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Fit or Fiction: Is There a Cure for Cellulite?
Posted on May 25th 2010 2:00PM by Liz Neporent
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Short of plastic surgery is there any way to get rid of cellulite? -- Patricia, Boston, Mass.
Despite charming nicknames like cottage cheese, orange peel and pin cushion, cellulite is nothing more than your common, garden-variety body fat. The reason it has a ripply appearance, especially in the butt, hip, and thigh area, is that it's compartmentalized by connective tissue called collagen. To get a super magnified idea of why cellulite is so lumpy and bumpy, press your arm against a chain-link fence and watch how your skin bulges through the openings.
About 85 percent of women and a small fraction of men develop cellulite after puberty. Even many lean and muscular women have it -- don't let the air brushed pictures of stars and models fool you. There are several theories about what causes cellulite to form, but most experts think it's a combination of hormones, genetics and excess body fat.
Although certain weight loss products claim cellulite is a unique kind of fat that's responsive to special creams and lotions, none have been shown to have a lasting effect. Creams that contain caffeine and irritants can minimize the appearance for a few minutes or hours. There's even a plastic surgery technique that first uses a laser to encourage collagen formation and skin tightening, followed by a fat injection that's massaged evenly into the problem areas which can improve its appearance for up to three years. But such treatments are costly and sometimes painful. Besides, according to fitness specialist Marta Montenegro, star of the Montenegro Method DVD series, you can get better results for far less cash.
I asked Montenegro specifically about this issue because she's Miami-based -- and who spends more time showing off skin and bodies than beach-loving, short-shorts wearing Southern Floridians? Not surprisingly, exercise is the cellulite cure she swears by. But she claimed how you go about it depends on where you're at right now.
If you are currently more than a few pounds above your ideal weight, Montenegro said that losing weight overall should make a big difference. "When you reduce body fat some of it will be in the form of cellulite," she said. "That alone will make you appear smaller and tighter." For those who fall into this category, she recommends doing one to three high-intensity cardio routines weekly so you burn the largest number of calories possible per workout. You might, for instance, alternate two minutes of moderately paced walking with three minutes of fast paced running and repeat the cycle for 20 to 45 minutes. Be sure to include a warm up and cool down, too. (Here's some additional information on high intensity workouts.)
On the other hand, if you're relatively thin, but still suffer from skin that looks like the dimples on a golf ball, Montenegro believes that longer, slower workouts that burn a higher percentage of fat as fuel will give you the best results. "In this case, you don't need to lose weight, but you do need to burn as much of your underlying fat as possible," she told That's Fit. For this type of workout you might pedal at a moderate pace on the elliptical trainer or cycle or go for an hour-long jog.
Both groups should make weight training a priority because when muscle pushes outward against the skin, the reward is a firmer, tighter appearance. Also avoid a diet high in simple carbohydrates that come in the form of white breads, sugary treats and junk food. "Many of these contain chemicals and a high amount of sodium that can bloat you up," Montenegro said. "When you retain water your cellulite becomes more pronounced."
All of this can make a big difference if you stick with your program consistently, but Montenegro admitted that in all honesty it is difficult if not impossible to completely banish cellulite. She advised starting to work on the problem when you're young to lay the groundwork for a fitter, healthier, more muscular body because, she said, "Cellulite is much easier to prevent than cure."
So what about you? Have you tried any special anti-cellulite treatments that have worked well for you? (I haven't.) Has anyone gotten good results by following a program like the recommendations above? (I have.) Let's start a discussion either here or on Twitter.
Also check out other stories on how to deal with cellulite, including 15 Ways to Fight and Maximize Cellulite. And for a real-life take, check out Cellulite: 5 Women, 5 Solutions. Check out our sister site, Stylelist to learn about new genetic tests for cellulite.
