While it is easy to think cellulite is a special type of fat or tissue, it is nothing more than body fat. Cellulite gets the dimpled appearance from the way it forms under the skin. Weight loss, through exercise and diet, is the only way to permanently reduce cellulite on your body. How fast you can remove it and how long it remains on your body depends upon how much body fat you have and the amount of effort you are willing to make.
Anatomy
Cellulite forms when body fat accumulates in the same place. As this fat accumulates, it pushes up against your skin while you skin is pulled down by connective tissue. For women, cellulite is a much more common trend because of the structure of their connective tissue. Female connective tissue groups fat into honeycomb shaped sections that allow for more protrusion. Males have a horizontal pattern in their connective tissue, which does not make it easy for the fat to protrude.
Causes
To understand the causes of cellulite, you have to understand where excess body fat comes from. Excess fat can develop if you eat more calories than you burn each day. This is usually a result of being sedentary and not paying attention to your dietary habits. Cellulite can also become pronounced if you are dehydrated and are not drinking enough water each day. Other risk factors that can increase your chances for developing cellulite include stress and hormonal contraceptives.
Exercise as Treatment
There are two basic forms of exercise: strength training and aerobic exercise. Aerobic exercise, such as running, cycling, hiking and rowing, causes you to burn calories for weight loss. Strength training, also known as resistance training and weight lifting, is used to tone and build muscle tissue. A well-rounded fitness program includes both of these types of exercise. As you lose excess body fat and build lean muscle tissue, you can reduce cellulite and prevent new cellulite from forming.
Potential
There is no exact timelines for how long it will take to remove your cellulite. If the cellulite is new and you are considered within a normal weight, you can see results within a few weeks of exercising. If you are overweight, have large amounts of cellulite or have had cellulite for many years, you may find that it takes months to see any noticeable results. Unfortunately, because your body needs fat for survival it is likely that you will always have some amount of cellulite on your body. According to MayoClinic.com, eight out of 10 women have cellulite on their bodies.
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