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In: Health & Fitness
21 May 2009Of course having some unsightly areas of cellulite is not a matter of life and death, but to some people it almost seems that it is this important. Cellulite can create anxiety, depression and problems with feelings of self worth. These lumpy, annoying areas of dimpled skin are often seen on thighs, hips, glutes and the buttocks. Cellulite removal strategies are possible and they should be considered before the appearance and amount increases. Some people choose to have surgical procedures like liposuction done to remove their cellulite. This can be dangerous to your health and results are not guaranteed. Surgery is also expensive. There are also all sorts of formulas and drugs that are offered to help reduced cellulite. For most people all they want is a healthy and safe way to remove cellulite that will really work. Luckily there are some natural alternatives for cellulite removal that you can use to improve your health and body appearance.
Cellulite is an accumulation of fat and toxins that have become enlarged and pushed through to the upper layers of the skin. You can identify it by the rough, dimpled appearance that resembles the outer skin of an orange. Fat deposits can respond if you use proper diet and exercise. By increasing your calorie expenditure you can burn off those excess fat cells. Of course a healthy diet will decrease your fat stores and a good diet and adequate hydration can help flush your body of stored toxins that are also part of cellulite deposits.
Exercise is split into two spheres: progressive resistance exercises and cardio work.
Weights or resistance training is exercise that forces your muscles to work against gravity and tension to become stronger and larger. This will help you build lean muscle mass which will burn more calories than fat and will also add shape and definition to your body. The more toned and muscled your body becomes the less visible any cellulite will be. You can use light weights from 2-15 pounds and you should work both the upper and lower parts of your body to get a balanced and shapely physique. Your weight training program should last for 30-45 minutes and you should perform your routine 3-5 days a week for those truly spectacular results. Even twice a week exercise routines will help in your efforts at cellulite removal, but the more you do the better the results.
However, it is important to point out that you may need to work certain exercises that target the cellulite area. This advice is more for weightlifting than cardio work. Specifically, performing weighted isolation exercises can target the muscles in the area where the cellulite collects. As for cardio, burning calories for the reduction of fat deposits occurs gradually over the entire body. As such, there is no spot reduction strategy available in a cardio workout.
The way cardio exercise works as a tool for cellulite removal is quite simple. The more energy you expend, the more calories you will burn. Energy can be expended in a variety of ways including walking, jogging, playing sports, and bicycling. This means your cellulite deposits will become a thing of the past. However, a little more effort will be needed here than with lifting weights. Namely, you will need to perform the exercises for a minimum of 20 minutes per session and for at least 4 days a week to achieve any noticeable results. However, it is not necessary to overdo it with high intensity cardio work. Low impact cardio work can have a very positive effect as well.
A healthy diet program is crucial to winning the battle against cellulite. If you add veggies and fresh fruits to your meals and eliminate sodas, sugars, processed foods and excess carbs you will be well on your way to a cellulite free life. Be sure to drink at least 8 glasses of water a day to help flush toxins, fats and wastes from your body to clear those cellulite deposits even quicker.
Cellulite removal is possible using a well designed program of diet and exercise that is balanced and healthy. This is not a quick fix, but it will get you better and longer lasting results than resorting to surgeries or dangerous drugs. If you are serious about banishing cellulite from your life it should begin with better eating and exercise routines.