The Naked Truth About Cellulite Treatments
As long as I have been old enough to read and watch TV, I can remember seeing ads on how to remove cellulite. In my mid 30’s, I graduated from simply watching ads to actually purchasing products – a lot of products. Nothing worked. But now there is hope.
As we ladies get into our 30’s and 40’s, almost all of us develop some degree of cellulite on our thighs and buttocks. It doesn’t matter about your weight, your age, your body type, your skin color or your religion. Cellulite does not discriminate. The grim statistics show that between 80% and 90% of all women in the western hemisphere will develop cellulite at some time in their life.
What causes cellulite?
While the problem is sometimes hereditary (thanks, Mom!), most of the time the condition is brought on by poor diet, lack of exercise, smoking and excessive drinking. Foods high in fat, sugar and artificial additives are among the top culprits in our diet. Our fast paced lifestyles deprive us of the time we need to plan out and prepare a well balanced meal, therefore we end up at the nearest drive thru and eat our meals on the run.
Not only is the fast food habit unhealthy and hard on our hearts, it wreaks havoc on our skin and causes fat pockets full of trapped toxins and water to accumulate. These fat pockets, known as cellulite, cause the unsightly dimpling effect and the orange peel texture on our thighs, buttocks, stomachs and arms.
Is there a cure for cellulite?
While there are many so-called “cures” on the market that claim to totally rid the body of cellulite and prevent it from coming back, it is widely believed that the condition can be improved but never totally eliminated. The use of anti-cellulite products or treatments can greatly reduce the appearance of cellulite, but other changes in lifestyle may be required as well. These changes may include weight loss, dietary changes, incorporating an exercise program, and less smoking and drinking.
What works best?
That is the question every woman asks. The truth is that there are many effective treatments for cellulite. The most pronounced difference between the types of treatments would be the cost factor. Surgery is extremely expensive and questionable, and the cellulite reduction services offered at many spas can run into the $1000’s. The simplest and most cost effective method is to use a cellulite removal cream in the privacy of your own home. These creams can range from $12 – $100 for a month’s supply.
When trying to choose the best cellulite treatment cream, it’s important to take the following factors into consideration.
what are the ingredients used by the company and are they safe? Many companies use asthma drugs to combat the cellulite while others use all natural ingredients.
How much does the product cost? The most expensive products are not always better and the least expensive products may be a total waste of your money.
How easy is the product to use? Some products are very easy to use and are absorbed quickly. Others have an odd texture, unpleasant fragrance and don’t absorb well.
To get the answers to these questions, check out our reviews of the top 5 cellulite removal products on the market. We look at how the products work, the cost and, most importantly, the results.
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Is it Possible to Get Rid of Cellulite Dimples?
There’s a lot of confusion about whether cellulite treatments and creams actually get rid of cellulite or whether they just hide it. While some cosmetic cellulite lotions make claims they can get rid of cellulite they may be stretching the truth a little bit.Cellulite is small pockets of fat trapped below the skins surface and intertwined in fibrous tissue. These trapped pockets are what causes the dimpled look that is associated with cellulite on the skins surface. Most women have some amount of cellulite on their upper thighs and buttocks so it’s not un-natural, but if given the choice I think most of you would opt to get rid of it.In this article I’m going to take a look at three cellulite treatment options and how effective they are at getting rid of cellulite. I will tell you right up front that none of these three methods will actually get rid of cellulite. Instead they reduce the visible appearance of the dimples that cause you to feel self conscious and embarrassed by cellulite.Endermologie®The only treatment system that is actually recognized by the FDA and certified to say that it can temporarily reduce the appearance of cellulite is Endermologie®. This treatment uses a small machine that with two rollers and slight suction to roll the upper layer of fat and skin to stretch the connective tissues. This smoothes the skin, and reduces the appearance of cellulite for a while.Since none of the fat cells have actually gone away you will require on going treatments. Endermologie® is administered by a trained professional in clinics in most major cities. It’s said to be a bit uncomfortable, and can be costly.MesotherapyOriginally developed in France Mesotherapy is the process of using small needles to inject natural solutions just below the top layers of skin. These solutions are supposed to prevent fat from forming, and reduce the size of fat cells. In turn with smaller fat cells you’ll see less dimpling on the skins surface.Like Endermologie® you can have this treatment performed at clinics in most cities. The price is rather steep, and you will need continuos treatments to maintain results.Cellulite LotionsThis is the one treatment you can administer yourself at home. The downside to cellulite creams is they take some time to produce visible results, and not all lotions work as well as the next. Finding a product that works can take some time.A big plus of using cellulite lotions to treat cellulite dimples is the cost and lack of discomfort while applying them. Most cellulite removal creams are rubbed onto the affected area twice daily until they are completely absorbed. Taking little time to finish, and the only pressure comes from your own hands rubbing the cream into the skin.Active ingredients such as caffeine and derivatives of Vitamin A penetrate the skin to improve blood flow, increase metabolic pathway activity, and tone & firm the skin. It can take 4 weeks or more to get favourable results but if you can stick with it lotions can be a painless and less expensive alternative to more evasive cellulite treatment procedures.
How to Do Best Exercise to Get Rid of Cellulite
Many people often rely on external products such as creams, lotions, and potions to reduce cellulite but they tend to ignore exercise as the most effective way to stop cellulite from appearing. The best exercise to get rid of cellulite should focus on activities that can help you lose weight and improve your muscle tone. The actual ideal exercises for cellulite can be broken down into cardiovascular cellulite exercise and anaerobic workout.
One of the most widely accepted causes of cellulite is the development of fat that causes tiny dimples on the skin. Regular cardiovascular exercise can effectively help you burn excessive calories that cause fat and improve the circulation in your blood as well as in you lymphatic circulation. Some types of cardiovascular exercise can include jogging, walking, and swimming.
Some parts of the body, such as buttocks and thighs, can have direct results from cardiovascular cellulite exercise. 10 to 12 repetitions of leg curls and squats with some weights are great. Then after one set, a 2 minutes break and another 10 to 12 repetitions are recommended. The same number of exercises should be repeated on a daily basis with the same amount of breaks as well.
The other set of exercise for cellulite is known as anaerobic workout. This type of exercise helps your body metabolize the excess fat that is building up on some parts where cellulite can easily accumulate. Start with doing some weight exercises 3 times a week to help you convert the fat into actual muscle tissue. Focus your exercise to strengthen muscles in the areas such as upper arms, abdomen, thighs, and buttocks. Remember that your workout session can be as little as 15-20 minutes a day on three times a week. Also give your body at least 24 hours to break between workouts to recover.
The other important thing to help you reduce cellulite and losing weight is to keep a healthy lifestyle and balanced diet. Avoid consuming food with heavy calories, smoking, drinking alcohol, etc. Instead, you should eat more fruits and green vegetables, such as broccoli that is great for detoxing. Studies have shown that a calorie consumption reduction of 25% will lead to losing one or two pounds each week. Last but not least is to drink plenty of water, preferable about 1 – 2 litres a day, to flush out toxins that can cause cellulite.
Finally, ensure you consult your physician though before starting your exercise and diet regime if you have any health problems.