Health/fitness :: Fitness

Cellulite: The Ugly Truth

Thursday Sep 9, 2010
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Here’s the ugly truth: Once you have cellulite, there is nothing you can do to get rid of it. There are some treatments and therapies that claim and perhaps do minimize the appearance, but the results, if any, are temporary.

The good news is that there are some things you can do to prevent cellulite formation:

1. Cardio exercise. Cellulite is formed when there is an inadequate blood supply to the septae. Septae is the fibrous connective tissue that stores fat in the layer directly under the skin. When there is a tear in the septae, or when that "netting" is weakened, fat cells are pushed upwards, forming cellulite. By challenging your aerobic capacity, you are increasing the efficiency of the cardiovascular system. The cardiovascular system is responsible for ensuring your cells get the energy and oxygen they need through circulation.

2. Massage. As if you need another excuse to go to the spa! Massage breaks up congestion and spasm in muscles, allowing blood to flow more freely throughout the body. Massage is also shown to reduce stress, which is associated with increased fat storage in the areas of the stomach, hips, thighs, and buttocks.

3. Stay Hydrated. Proper hydration maintains cell permeability, allowing nutrients and oxygenated blood to circulate through.

4. Work Out and Watch What You Eat!! This one is obvious, but it’s worth a mention. Cellulite can’t form without fat. The more fat you have, the greater your risk of developing the cellulite.

As for treatments, there are some creams containing caffeine that are said to help, and a number of non-invasive cosmetic procedures like Velashape, which claims to smooth out the skin’s surface. I wish I could tell you that coming to one of my classes or a training session will help you get rid of the cellulite you have, but I can only tell you that it will help prevent cellulite in the future. That, and you will have a blast... See you at the gym!

Comments

  • Apollo, 2010-09-26 13:29:59

    I agree with most of the content from this article.However, few consider sufficient and restful sleep a component of a healthy lifestyle that very much impacts not only how you feel the next day, but how you eat and exercise as well. Sufficient sleep, in my case at least, is ideal if I go to bed before midnight and sleep at least 8 hours, but no more than 9 hours. After a restful night, I have much less desire for coffee and sugar (or sugary diet and drinks), and have a lot more energy throughout the day, including at the gym. It may be worth mentioning that staying up too late at night, and/or lack of sleep, raises the levels of glucocorticoids, a hormon that is responsible for raising blood sugar, and initiating fat catabolism in peripheral body parts (legs/arms), increasing Sodium (and hence water) retention in the kidneys, and rising the levels of blood cells responsible for inflammatory response. Too much of this steroid though is not good, and may explain why many overweight individuals appear to have Cushing symptoms (puffy cheeks, buffalo neck, redistribution of fat tissue from arms and legs to abdominal area). Cushing syndrome typically appears in those individuals who are on steroid drugs.


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