Well over 90% of women have cellulite; despite the vast majority of us having it, everyone wants to get rid of it! The good news is, there are ways to reduce or get rid of cellulite. The other good news is that since most of the female population has it, we can and should officially stop obsessing about this minor skin imperfection that has little to nothing to do with how fit or healthy your body is.
What is cellulite?
Cellulite occurs when fat deposits push through the connective tissue in the subcutaneous skin layer. Women are predisposed because of the way that the connective tissue runs vertically, connecting the skin to the muscle (men on the other hand, have a sort of crisscross pattern that makes cellulite less likely). Genetics, hormones, and habits all play a role as well.
How can I get rid of cellulite?
You can get rid of or reduce cellulite by working out, eating right, and taking care of your body. It's important to realize though, that the appearance of cellulite doesn't mean that you are overweight, "flabby" or fat, or that you don't take care of your body. Because some of the factors are out of our control (genetics, for example), it's important to not be too hard on yourself when it comes to something as annoying but harmless as cellulite.
With that said, here's the rundown on how to get rid of cellulite (or at least make it less noticeable)
- Strength train, not just for your "trouble zones" but for your entire body
- Do cardio; a balance of HIIT, endurance, and low impact cardio will improve circulation & overall health
- Eat clean; avoid processed foods, and build your diet around veggies, fruits, whole grains, lean proteins
- Maintain a healthy bodyweight (the three points above can help you do that)
- Drink lots of water
- Don't smoke; not only is it nasty for your health, it takes a toll on these superficial things as well
- Massage your body to help improve circulation
Realize that it's a common issue that makes no difference in how healthy you are (aka, to some extent; get over it!)
Cellulite is looked at as this dreadful skin imperfection that we're encouraged to feel ashamed about, when in reality, over 90% of women have cellulite somewhere on their bodies. There are definitely things that you can do to help reduce or even get rid of cellulite, but if you're at a healthy bodyweight and you've mastered the habit of eating clean most of the time and exercising on a regular basis, don't fret over these small details and skin imperfections. Don't let the never-ending stream of Photoshopped images convince you that you're the only one that has cellulite; there's over a 90% chance that the person in that "perfect", retouched image also has cellulite, no matter their weight or fitness level!