How To Get Rid of Cellulite

Exercises to get rid of cellulite

2009-05-18T04:35:00.000-07:00

Which exercise is best?

Contrary to popular belief there is no way to target only a specific area of your body when trying to get rid of cellulite. In other words, you need to think about an exercise plan for your whole body. As you can see from other pages on our site there are various creams and lotions that have been held up as the 'cellulite product' to end all products but, to be honest, there is no hard evidence to show these methods works. On the other hand, physical exercise does work and it has a number of added benefits including improved sense of well being and an outwardly healthier look to you skin.

Before you embark on an anti cellulite exercise routine consider the following: violent exercise causes ill effects on the body such as extreme fatigue and, in some cases, it may lead to the opposite of the desired effects.

Forms of physical activities

The two methods of reducing cellulite we're going to look at are:

Walking

Breathing

Walking
Quite simply, one the best methods of reducing cellulite, especially in the early stages. The duration of the walk is down to you but exert some effort in order to speed up the fat burning process. Be careful - you're not trying to break any records so take it easy and build up the duration of your walks i.e.

* Week 1 - Five minutes
* Week 2 - Half an hour
* Week 3 - 45 minutes
* Week 4+ - Twice a day (if you feel up to it)

It's not easy to give a hard and fast rule over timings and distance as we all have differing levels of stamina, resistance power and the will power. Just go with what is right for you. Do not push yourself to the limit.

Overcoming Cellulite with physical exercise

The main purpose of physical exercise it to create an overall weight loss plan that will help to reduce cellulite dimples on your body. As with walking, exercise plans are created with the express intention of raising your heart rate until it is in the fat burning zone. Once you enter this zone, you body will start to burn off excess calories by consuming fat reserves. The added advantage of this method is that your body continues to burn fat even after you've stopped exercising.

I'm not going to give you an in-depth plan - you should do this in parnership with you GP or personal trainer, but make sure you take it easy from the outset. Once you get fit you can start to work harder and really burn of that cellulite.

Come back soon, when we look at another natural way of getting rid of cellulite.

Do Cellulite Creams Work?

2009-05-15T02:25:00.000-07:00

The truth about Anti Cellulite Creams

So, do they really work? The simple answer is 'yes' and 'no'! Most of the anti cellulite products on the market are good for the quick fix option but the effects are not long lasting. If you truly want to get rid of your cellulite dimples you'll need to start a course of 'anti cellulite exercises' or workouts.

The number of products on the market is growing rapidly but there seems to be little real reasearch around the effectiveness of these creams. A number of unbiased studies have been carried out and most, if not all, have stated that the use of anti cellulite creams and lotions is not, in itself, very effective as a longer term solution.

How do the Creams work?

Contrary to popular belief, the application of these creams doesn’t actually cure your cellulite. The applications are designed to plump up your skin but the results are only temporary. Most users have reported having smoother skin for only a few hours - once they stopped using the cream the cellulite comes back.

When compared to other moisturisers, cellulite creams can be pretty expensive with the highest prices costing somewhere between three to four times the price of a regular moisturising cream.

If you decide that you want to use a cream here's a couple of tips:

Read the packaging before you buy! In general, the production of anti cellulite creams are not regulated pharmaceutical control boards. The labelling may not be accurate, so read it and then do some research before you buy

For the best results, apply the cream at night. Your skin will more easily absord the cream which gives the active ingredients a better chance of workgin

Want to know what's in the creams? Here's some the ingredients and a description of what they do.

Aminophylline

Most cellulite creams contain aminophylline. This active ingredient acts muscle relaxant and is most commonly used as an asthma medication.

Creams containng these ingredients are advertised as aids to breaking down fat cells in the anti cellulite treatment. A recent study has shown that the aminophylline cream does not actually get into your blood stream which means it cannot break down fat cells.

Two other studies suggest that there is a marked reduction in the appearance of cellulite after using an aminophylline-based cream.

Confusing results, I know. If you do decide to try out this option, keep it away from heat and use it quickly.

Retinoids

Retinoids are derived from vitamin A and are used in many anti wrinkle treatments. They work by improving the thickness of your epidermis and incresing the flow of blood to your skin. The effects: a reduction in the appearance of fine wrinkles and rough of facial skin.

There have been no major studies carried out into the effectiveness of retinoids as an anti cellulite treatment. If you plan to buy retinol-based cream only use it night as the active ingredient is ineffective when exposed to light.

Caffeine

Some cellulite creams use caffeine as the active ingredient. There is no current data to suggest that caffeine is effective in dealing with cellulite.

How to get rid of cellulite

2009-05-14T06:57:00.000-07:00

Simple ways to get rid of cellulite

Do you suffer from the nasty 'orange peel' effect? First off, don't worry; many of us are in the same boat. Before you decide to go to great lengths to get find the best way to treat cellulite, think about what motivates you. Wanting to look like just like that slim, 21 year old model in some magazine is something we all want but you should be aiming to achieve a healthy lifestyle first.

What is Cellulite?

Cellulite is the phrase used to describe fat which is trapped under the skin and causes dimpling effect in the skin. Because these dimples appear in an irregular pattern they have been likened to orange peel.

90% of post-adolescent women go on to develop cellulite at some time during their life with the thighs, buttocks and the abdomen being the most commonly affected areas. Take heart; although cellulite is commonly associated with obesity, it is not weight related as even lean women can suffer from it.

Regular exercise and healthy, balanced diets may not always be able reverse or prevent its formation, although a poor lifestyle can actually make the appearance worse.

Because of the underlying structure, cellulite can be more difficult to eliminate. Just because you're having a hard time getting rid of it don't despair. Even the slimmest of people can get cellulite. Concentrate on getting fit and healthy and, as your body becomes more lean and toned, you will see improvements.

Most experts agree that the simplest cellulite treatment available is to follow a healthy, low-fat diet. The cellulite dimples may not disappear but, when you reduce your fat intake, the levels of cellulite will be reduced. Aim to replace processed foods in your diet with fresh fruit, vegetables and whole grains. Cut out, or at least reduce, junk food and aim to eat more healthy fats such as those found in lean meat and nuts. You'll need to drink plenty of water and, if necessary, take some multi-vitamins.

Eat and excercise your way to reduced cellulite

The best diet in the world will only give you small results unless it's combined with exercise plan. Take heart; you don't have to pound out 8 miles per day to see results; a modest program of cardiovascular and strength workouts will help. If you don't like the idea of running of cycling think about a brisk 30 minute walk where you aim to raise your heart rate to about 70% of MHR (Maximum Heart Rate). You can get a rough calculation of your MHR by subtracting your age from 220 i.e. 220 - 30 = 190 MHR. The simplest way of finding your heart is to place two fingers on your inner side of your wrist and counts the beats over the space of 1 minute. Alternatively, you can buy a heart rate monitor.

If you haven't exercised for a long time, start slow; walk a mile or two everyday until you can complete the distance comfortably. For the best results, get a friend to join you.

Can Intense Massage treat cellulite?

Some people recommend intense massages as a great way to get rid of cellulite. The reasoning is, that, the pressure of massage flattens the pockets of fat that cause cellulite. The reality is the appearance of cellulite is only temporarily reduced. If you want to try this option, ask a medical professional or massage therapist first.

Medical procedures such as liposuction have been described as a silver bullet for cellulite elimination. The harsh reality is that fat and cellulite can return after surgery if you do not follow a healthy lifestyle.