While doctors don't consider cellulite a serious health risk, the dimpled marks on your legs often make wearing your favorite swimsuit uncomfortable. Numerous so-called remedies for cellulite are available, although no effective cure for the condition exists. A healthy dose of exercise represents your best chance to significantly improve the appearance of your affected skin but will not rid your body of cellulite.
Cellulite & Speculation
Doctors call bumps or dimples on your buttocks, hips, thighs and stomach cellulite. The dimples are most common in women and represent uneven fatty tissue lying underneath the skin's surface. Your family history may play a key role in your likelihood for cellulite, although your risk increases if you suffer frequent stress, maintain a sedentary lifestyle or take hormone-based contraception. Weight gain typically makes cellulite more visible. Although exercise has been included in lists of potential cellulite cures and can benefit your skin, a permanent cure for the condition remains undiscovered.
Recommended Treatment
KidsHealth.org reports that the combination of regular aerobic exercise and strength training gives you the best chance to improve the appearance of skin affected by cellulite. Strength training --- or challenging your muscles to work against increased resistance --- is beneficial for cellulite since the workouts allow you to continue building lean muscle as you age, which decreases your chance of excess body fat. People that strength train typically lift weights like barbells, although your gym likely features weight machines as well. Walking, jogging, soccer and cycling are also effective aerobic workouts that burn calories.
Timeline for Reduced Visibility
An effective fitness regimen to improve the appearance of cellulite includes strength-training workouts two to three times every week for at least 30 minutes, although your risk for injury decreases when you avoid working a muscle group more than twice weekly. Consider alternating your workouts to focus on different muscles and always space weightlifting sessions at least two days apart. Aerobic benefits are achieved by exercising for 30 minutes three or more days weekly, but adding time to your workout burns more calories. A safe aerobic workout starts at a slower pace and builds to higher intensity. End your workout by decreasing intensity for around five minutes.
What to Expect
While your cellulite won't vanish entirely, the improved tone and texture of your skin after several weeks of consistent exercise should make the dimples less noticeable. Your chance to achieve significant weight loss --- and less cellulite visibility --- improves when you follow a healthy diet rich in vegetables, fruit, fat-free dairy and whole grains. Cellulite is often less visible on dark skin, so consider applying a self-tanning lotion as a complement to your healthy lifestyle. Meet with your doctor before starting any diet or exercise to improve the appearance of your skin.
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