I can’t take it anymore! If I see one more commercial advertising some magic cream, potion, or procedure to reduce cellulite “magically” I am going to go off the deep end! I can no longer sit by and watch women being lied to about cellulite or tricked into buying the next “scientific” finding– NOT, that is supposed to rid them of that unsightly area they have been frustrated with for so long.
So, after having a personal conversation with my television I sat down and did the research. Below I share with you what is being said, and what I have witnessed for years as a Fitness Consultant and Results Coach, providing guidance to my clientele to rid them or at least greatly decrease the cellulite areas they struggle with.
LET’S START FROM THE BEGININNING SHALL WE.
Cellulite is a term that is said to have originated in France more than 150 years ago. It began appearing in English publications in the late 1960’s. Widespread promotion of the term in the United States followed the 1973 publication of Cellulite: Those Lumps, Bumps and Bulges, You Couldn’t Lose Before, by Nicole Ronsard, owner of a New York City beauty salon that specialized in skin and body care.
Cellulite is described as the dimpling of the skin, caused by the bulging or protrusion of subcutaneous fat into the dermis (upper layer of skin), thus creating a rippling (waffling, orange peel syndrome, cottage cheese) affect of the skin. The culprit affects 85% - 98% of postpubescent females, though primarily targeting females over the age of 35. In some rare instances it is seen in men but is, as stated above, largely a female issue. The reason for this is that if you took a cross section of a women’s thigh you would see tight vertical fiber bands connecting muscle through the fat to skin (septa). Where the bands aren’t attached or have hardened, the fat bulges up, thus creating the classic rippling effect of cellulite. Men on the other are not as susceptible to the phenomenon because their fibers criss-cross (diagonal) and the fat cannot bulge up as easily.
Let the marketers and charlatans say what they want, but research shows that there is no significant difference between ordinary fat and cellulite. It has yet to be proven otherwise. In fact researchers at the Rockefeller Institute used ultrasonongraphy, microscopic examinations, and fat-metabolism studies to see “affected” and unaffected skin areas of seven healthy adult subjects (five women, two men; four affected, three unaffected). They found/concluded that (1) certain characteristics of skin make women more prone than men to develop cellulite; (2) the process is diffused rather than localized (meaning you can’t spot attack the problem); and (3) there were no significant differences in the appearances or function of the fatty tissue or the regional blood flow between affected and unaffected sites within individuals.
ARE THEY SELLING HOPE??
There are literally thousands of products on the market today, from shoes, to creams, to body wraps, to pills and injections that make mild to exaggerated claims about how their products rid the body of cellulite. They use all sorts of “interesting” scientific research to back up their claims. Now admittedly we are learning more about how the body works literally every week. So as I write this there may in fact be some group somewhere that is on the verge of a yet to be reviewed and approved magic “solution”. But in the meantime the truth is that many of these products and their associated research have yet to be published and reviewed in authentic peer reviewed journals that would legitimize their claims. Many more than I care to list are under investigation or in legal proceedings with the FDA and FTC for making false claims, and/or not producing the results they claimed. Yet you the public are left to make sense of all of this mish-mosh.
I REVEAL THE TRUTH
From the above we now know that there is no difference, supported by research, between ordinary fat and cellulite. We know that women are more susceptible to this phenomenon than men because of their structural issues regarding the fibers of the skin. Further we know much of what is being sold on the market today is suspicious at best. While there may be a few items that initially are appearing “promising”, most are a waste of money.
And though I hate to be the bearer of bad news, research has recently shown that one’s genetics are a large indicator as to who will have a more likely chance of getting cellulite. Since connective tissue genetics are passed down from our parents DNA, so is cellulite predisposition. In addition the more damage one does to their circulatory system (by eating poorly and not exercising for example), which feeds the skin cells and lymph vessels, the sooner cellulite may become apparent.
WHAT TO DO?
One thing that all the research I’ve done does conclude: Eating a balanced diet, containing: lean sources of protein, drinking plenty of water, fiber and whole-grain foods, and fresh fruits and vegetables as well as polyunsaturated fats is a good start. In addition they all suggest the importance of exercise, both as a way to maintain good blood flow, healthy muscle tone, and to de-stress. It is also suggested that one avoid unnecessary medications and smoking.
HOW I HELP?
When working with my clients, one of the first things I do is obtain an accurate body composition (body fat to lean muscle) reading. This allows us to set a baseline of where the client is at presently. It also allows you to set realistic short term and long term goals to attain. Next, I ask them to keep a food journal. Awareness of what you are eating is half the battle; so often most of us are just gobbling down meals, racing off to the next deadline or errand. Next, I begin to add some structure to their meal schedule so that we can get a handle on the amount of calories they are consuming. While that is in process we begin my unique exercise program called BILANEX, a system I have developed through years of research that utilizes functional exercises in a way that actually accelerates the metabolism by burning more fat, yet maintaining more lean muscle than any other program on the market today. My unique BILANEX SYSTEM allows my clients to burn those unwanted calories as well as strengthen and maintain the lean muscle that keeps their body looking and feeling young.
It has been my experience that there is no such thing as spot reduction.
Those frustrating areas of your hips, thighs and buttocks are best transformed through regular exercise and proper nutrition. Now this doesn’t mean spending hours in the gym. What it does mean is committing to making lifestyle changes that decrease your chances of getting cellulite or if you have it, decreasing it quickly.
No exercise is going to change your genetics. That die was caste long before you became unhappy with certain areas of your body. However while science is still figuring out its next potion to sell you, you have proven methods already available to you that get results.
The question becomes, is change what you really want? How will you spend you money, time, and energy.
About the author:
Kurt Elder MSW, CPT is a Fitness Consultant and Result Coach. Kurt has been in the health, fitness and wellness industry for over 20 years. He has been a practicing psychotherapist, competitive athlete, and world record holder. He holds a certification from the National Academy of Sports Medicine. Kurt is currently the owner and operator of Energy F/X Fitness Consultants. Kurt is a highly sought after authority in rehab and sports conditioning as well as weight loss. His approach, aided by his unique background, allows an experience of total transformation of his clients. Kurt may be contacted at http://www.energyfxfitness.com or call me at (310) 895-4464.
