Do you want to get rid of
cellulite -- also known as “cottage cheese thighs?” You’re not alone. Ninety percent of women have cellulite, according to Howard Murad, M.D., author of
The Cellulite Solution: A Doctor's Program for Losing Lumps, Bumps, Dimples, and Stretch Marks (Compare Prices. And getting rid of their cellulite is women's #1 beauty issue..
What Is Cellulite? And Can I Really Get Rid of It?
Cellulite is fat cells that have bulged through cell walls into the skin's middle layer, where they pull on connective tissue to create an unattractive, dimpled skin surface.
The conventional medical wisdom is that NOTHING can be done to get rid of cellulite. But Dr. Murad, a board-certified dermatologist and associate clinical professor of dermatology at University of California, disagrees. He says cellulite progresses through four stages and the sooner you begin to treat your cellulite, the more success you will have.
I can say from a personal standpoint that I saw a great reduction in my cellulite when I made lifestyle changes like giving up smoking and excessive alcohol. I started movement training to better mobilize my muscles, and have a regular exercise program. As I improved my lifestyle, I minimized my cellulite. (When I gain weight, it comes back, though not nearly to the same degree.)
How Do I Get Rid Of Cellulite?
To get rid of cellulite, Dr Murad says you need to strengthen and hydrate your body's cells and the connective tissue in your body. Here's what will help:
Clean up your eating habits. Go on a home detox diet. This means eating lots of fruits and leafy greens. Organic food is better because it contains fewer toxins like pesticides.
Avoid junk food, diet soda, processed foods, artificial colors and flavors, and saturated fats such as butter and animal fats. Limit sugar and salt, which aggravate fluid retention.
Consider a trip to a detox spa or a health spa if you can afford the cost.
Avoid toxins like excessive alcohol and cigarettes.
Drink a lot of water to hydrate your body and flush out toxins. Eight to ten glasses a day are recommended.
Brush your skin daily, preferably before bathing. The best is a Tampico Skin Brush (compare prices) made with natural agave plant fiber. This simple technique stimulates blood and lymph flow, removes dead skin cells and encourages new cell growth. Skin brushing is also inexpensive. You can get a good quality body brush for $6-$8.
Maintain your healthiest weight. Yo-yo dieting can aggravate cellulite.
Finish your daily shower with a cool rinse to tone your skin.
Take Glucosamine supplements (compare prices), which helps your body repair the dermis and connective tissue, an effective cellulite treatment.
Find a spa that specializes in treating cellulite. Spa Montage in Laguna Beach, one of the best resort spas in the country , has treatments that address cellulite, including Algae Cellulite Massage, Clay Body Sculpting to improve the skin’s appearance, and manual lymph drainage massage.
Bathe in a comfortable, warm (not too hot!) seaweed bath to re-mineralize and increase circulation, ideally three times a week. Spa Technologies Sea Cal (compare prices) is the high-quality product that Spa Montage uses.
If the cellulite is severe, avoid high-pressure massage so as not to damage lymphatic function and micro-circulation. Also avoid high-impact exercise.
Apply an essential oil blend designed to stimulate the circulatory and lymphatic systems to the back of your knees and at the top of your thighs near your bikini line. Naturopathica Deep Forest Bath and Body Oil is a good one. (buy now).(
While regular treatment cannot completely rid the body of cellulite, especially as it gets more advanced, it can help prevent further deterioration of the tissues and reduce both pain and swelling.
Will Creams Get Rid of Cellulite?
Most anti-cellulite creams have caffeine, which dehydrates the skin. This tightens and firms the skin for a temporary improvement in appearance. So it's not actually getting rid of the cellulite, just changing the way your skin looks (which can be a plus in bathing suit season). They're expensive, and there have been many disappointed consumers. But if you want to try this, look for a cellulite cream with 5% caffeine.
The newest cellulite-fighting ingredient is aminophylline, which helps break down fat in cells so it can burn easier. One of the better reviewed products, with aminophylline and caffeine, is Procellix (buy now.) I haven't tried this myself, but I recommend you tackle the less expensive lifestyle changes first.
What Won't Get Rid of Cellulite?
Wearing inflatable plastic shorts around the house.
Getting traditional liposuction won't get rid of cellulite. In fact, it might make the problem more noticeable. A newer treatment called Smart Lipo that uses smaller canulas and laser to liqeufy and drain fat is said to work better.
body wraps that promise to reduce the diameter of your thigh by one inch work by compressing the tissue. They're a good choice for a big night out, but they don't get rid of cellulite.
Using detox foot pads. The moisture itself turns them dark, not toxins leaving your body.
