women are often at a loss as to which way to go about removing their cellulite? Should I try the latest ‘scientific breakthrough’ cream or will the new gadget with the UV light work for me? What about the special collagen pills that will make it disappear in 30 days?

Choices, choices and more choices…

So Which Cellulite Treatment Would Be Right For You?

Honestly, it doesn’t matter which cellulite treatment you decide to choose because they all share one thing in common. They are all ineffective and just a waste of your hard earned money. The truth is that there is absolutely no cream or massage or treatment that will remove it.

The exception to the above statement is laser therapy which is highly effective. However, the cost may make it prohibitive to many women. So, other than laser treatment, is there really no way to treat cellulite?

There is another way but it’s not so easy.

However, if you choose to adopt this method, your whole life will improve and your cellulite will diminish greatly. This method takes time, patience, sacrifice, sweat and in some cases tears. Yet, it is the only way that guarantees visible results that last a long time.

Are you ready to embark on this challenging method?

If you are, then read on…

Cellulite is Not a Unique Condition or Problem

The method is to reduce your body fat percentage. Contrary to popular belief, cellulite is not a unique condition or strange problem that arises because of poor circulation or other health problems; it’s just fat.

Fat that looks different from normal because it is squeezed through hard fibrous tissues beneath your skin. This is perfectly normal and nothing to be alarmed about.

There are pockets of fat stores beneath your skin and once these fat stores are filled, the fat will squeeze outwards and push up against the skin. This is what causes the dimply, orange peel appearance that so many women detest.

Deal With a Cellulite Treatment Like You Would Any Fat Treatment

Since it really is just fat, you can deal with it just like you would normal fat. You can burn it off with a combination of exercise and healthy eating. Measure your body fat percentage and try and bring it down to 15 to 20 percent. This is different from the weight on your scale.

Body fat percentage is your body’s composition taking into account lean muscle mass, etc. Slim women may show signs of cellulite because their body fat composition is high.

This is known as “skinny fat.”

You want to be lean, healthy and toned. Watch your diet closely. Engage in cardio exercises at least 4 times a week for about 20 to 30 minutes. Get your heart pumping and make it an intense session. Throw in some resistance training on other days focusing on your lower body to really work those thighs and butt muscles.

In time to come, your body would have burnt off these fat stores and your lean muscle mass would have increased. Your thighs and legs will be toned and beautiful. Cellulite will barely be visible. This is the best cellulite treatment for any woman to choose because it works, but it does require work to get the job done.

Cellulite is fat. It is formed in the same way that fat is formed. Don’t let the dimpled, bumpy appearance fool you. It is still fat. Just like all fat, it is the result of consuming more calories than required and not exercising enough to burn off that excess consumption.

The question is…

Why Does Cellulite Look So Darn Awful?

If it was just normal fat, it should be smooth and thick. Not clumpy and bumpy like cottage cheese.

So what happened?

The answer lies in the structure of the tissue. Below the skin there is a layer of tissue that is fibrous and it connects the skin to the muscles beneath it.

Women have bands of tissue called septae that are connected vertically and perpendicularly. Similar to little columns. This creates pockets or chambers for fat storage that have always been important for survival and child bearing.

Men do not face this problem because their tissues are connected diagonally and in a crisscrossed manner. There is minimal space for fat storage with this arrangement.

Cellulite Appears Worse with Thin Skin

The thickness of the skin is another key factor for the visibility of cellulite. The thinner the skin, the more visible the cellulite will be. Women have skin that is much thinner than men. So, that makes things worse because their cellulite is more visible.

To a certain extent, cellulite is hereditary. Some women have thinner skin on their thighs and buttocks. This makes their cellulite more visible than women who naturally have thicker skin. Other women store fat on their bodies more easily. So, their higher body fat percentage makes them more prone to having cellulite.

Nevertheless, the majority of women have it and this can be easily avoided if they just stopped and paid closer attention to what they ate. Women love indulging in chocolates, ice-cream and other sweet foods. They feel happier and better when they eat such foods. What they do not realize is that these foods have a high GI index.

That means they cause spikes in the blood sugar level. This leads to increased fat storage and fast weight gain. They then get depressed and this leads to more binge eating to feel better and so the vicious cycle repeats itself and before they know it, they have lots of cellulite on their thighs and butt.

Could this have been avoided? Yes.

The Same as Fat, Muscle Burns Cellulite

Cellulite cannot form in a body that has a low and steady body fat percentage. A body that has a higher percentage of lean muscle mass will also develop this fat less readily. Muscle burns more calories. So, the more lean muscle a woman has, the lower her chances of getting that dimply appearance.

It is highly recommended that women engage in resistance training to increase muscle mass and tone. By doing squats, lunges, planks, dead-lifts, etc. women will develop stronger muscles in the core and lower body. Since women are more prone to developing cellulite in the lower body, by working the muscles in this area, this fatty formation can be prevented.

To summarize, cellulite is just fat. It can be removed the same way fat is removed. With a healthy diet, lots of exercise and some good old skin toner and moisturizer to keep your skin supple and elastic. Collagen supplements would be great too for improving the elasticity of the skin.

You can get some great exercise and fat loss tips when you subscribe to the My Fitness Nut Newsletter at the top right of http://MyFitnessNut.com and you get more information on cellulite reduction there as well.

The thighs are a very cellulite prone area. The majority of women who have cellulite often have it on their thighs and buttocks.

There are 2 reasons for this. Firstly, the skin inn these areas are much thinner than in other parts of the body. Secondly, women tend to store fat on the thighs, hips and butt.

With men, it’s mostly the belly.

Since cellulite is nothing more than fat, the same rules of fat loss apply to cellulite too. The problem here is that you cannot spot reduce. What that means is that you can’t specifically reduce fat in one spot. In this example, it’s the thighs.

Your Body Chooses How and When it Burns Cellulite

Your body will choose to burn fat in a way that only it understands. Usually the places where you gain weight last will be the first to lose the weight. So, if after gaining fat on your thighs, legs and buttocks and finally your face starts getting rounder – that means when you embark on your exercise program, the first place you will lose fat in will be your face. This is the reason why you may see people lose weight on their face and still have some way to go with the rest of their body.

Cellulite Removal Takes Patience

In this case, you will need to have patience before you can remove the cellulite from your thighs. Once your body starts burning fat in all the different places, it will slowly start burning off the cellulite on your thighs.

You need to persist until this happens. If you give up too early, you may have lost weight on your face and arms but the cellulite on your thighs will still be intact.

Watch your diet closely too. Avoid fattening foods especially those high in carbs. Avoid white flour products, sugary foods and any food that has a high GI. Avoid blood sugar spikes and you will minimize your chances of gaining fat.

Good Exercises for Burning Cellulite on Your Thighs

The exercises most perfected for losing weight will be a combination of cardio and weight training together. Your cardio should focus on your lower body. Running, spinning, stair climbing, skipping are awesome forms of cardio.

Kettlebell exercises provide an excellent workout to burn body fat. You want to perform them at high intensity. You should be panting and sweating profusely. It will not be fun however, 20 to 30 minutes of hard cardio with the Kettlebell 4 to 5 times a week will make you a fat burning machine.

Your metabolic rate will go up and you will be burning fat round the clock. Your thighs, butt and calves will be lean and toned. Your body will be the envy of other women. You do not have to worry about looking like a bodybuilder because that is generally very hard to make happen. Men themselves struggle to gain muscle mass.

What you will get is a body that is lean and taut with cellulite appearance being minimal to non-existent.

Dead-lifts, lunges, squats, leg presses are all excellent exercises to tone the legs and reduce cellulite appearance. If you wish, you may even join a kickboxing class. All the kicks and squats will tone your body and improve your stamina.

The possibilities are endless. As long as you are exercising regularly, eating well and staying the course, you will burn off the cellulite on your thighs slowly but surely. Keep on keeping on. That’s the key to success.

Exercise is one of the best ways of dealing with cellulite. Before looking at the specific exercises any woman would benefit from engaging in, we must first understand what cellulite is.

It is fat that is trapped beneath the skin. It is not the result of toxins or poor lymph ‘drainage’ or other reasons so commonly given by cellulite treatment companies that have a vested interest in this 12 million a year industry.

Cellulite is fat. Plain and simple and just like all fat, it can be reduced with a sensible diet and exercise. Of course, to a certain extent cellulite is also hereditary. Women who gain fat easily and have thinner skin will show more signs of cellulite.

Whatever the case or genetics, all women will gain from exercising regularly and the best way to do exercise trainings will involve both cardio and resistance training.

The Key to Cellulite Reduction

The key to reducing the appearance of cellulite is to bring your body fat percentage down. We are not so concerned about the weight on the scales. We want to alter our body composition. You want more lean muscle and less fat.

Sometimes, there may be no visible difference on the scale since your body has replaced burnt fat with lean muscle. Therefore, it would be a good idea to measure your body fat and keep trying to lower your body fat percentage – aim for a 15 to 18 percent level if you are a woman. This may be a little difficult but it’s a goal worth striving for.

To burn your body fat and boost your body’s stamina levels, you will need to engage in cardio activities. I’d recommend about 20 to 30 minutes of cardio. If you can spare 45 to 60 minutes, that would be great. However, most women are pressed for time, so 20 to 30 minutes should be sufficient if you maintain intensity.

Reduce Cellulite Dramatically with High Intensity Workouts

During these 20 to 30 minutes, your cardio must be at a very high intensity. You must be gasping for air and exhausted. Slow walking or jogging is just not going to cut it. You want to be working out at a fast pace. You want to be tired. Choose cardio activities that engage your lower body the most.

Running, cycling, stair climbing, spinning, skipping, etc. are great forms of cardio. Most women show cellulite on their thighs, butt and legs. These are the areas you want to tone and target. So, engage in high intensity cardio that involves your lower body.

Reduce Cellulite with Resistance Training

The second component would be resistance training. Many women avoid this because in their mind, weights and resistance training is a man’s type of exercise. This is wrong.

There are immense benefits from weight training and one of the best is Kettlebells. Kettlebell workouts can give you a full body workout that will produce better results in less time than most any other type of resistance exercise routine.

Target the Cellulite Directly

You want to do compound exercises such as lunges, squats, leg presses, calf raises, thigh movements, etc. When you do these exercises, your lean muscle mass in your thighs and legs will increase and you will burn off fat more readily in these areas.

A firm buttock or thigh will show less signs of cellulite. So, research on exercises that will tone up your lower body or you may use the exercises stated here. The key is in performing them regularly.

The tips listed above will work wonders for your health and well-being. If you haven’t already, subscribe to the My Fitness Nut Newsletter at the top of http://MyFitnessNut.com to help you become, fitter, healthier and have a body that many other women want to have. Cellulite will be the least of your worries.

Cellulite has a very bad reputation and a lot of nicknames to go with it. “Lumpy”, “bumpy”, “dimply”, “cottage cheese”, “orange rinds”, etc. are all terms used to describe the appearance of skin that has cellulite beneath it. The anti-cellulite industry is a multimillion dollar industry because women are desperate to get rid of their bumpy-lumpy dimples.

There are miracle creams, laser treatments, and books on dealing with cellulite, special diets, massage therapy and many other ways that purportedly treat cellulite effectively.

Most of these methods are ineffective, do not have any lasting effects and are just a drain on the wallet and emotions. Disappointment and regret often follow when women put their faith in these scams and poor products.

In this article, we’ll examine if anti-cellulite diets work. These apply to pills, and special diets formulated for women specifically addressing the cellulite issue. Before we go any further, the answer is neither a yes nor a no. It lies somewhere in between.

Anti-Cellulite Diets – No Different Than an Anti-Fat Diet

The first point to note about cellulite is this – it is fat. Cellulite is nothing more than fat pushing up against your skin. These fat pockets push up against the connective tissues beneath your thin skin and that causes the dimpled and bumpy appearance. Men do not normally have cellulite because their skin is thicker and more porous. The tissues beneath their skin are also connected differently.

Since cellulite is nothing more than fat, exercise and a healthy diet will get rid of cellulite easily and very effectively. It may be argued that slim women show signs of cellulite too. This is a fallacy. Many slim women have a high body fat percentage and low lean muscle mass. They are what are known as “skinny fat” in the fitness industry.

A woman who does her cardio and resistance training aimed at the thighs, legs and buttocks will have toned muscles in those areas. Once that happens they have lower chances of gaining fat in those areas. Less fat means less cellulite. It’s that simple.

The Best Anti-Cellulite Diet is Exercise and a Healthy Diet to Follow

So if all you need is a healthy diet and exercise to get rid of cellulite, why are there pills and special fad diets on the market?

Simple. To get your money. Women spend more than 12 million a year on treating cellulite. That is not chump change and many companies want in on the action. Nevertheless, the solution is very simple and straightforward.

Anti-Cellulite Diets are No Different Than a Fat Loss Diet

Avoid sugary and sweet foods, carbs that have a high GI, caffeine, sodas and other foods that will pile on the pounds. Most women usually know what those foods are but still indulge anyway.

If you wish to get rid of your cellulite, you will have to make these sacrifices. Limit the consumption of these foods to once a week.

It would be a good idea to limit your salt intake too. Sodium causes water retention and makes you feel bloated.

Consume flaxseed and kelp regularly. Collagen keeps your skin firm and taut. Flaxseed promotes collagen growth and 2 tablespoons flaxseed oil a day is sufficient. Kelp makes your body burn about 10 percent more fat. You may buy dried kelp and cook it or just purchase kelp supplements from a health store.

Include Plenty of Water in Your Anti-Cellulite Diet

It goes without saying that you need to drink 8 to 10 glasses of water a day for a glowing complexion, healthy skin and to flush out toxins. One ounce or 30ml for every 2 pounds of body weight is a good goal to set for your water consumption.

Basically, this is all you need for an anti-cellulite diet. Keep it healthy and clean. Natural foods and not processed foods. Get some moderate exercise daily and you’ll be well prepared to keep cellulite at bay while feeling happy and healthy at the same time.

Why Would People Really Do a Cellulite Massage?

There are many types of massage such as Thai massage, Shiatsu, Swedish massage. All these different types of massage employ different techniques to achieve different desirable results for the body from lymphatic drainage, to alignment to improved blood flow.

Some massage parlors even offer cellulite massage. There are several books on the subject so the big question is… Does it work?

The answer is no. It doesn’t. You are better off going with the normal massages that are available. Swedish and Thai massages are great for stress relief and putting your tired, achy body in a feel good state.

Fat Cannot be Removed by Cellulite Massage; Plain and Simple.

Cellulite is body fat.

The theory behind cellulite massage is similar to cellulite brushing. In theory, the massage will result in better stimulation and blood flow in the problem areas. Usually, moisturizing lotions, ‘special’ oils and ointments are used in the massage. This gives the illusion that the skin will absorb these lotions and oils and cellulite will be eradicated. Of course, this is not the case.

The cellulite may disappear for an hour or two because the lotions may have made the skin swell up and tighten. This will hide it for a while but it is very temporary. Once the ‘swelling’ or effect of the lotion subsides, the cellulite reappears and the woman is disappointed and tells herself that she needs a few more massage sessions to totally solve the problem.

A Cellulite Massage is a Total Waste of Money

Cellulite massages usually cost more just to give the illusion that they are more specific and effective. Neither is true since the massages just do not work for the intended purpose.

The reason that cellulite looks different from normal fat is the structure of the skin and underlying tissues. Women have connective tissues beneath the skin that are perpendicular to the surface skin. This creates pockets or chambers where fat is stored.

As women age, the skin loses its supple, elastic qualities and starts becoming thinner and harder. The fats beneath the skin become more prominent and this causes the appearance of cellulite.

It has been said that cellulite cannot be “cured”. Well, it does not have to be cured because it’s not a disease. It is just fat under the skin.

All you need to do is adopt a healthy diet, exercise regularly and use a moisturizing lotion to keep your skin smooth and supple. It also helps if you consume collagen supplements.

Your exercise regime must consist of resistance training. You will need to do squats, lunges, calf raises and if you’re adventurous, you may do dead-lifts too. These exercises will strengthen your thighs, hamstrings, butt and legs in general. These are the areas most prone to cellulite.

You must also include cardio training. Stair climbing, running, cycling and skipping are excellent forms of cardio because they focus on your lower body. If you focus on training your lower body, you will be able to mitigate the presence of cellulite.

In the short and long run, this is still the most effective method of treating it. No cellulite massage can help you remove the unsightly appearance for more than a few hours. Only a healthy diet and training can. Save your money, improve your health and love your body by subscribing to the My Fitness Nut Newsletter at http://myfitnessnut.com and found at the top right of the page.

There are several websites that promote lymphatic drainage to reduce cellulite. They are all wrong. The reason for this is because cellulite is fat. It is not about toxins or poor drainage or whatever reasons that are so often tossed around. All these misconceptions and fallacies are designed to make women spend money on cellulite products and treatment.

It May Look Different But it’s Really Just Fat

The simple fact is that cellulite is fat. It looks different from normal fat. There is a reason for this. Beneath our skin is a hard fibrous tissue with bands that connect the skin to the muscle. These bands are known as septae. Women have perpendicular bands while men have bands that connect in a cross-checked pattern. This is the reason why men do not show visible signs and even thought they have it too, it just can’t be so easily seen.

When the spaces between the bands are filled with fat, the fat is squeezed upwards and presses against the skin. This is similar to a fork pressing down on a marshmallow. Notice how the marshmallow comes up looking all clumpy. That’s because the fork is hard and stiff just like the bands of tissue in our body.

Women also have thinner skin than men. That’s a double whammy because the cellulite is even more visible. So, now that we have established that it’s just plain ‘ol fat, why are people talking about lymphatic drainage?

Fat Profits in Reducing Cellulite

The reason for this is that there are several products and services such as cellulite massages and other treatments such as Endermologie that claim that they can massage it away by breaking down the fats and increasing the blood circulation to the problematic areas.

It is not profitable to admit that cellulite is fat because if it was just normal fat, women would realize that watching their diet and exercise would remove the cellulite stores. By using words like ‘lymphatic drainage’, it creates the illusion that more specific and targeted measures are required to deal with this stubborn issue.

Lymphatic Drainage Provides Benefits – But Not Cellulite Loss

The crux of the matter is that lymphatic drainage will not rid the body of cellulite. It may have other benefits such as improving circulation and maybe detoxification to a certain extent, but it will not remove it because fat cannot be massaged away.

The best thing you can do for yourself will be to try and reduce your body fat percentage. You will have to watch your diet closely and eat wholesome, healthy food. Avoid junk food and processed products which are also junk. Eat fresh, eat clean should be your motto.

Exercise to Lose Fat and Reduce Cellulite

Embark on a training program that involves a mix of cardio and resistance training. Perform exercises that tone your lower body. Squats, lunges, stair climbing, etc. All these exercises will tone and strengthen your thighs and butt. Toned muscles are taut and the visibility of cellulite will be reduced.

When you are at a body fat percentage of about 15 to 20 percent, your fat stores will be minimal. You may still have some fat but the lumps and dimples will be barely visible. If you still wish to lose the rest, you need to drop your body fat percentage even lower.

That’s how you rid your body of cellulite effectively and this way beats any lymphatic drainage method out there. Learn more about cellulite reduction to help you shape up your appearance and take the guess work out of it.

Cellulite is the bumpy, dimpled, orange rind appearance of fats beneath the skin. Almost all women have cellulite and eradicating cellulite is a 12 million dollars per year industry. That’s how much women spend every year trying to get rid of cellulite.

In most cases, the methods are neither effective nor long lasting. They’re just a drain on finances, time and emotional well-being. Many women get depressed and disappointed when the cellulite creams, massages, detox cleanses, etc. do not work. Everything just seems like a waste of money and time. The women start hating their bodies and develop a negative self-image.

The reason for this is that they have been lied to. They were made to believe that cellulite is a special condition that needs special creams, massages or other dodgy products to treat. The truth is that cellulite is just fat; normal body fat.

Cellulite is Nothing More Than Bumpy Body Fat

The fat just appears clumpy and awful because of the structure of the underlying tissues in the body. These tissues are connected in a way where the body is able to store fat. Once the fat stores accumulate and start pushing up against the skin, cellulite appears.

Men have tissues that connect differently from women and their skin is also thicker. This is why they do not have cellulite that shows up so clearly.

Now that you know that cellulite is nothing more than fat, you will be able to deal with it like normal body fat. Cellulite is not water retention or trapped toxins or any other weird explanation. Let’s keep things simple. Fat is fat and fat can be burned off with a good diet and exercise.

Your diet will need to be clean and wholesome. Consume foods that are unprocessed. Avoid white flour products and white rice. All these foods have a high GI. That means, they cause spikes in blood sugar levels and increase insulin production will leads to fat gain.

Eat More Protein to Combat Cellulite

You will want to consume more protein. Any carbohydrates you eat should be slow digesting and complex. Examples would be oats or wholegrain bread. You may also get your carbs from vegetables. Your diet will also need to be low in salt. Too much sodium causes water retention and gives you the bloated feeling.

Drink lots of water daily. Consume collagen supplements and other supplements that will keep your skin supple, elastic and healthy. No need for cellulite treatments.

Exercise to Battle Cellulite

Exercise will be crucial to losing the fat. You will need to combine cardio sessions with resistance training. Many women neglect resistance training because they are afraid to get muscular.

This is very far from the truth. Resistance training will make you leaned and toned but it will not make you look like a he-man. That takes years of training, supplements, etc. Even men struggle to gain muscle. So, no worries there.

You will want to focus on compound movements for the lower body. Lunges, squats, leg presses, dead-lifts, calf raises, quadrupedal movements, etc. All these will increase the lean muscle mass in your body while your fats are burned off. It’s awesome. Cardio sessions should be about 20 to 30 minutes. The higher the intensity the better. Cycling, running, stair climbing, etc. are great cardio workouts.

Drop Body Fat and You’ll Drop the Cellulite

If you follow the advice above, you will burn your fat stores and be lean in no time. Once your body fat levels drop, so will your cellulite. You will have toned legs and buttocks that will be the envy of other women. Not to mention the extra attention from the guys. Life will be good.

You can learn more about the causes of cellulite from these Cellulite Helpful Tips articles and you can subscribe to the My Fitness Nut Newsletter found at the top right of our MyFitnessNut.com home page. When you do, you’ll get some very effective exercise and diet programs that will help you drop cellulite and body fat without getting taken to cleaners and being sold weird and in-effective remedies.