Cellulite: Frequently Asked Questions
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Cellulite, most of us are plagued with it and talk about it frequently. Below are a list of some of the most frequently asked questions about this dreaded mostly female subject and how to get rid of it.1.) What is Cellulite?
Answer:
Cellulite, that lumpy bumpy fat that usually shows up on most of our thighs, butts and belly when subcutaneous adipose tissue or fat seeps into the lower reticular dermis (that fibrous layer of the skin). When the fat protrudes into that layer it creates irregularities or bumps at the surface. The dimply, orange peel type skin is characteristic of cellulite and is reported to appear on the thighs, abdomen and buttocks in 85 percent of post adolescent women.
2.) What Causes Cellulite?
Answer:
Here are 4 possible causes that you can address today.
1. Eating the wrong types of fats and not enough of the “Good Fats”:
Trans Fats (Partially Hydrogenated oils) disrupt the metabolism and can really slow things down. Trans Fats appear in most fast foods and processed foods. Not sure…..just take a look at the food label, if the ingredients include…partially hydrogenated this or that, STAY AWAY from it! You’d be surprised at how many of us don’t get enough daily omega 3 fatty acids. Try to eat wild seafood (salmon etc.) at least once a week and maybe supplement your diet with a good quality fish oil. Not only are these oils good for their anti-oxidant values, but recent research has also shown that 3-5 grams of omega 3 fatty acids daily may significantly increase your metabolism.
2. Hormone in-balance or Estrogen overload:
Estrogen stimulates the fibroblasts to make collagenase (an enzyme), which breaks down the collagen, starting the cycle of cellulite formation. Women’s hormones are easily influenced by things in food, medications and the environment, which can increase estrogen levels and therefore increase cellulite. So try to stay away from soy (disrupts your hormones and increases estrogen levels) and get your hormones checked, especially if you’ve had some female issues. Regulating your hormones is not only huge factor in removing cellulite, but they’re important in so many other important bodily functions.
4. Drinking too much caffeine: - Try to cut out or reduce your caffeine intake. Caffeine isn’t the best for our bodies. It promotes waste storage and decreases circulation. Removing toxins and increasing circulation are key factors in the battle of the bumps.
5. Eating Processed Food: This is a biggie. As I’ve mentioned before, we are exactly what we eat. If you want to look like a cake, muffin or bagel, keep shoveling them down. Processed pseudo food (I think Michael Pollan calls it that?) really messes with your fat storage. If our goal then is to remove the fat, get rid of the junk in your diet.
3.) Why type of exercise is best if I want to lose fat and cellulite?
Answer:
Resistance or strength training helps you keep and also build your lean muscle tissue. Muscle burns many more calories than fat, even while you are at rest. It’s important to keep your metabolism cranking so that you are burning as many calories as you can each day. Having toned muscles is also the key to a lean, attractive figure free from dimples of fat. Without muscle mass, we don’t look as healthy and we also don’t perform our everyday activities as well. And lastly, resistance training has also been shown to help improve your bone health and the condition of your cardiovascular system.
4.) Can I spot reduce cellulite from specific areas?
Answer:
No, you can’t lose fat from a specific area just by doing certain exercises. If someone told you that there was secret exercise that could magically reduce the fat from our various trouble spots, then they’d be rich. But they’d also be lying.
Fat burning isn’t like muscle toning. When you strength train to tone your muscle, you only make changes in the specific areas that were exercised (“spot toning”). But no exercise has the ability to burn fat from one specific area only (“spot reducing”). When you exercise, you burn fat from all over your body. Doing one thousand sit ups won’t help you lose your belly fat any faster than a full body “Cellulite Circuit”.
The best approach to fat loss is one that includes several puzzle pieces like the “Cellulite Circuits” program. The first and possibly most important piece is nutrition. It is so important to follow good nutrition principles when trying to improve your figure. If you haven’t already heard these basic suggestions for fat loss nutrition, here are 3 very effective cellulite loss nutrition tips:
1.) Eat several small meals per day instead of 2-3 larger ones.
2.) Monitor your food intake with a paper or on-line food journal like http://fitday.com or http://thedailyplate.com.
3.) Stop eating processed foods and quite drinking sweetened beverages like soda and energy drinks. You'll be amazed at how many unnecessary calories you can eliminate in your diet if you substitute those drinks with water or green tea.
Although losing fat and cellulite is no easy task, it can be done with some simple lifestyle modifications like those outlined in the "Cellulite Circuits" 12 week transformation program. All you have to do is change a few things and before you know it you'll be slimming down and smoothing out those lumps and bumps. If you have any other cellulite reduction secrets, please share them in the comment section below.
