Unlike this picture, there isn't a miracle cream out there to remove cellulite, but you don't have to run 10 miles either. To understand what cellulite is and how it gets on our lower body I want to explain a combination of two factors, weak collagen fibers and fat. Compared to men, women have collagen fibers in their lower body that run vertically up and down like a picket fence. Because of this "picket fence" our collagen fibers form pockets in which fat cells can grow inside of, and not to mention the extra fluid and the lack of blood flow to go along with it. Imagine yourself filling your pockets with marbles and then rubbing your hand along the outside of the pocket. You feel those bumps? That's cellulite in a nut shell.
Fat in the lower body of a female is different from a man, surprise! We have about 9 times more of something called alpha-adrenergic receptors than a man. I will not attempt to explain what these receptors are and what they do, but I will tell you that they have a lot to do with fat storage. You can also thank the hormone estrogen for the large amount of these receptors in our lower body as well. With "picket fence" collagen fibers and a tendency to store fat in the lower body this can make it very difficult to get rid of cellulite. This is an issue of doing something to address both fat loss and collagen strengthening. Cellulite has a lot to do with genetics as well, but that doesn't mean that getting rid of it or making it less pronounced impossible. It just may mean that it could be more difficult than others.
The first thing you need to do to get rid of cellulite is to lose fat. You need to block those alpha receptors in the lower body from getting a message to store fat. In order to do this you need to consume less carbohydrates . Carbs are the major stimulators of insulin and this hormone is the best friend of those alpha receptors. So, lower your carbs and that will lower insulin and that will speed up the release of fat.
Also, strengthen your collagen fibers. You need deep tissue massages and foam rolling. This will reduce the appearance of cellulite, but you have to continue with it or it won't make a difference. Doing this will increase blood flow and help remove fluid that has accumulated in the collagen pockets. Ladies, think massages and hot baths as much as possible.
Building muscle is very important. Weight training is the only form of exercise capable of strengthening muscle and tightening the connective tissues of the body. Look for exercise that will strengthen your butt muscles. Learn how to activate those muscles so that you can get results.
Things To Remember:
What causes cellulite? It's a fat and fiber issue
Women get cellulite more than men because of the "picket fence" shape of our collagen fibers.
Women have a more difficult time losing fat from the lower body due to the female hormones.
The alpha-adrenergic receptors can be blocked by consuming fewer carbohydrates.
