Ugh! Cellulite is certainly not anyone’s favorite thing to see in the mirror. I first noticed it in college, when I stopped working out because of a lack of time. The strange thing was that my body still seemed to be the same size as when I was working out all of the time, but because my muscle tone had lagged slightly, the cellulite was able to peek through. By sharing this story, I’m trying to illustrate that even very thin looking people can still have cellulite and it is a lot of work to fully get rid of. A person could become obsessed in the task. There are several things I have tried - that worked - to reduce the appearance of cellulite.
- Start a healthier diet. Avoid fatty, greasy or processed foods. Caffeinated beverage (coffee or pop) and alcohol should be avoided. Choose foods that are high in nutrition, lean proteins, lots of veggies, and drink water like it’s going out of style. If there ever was a youth potion, it’s water. Remember, Rome wasn’t built in a day and your diet doesn’t have to be either. Take it slow, a step at a time, and you’re bound to notice a difference.
- Exercise. Be sure to combine cardio or aerobic exercise with strength and muscle training. If your muscles are tight, the appearance of the cellulite is pushed more smoothly. I always thought weight training was just for men, but noticed the biggest improvement when I included weight training into my regimen. You cannot target specific problem areas, though, as fat lies all over the body. So, by combining both kinds of exercise you will achieve the best results.
- Rub problem areas with lotion. There are a lot of of expensive lotions that claim they will reduce cellulite. The actual motion of rubbing the skin is what does this. It increases circulation in the area, causing the skin to puff out and reduce the appearance of cellulite. You don’t need expensive lotion, or even any lotion at all. But, since you spent all this time exercising and dieting, don’t you deserve to unwind by smoothing on a great smelling lotion? I have heard that rubbing coffee grinds over problem areas also helps, with the caffeine stimulating blood flow. However, I cut out coffee in step number one, so I have yet to try it.
The truth is that most women have cellulite, so even if you hate yours, at least you’re not alone. The simple equation is healthy lifestyle = healthier body = less cellulite. And, a happier, healthier you!
