Why do we do that to ourselves? When over 90% of women have cellulite, we’re just setting ourselves up for failure. And, we’re making the cellulite industry (yes, there is a cellulite industry) millions of dollars every year.
Cellulite-the problem-is an invention of the media and the industry it serves. We didn’t even consider cellulite to be an issue until a salon owner in the 1970′s started using the term to advertise her product which removed ‘those unsightly dimples and bumps’. Yep, it’s only been a ‘problem’ for 40 years. And it’s only been a term for a couple of decades before that–used to reference extreme cases.
Think about it. The ‘it’ girls pre-1960 were curvy. They had hourglass figures. I guarantee you they had cellulite. And, no one batted an eye.
Why do we get so worked up about it now?
In short, because it’s everywhere. We see it on tabloids at the grocery store–’Which actress/model was spotted wearing a bikini with-heavenforbid-cellulite on her legs?’ When we visit our favorite websites, before and after photos pop out at us, asking us to buy the latest, the greatest cellulite treatment. Guaranteed to work.
And then, we turn to our mirrors. For 90% of us, our mirrors tell us that yes, we do indeed have cellulite. We don’t look into those mirrors and admire our bodies or praise ourselves for being so healthy. We obsess about this ‘flaw’ that we are destined to have. It’s ridiculously self-defeating.
What’s worse is that most of the websites you visit to learn more about cellulite will reinforce this insanity. They call it embarrassing and unsightly and lead us to believe there is something we’re doing wrong if we have cellulite. Oftentimes, they’ll give scientific explanations of what cellulite is, what causes it and how to prevent it. And then, they’ll try to sell you something.
It’s time for us to be more realistic about what cellulite really is, accept that it’s part of being a woman and stop setting ourselves up to fail. I’m not a scientist or a cellulite expert. This article is just the sense I’ve made from the mess, the mixed messages and the actual research I have found. I hope it will make you feel a little better about yourself when you look in the mirror.
What is Cellulite?
Put simply, cellulite is fat. But, you don’t have to be obese to have cellulite. Athletes, dancers, models and actresses all get cellulite. Super thin women get cellulite. Why? Because cellulite is different. Cellulite is fat that has pushed through the connective tissues meant to hold fat cells in place. Women are cursed with vertical connective tissue (men’s tissue is crisscrossed) which allows fat to sneak through much easier. As we get older and/or have more weight fluctuations, those connective tissues get stretched out. They’re not as elastic and more fat is able to sneak through the gaps. Thus, we have cellulite.
If women and men are built differently, we’d guess there’s a biological reason for getting cellulite, right? There is. The purpose of cellulite is to provide insulation, cushioning and temperature regulation. What’s more, it indicates you are receiving sufficient calories to carry a pregnancy full term. Most doctors and scientists (the ones who don’t work in the cellulite industry) have begun to think of cellulite as a characteristic developed in puberty–like breasts. It’s that inevitable.
So, basically, cellulite is spill-over fat that, in small amounts, shows you’re getting the nutrition you need.
Prevention and Treatment
We’re fed a lot of bologna about the latest cures for cellulite. Most of these ‘cures’ will start by telling you diet and exercise can prevent cellulite. Then, they tell you diet and exercise might not work for you. In extreme cases, you should use their cream or laser treatment. If we go by this logic, 90% of women are ‘extreme cases’.
It’s true diet and exercise will reduce the appearance of cellulite. But, chances are good (90% good) you’ll still have cellulite in some form. We all have fat in our bodies and it’s a good thing–there’s a purpose for it. And, in women, some of that fat makes it through our connective tissues, creating what we refer to as cellulite. Because it’s supposed to. An article from The New York Times put it best, “Curing cellulite requires nothing short of changing the structure of the skin.”
So, what do those creams do? Great question.
Remember the snake oil salesmen? The ones we see in old movies who travel from town to town selling you ointments guaranteed to cure baldness, prevent sadness and ensure world peace? Yeah, cellulite creams are pretty much the same thing. Modernized.
Cellulite creams can have a temporary effect on the appearance of cellulite because they irritate the skin. As the skin is irritated, it swells, camouflaging the dimpling. So, your cellulite never goes away. Your skin just swells to even out the bumps. Remember. Cellulite is a fat cell issue. Creams work on your epidermis. Two different things.
The same is true of lasers and massages. The results are also temporary and due to the swelling of the skin rather than any change of the actual cellulite. I read somewhere (don’t quote me on this) that Jennifer Aniston receives laser and massage treatments for her cellulite (she’s one of the only celebrities who doesn’t have a cellulite bathing suit photo floating around). Her treatments are twice a month, at $1,000 a pop. First of all, that’s a price most of us can’t pay. Second of all, that shows how temporary this treatment is. It’s something she has to have ‘touched up’ every 2 weeks. Really, she’s just paying them to irritate her skin so it swells and smooths.
Reality
So, the harsh reality of the matter is that you are most likely going to have cellulite. Should it be embarrassing? No. Should you consider it unsightly? Definitely not. (Almost) Everyone has it. Even the very thin.
The very best thing you can do to make your body appear healthy and its most beautiful is eat well, exercise often and build lean muscle through targeted resistance training (lifting weights, doing pilates, etc.).
Actually, the very best thing you can do–we can all do–is start changing your attitude when you look at yourself in the mirror. Instead of focusing on what the media has told you is unsightly, notice how healthy and beautiful you are. That should be your goal.
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