Friday 7 December 2012

What is Cellulite And What Can I Do About It?

Cellulite is a change in the appearance of the skin, generally from the stomach down and it occurs in most women. The look of the skin is altered due to fat deposits collecting under the surface of the skin. These fat deposits are contained within chambers and separated by collagen fibers underneath the skin. These chambers can can form for a number of reasons, such as:

Genetics - There is an inherited likelihood of cellulite;

Becoming overweight - Too much fat in each chamber;

Age - The fibers shrink and tighten pulling the skin downward;

Hormones (Oestrogen) - Stimulates the storage of fat for purposes such as menstruation, pregnancy and breastfeeding;

Poor blood circulation - The fibers shrink due to lack of oxygen and the accumulation of waste products resulting in the tell-tale cellulite look;

Poor lymphatic drainage - The waste products can not be drained from the area and increase the fat cells;

Exercise - Or lack of, can be a cause as there is no increased blood flow to the areas;

High fat foods - An increase in fat intake can cause the excess fat to be stored in the problem areas;

Sun - Lengthy exposure to the sun accelerate the skin aging process,

Dieting - On and off dieting causes the body to store fat in the problem areas in preparation for the next 'starvation period', and

Stress - A highly stressful lifestyle causes the release of hormones which are associated with cellulite formation.

How can I avoid cellulite?

You can't. Yes, I may sound like the voice of doom but it's true. Even the biggest, most glamorous celebrities (with personal chefs, trainers and the option of surgery!) have cellulite. Stop pursuing this skewed image of perfection - it doesn't exist. Celebrities have their photographs airbrushed way beyond reality so learn to accept yourself for who you are. The only people who care about cellulite is women, I promise you that your boyfriends and husbands don't care an iota about it. In fact, the majority don't want to snuggle up to a bony, nobbly boob-less and bum-less twiglet of a woman. They want curves! We women need to be kinder to ourselves and each other and stop comparing ourselves (and each other!) to this skewed version of perfection.

Ok, rant over! I had better keep to the promise in my article title and tell you what you can do about your cellulite. As we know, you can't get rid of it completely but here are some tips to marginally improve the appearance of your cellulite:

Diet - Eat a healthy diet consisting of vegetables, fruits and lean meats. Avoid high fat, sugary and processed foods.

Dry brushing - dry brush your skin (towards the heart) to increase blood circulation to your problem areas.

Exercise - Have a regular exercise regime consisting of at least three sessions per week.

Slip, Slop, Slap - Slip on a shirt, slop on sunscreen and slap on a hat when in the sun for long periods.

Avoid stress - Easier to say than do but there are numerous calming techniques that can be used.

For those of you who are flagging with your healthy lifestyle as Christmas approaches, here's one more reason for the ladies out there to stick to it!