Anti-Cellulite Answers

"Cellulite Solutions

by Monica Neave
Cellulite is a nuisance for thin and overweight women alike and can be somewhat more difficult to tackle than losing weight. Although some believe that it is a special type of fat, "cellulite is simply normal fat that looks bumpy because it's pushing through the connective tissues that usually keeps it distributed evenly beneath your skin", says WebMD writer Michel Bloomquist. Genetics, age, pregnancy and hormone levels are among the causes that you have no control over. Some people are born with weaker tissue structures that collect fat deposits more easily. Others experience a weakening of tissue structures as they age. And some women produce high levels of estrogen (especially during pregnancy) that tend to break apart collagen tissue fibers allowing for fat to deposit in the form of cellulite.

The good news is that there are plenty of other factors that cause cellulite which you can control. Your body fat level is probably the most important one; the less fat that you have on your body the less fat there is to push through those connective tissues. So even if you are genetically predisposed to cellulite lowering your body fat will keep it to a minimum. Two other factors to consider are poor circulation and bad food choices, which tend to go hand in hand. Poor circulation damages tissue which results in blocked air and trapped toxins from too much processed foods or food allergies. The more you exercise and the better food choices you make the less chance you have of toxins contributing to your cellulite. One last thing to consider is sun exposure that ages your skin and contributes to the breakdown of collagen tissue.

There are numerous treatments for cellulite on the market including herbal treatments, creams, gels, exfoliants, endermology, body wraps, hormone or enzyme injections, and even electrical muscle stimulation but the rate of success is low and there aren’t any studies or research that prove any of this stuff really works. These treatments are also very pricey. But don’t despair, there are more effective ways to reduce cellulite.

Build Fat Burning Muscle
Building muscle changes your body composition and burns off fat stores faster than cardio or dieting alone. For every pound of muscle you burn an extra 50 calories a day even while you sleep. If you were to put on 5lb of muscle you could be burning an extra 250 calories a day even while you sit. This is a lot more than an hour of cardio, which only keeps your metabolism elevated for several hours. Building muscle also increases circulation and elasticity, which tightens your muscles and skin tissue from within. It’s still important to do cardio but your focus should be on strength training, especially the lower body. The best lower body cellulite busters include walking lunges with dumbbell, seated leg curls, leg press, and plie squats with a dumbbell.

Stay Away From Fat Free
Obviously a healthy diet is the best way to reduce body fat but fat free products are some of the worst foods for fat loss. These foods are highly processed and very unsatisfying so you tend to eat more of them and since they are loaded with sugar, trans fatty acids, and high in calories excess calories quickly get stored as fat. Another major problem with fat free foods is that the labeling is somewhat deceptive. "The FDA label laws state that if a food has less than one-half gram of fat in a serving, that food can be labeled fat-free. The FDA however, is a bit lax when it comes to regulating serving sizes. By using a serving size of .02-.04 grams a food manufacturer can actually label pure fat as fat free" explains fitness expert Phil Kaplan. If you are craving something have a small portion of the full fat portion and then get back on track with your healthy eating.

Good Fats Promote Fat Loss
This is right on track with the recommendation above. People have been brainwashed to believe that all fat is bad when in reality omega 3 and omega 6 fats found in olive oil, avocados, almonds, walnuts, and flaxseed oil, boost metabolism and unlock stored body fat. "Glucagon is a key hormone that enables your body to burn it’s stores of body fat. A diet rich in omega fats helps balance your insulin levels so that glucagon can be released to unlock your body’s fat storage banks and begin converting unwanted body fat into energy" writes weightloss expert Jorge Cruise. The fats that you should avoid include those found in margarine, fried foods, refined vegetable oils, full fat animal products, and processed foods that contain the words partially hydrogenated on the ingredients list.

Recommended Fat Loss Supplement
Super Flaxseed Oil 32fl oz

Boost Fiber Intake
According to Dr. Scott Conelly, author of Body Rx, and one of the hottest looking 50 year old doctors around, "When fiber is digested, it is fermented in the gut and converted iinto short-chain fatty acids, which can be burned for fuel. The burning of fatty acids from fiber sends a signal to your fat cells telling them to release fat, which your body uses for fuel. The fiber in food also creates a sensation of feeling full, so you feel more satisfied after eating it". Starting your morning with a good breakfast cereal like kashi good friends (8 grams of fiber) and half a cup of berries (4 grams of fiber) almost gets you half way to the recommended 25-30 grams of fiber a day. Keep in mind that most Americans only get around 5 grams a day so starting out your day with a high fiber meal increases your chances of getting to the recommended amount.

Think twice about spending your money on cellulite products that are not guaranteed to work and remember that a healthy diet and strength training is your ticket to fat loss and a cellulite free body."

The best advice I can think of is to drink lots of water, eat healthy, work out and focus on the parts of your body that you like as you try to accept the parts you don't. Try not to worry about it too much. For stretch marks, I would suggest rubbing "palmer's cocoa butter cream for stretch marks" on them, followed by vitamin E oil (straight out of the caplets – buy the natural/d-alpha ones). Do this daily, preferably right after exfoliating well in the shower and once before bed. Be consistent in order to see results. But even if you don't, treating them this way will make them look and feel better to you than leaving them untreated. For cellulite, try rubbing/massaging coffee on it (since caffeine is in lots of cellulite lotions) for a couple of minutes every couple of days.

I've also read that MSM cream and supplements are good for stretch marks (see the last poster):

http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20060718173857AAyMnRv&show=7

These links might also offer some solutions. Good luck

http://www.otan.dni.us/webfarm/emailproject/stretch.htm

http://spas.about.com/od/skincare/a/Cellulite.htm

….And don't forget, at the end of the day, these are just small imperfections in a world that expects every woman to fit into some impossible ideal of "perfection". Try to keep it in perspective. It's still your body and it's still functioning well. And you can walk, run and move those stretch-marked hips back and forth. That's more than lots of people are able to do. Be grateful for your body. Anyways, your stretch marks and cellulite just show that you are a woman who HAS LIVED.

Cellulite is a medical term for fat, one of the most stubbornly irritating problems faced by women. Cellulite is pure fat pushed outward towards the skin while the connective fibres that connect your skin to muscle pull inwards, specifically lumpy fat located around the upper thighs and lower buttocks. Women are genetically have a tendency to store fat around their hip and thigh area. That is the place where cellulite occurs the most. Cellulite affects many more women than men. Men don't get cellulite because they store fat around their middles, rather than in the cellulite zone (thighs, hips and behind). It is estimated that almost 85 percent of American women have excessive cellulite on their thighs and buttocks. Also, the dermis over the fat layer is thicker in men, which hides dimples, and more importantly, men's connective fibers are anchored differently.

What is the cause of cellulite?
The latest theory suggests that female hormonal influences cause fat cells to cluster together in the thighs. The clumped fat cells constrict the tiny local blood vessels and impair normal blood flow. With damaged blood vessels and compromised blood flow, the cells in the thigh area cannot repair themselves in their usual way. Instead, deposits of protein form around the clumped fat cells and damaged blood vessels. The combination of protein and fat with poor circulation creates spots under the skin, which project a "cottage cheese" appearance in the thighs. In short, scientists now think cellulite is a consequence of female hormones, decreased circulation in tiny blood vessels, and protein and fat globule deposits under the skin. Much of this process may be genetically determined.

How to get Rid of cellulite?
Your first plan of action to get rid of cellulite should be exercise. If you are able to shed fat, you will automatically reduce cellulite. Build up muscle tone which will help you in burning more calories even while at rest. In order to shed fat from your body you will have to cut out the fat from your diet. Switch to fruits and vegetables, whole-grain breads, chapatti made from unpolished wheat flour, 'khakharas' and low-fat yoghurt made from skimmed milk.

Massage breaks up fat cells, which makes it harder for to dimple.

The next thing you should perform is a good cellulite massage. Massaging the thighs to promote good circulation is another technique used to reduce cellulite. Some anti-cellulite creams also suggest you to use them with massage. A cream makes massage easier, but it's the massage, not the potions, that probably helps most. Many spas use a combination of herbs and other naturally derived creams, in conjunction with massage, heating pads, or warm towels. A special machine called Endermologie is also used to help massage the skin and promote circulation. Endermologie experts claim their machine increases local circulation as the clusters of cellulite are rolled over and stretched out. Endermologie machines are used by some dermatologists and plastic surgeons, and may temporarily reduce cellulite when combined with a healthy diet and regular exercise program. A healthy diet and a regular exercise program appear to control cellulite by stimulating circulation and metabolism.

Liposuction is another surgical procedure used to reduce cellulite. After an incision, a small metal tube is placed in the fat site, and a pump like device suctions unwanted fat from the body. Scientific literature suggests that this is the most effective way to achieve visible results. Liposuction, however, involves a certain amount of risk and should be discussed with your dermatologist or plastic surgeon.

Liposuction acts only to reduce fatty deposits; it does not address the problems of circulation or hormone influence that contribute to cellulite. Although liposuction appears to provide the most visible results, future treatments that target fat removal as well 'as circulation and hormone influences would remove cellulite even more effectively.

Cellulite Cream and Lotion
Forget the ads. There is no magic cellulite lotion that can help you get rid of cellulite completely. But you can reduce the appearance of cellulite to some extent.

Cellulite creams for the thighs contain one or more ingredients that have reported to destroy fat deposits, and thereby prevent the formation of cellulite. Research studies done by scientists have shown that at the most cellulite creams show minimal reduction for cellulite and that too with creams that contain caffeine. Cream-based products with botanical ingredients, such as sweet clover, ivy barley, lemon, kola nut, fennel, algae, and strawberry, are also advertised for cellulite reduction. Till now, nobody knows how these substances help to get rid of cellulite, and no good researches support the claims of these cellulite creams and lotions.

You can also rub in tretinoin cream, which is a cream to reduce cellulite. It may improve the appearance of cellulite when used along with massage and exercise. When you use tretinoin, the skin gets a bit thicker and firmer, and then the little fat pockets don't project through the skin as much. But tretinoin isn't a miracle cure.

Cellulite is fat. You aren't going to get rid of it very much by the use of creams. So, if you've tried everything and still harbour a few unwanted ripples, don't fret. It is possible that you can be at your ideal weight and in great shape, yet still have dimples caused by cellulite.

A lot of people think that exercise is the best answer for cellulite, but they're wrong. Exercise is the best way to lose weight, but getting rid of cellulite isn't necessarily about losing weight. Cellulite is really like a little pocket of fat and a balanced diet and exercise can, of course, reduce the fat content within the cellulite. This might make the cellulite to appear less dimpled, but the actual cellulite is still there!

The treatments for cellulites on your butt, thighs, or tummy, are advanced medical spa treatments. You should look into treatments like LipoDissolve or VelaSmooth. VelaSmooth is great because it's totally non-invasive.

One site I found that's pretty good is http://www.healthyskinportal.com/ They have tons of facts about cellulite.

The good news is: There are definitely procedures out there that will help you get rid of stretchmarks and cellulite. Unfortunately, you cant get rid of stretchmarks…for the most part, it's genetic and you will either get them from pregnancy or weight gain…or you won't. In order to treat the marks and cellulite you do have, you can consider a few techniques.

Stretch Marks: Treat them when they're new and/or pink! The fresher the marks are, the easier they are to get rid of. Microderm and laser treatments in conjunction with topical treatments are very effective methods for fading or eliminating your stretch marks. You will need a series of treatments (depending on your situation). Free consultations are available at any good medspa or laser clinic, and they should be able to tell you exactly what you can expect as far as the treatment, # of sessions, results, and cost.

For cellulite, there's a range of treatments from more invasive surgical options such as tumescent liposuction, SmarLipo…or minimally invasive options like Endermologie (massage) or Mesotherapy (saline injections). Another treatment, called VelaSmooth is a laser procedure that is also effective at melting fat deposits. Remember, these treatments are effective for people with excercise resistant fat cells and NOT for people with moderate to extreme weight problems. In other words, this is for toning, not for weight loss. Hope this helps. Check out the link below for more info and for clinics and medspa in your area. Go in for a consultation…it's definitely worth your time!

I think all commercial products for cellulite are a waste of money. The active ingredient in all of them is caffeine. I use a coffee scrub on my trouble areas and moisturize really well after. My skin feels great and it's much cheaper.

Coffee
plastic wrap
old newspaper

Microwave coffee grounds (fresh, not already brewed. And obviously not decaf) with some water for 30 seconds in a coffee cup. Coffee grounds should be damp. Scrub them on your cellulite areas and leave on skin for about 10 minutes. For an added boost, wrap the area in plastic wrap to trap the coffee against your skin. You can spread newspaper on the ground underneath you for easy cleanup. Just rinse in warm shower and apply lotion. You'll love the feeling!

I would try Mary Kay's TimeWise Cellu-Shape Contouring System. It takes 1/2 off each thigh and "after 4 weeks, 81% of women had firmer skin". Awesome stuff! Smells good too!

Here's the site:

http://www.marykay.com/angelatrent/spabody/bodycare/10010451

I hope this helps! Take care!

Have you trying dieting and doing squats a few times a week? I always see ads for creams, I don't know if they work, buy I guess you can always ask for a refund if is doesn't http://www.cellulite-reduction.biz

Cellulite-
you can buy "body treatment-the healing garden spa theraphy active anti cellulite treatment" after you use it for about a week most of your cellulie if gone and then after you keep using it it works really good. wehn it comes out its looks like moose and it pops and crackles its awesome its at wal mart &walgreens

stretch marks-
coco butter- it smells horrible, my friend buys some stuff from walmart and it works good on her!

First, there is no such thng as cellulite. Adipose is adipose no matter where or how it is tored in and on your body. (Cellulite is a commericial name given to the dimpled body fat/adipose that is directly under the skin.)

Everyone is geneitically predisposed to store certain amounts of body fat on his or her body. You can not alter your genetics.

You can slowly (very slowly so as to no trigger an adverse response from your body by leading it to think that you rae in a period of no food so that it stores everything until things get better and food becomes more plentiful…)lower your dialy caloric intake (do not lower it more than 100 callaries per day for a one week period; i.e., if you currently eat 1500 calories each day you would lower your daily intake to 1400 and maintain that daily amount of consumption for seven days, the following wqeek lower it to 1300, etc.)

Work out regularly, at least twice a week doing weight reisitant exercises so as to build muscle (which burns fat even while you are at rest and, muscle takes up less space than fat so you will be smaller…)

Do some form of aerobic/cardio workout for at least 30 minutes per exercise period three to four days per week (walking, jumping rope, biking, hiking, classes, karate, ballet, swimming, skiing, roller blading, etc.)

You did not gain that adipose/fat over night and you will not loose it over night. It will take a life time of work from this point forward to acheive and maintain your body, a healthy eating and life style, etc.

Don't fall prey to the diet pill industry, or to quick fixes as they do not work. Save your hard earned dollars for something else more worthwhile.