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How to Reduce the Appearance of Cellulite
Did you know that anyone can have cellulite? Overweight, underweight, men, women--those little dimples do not discriminate. It's perfectly 100% normal to have it and it is never something you should be ashamed of!
There are lots of factors that may lead to you having cellulite, including your hormones, your genetics (skin elasticity, texture, etc.), your weight and your musculature.
In an article by health.com, the author states that "Cellulite refers to the puckered appearance of skin when fatty tissue pushes through the fibrous bands, called septae, that connect skin to muscle". Writer Karen Pallarito quotes Dr. Deanne Mraz Robinson, an assistant professor of dermatology at Yale University and dermatologist in Connecticut as saying that "[the] bands 'pull down and tether the skin, and that’s what leads to the dimpled appearance of cellulite'."
No matter how much you've come to accept the little dimples that grace the back of your legs and butt, chances are, you wouldn't mind if they disappeared a little bit.
While there are so many factors that go into the appearance of cellulite, there are certainly things you can do to make those little lumps look a little less apparent.
1. Build Some Muscle: Building out your body with muscle with most certainly help your cellulite look better. When you incorporate resistance training and build muscle, you'll give your body definition and essentially fill out some of your skin making it look leaner, smoother and less dimpled. Not only will building muscle help to fill you out, incorporating resistance training alongside a caloric deficit will result in fat loss which is number 2! Sweating is also good for your lymphatic system so that's a bonus!
2. Lose Some Body Fat: While losing body fat may not take all of your cellulite away, it can definitely help. Since cellulite is fat cells under your skin, reducing your overall body fat (we can't spot reduce!) will aid in reducing the amount of cellulite you have. Reference back to number 1 here, and include lots of resistance training into your weight loss plan. Losing fat without building muscle could result in loose skin, depending on genetics, elasticity, age, etc., which would make your cellulite actually look more apparent.
3. Try Some Collagen (or other topical/oral supplements): There are 16 types of collagen, but types I, II and III are most prevalent in the body. While Type II is great for your joints, Types I and III are imperative for skin tissues, including both the firmness and elasticity. Your body starts to decrease collagen production in the mid-to-late 20's which is why you may start to see more wrinkles as you age into the 30's. Cell renewal also goes down as you age meaning that your skin won't be as plump, it may start to sag more and just look not as "youthful." There are many collagen supplements on the market now that allow you to add collagen into your routine easily. Try adding something like this or this into your morning coffee for a boost of skin helping goodness! You can also use a retinol cream that helps with the formation of collagen!
4. Hydrate, Hydrate, Hydrate: Your skin NEEDS moisture, and you get moisture from staying hydrated. Drinking enough H2O will also help with your circulation and overall lymphatic system/drainage which will help to keep your largest organ healthy and strong. Giving your body the chance to flush out toxins and, plump up from being watered will make you look better all around!
5. Try Dry Brushing and/or Massage: Dry Brushing has been a technique used for a multitude of reasons, cellulite included, for many years. Dry brushing can help to improve circulation, promote lymphatic drainage and in turn, make cellulite look better. Massage can help improve the appearance of cellulite by massaging the tight fibers that give that lumpy look. Massage also helps stimulate circulation and lymphatic drainage...notice a pattern?
Remember that the title of this article is reducing the appearance of cellulite--you cannot make cellulite disappear completely but you can make it look a bit smoother!
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