Cellulite affects women and men, young and old, fat and slim, gym-bunny and sofa lovers - even celebrated beauties like J Lo.
And as the beach beckons, millions of us strive to ditch that orange peel look. Keen to hone a tight bum and sleek thighs we spend millions on potions, pills, herbs, gels, creams, seaweed, mud, massagers, homeopathic injections, aromatherapy, skin patches, liposuction and laser surgery.
From a medical point of view, cellulite is nothing to worry about - it’s not even listed in medical dictionaries. But we all want to feel good about the way we look, and there is much you can do.
Exercising and Cellulite
Performing toning exercises for your bum, hips and thighs will help define the muscle underneath the fat layer. Any aerobic activity (jogging, swimming, stepping, rowing etc) which increases your heart rate, increases your blood flow and improves your circulation can help.
Diet and Cellulite
Eating a healthy diet will help you lose weight and reduce those troublesome fat cells. Some say cellulite is a sign your body is polluted, with unhealthy foods causing fatty, toxic and water deposits in your skin. Eating more raw fruit and vegetables, drinking more water and eating less processed foods should make a significant difference.
Why not try the following:
- Avoid sugar - it damages collagen which you need to avoid the mattress effect
- Eat foods that boost collagen production such as vitamin C rich foods - kiwis, sweet peppers, berrries and plenty of multicoloured vegetables. Lean proteins from chicken and fish will also provide you with the building blocks for collagen production
- Eat less processed foods, which can be high in sugar, fat and salt
- Watch your salt intake - it can cause water retention and worsen cellulite
- Eat fruit and vegetables for plenty of vitamins, minerals and fibre
- Eat wholemeal breads, wholegrain cereals and potatoes
- Avoid artificial additives, such as sweeteners and colourings Drink at least 2 litres of water daily
- Reduce your alcohol intake
Massage and Cellulite
Brushing or massaging problem areas every day can help stimulate circulation and break down fatty deposits - you can do this at home or check out the wide range of treatments available at spas all over Australia.
Spa treatments and Cellulite
Spas offer a vast mixture of cellulite treatments, from general detoxing to specific treatments that range from creams and acupuncture to newer treatments like Endermologie, (a motorized machine with rollers that lift, stretch, spin and suck the skin, loosening connective tissues and improving circulation) and laser stimulation, which is said to break down fat pockets and increase circulation. To find out about the cellulite spa treatments available near you, its a good idea to ask individual spas what they offer. Here are a few great treatments we discovered at some of Australia’s top spas.
Fifth Element Day Spa, VIC - Green Coffee Body Wrap
Slim and tone your body with this cutting-edge cellulite treatment. This slimming and toning wrap stimulates your body's ability to break down fat, increase metabolism and eliminate water retention. Pure 100% Micronized Green Coffee naturally rich in Chlorogenic Acid, Polysaccharides, Proteins, and Essential Oils, smoothes and enhances your skin's overall texture, visibly reducing spongy, dimply, cellulitic areas.
The Lyall Spa , VIC- Sodashi Contouring Marine Body Wrap
Stimulates and assists the lymphatic system and assist in the removal of accumulated toxins which are a common cause of cellulite.
Werribee Mansion, VIC - Purifying Marine Body Wrap
A deeply detoxifying body treatment designed to combat congested, uneven and cellulite prone skin.
Advanced Beauty and Body Care, NSW - Full Body wrap
Designed to help with body contouring, detoxification, pain relief, temporary inch loss, cellulite control, skin tightening, skin softening, boosting of the lymphatic system and metabolism.
