How to get rid of cellulite is the question all women have in mind. Men and women are completely different, not only in terms of overall attitude and habits, but also on physicality as well. There are a lot of public perceptions as to how men and women are supposed to look in today’s society, and time has not dulled the common perception (or is it misconception?) that is accepted in today’s modern standards of a man and a women: men are supposed to be more angular and hard, while women are beautiful of they are soft and curvaceous.; men’s skin are supposed to be rough – it is the sign that they are hard workers and they are not afraid to get down and dirty, while women are supposed to be clean and smooth to the touch, especially since it is this touch that will be serving the man after a hard day’s work; any man who has a bit of fat is ok by public standards, while a woman must always be concerned about how to get thin and stay sexy and slim or she will be looked down upon in the public eye. Yes, the last statement is true – women should always stay as curvaceous as possible and maintain a thin waist while men get a free pass and can get as heavy and as fat as they like.
While unfortunately the argument over public perception is an entirely different topic altogether, it is important to note that there is also one factor that distinguishes a man’s physicality over a woman’s: men do not get fat that easily, not unlike their female counterparts. This creates a certain dilemma on the part of women, as they have to increase their efforts for maintaining good fitness if they want to adhere to traditional public standards. But that’s not all, cellulite – a woman’s mortal enemy, when it comes to physical perfection, does not easily appear on men so much as it is easily acquired by women. Talk about life being unfair: not only does a woman need to increase her efforts for getting as slim as possible, she also must know how to get rid of cellulite; that is usually not the problem of their male counterparts.
But before we discuss effective ways on how to get rid of the cellulite, we must first know what the enemy is and what its causes are.
What is cellulite?
So what is this cellulite that is supposed to be the woman’s tough adversary when it comes to physical perfection? Cellulites are fat cells that bulge up on the skin to create a dimpled appearance. They are commonly made up of subcutaneous fat that usually anchors to the skin which creates somewhat of an “orange peel” appearance or sometimes a “dimply appearance” on the thighs, buttocks and sometimes on the stomach.
How does it appear?
Cellulite is quite normal in women of all ages and from all parts of the globe. Some studies have shown that over 90% of all women between14 – 40 have cellulite. Like previously stated, men do not usually have to worry about cellulite, as it is pretty rare among men to have cellulite problems. Asian women are also quite lucky, because cellulite is more common among Caucasians, but it is well documented that cellulite does appear of women of all races.
It has been said that hormones play a unique part on the appearance of cellulite deposits. Natural women cycles such as puberty, pregnancy and menopause also contributes to the development of cellulite. A common myth that has been recently discarded was that being overweight is the main cause of developing cellulite, which of course is not true because cellulite has been known to also appear to rather skinny women as well. So before you begin your research on ways to get skinny, better make sure that you’re doing so in order to stay healthy and not to primarily get rid of cellulite.
Impact of cellulite
Unlike men who have to contend with tons and tons of belly fat exercises to get rid of that belly pouch, women have to worry about fat and cellulite development on their thighs. But as stated earlier, while men do not really care if they develop that huge belly bulge, women are more critical on themselves when it comes to physical appearance, and every perceived tiny imperfection can cause a severe drop in the self-esteem and confidence of a woman. Cellulite plays a large role in the overall appearance of a woman, because no matter how thin a woman gets, if there is even a hint of cellulite in the back of her thighs then the entire world of a woman collapses and refuses to wear a bikini or a swimsuit in the summer season.
Way of effectively getting rid of cellulite
A woman needs to be perfect, not only to please the eyes of men and their peers, but more importantly to satisfy their own personal mission for themselves. So a woman can go her entire life trying to discover more effective ways on how to get rid of cellulite, but most of the methods are either too expensive, invasive or just do not work. Times have definitely changed, and there are a few possible and effective ways to get rid of the cellulite and they can be categorized in two types – natural and artificial.
- The Natural Methods – can also be notorious for being very slow with yielding results, but usually can be very beneficial not only in getting rid of cellulite in a woman’s body, but can also be beneficial to the overall health of a woman as well. It is important to note that the natural methods are usually “general” in results, as there are no proven ways to properly target fat and cellulite loss in a woman’s body. This should be considered a general plus, because not only are you losing weight and getting rid of overall cellulite, you are also benefiting from a healthy lifestyle as well.
- Water
- Diet
- Exercise
- The Artificial Methods – or more commonly known as the “instant” or “fast track methods”, can be as effective as the natural known methods when it comes to cellulite reduction, but can also prove to be more expensive as well. These methods generally work wonders to those who can afford them, and also have some benefits aside from targeted cellulite loss.
- Cellulite Massage
- Anti-Cellulite Cream
- Liposuction
- Therapy
- Skin Brushing
- Body Wraps
- Vitamins and Supplements
The Natural Methods
Water, go hydrate yourself – Water is the most important element in the process of getting rid of cellulite. We all know that enough consumption of water, about 8-10 glasses per day, is required to keep our bodies hydrated and can also help in preventing the accumulation of cellulite by promoting the rebuilding of connective tissues in the body. Water is a natural cleanser that helps flush out any harmful toxins in the body, and it is also important to learn that the body is made up of approximately 60%+ water; therefore water is essential to our survival. Regular consumption of water also helps keep our skin moisturized and keeps our sweat glands active. While proper amounts of water consumption may be good for anyone, water alone cannot get rid of cellulite, but it can definitely help prevent and minimize it.
Diet, the skinny on food intake – if you want a perfectly sound method on how to get thin, then here it is: a proper, healthy diet. No matter what you do in life or how fast you claim your metabolism to be, if you do not watch what you eat you will continue to gain weight, increase body fat, and be much more likely to develop cellulite. The consumption of proper foods that are low in fat can not only assure you that you will reduce your possibility of developing cellulite; it can also make you healthier in the long run.
While there is no definite list that can be provided to help you to target cellulite, healthy foods such as fruits and vegetables provide nutrients that are essential for the body and to help eliminate fat. Junk foods can be very bad for you, but occasional consumption cannot hurt. Foods rich in sugar are frequently regarded to be a major cause of cellulite; also with such diseases as diabetes and obesity, diets containing large amounts of sugar can also wreak havoc on your blood sugar levels. Vices such as drinking alcohol can also affect your overall health, but the occasional sip of healthy red wine can be tolerated, especially to prevent heart diseases and Alzheimer’s disease for men.
Exercise, why you need to get physical – Exercise is not only used to develop a healthy body, but it can also promote the prevention and loss of cellulite as well. While there may be certain groups and guides that claim to target cellulite (known as cellulite exercises), cardio training has proven to be not only good for fat and cellulite loss, it is also good for strengthening your heart condition as well.
Though there have been exercises that have been proven to target the thigh area when it comes to cellulite and fat loss. Some of these exercises include:
- Swimming exercises, such as running in place on water or doing some resistance water training that can be good for the buttocks as well.
- Interval training, or the combination of walking and running at regular intervals, is now getting a lot of attention because of its fat burning capabilities and its effect on fat loss in thighs that may promote cellulite reduction in the area as well
- Weight and resistance training is overall good for the body and helps tone thighs with certain exercise such as squats and dead lifts.
The Artificial Methods
Cellulite Massage – This might come as a complete surprise, but there are specialized massages that exist that specialize in the reduction of cellulite. The massage is known as lymphatic massage. Basically, what this does is to firmly massage the skin to promote blood circulation and lymphatic drainage, thereby promoting the breakdown of cellulite. Lymphatic massage is also known to effectively prevent the development of cellulite, thereby assuring that no further cellulite is developed through continuous treatment. One thing to consider however is that lymphatic massage treatments cannot be done by just anyone at anytime because specialized knowledge is needed in order for treatments to produce specific results. Therefore, in order for a patient to produce continued successful results, established experts should be consulted so that extra care and safety can be observed while getting treatments. Also, one important note to remember is that cellulite massages are usually temporary, and while they might visually reduce the appearance, cellulite can be back in a matter of days if not followed up by proper diet and exercise.
Creams – like a lot of different products appearing in the market, creams have also been proven to help reduce body fat as well as cellulite. Creams are not only beneficial for fat loss, but can also help the overall health of the skin by providing a moisturizing effect that is essential to reducing the risks of skin diseases. Furthermore, some creams out in the market are now available that make claims such as reducing stretch marks and eliminating cellulite, with deep penetrating scientific characteristics. While the effects of cream may not be as fast as say surgery, it does have an added benefit of being perfect for those who do not have enough time to go to the gym and exercise or to adhere to the proper diet. Like any of the other artificial methods, this is extremely helpful if you use is as a support system for proper dieting and exercise.
Liposuction – considered by many to be the “answer to everything that is ugly”, liposuction is a common medical surgery that is performed by inserting a small tube, which can be likened to a “tiny vacuum cleaner” that effectively sucks out excess fat in an individual’s body and is probably one of the known methods on how to get thin fast. This method has been regarded as highly effective by many people, especially by surgeons that perform them. The liposuction craze first started out as a fad during the late 90’s, now very popular for being the preferred method by celebrities who wish to be discreet about the fat loss. It turns out that celebrities are the only ones who can mostly afford this procedure, because of the ridiculously high price that the procedure demands. Recent prices are more competitive, but it still doesn’t diminish the fact that this procedure can be very dangerous. Technically, a foreign object is inserted inside the skin and sucks out the fat between the skin and the muscles where fat is usually collected. Unfortunately, not only is the procedure proven to be dangerous at some instances, it has also been known to make cellulite appear worse than it originally appeared. The sudden disappearance of the fat in between the muscles and the skin produces a vacuum, and while the skin is elastic enough to shrink back to accommodate the lost space, it does so in an incredibly slow and natural way, usually between 2-3 weeks.
The process is highly unnatural, but has proven to be effective enough to warrant repeat customers and individuals who are desperate for fat loss and cellulite reduction. Experts are now contending that the proper exercise and diet will hasten up the process of skin shrinking back, though some experts on the other side of the fence are contending that while it is true that it might speed up the process, why not just do it the natural way and lose weight naturally instead of “going under the needle” so to speak?
Therapy – Unlike surgery, therapy can be completely private and non-invasive and some therapy treatments can also be done in the comfort of your own home. Methods such as brushing can be considered as therapy, but a common method that is known to be quite popular is the use of coffee grounds to treat cellulite. The method is usually done with a mixture of coffee and certain creams then applying it in circular motions to your body with a warm bath. This can be very therapeutic and can produce certain rewards for your skin and is probably one of the easiest ways to treat your cellulite by yourself.
Skin Brushing – We all know that the skin is the largest organ of the body, so proper care is recommended especially of you are conscious enough to know that a clear and healthy skin contributes to an individual’s overall appearance. Dry skin brushing has been proven to be the proper way to stimulate the skin cells and promote a healthier overall skin. Some tests have also shown that skin brushing can also tighten up the skin, thereby eliminating such skin problems as cellulite formation and stretch marks. Again, while this method certainly helps, one must remember that no matter how tight your skin is, the purpose is defeated if layers of fat are still underneath it.
Body Wraps – Body wraps are a form of beauty treatment that is known to have originated and made popular by body and massage spas. The method requires an individual’s body to be brushed, treated with natural and herbal creams with certain inclusion of leaves that are good for the skin, massaged either traditionally by hand or by massage equipment, then wrapped by linen or transparent materials that can result in smoothing and clearing of the skin. It is popular to most women because not only does it help treat cellulite, it also causes a great deal of relaxation and stress relief. While the method does not guarantee the instant treatment of cellulite, it continues to be used today as a means to prevent cellulite, together with all of the benefits mentioned above.
Vitamins and Supplements – Supplements are very common nowadays, and some studies have shown that certain dietary supplements and vitamins can help reduce the development of cellulite. Supplements went big during the “bodybuilding craze” of the 90’s. Since the rise in popularity of Arnold Schwarzenegger, every male and female wanted all of the dietary supplements that the market can give them in order to be as big and get the perfect shape that Arnold was in. Unfortunately, some companies took advantage of this and released a number of supplements that not only had negative effects on the user through continuous use but also were very expensive. It is a good thing then that supplements have evolved to become more of a support mechanism when it comes to health and fitness, and have made quite successful comeback in terms of mainstream use. Some supplements, such as grape seed, fish oil and gingko biloba, are known to be essential ingredients of certain food products, but can also be taken in the form of individual capsules that can be taken as vitamins. As previously mentioned, supplements are just that, they are used as a support or to complement a proper diet and exercise regimen or lifestyle that can help the prevention of the development of cellulite and fat.
The same holds true for certain vitamins. Research has shown that vitamins D and E, which are clearly mainly the sources of the skins essential nutrients, are being marketed not only as skin supplements but also as “cellulite killers”. Further research has also proven that certain derivatives of vitamin A have been effective in reducing and treating wrinkles. As with supplements, these are merely meant as support to any natural methods you might use and not as the main method in which you base your cellulite loss efforts on.
The bottom line
So, now that you know how to get rid of cellulite, all you have to do is pick the method that suits you and your lifestyle. The important thing here is that you get to know yourself and the methods that will work best for you. You can choose a method that is all natural and is non-invasive for your body if you have the patience to stick to the program (like proper diet and exercise;) or you can choose a faster and more expensive approach (creams, surgery or medications), but the one thing to remember is that a perfect balance should always be considered when it comes to choosing a method. It is therefore up to the modern woman to determine what could help her in the short term and what could be more beneficial for her when it comes to long term cellulite loss.
