Want to Get Rid of Cellulite? Here’s What to Know
Written by TYE Medical on Jun 13th 2023
You probably know what cellulite looks like. After all, 80-90% of women who have gone through puberty have cellulite somewhere on their body. We recognize it when we see. However, we might not know exactly what it is. Fat and cellulite are not exactly the same thing.
Women of all sizes, even noticeably leaner women can have it. It’s called cellulite when existing body fat presses against the connective tissue beneath your skin. When this happens, it makes your skin look bumpy or dimpled. It has more to do with hormonal and age-related changes in your connective tissue than how extra fat you carry. It’s also genetic.
If you have cellulite and want to get rid of it, what should you do?
Realize It’s Natural At Any Age
While changes in connective tissue develop due to age and hormones, it’s not the only cause. Even teenagers and young adult women can develop cellulite. Researchers have found that genetics plays a much bigger role than previously thought.
And since even people our culture deems as “thin” commonly develop cellulite, you shouldn’t beat yourself up too much. It’s a natural occurrence in your body that often can’t be avoided.
Before you go to war with your cellulite, take a deep breath and realize that the average woman has this dimpled-skin. And remember that all the smooth, glistening thighs of the women we see in the media and magazines are airbrushed, edited versions of reality. So, don’t despair!
Can Losing Weight Get Rid of Cellulite?
Here’s the punchline: technically, nothing can “get rid of” cellulite. But before you abandon this page, realize there is still hope. While you can’t make cellulite go away entirely, you can make it less visible. And since it doesn’t harm you in any way, reducing its appearance is what most people want to do.
Losing weight might help reduce the appearance of cellulite. But it isn’t the surefire solution you’re hoping it will be. Since even people with a low level of body fat still have cellulite, yours might still be visible to some degree even after losing weight.
Will Strength Training or Cardio Decrease Cellulite?
It’s possible to make cellulite less visible when you increase your lean muscle mass through strength training. Increasing muscle mass often flattens cellulite, making it appear smoother rather than lumpy. This means that strength training exercises can reduce the appearance of cellulite more quickly than cardio exercise alone.
If you aren’t a fan of gym memberships and don’t have a home gym, try a bodyweight workout app or checkout YouTube channels that guide you through bodyweight exercises.
But cardio also helps you lose weight. While fat loss alone usually won’t reduce the appearance of cellulite very much, a combination of weight loss and increased muscle mass can bring better results.
That being said, the most effective workout plan would include a combination of cardio and strength training. As is often recommended for improved health try cardio at least three days per week and strength training two or three days per week. This combination can give you a better outcome, but remember, nothing is guaranteed since even the leanest person can still have visible cellulite.
Does Yoga Help Fight Cellulite?
Yoga, when done consistently, can build lean muscle mass and help you stay toned. But it’s limited in how much muscle mass you can build. If you prefere yoga to weights or machines, then take a class or use a yoga app two or three times per week instead.
Once you get the hang of it, you can try power yoga (or vinyasa style yoga), which builds more muscle as you flow more quickly from one pose to another.
Also, yoga experts claim that cellulite is a symptom of reduced lymph circulation. Lymph is the fluid that carries your white blood cells to lymph nodes. Many yoga poses help keep lymph flowing and thereby reduce the appearance of cellulite.
You may find that yoga helps reduce cellulite in more ways than one.
Does Diet Affect Cellulite?
Yes and no. Simply watching what you eat (and even losing weight) likely won’t reduce the appearance of cellulite. But a healthy diet combined with exercise is your best chance of improving the appearance of your skin.
This means a healthy eating plan that benefits your overall health can also aid in your battle against the appearance of cellulite. Choose a diet that is lower in carbs and fats while also avoiding preservatives and watching your sodium intake.
Winning the Cellulite Battle–Or Not
It’s important to be realistic. If you adopt a workout and eating plan solely for the purpose of eradicating cellulite, you’ll likely be disappointed. While increasing muscle mass and losing body fat can improve the appearance of cellulite, it’s not a guarantee. And it might not give you those smooth thighs you're dreaming of.
But it’s not a bad idea to drop extra weight, begin an exercise routine, and improve your cardiovascular health. Just consider a possible decrease in visible cellulite as an added bonus.
And remember, cellulite is a natural occurrence in your body that up to 90% of women have. So, don’t sweat it.
