Men have always had it a little easier than women in the fitness world. First of all, we tend to build more muscle and do it faster then women. Secondly, we don't have as much social pressure to look good. For example, a woman with a high body fat level is generally considered unattractive in today's society, but a woman with very low body fat and lots of muscle is considered manly by most. Women just can't win!
This week I take a walk on the wild side and investigate a major concern for many women in the United States: cellulite. Unverified data suggests that 90 percent of women, regardless of shape, size or age, have unwanted cellulite on some part of their body. Although men generally don't notice or care to notice, women in the gym go absolutely nuts about these small dimples on their legs or buttocks. This article will review some of science's latest treatments for unwanted cellulite and make some suggestions on how to finally rid your body of this less than devastating problem.
Cellulite is simply skin dimpling which occurs when connective tissue is overwhelmed by fat deposits. According to Dr. Hussman from bodybuilding.com, there is no data that suggests that cellulite is permanent. So, fear not ladies! There is something you can do about it.
As you have probably seen on many late night infomercials, there are zillions of options to get rid of cellulite. In doing research for this article, I have seen the most ridiculous products in the world. In my opinion, the fact that these products were even made is a slap in the face to women everywhere. The number one culprits in this ridiculous lineup are the creams, lotions and sprays. As Dr. Hussman said, there are no "topical medications" or "manipulative process" which can change the way cellulite looks. These approaches are trying to get at the cellulite from the outside-in, and yes, that's a losing battle.
The trick is to work from the inside-out. You must breakdown those stubborn fat deposits and restructure the connective tissue under the skin. There are two ways to go about this. The first way I term the "bad" way; conversely, there is also "good" way. The "bad" way takes the same approach the above-mentioned creams, lotions, and sprays take: the easy way out.
Searching around the Internet I found a few of these "cheats." Some plastic surgeons use Lipostabil injections as a means to rid women of cellulite. An enzyme is injected into fatty areas, like the butt and thighs, where it is said to break down and dissolve fat, slimming and smoothing the skin. As you might expect, there have been no published studies using the enzyme on the butt and thigh areas and the procedures are extremely expensive. One of the more painful sounding therapies is Endermologie. In this case, a machine with large rollers (made by a company called LPG) massages the skin to break up fat. Although I highly question the results of such a torture rack, the machine has been FDA-approved and a one-year clinical-outcome-study update published in the Aesthetic Plastic Surgery journal in 1998, showed that 90 percent of participants reported an improvement in areas plagued by cellulite. Various other forms of therapy were found ranging from injecting algae to electroshock therapy to liposuction.
Now, for the "good" way. There is only one tried and true method to losing cellulite, working it off. Carmen Garcia, professional fitness model, claims that she shed her unwanted cellulite by (surprise, surprise) controlling her diet and lifting weights. Garcia suggested staying away from processed foods, dairy, refined sugars, excess alcohol and caffeine, preservatives and saturated fats. A controlled diet must be supplemented with a strong workout.
Lifting weights tightens, trims and build muscles, all you need to shed cellulite. Let me say this loud and clear: you WILL NOT get bulky if you train and eat right! Many women stay away from weight lifting because they think they will get bigger, less feminine bodies. The opposite is the case. You will lose size by lifting weights.
Garcia uses a tough leg workout to control her cellulite. She divides her leg workout into two separate days on a weekly basis, incorporating glutes (buttocks muscle) in both workout sessions. In addition to these training sessions, Garcia also includes lunges with no weights or activities such as rollerblading, hiking or walking. The two days are split as follows: first day hamstrings, calves and glutes and the second quadriceps and a variation of exercises for glutes and overall legs. She begins each workout with a 10-15 minute stretch period and makes sure she gets at least five cardio sessions in per week, going at least 30 minutes per session, to stay lean. Of course, Garcia is a professional and many women don't have the time or motivation to do the amount of work she does, but I think every woman that is bothered by her cellulite can use Garcia's work ethic as incentive to make a change to their bodies.
The cellulite problem is generally exaggerated by most women, but if you think you could lose some unwanted fat, eating a little better and working out is the way to go. Just remember that cellulite is unnoticed by most men, so in the next few months when you're searching for that perfect bathing suite, don't neglect the rack of string bikinis.
Marcus Goncalves is not a licensed doctor or dietician -- if you require serious help, please consult a physician.
