If you see a bulged, rippled, waffled and orange peel-like appearance on your fatty hips, thighs, stomach and buttocks, you're looking at the bane of all women: Cellulite. It's a horror almost exclusively experienced by women. Most men are exempted from it, thanks mostly to the strong connective tissue in their fat cells. But we females have to live with it in much the same manner that we have to deal with the monthly inconveniences of having a period or the pain that comes with childbirth.
But unlike menstruation and childbirth, we can do something about cellulite. For starters, you can start by ensuring that your diet is low in fat and rich in fiber. The easiest way to do this is to add fruits and vegetables to your daily menu. Consuming at least 8 glasses of water everyday is essential, too.
Crucial to saying goodbye to cellulite is exercise. This is because when you sweat it out, you're strengthening the muscle fibers in your body, tightening and toning it. When the muscle gets toned, cellulite becomes less visible. Be it cardio, strength and flexibility exercises, all these play a role not only in getting rid of cellulite and improving your overall health, energy and wellbeing at the same time.
Brisk walking, jogging, swimming, aerobics, yoga and calisthenics are just some of many exercises to choose from to rev up your metabolism and burn away excess fat. Dancing, kickboxing and playing sports also help keep cellulite at bay. Varying your routine is also important to keep working out the different muscle groups. For beginners, a 15-minute exercise regimen is enough. You can gradually lengthen the time to as much as a couple of hours when you feel that you are up for it.
If you want to put more circulation at the back of your thighs, one of the more common places that cellulite congregate, you can try this: Kneel down with your body tilted forward and elbows touching the floor. With your back straightened, slowly lift your left leg behind you as far as you can until it forms an angle with the floor. Do the same with the right leg.
Another exercise to minimize cellulite build-up there in your outer thighs and hips is this: On a sturdy chair, sit with your knees bent at a 90 degree angle while the rest of your feet is flat on the floor. With your palms on the outside of your knees, push your knees against them, at the same time pressing your palms inward to prevent your knees from pushing them away. Hold this position for one minute while breathing normally.
Another exercise is to lie with your stomach on the floor with your elbows bent and your head resting on your arms. Making sure that your hip bone is on the floor, raise your left leg, hold and point and flex your foot four times. Lower your leg and repeat motion for 8 times. Do the same with your right leg.
Cellulite may be the horror of every woman in a society that puts such a value on appearance. But through exercise, diet and a healthy lifestyle, saying goodbye to cellulite need not be a matter of life and death.