No woman enjoys the look of cottage cheese thighs. Blame it on one word- cellulite. Research has determined that a whopping 95 percent of women will develop cellulite on their bodies at some point in their lives. Cellulite is fat, pure and simple. It appears on the thighs as a result of the combination of fluid retention and fatty tissue and it is predominantly a female problem. Women have this problem more often than men due to the fact that adipose tissue (also the tissue that makes up the breasts) is very different in females than in males. As a woman puts on weight (regardless of whether it is a little or a lot) her fat cells begin to swell but the connective tissue remains as is.
Women of any age can get cellulite although it is more common as one ages and it is not directly connected to one’s weight (contrary to popular belief). However women who gain and lose weight on a more or less regular basis have a tendency to acquire it more quickly. The fat cells in the lower half of a woman’s body have been shown to store fat six times quicker than that on the upper torso but also to let them go six times less quickly. That is why losing weight on the abdomen brings changes to the upper half of the body as well.
So are there ways to make the dreaded dimpling appearance of cottage cheese thighs less obvious? Certainly there is but your first defense should always be to repair the areas where cellulite has taken up residence already. You can do this by learning how to strengthen and hydrate both the cells of the body and its connective tissue.
Cellulite is defined as, “fat that has pushed through cell walls into the middle layer of skin and shows through the surface.” Circulation (or lack thereof) has a great deal to do with cellulite. In order to help reduce the appearance of cellulite you need to increase circulation to the area in question as cellulite is made up of lymph fluid and toxins that are trapped in the skin’s connective tissue. When it is just beginning to develop, wage war against dreaded cellulite by exercising on a regular basis (cardiovascular is best, such as walking or running, followed up by lifting weights) and by eating a healthy and sensible diet that includes plenty of vegetables (especially leafy green ones) and an abundance of fruit.
Remember to hydrate, hydrate and then hydrate the body some more. Drink lots of water and quit smoking as smoking is bad for you on so many fronts but in the case of cellulite development, smoking restricts the flow of blood (sluggish circulation equals cellulite development). Keep that equation in mind at all times! Avoid any alcoholic beverages, coffee, tea, diet soda, junk food, processed food and saturated fats (such as butter or margarine and any animal fats).
You might want to put yourself on a two-week detox plan that is made up of meals that include one serving of protein (for example lean beef, skinless chicken or grilled fish) and lots of fresh vegetables. Another excellent cellulite fighter is to incorporate dry skin brushing into your morning routine before your shower every morning. This process exfoliates the dermis layer of skin and removes dead skin cells; it boosts circulation to the skin; stimulates the flow of lymph; makes it possible for toxins to be released through the skin and it assists the growth of new skin cells. Doing this daily is strongly encouraged. Always begin at the feet and work up. Use a firm but not harsh, hand.
Two other suggestions are to end your shower every day with a cool or if you can handle it, cold rinse (a slow turn in the shower should do the trick) to both constrict the flow of blood and improve skin tone and secondly, to take a glucosamine supplement on a daily basis which aids the body in repairing damage to the dermis layer as well as the skin’s connective tissue.
Cellulite creams and lotions can provide some help to make the appearance of cottage cheese become less noticeable although they are not miracle workers- in other words cellulite creams cannot permanently improve the condition of the skin. If you choose to try a cellulite cream choose one that contains alpha hydroxy acids because these acids reduce the unsightly appearance of cellulite by improving upon the level of elasticity in the skin and strengthening the connective tissue.
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