If you are frustrated with cellulite, you are not alone! Cellulite is a topographic skin change that occurs in 80-90 percent of adult females. It is a change of your skin surface, which shows skin dimpling, and it’s caused by the herniation of fat within tissue. Cellulite is a description rather than a physical object.
Causes of Cellulite
There are many causes that lead to cellulite formation, some of which are hormones, diet, lifestyle and genetics. It occurs mainly because of swelling in the subdermal fat cells. This accumulation of fat makes the skin pucker and look lumpy. It is common in women during hormonal changes, such as puberty, pregnancy and menopause. A woman’s hormones are usually responsible for regulating the flow of blood, fat, connective tissue and lymphatic drainage. Cellulite occurs also because of excess toxins and waste products remaining in the body, which are not removed in the digestion process
Treatment
There is no actual treatment for cellulite, but there are non-surgical ways to reduce the appearance.
• Improve your diet by watching your fat, sugar and sodium intake.
• Regular consumption of vitamins and minerals is good for healthy skin and detoxification of the body. So make sure to eat fruits, veggies and fish oils.
• Avoid drinking more than a cup of coffee per day. The combination of coffee with no exercise leads to constriction of blood vessels.
• Reduce stress. High stress causes an increase level of certain molecules, which causes cellulite.
• Hit the weights. Specifically targeting certain areas is the best way to firm your underlying muscle structure. For example— leg, thigh and butt toning exercises. Do not be scared of weight. I talk to so many ladies who are scared to lift heavy weight because they think they will bulk up. Increase your weight and lower your reps to 10-12. Then the following week decrease weight slightly and up your reps to 15-18. This will confuse your muscles and make them work harder. Another thing to note while weight training is to use light enough weight to move fast. Ladies should only break, at the most, 20 seconds between sets. Moving fast will keep you from bulking up and help you build your cardiovascular system.
• Do your cardio. The more intense the cardio, the better. Remember— something is better than nothing and you have to start somewhere. If you are just starting out, try doing a series of run/speed walk intervals for approximately 30 minutes. Build up your time five minutes each week. Once you hit 45-minute mark, increase your intensity by increasing MPH or incline.