Sadly, there are no proven treatments for complete cellulite removal. However, the fatty deposits of cellulite can be reduced through proper nutrition and daily exercise. Don't fall victim to the outlandish claims of cellulite removal gels and creams. Modifying your lifestyle can help you effectively reduce the appearance of cellulite.
Identification
Cellulite is fat that is located directly beneath skin. As fat cells enlarge, they get pushed closer to the skin's surface, and fibrous connective tissue cords get pulled and stretched, according to Mayo Clinic. This stretching is what causes the dimpled appearance of cellulite.
Causes
Cellulite is not necessarily connected to excess weight, as even thin people have cellulite. Genetics, fad dieting, hormonal changes and dehydration all play a role in how visible the fat underneath your skin is and whether or not it takes on the dimpled appearance of cellulite. Women are more likely to have cellulite than men, because women's bodies store fat differently than men's. A man's fat compartments are organized in horizontal or crisscross patterns, and a woman's fat compartments are stored in a honeycomb pattern. This gives fat more of a chance to bulge through.
Misconceptions
Despite the large market of supposed cellulite cures, the University of Maryland Medical Center states that "no amount of weight loss, exercise, massages, wraps, creams, supplements, or surgery has proven to effectively eliminate it once you have it." Wraps only temporarily smooth the skin, at first giving the appearance that the cellulite has been "removed." However, the following day your skin will go back to normal. Creams cannot penetrate the skin and rearrange the structure of the fat cells underneath. Even though liposuction can remove fat, it cannot get rid of the fat's structural appearance.
Nutrition
Once you have cellulite, you can only reduce its appearance. The collagen fibers surrounding the fat cells in your hips and thighs have already been stretched or broken. Changing your diet can help reduce cellulite. Choose complex carbohydrates like fruits and vegetables over processed carbohydrates like bread, cereal and pasta. Fruits and vegetables are full of vitamins, minerals and antioxidants, and are also rich in fiber. Soluble fiber helps reduce the amount of fat in your bloodstream, and insoluble fiber binds to fatty substances in your intestines and excretes them as waste. Increased fiber intake can improve your skin's appearance and help in the battle against cellulite.
Exercise
Diet alone will not reduce cellulite. You should participate in daily cardiovascular exercise matched with strength training two to three days a week. Full body strength training coupled with good nutrition has been shown to double the amount of fat lost when compared to dieting alone. Familiarize yourself with movements like the lunge and squat that can be done with or without weight, as well as dead lifts, back extensions and glute ham developer sit-ups. If you are unsure of how to do these exercises properly, watch an instructional video or the help of a fitness professional.
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