You glance in the mirror to check out how you look before you head out. From the front, your legs look great, your hair looks shiny, and your makeup looks professionally done. As you turn around to check out your favorite jean shorts from the back side, you find a very unwelcome guest on the back of your legs— cellulite.
This unflattering skin condition is one that affects women of every age and weight. Want to know how to get rid of it? Put down your Palmer’s skin firming cream and listen up.
Why You Get It
Dr. Oz, Americas favorite doctor, explains that we all have fat cells. Our skin is held together by thin, fibrous tissue, kind of like a basketball net. Age, genetics, and hormones slowly stretch this net over time. As our fat cells take in extra nutrients from our arteries, they get larger and larger, collecting more nutrients and blood along the way. The fat cells get so large in fact, that they push the skin out from the muscle beneath it. The bulging you see on your backside is the result of your tissue breaking from the fat cells pushing against it. The worst part? You can’t cure it. Thanks a lot, Dr. Oz.
How To Slow It Down
Though you can’t make cellulite disappear, you can lessen the effects. While it’s important to stay active, exercise doesn’t really cure cellulite because you’re only strengthening the muscle under the fat cells and fibers. However, strengthening the muscles results in tightening of the skin, which can make cellulite appear less noticeable. With that being said, this is where diet comes into play. Make sure you are drinking a lot of water, along with water-abundant fruits and vegetables like cucumbers, watermelon, cantaloupe, radishes and strawberries. Besides providing you with the nutrients to rebuild the damages done, these foods also strengthen the collagen fibers, making them less susceptible to tearing.
There are two over-the-counter products that may also work. Science tells us that caffeine and retinols strengthen fibers and shrink fat cells. If you can find these and add them in with your water-abundant diet, you are more likely to see results. Take these products with a grain of salt. While they may work, they are not a magic cure-all.
The truth is, 90% of women have cellulite. There’s no magic cure to treat it, especially in the time it takes you to get dressed in the morning. The next time you glance at your backside in the mirror, just remember that most girls are going through the same situation. Don’t be ashamed! Walk out that door in your favorite jean shorts— screw the cellulite.
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