Here’s Why You Should Love Your Cellulite
Cellulite. The 10-letter, 4-letter word. The truth is, almost every single woman has cellulite somewhere on her body. Studies show that about 80% to 90% of all women will develop cellulite in their lifetime. If you think about it, that means more women will have cellulite than blue eyes (just 8-10% of the world’s population)! So, if you have it, don’t stress! It is completely and utterly normal, and a beautiful part of who you are.
What Causes Cellulite
While cellulite is most common in women, it also affects 10% of the male population. If you aren’t quite sure what it is, cellulite is the dimples usually found around the glute area, but that can also be found on arms and bellies depending on your genetics. Us women can blame it on our collagen. Collagen is the most abundant protein found in the human body, it is what helps to hold us all together. Women’s collagen is structured a little differently than men’s. Scientific American describes the difference as:
“The [structure of] collagen, the main protein of connective tissue, in women has the appearance of a picket fence, whereas in men it looks more like a cross-linked fence. So you can see the cross-linked structure is much stronger [and will hold fat in better].”
On top of that, as our estrogen starts to decrease, so does circulation and collagen production, causing wider gaps in our collagen which allows some of the fatty deposits to push through.
Does Working Out Reduce Cellulite
The truth is, since cellulite is caused by genetics, losing weight or working out may not reduce cellulite. People who have a BMI that is ‘overweight’ or higher have a better chance at getting rid of cellulite as they lose weight, but those people in the healthier weight range may see no change at all due to weight loss alone. However, you can reduce the appearance of cellulite (read that again really quickly, ‘reduce the appearance’ meaning, you will not get rid of cellulite completely) by weightlifting. Building muscle in the area where your cellulite is most apparent helps to reshape the area and reduce the appearance overall. So, focus on glute workouts that build muscle, or come into a BODYPUMP or Buns n Belly class where we focus on this area of the body!
What Is The Cure For Cellulite?
Several treatments claim to stop cellulite in its tracks, but it looks like there may not be a way quite yet to permanently get rid of it (and the temporary fixes can be quite expensive). In short, there is not a cure, but it is also a natural and very ordinary part of most women’s bodies, so we shouldn’t even be thinking of it as something we need to ‘cure’. However, there are ways to — and here is that phrase again — “reduce the appearance.” Under virtually every treatment on the American Academy of Dermatology website, there is a disclaimer saying something along the lines of, “Results are temporary and more studies are needed.”
What Should I Do If I Have Cellulite?
Lean in close for this one because we are going to whisper it into your ear: YOU SHOULD DO EXACTLY WHAT YOU WOULD BE DOING IF YOU DIDN’T HAVE CELLULITE. Okay, so we shouted. Apologies. Wear those shorts you’ve been eyeing at Nordstrom Rack, keep going on your morning runs because they fill you with energy to take on the day, rock your swimsuit when you head to the beach with friends, and finally, please, wear that cute tank top that’s been in the back of your closet collecting dust since last summer. Cellulite is not something to be ashamed of, it is part of life. If you want to lift weights to reduce the appearance, do it because you also love the several other benefits of weightlifting. It is time that we love our bodies. Big, small, hairy, bumpy, broken, they are the vessels that carry us every day.