How to get rid of cellulite

Or how to win the battles AND the war

Cellulite—it’s a dreaded word among almost 90 percent of women around the world. It happens when tears develop in the connective collagen between fat and skin, and fat cells expand unproportionally. The worst? Nobody is “safe”: it affects thin and overweight women alike, and can start as early as the teenage years. Even 10 percent of the world’s male population have to live with it. Yet this doesn’t mean you have to give up. Fortunately, there’s a thing or two you can do to get rid of dimpled skin once and for all, or at least make make it less apparent. Ready for a fight?

Know what it’s made of

Let’s get this right: cellulite isn’t caused by toxins. It’s visible fat deposits under the skin that have been pushed through layers of collagen fibers (connective tissue). Reasons for this can be as complicated as the weakening of connective tissue due to hormonal imbalance, lack of exercise, obesity, or poor blood circulation, or as simple as your genes.

Know where it is and give it a kicking

Cellulite can form in any part of the body. It’s most common in places with high fat density, such as the upper arms, stomach, thighs and buttocks. Even though cellulite affects people of all shapes and sizes, being overweight can contribute to the swelling of fat pockets. Physical exercise burns excess fat. But while this approach might do wonders for people who are heavier than average, it can do more harm than good for someone at their healthy weight if not done right. To be on the safe side, consult a fitness professional beforehand.

Choosing the correct workout plan for your problematic areas is the first step in the fight against stubborn cellulite. Focus your workout on exercises that involve toning your muscles and firming your skin: squats, leg lifts, yoga, etc.

Know what it feeds on

Before starving yourself, know that losing weight won’t necessarily make cellulite disappear, even if you weigh more than you are supposed to. Yes, the more fat is stored underneath your skin, the more stressed your connective tissue is going to be, thus the higher the chance for fat pockets to break through. Slimming down will certainly result in less total fat mass and make cellulite somewhat less pronounced, but not for long.

A healthy diet is not only a great preventive tool, but also helps keep your cellulite problem in check. Eating right and avoiding carbohydrates (heavy carbohydrate consumption has been shown to generate more cellulite) won’t make your unwanted fat bulges disappear altogether, but it will certainly keep the signs at bay. Some foods might even actively help with the dimpled appearance.

Find its weak spot

Everybody is different. There are a lot of different approaches to cellulite reduction; you have to find the one that works best for you and stick with it. To do so. you’ll first need to determine the degree of cellulite you have. This can be done by performing a simple pinch test. Cellulite comes in three grades:
Grade 1: No visible dimpling when standing or lying down. Skin looks smooth, but an “orange peel” texture appears when pinched.
Grade 2: Visible dimpling when standing that disappears when lying down
Grade 3: Visible dimpling when standing as well as lying down.

Once you know your grade, it’s time to choose a method that will cover the three most important aspects of an effective anti-cellulite treatment: collagen production, fat reduction, and increased circulation.

Exercise and eating healthy can help you lose excess fat as well as increase blood flow. For Grades 1 and 2—considered mild and thus easier to treat—a regular workout routine combined with healthy diet should produce visible results over time. Even with Grade 3 cellulite, which won’t respond in the same way, major improvement is possible. Severe cellulite calls for a more determined approach: massage and laser treatments battle the appearance as well as the underlying causes of cellulite.

Outrun it

Even though cellulite is a widespread problem, scientists still aren’t sure what exactly causes it.
One thing is clear: Cellulite can happen to anyone, and to beat it you have to get in game early on.
Staying healthy is the best you can do to prevent the nasty fat bumps from forming. The years between 25 and 35 are when cellulite becomes most pronounced. Try to incorporate a workout into your daily routine. Focus more on toning than weight loss, especially if you are at your healthy weight; eat fewer carbohydrates; and drink plenty of water. The fight starts now!