Cellulite is most women’s nemesis, although some men also have cellulite but it’s normally women’s thing.
Women have certain hormones that make fat store in the lower body; hence, cellulite shows up on the thighs, hips and buttocks.
Have you ever wondered how cellulite forms? There is outer skin, underneath the skin is a connective sheath that keeps things together and it’s called the fascia. In the skin there are the fat cells/layer and then the muscle under the fat layer.
Cellulitis forms when the fat cell expands and stretches the fascia which is like a connective web under the skin. The fat cell then pushes against the fascia and bulges, causing a dimpled look. That’s how cellulite forms and becomes visible on the surface of the skin.
In clear terms, cellulite is the lumpy, bumpy uneven skin that appears in certain areas like the hip, thighs, abdomen, breasts, buttocks and arms in some cases. The visibility of cellulite is determined by a couple of things like genes, age and skin elasticity, percentage of body fat and body type.
Cellulite is often thought to appear in fat people but we also see it in slim people and that’s due to the continuous weight loss and weight gain, rapid unhealthy weight loss or gain, this process causes the fascia to overly stretch.
What causes cellulite?
Hormones
Inactivity
Poor diet
Tissue inflammation
Poor blood circulation
pregnancy.
How to get rid of cellulite
Cellulite is a tough thing to get rid of but here are a few ways that can help reduce the visibility and gradually get rid of it.
Begin intermittent fasting: This is a great way to shrink your fat cells. Intermittent fasting is eating only within a certain period in a day. When insulin is released, it encourages the storage of fat. Simply put, when you eat food, it increases insulin levels, which stores sugar in the liver and produces fat in the liver, but when you don’t eat (fast), your insulin level decreases and then you burn fat in the liver and stored fat. so, reduce your insulin at all costs. It will also trigger growth hormones and shrink the fat cells.
Tighten the fascia by exercising : I always say that every exercise must have a goal. Whether it is running, walking or weight training, it should be targeted at achieving a particular goal. Although you cannot target only a particular muscle group, there are full-body exercises that are focused on the lower body and that’s the part that mostly has cellulite. Focus on high-intensity interval training because that burst of energy and rest time will trigger muscle growth and tighten the fascia. Also do the glute bridge, lunges, squats, step climbing, squat jumps as well as strength training exercises.
Consume high-quality protein: Protein diets are popular amongst bodybuilders and fitness enthusiasts, that’s because protein aids muscle growth. Protein also maintains skin elasticity and firmness. So, if you are dealing with cellulite and are not a fan of a high protein diet, you need to include protein in your diet asap, protein will Trigger the growth hormone and strengthen the collagen level. Begin to eat more fish, beans, nuts, eggs etc.
Reduce cortisol by reducing stress levels: What stress does to the body is often underestimated. Stress affects us physically, psychologically and even our physiology but who would have thought that stress can encourage cellulite growth. Cortisol is a hormone that is triggered when the body is stressed, just as cortisol hinders weight loss so also does it encourage fat to build up. Reduce stress by finding creative ways to ease up and release stress. Also, make sure to sleep well because lots of repair and growth goes on while you sleep.
Estrogen: I mentioned earlier that hormones can be responsible for cellulite and estrogen is the culprit. Estrogen encourages the body to build up and store fat. Although estrogen is a very essential hormone in the female body, some people may produce much more, an imbalanced level of this hormone can encourage the development of cellulite. To correct this, you need to reduce estrogen levels by consuming cruciferous veggies; there are so many vegetables that fall under this category. Also, eat things that are healthy for your liver like avocado, walnut, oatmeal, garlic etc.
Massages: We mentioned poor circulation as one of the causes of cellulite. Massage is a great way to relax your muscles, reduce stress and improve blood flow. Massages may reduce cellulite by improving lymphatic drainage and stretch out cellulite dimples. You can get this done with a professional masseuse and it should be done as often as possible. If you can’t get a professional hand, ask a partner, friend or sibling to assist. You can also use a body brush, loofa or shower sponge regularly. this will help improve circulation by enhancing blood flow throughout the body
Cellulite is nothing to be ashamed of and it shouldn’t stop you from living your best life.
There are, however, other therapies that are said to get rid of cellulite. Things like laser treatment, creams and lotions, radiofrequency etc.
Working on getting back your body without cellulite is a long-term goal, just the same way it took a while for cellulite to develop, it’s the same duration you need to get rid of it. If you begin now, you can get a smooth skin surface in 1-2 years if you are consistent and ready to make it happen. But above all ensure to maintain a healthy weight or lose it the healthy way.