If you are a women past the age of puberty, chances are you will be faced with cellulite. Cellulite is that bumpy fat that looks like an orange peel, often found on the hips, buttocks and thighs. Cellulite can have a negative affect on your self-esteem; however, you can help the appearance of cellulite with effective weight treatment and a healthy diet. Consult your doctor before beginning any new diet or exercise regimen.
Identification
Cellulite is often compared to cottage cheese or an orange peel due to its dimpled appearance. This appearance is due to collections of fat deposits pushing against the connective tissue under your skin, the KidsHealth website explains. This makes the skin dimple and look bumpy and uneven. There are several factors that may contribute to the appearance of cellulite, including genetics, gender, age, body fat and the thickness of your skin.
Healthy Eating
Weight loss alone will not be an effective treatment for cellulite, though it can make it less noticeable if you eat healthy. Indeed, if you often follow fad diets, you can actually be sabotaging your efforts to rid your hips and thighs of cellulite. If you eat a consistent diet of whole, organic foods, such as whole grains, lean proteins, low-fat dairy products and plenty of fruits and vegetables, you can help prevent the occurrence of cellulite.
Cardiovascular Exercise
The American Council on Exercise recommends daily cardiovascular exercise to diminish the appearance of cellulite. Cardiovascular exercise is a effective way to lose weight when paired with a healthy diet. If you are just beginning a new exercise regimen, start slowly. Begin by doing five minutes of exercise, slowly building up to 30 to 35 minutes. Cardiovascular exercise can include jogging, aerobic dancing, skiing, swimming and rowing.
Strength Training
Strength training can be beneficial to weight loss, and thus help to treat cellulite. With strength training, you are building muscle, which helps you burn more calories. Strength training will also help you reshape you body, diminishing the appearance of cellulite. If you are just beginning to strength-train to reduce cellulite, begin with light weights. The American Council on Exercise suggests that you aim for one to two sets of eight to 15 repetitions.
The Cellulite Solution
There is now proof that a combination of diet, cardiovascular, and strength training exercises are the key to minimizing the appearance of cellulite. Dr. Wayne Westcott, co-author of the book "No More Cellulite," has designed a program that helps reduce cellulite. The program consists of 20 minutes of strength training and 20 minutes of cardiovascular exercise. He encourages users to follow the program three days a week, though additional cardiovascular exercise is allowed. The American Council on Exercise reports that a study showed that those following the program lost about 1 pound a week. When a healthy diet was added, participants lost twice as much.
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