Many of us have a love/hate relationship with our bodies: we are quick to find endless flaws with our physical shape, and yet unable to separate ourselves from this organism that is our connection to life. One of the most common complaints about our appearances is (you guessed it) looking fat. In healthy amounts, fat is a natural part of our human body and should be respected as such; in unhealthy amounts broght on by too many cheeseburgers and french fries, fat can take on unpleasant and lethal forms. In recent years, cellulite (a word created by the French and sustained by the cosmetic industries, not science) has become especially reviled as that "dimpled" form of fat hanging out around the butt, thighs, and stomach.
If you're struggling to get rid of cellulite peeking out from your bikini, take heart. You're just like 99.9% of other bikini-ed bodies. Before you go to great lengths to achieve a shape worth of airbrushing, though, consider your motivations. Do you want to look like the latest cover of Cosmo, or to build a healthier body and self-esteem? Before you start changing your body, it's important to think about your motivation -- and choose healthy over unnatural.
Getting Rid of Cellulite
Because of its structure, cellulite can be more difficult to eliminate than other forms of fat (see information to the left). If you're having a hard time getting the results you want with diet and exercise, don't beat yourself up. Even supermodels can have cellulite -- it's just harder to see through all that super-confidence and airbrushing. Focus on achieving a healthy body, and over time you will start seeing less cellulite and more muscle. Even if you can't completely get rid of cellulite, it will be less noticable as you become more toned and slim.
As with any other fat, cellulite can be reduced with a healthy, low-fat diet. The appearance of a localized fat lump or dimple may not change, but your overall cellulite can diminish with a diet low in saturated fats and trans fatty acids -- both of which are common in processed foods and are more difficult for the body to process. Replace processed foods with fresh fruit and vegetables and whole grains. Reduce your overall fat consumption and choose "healthy" fats (like lean meat or nuts) over junk food. Limit your daily caloric intake to a healthy amount for size and lifestyle. Take a multi-vitamin, and drink lots of water.
Combine excercise with a healthy diet to reduce fat and cellulite. Without exercise, even the healthiest of diets can show minimal results. A combination of cardio (like running or biking) and strength training can help your body metabolise food more efficiently, decreasing the accumulation of excess cellulite and the overall appearance of fat on your body. If you're not used to a lot of exercise, start slow; try walking a mile or two everyday before you take up jogging. If you have a hard time with motivation, ask a friend to join you or find a nearby gym to join and talk to a personal trainer. Be realistic in your expectations for youself, and remember that thirty minutes a day of any exercise (walking the dog counts) will make a difference.
Some people recommend intense massages designed to get rid of cellulite. The reasoning behind these massages is that the deep tissue pressure can "even out" or "flatten" deposts of cellulite. In reality, most of these massages simply reduce the appearance of cellulite by causing your skin to temporarily expand or puff up. Talk to a medical professional or professional massage therapist about this option before you try it. While this may work in the short-term, cellulite will return without significant changes in your diet and lifestyle. Also keep in mind the intensity of massage required to get even temporary results will most likely be painful and may even cause bruising.
Medical procedures like liposuction are advertised as "fat busters" or and promise almost-instant cellulite elimination. The reality is that fat cannot ever be completely be eliminated without serious health reprecussions. Even after liposuction, fat and cellulite will come back and the dangers of such an invasive process are often much worse than the problem of unaesthetic cellulite.Commercial Treatments for Cellulite
There seems to be no end to commerical treatments for cellulite, from skin creams to electrical shock to herbal supplements to diet pills to cosmetic surgery. All of these so-called cellulite remedies have one thing in common: they promise immediate, long-lasting, spectacular results with little or no effort. Does this seem too good to be true?
Well, it should, because if these treatments actually lived up to their claims we'd all look like Heidi Klum. In reality, most, if not all, of those treatments do nothing but submit your body to unneeded stress and strain and possible danger. Some creams and injections contain ingredients that can react badly with other health conditions, and cosmetic surgery can cause extremely painful bruising, scarring, disfiguration, and even death. Diet pills and unauthorized supplements can be dangerous and do more damage than good to your body. Before you shell out for the latest anti-cellulite infomercial cream, talk to your doctor about realistic and healthy ways to get rid of your cellulite.
