Cellulite: What is it and How can you get rid of it?

The first sign of cellulite is every woman’s nightmare. Cellulite is an irregular accumulation of fatty cells immediately underneath the skin, which leads to a dimpled appearance known as cellulite or ‘orange skin’. So, let’s take a closer look at cellulite, what it is, why mainly women get it and how you can get rid of it.

What is Cellulite?
In addition to the secretory portions of sweat glands, the hypodermis (subcutaneous connective tissue which lies just below your skin) contains lobules of adipose tissue (tissue containing fat-cells), which are separated by strands of collagenous fibers, called septae. When these septae become excessively filled with well-nourished adipocytes (fatty cells), the surface of the skin becomes dimpled and the appearance is known as cellulite.

Cellulite occurs around the hips, thighs, and buttocks. Because of the close proximity of cellulite is to the surface of the skin, it creates a dimpled appearance in those body regions.

It occurs mostly in women as well as in some men, and can affect most age groups. Even if you do not have a weight problem, eat healthy food, drink plenty of fluid and exercise on a regular basis, you can still have cellulite.

It is estimated that about 85% of women have some cellulite. Cellulite can begin developing in teenagers, but more commonly begins to show itself in the late 20’s, early 30’s. Factors that are attributed to the development of cellulite are: age, genetic predisposition, Hormonal changes, unhealthy diets and lack of exercise. However, even fit and healthy top athletes can and do get cellulite. Basically the reason women get cellulite is because women have to store fat to give them enough calories to get them through pregnancy and breastfeeding.

What Can You Do and What Works To Rid Yourself of Cellulite?

For starters, be patient. Anything you are going to do that will ultimately bring results will take time.

Massage

Lymphatic drainage massage, and specific massage strokes such as effleurage, frictions, tapotement, and kneading will help to remove the build up of fat deposition. You will need to have regular massages, at least once per week for 6-12 months, depending on the amount of cellulite needing to be removed. As the months pass, however, you will start to see a difference, very slow at first, but if you continue this form of treatment, you will see a difference.

Lotions/Creams

The use of essential oils in lotions and creams can indeed help to break down cellulite. Essential oil of Mandarin, which is a citrus oil, will help to break down fat. The way to get the best effect is to use a product like Wildcrafted’s Mandarin Toning Lotion, applied to your thighs and buttocks, or where ever you have cellulite, rap this area with Glad wrap, and allow the lotion to work for about 20 minutes. Repeat this at least 3 times per week.

The best results are obtained by applying the lotion to the affected area, wrapping Glad wrap around these areas followed by 15-20min of gentle exercise, such as going for a walk, riding a bike (exercise bike) or using a treadmill.

In addition, combine this regime with a healthy diet, ample intake of water and some exercise, and you will start to see a difference over time. Again, be patient. This will not work in a day or two.

Aromatherapy Oil Bend to help reduce cellulite
Using the same essential oils as are contained in Wildcrafted's Mandarin Toning Lotion, namely, Mandarin, Lemon, Cypress, Juniper Berry, Lemon grass and Peppermint you can make an oil blend using 6 drops each into 50ml of Almond or Apricot oil. After a bath, shower or exercise gently massage a few drops of the oil into the affected areas of your body. Do this twice a day.

Various Machines

There are a couple of machines that seem to provide results. One of these is called the Tri-Active and the other the Velasmooth and both of these machines do improve the problem, however, they are expensive, and only the Velasmooth is available in Australia at a cost of $150.- per session! Results are starting to be noticed after 4-6 months of weekly sessions.

Your best bet is to combine the massage with a lotion such as the Mandarin Toning Lotion, a regular exercise regime and a good, healthy, well-balanced diet.

Assault Your Cellulite

Usually doing one thing on its own will not produce long-term effects. For example if you decide you will exercise every day for 20 minutes, focusing on your thighs, you will get trim muscles and you will loose some of the cellulite, but even athletes have cellulite, so what chance have we, non-athletes, got?

On the other hand if you go on a diet, the same sort of thing happens. You will loose weight, probably, and you will start to feel healthier and more energetic, but the cellulite will likely only reduce and not disappear.

Similarly, you can buy a variety of products, all of which claim to work, and many of them probably could, but in the long-term, it is not likely that you will be able to get rid of the cellulite totally.

The only way that you can get rid of cellulite is to combine the three. Eat fresh, wholesome foods, do not eat processed food; stay away from coffee, alcohol and sweet soft drinks. Instead drink diluted fruit juice/vegetable juice, at least 2 litres of water every day and keep all other drinks to a minimum.

In addition, exercise at least 3 times every week. Find an exercise you enjoy, because if you don't, you won't do it long-term. The exercise you choose needs to become a hobby, that way you look forward to doing it rather then a have to do.

Finally to specifically target the areas of cellulite deposition, use a cream or lotion that contains a range of essential oils that include Lemon, Mandarin and others.

Citrus oils break down fat. They also are readily absorbed through the skin and thus directly affect the fat cells stored just below the superficial layers of the skin. One such product is Wildcrafted's Mandarin Toning Lotion. It contains the mix of citrus oils that are known to target fat cells in the skin.

The best results are achieved if after you apply the Mandarin Toning Lotion, you wrap the body-parts in Glad wrap and do some gentle exercise such as going for a walk or a gentle bike ride. After this exercise, have a shower, reapply the toning lotion and rest for 15 minutes.

If you do this and follow the suggestions above with respect to diet and fluid intake, you will see significant result, but only if you stick to it and continue the process over several months (6 months plus).

Another form of cellulite treatment is getting regular massages. Yes, they certainly can help in reducing the cellulite, but again it will take many months before you start to see the results.

Treating cellulite is a long-term multi-facetted approach and there is no such thing as a quick fix here.

I hope this little article will help some of you begin to get a grasp on how to go about getting rid of your cellulite. Be persistent, patient and make it fun.