Cellulite is a 'fat' of life
Any woman our age who tells you she has no cellulite is either delusional or in denial … unless, of course, she is a professional athlete like Dara Torres (the oldest member of the US Olympic Swimming Team at age 41) who lives and breathes exercise and is under strict diet supervision, day in and day out. Or perhaps she is referring to her personally designed, perfectly sculpted avatar in the “synth” (synthetic for short) world of computer games. Under any other circumstances, ladies, there is no skirting around the truth — cellulite is a “fat” of life!
If women think we have a monopoly on cellulite, I’ve got news for you; men get it, too. Unfortunately it isn’t quite an “equal opportunity” kind of condition since 90 to 98 percent of cellulite occurs among women. Bummer! The good news is that cellulite can be diminished; the bad news is it’s quicker and easier to make a dove disappear in a magic trick than it is to make cellulite disappear.
What is this menace called cellulite?
Contrary to what most people think, cellulite is not a disease; it is a term used to describe a change in the skin condition. Cellulite shows itself as pockets of excess fat deposits and reserves that are distorted by the connective tissues found in the third layer of our skin tissue, or what is known as the first of three layers of subcutaneous fat. The excess or “trapped” fat deposits push against the dermis (the second layer of the skin), thereby causing an uneven and irregular appearance on the outermost layer of our skin, the epidermis. This “bumpy” appearance is what we call cellulite. In the natural order of things, the dermis (which contains loads of collagen, the substance that gives tautness to our skin) acts as an insulator and usually inhibits the formation of cellulite. But once we reach 30, the dermis attains its maximum thickness and we start to slowly lose collagen from then on; as we get older, it becomes increasingly difficult for the depleted collagen and elastic fibers in our dermis to prevent the protrusion of any excess fat we may develop, in part as the result of a sedentary life and unhealthy way of eating. The dermis gives way and breaks down, allowing fat to appear as “cottage cheese” on our outermost skin.
Women in general are in a double-whammy situation because not only is our skin thinner and our connective tissue formation simpler, we generally store a higher percentage of fat compared to men. For instance, a healthy range of body fat for women is between 18 to 25 percent, whereas it is 10 to 15 percent for men. In addition, the first layer of subcutaneous fat among men is thinner and is arranged into polygonal units and separated by crisscrossing connective tissues, a more complex design that makes it difficult for their fat to push and bulge against the dermis. To top it off, it turns out men have thicker epidermis and dermis tissue layers in the thighs, buttocks and hip area compared to women. If this doesn’t add enough insult to injury, women have the auspicious luck of storing the “fat lot” in our thighs and buttocks! Seriously, can it get any worse?
People usually associate cellulite with being overweight, but that isn’t necessarily the case; cellulite is not caused by obesity. Heavier-than-usual, thin and normal-sized women all have the tendency to develop cellulite after puberty; even celebrities, famous personalities and models, young and old, have it. Of course, individuals who are overweight have more pronounced cellulite development, while those with less fat and more muscular definition tend to have less visible cellulite. Take me, for example: my BMI (Body Mass Index) is around 19 percent; that is a very ideal fat-against-muscle ratio for a woman my age, and yet I have cellulite! Of course, exercise and a healthier way of eating have dramatically diminished the amount and appearance of cellulite on my legs and my buttocks; I’d have to pinch or flex my thighs for the cellulite to appear, but I tell you, it lurks beneath my skin.
There is still no conclusive research to back up the theory that genetics has something to do with cellulite development, but certain habits prove to have a more obvious and dramatic effect on why we develop cellulite. Ironically, most of them are things we can control like smoking, dehydration, high stress levels, lack of exercise, poor eating habits. Even our fashion choices have been identified as a culprit in developing cellulite; wearing very tight, highly restrictive, elastic clothing contributes to the appearance of cellulite. So ladies, pack away (or better yet, give away) those spandex pants and ultra tight-fitting jeans, they just aren’t good for you.
Are you a mattress or an orange peel?
Apparently cellulite is classified either as a bedroom fixture, a fruit or even a type of cheese — it is not up to us to pick which one afflicts us. Researchers have identified two types of cellulite: one is the “mattress” look, whereby cellulite appears when you pinch or compress your skin or when you cross your legs and tiny, irregular lumps appear on your skin. The other one is the “orange peel” or “cottage cheese” appearance, where the cellulite is visible in a natural standing stance or when lying down, no pinching involved. I belong to the first type now, although I must admit I was bordering on the “orange peel” type before I had my “a-ha!” moment and realized I needed to whip my body into shape.
I believe it is important for women to determine which type they fall under so they can “attack” the problem with the right plan of action. Drastic measures like invasive surgery may not be appropriate for a minor “mattress” type of cellulite; basic and simple changes in lifestyle may actually be enough to rid anyone of this pesky cellulite problem.
Now you see it, now you don’t
Who wouldn’t want to be rid of cellulite? I know I would (to a reasonable degree) and I’m sure you would, too. If you find yourself thinking of having a procedure as an option to remove cellulite, please consult a certified plastic surgeon; in fact, consult more than one surgeon so you can obtain a second or even a third opinion. Conduct extensive research on your own and select a surgeon who understands your needs and is willing to work with you in determining the best approach for maximum benefit; remember, it is your body and you have a say in what happens to it. But keep in mind that although surgeries and modern non-invasive treatments, creams, pills and supplements work, none of them can guarantee us a 100-percent, cellulite-free body forever and ever. Medical experts still recommend regular exercise and eating well as realistic and practical solutions to addressing the problem of cellulite in the long-term (take note of the emphasis on long-term). If you have the financial means to supplement your healthy eating and exercise routine with certain treatments or creams and the like, go ahead and do so but let me tell you, it is not cost-effective. I considered trying cellulite-busting technologies like Endermologie and Tenor years ago because I wanted to lose the weight and get rid of the cellulite so badly, and quickly. But after I found out how much they cost and how many sessions I had to undergo I decided to go the old-fashioned, reliable way: I amped up my workout routine and changed my eating habits. I have tried topical treatments but because I don’t conscientiously check my skin, I can’t personally say whether they actually work or not.
Truly, there is no shortcut to a healthy lifestyle and a healthy body. But conventional wisdom has taught us time and time again that incorporating a balanced and healthy diet with aerobic or cardio exercise and resistance training still provides the most realistic and satisfying results. Here are some practical recommendations that can get you started:
• Cut down on your fat and salt intake and be smart about your carbo intake; increase the amount of fiber in your daily diet.
• Exercise at least three to five times a week for at least 20-60 minutes to create a satisfactory caloric deficit; select several forms of aerobic exercise you enjoy and alternate them so you are able to sustain working out in the long-term.
• Incorporate resistance or weight training in your exercise routine, particularly for problem areas like the legs and the buttocks. Squats, leg presses, all types of lunges, hip abduction and leg curls (three sets with a minimum of 12 reps at a weight heavy enough to make you exert effort) are all proven to decrease the amount of cellulite in your legs and buttocks, giving your skin a smoother feel and appearance.
Just between you and me, I personally don’t mind having some cellulite because it reminds me that I am human and I am not perfect and that is perfectly fine. Cellulite is subjective according to each woman and we all have to decide for ourselves how having it affects us.
