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- ACE: Exercise and Cellulite
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: Water: Meeting Your Daily Fluid Needs
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Can You Get Rid of Cellulite With Diet & Exercise?
Women spend more than $12 million a year on products and procedures that promise to get rid of cellulite, according to The Dr. Oz Show website 12. For the most part, these potions and devices do very little. Because cellulite is simply fat that bulges between the connective tissues that separate fat cells, reducing your body fat percentage is the best way to reduce the appearance of cellulite. Eating a healthy diet and engaging in regular physical activity are the best ways to keep your weight and body fat percentage under control.
Regular Cardio
Regular aerobic exercise burns calories and reduces your risk of heart disease, diabetes and some forms of cancer 2. It's also an important component of a plan to reduce cellulite. Aim for 30 minutes of cardio most days of the week. The "2008 Physical Activity Guidelines for Americans" recommends a minimum of 150 minutes of moderate-intensity or 75 minutes of vigorous-intensity physical activity per week, but the more you do, the greater the benefits. Personal trainer Joe Dowdell recommends regular high-intensity interval training for cellulite busting because it burns more calories in less time and speeds up your metabolism following your workout 2.
Strength Training
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Cardio isn't the only component of an exercise program to fight cellulite 12. Strength training increases muscle mass, which burns more calories than fat. The more toned you are, the tighter your skin will appear, and this can help minimize the appearance of cellulite 2. Do strength-training moves for your upper and lower body two to three times a week. A study led by Wayne Westcott, a fitness research director at a Massachusetts YMCA, found that people who engaged in aerobic exercise lost 4 pounds of fat and gained no muscle, while participants who did aerobic exercise and strength training dropped 10 pounds of fat and added 2 pounds of muscle in eight weeks 2.
Dietary Considerations
Eating a healthy, balanced diet helps prevent your body from storing excess fat and keeps your weight under control. Stick to a variety of veggies, fruits, whole grains and lean sources of protein, such as:
- poultry
- beans
- to make up the bulk of your diet
These foods provide the vitamins and nutrients you need, without adding an overabundance of calories and fat grams. Watch your salt intake as well. Sodium causes your body to retain water, which can worsen the appearance of cellulite, according to The Dr. Oz Show 1. Keep your sugar intake under 6 teaspoons a day since excess sugar gets stored as fat, making your fat cells swell and more likely to bulge into cellulite 2.
- Eating a healthy, balanced diet helps prevent your body from storing excess fat and keeps your weight under control.
- Stick to a variety of veggies, fruits, whole grains and lean sources of protein, such as: * poultry
* beans
* to make up the bulk of your diet These foods provide the vitamins and nutrients you need, without adding an overabundance of calories and fat grams.
Staying Hydrated
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Make sure you're staying hydrated and opt for water in place of sugary beverages as much as possible. Water strengthens collagen, which can help your skin look smoother, explains the Cosmopolitan website. It also plumps the skin to reduce the bulging appearance of cellulite and helps your body rid itself of excess fat 2. Drink to thirst throughout the day and consume extra when you're working out or when the weather gets hot.
- Make sure you're staying hydrated and opt for water in place of sugary beverages as much as possible.
- It also plumps the skin to reduce the bulging appearance of cellulite and helps your body rid itself of excess fat 2.
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References
- The Dr. Oz Show: Secret Weapons to Fight Cellulite
- ACE: Exercise and Cellulite
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: Physical Activity and Health
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: How Much Physical Activity Do Adults Need?
- SHAPE: Ask the Celebrity Trainer: How Do I Get Rid of Cellulite?
- Cosmopolitan: 10 Wyas to Kick Cellulite to the Curb
- Dover, J. S., Orringer, J. S., Alam, M. (2014). Body Shaping, Skin Fat and Cellulite E-Book: Procedures in Cosmetic Dermatology Series. United Kingdom: Elsevier Health Sciences.
- Tokarska K, Tokarski S, Woźniacka A, Sysa-Jędrzejowska A, Bogaczewicz J. Cellulite: a cosmetic or systemic issue? Contemporary views on the etiopathogenesis of cellulite. Postepy Dermatol Alergol. 2018;35(5):442-446. doi:10.5114/ada.2018.77235
- Luebberding S, Krueger N, Sadick NS. Cellulite: An evidence-based review. Am J Clin Dermatol. 2015;16(4):243-256. doi:10.1007/s40257-015-0129-5
- American Academy of Dermatology Association. Cellulite treatments: What really works?.
- U.S. Food & Drug Administration. ZELTIQ CoolSculpting System 510(k). Published September 24, 2015.
- Zerini I, Sisti A, Cuomo R, et al. Cellulite treatment: A comprehensive literature review. J Cosmet Dermatol. 2015;14(3):224-40. doi:10.1111/jocd.12154
Writer Bio
Amanda Knaebel is a self-professed gadget geek and loves all things tech, both new and old. Amanda has been working as a freelance writer for over 10 years on topics including technology, health, fitness, nutrition, gardening and many more. She has also worked with Fortune 50 tech and financial companies, both in technical support and content production.