full interactive guide to get rid of cellulite
TRANSCRIPT
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The guide on How to get rid of Cellulite
Chapter 1. How it all started... ........................................................................................................ 2
Chapter 2. Testing products to get rid of cellulite ................................................................... 4
Chapter 3. DIY recipes to get rid of cellulite .............................................................................. 7
Chapter 4. DIY treatments to get rid of cellulite .................................................................... 10
Chapter 5. Summer vs. winter + Water retention + Bloating = Cellulite ....................... 13
Chapter 6. Exercises to get rid of cellulite ............................................................................... 16
Chapter 7. Avoid sugar as much as you can! ........................................................................... 20
Chapter 8. How to get rid of cellulite in my 30’s .................................................................... 24
Chapter 9. Treatments to fight my cellulite ............................................................................ 27
Chapter 10. The full guide on How to get rid of Cellulite ..................................................... 31
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Chapter 1.
How it all started...
I first of all want to start by saying this is a totally personal article that I am about to
share with you. It is an ongoing journey and by no means one that has come to an end.
I hope by sharing this, you will understand my anger and frustration and relate this back
to your own beauty demons.
We all have different parts of our bodies
that we wish we could in some way change.
Whether it is a flatter stomach, longer legs
or thinner arms, I could go on. I however
have a beauty concern that affects more
than 80% of women and that is CELLULITE.
This can be caused by a number of different
reasons from hormone changes, dramatic weight fluctuation and many other lifestyle
factors.
Before I go any further into sharing this with you, I would just like to say I am not about
to give away some miracle cure that I have found. If I did, I would be shouting it from the
rooftops and probably would have appeared on Dragons Den to patent my idea!
Unfortunately that isn’t the case, and it’s an issue that has been bothering me since the
age of 25.
I am a healthy size 8-‐10, I eat healthily, exercise regularly and I take care of myself. My
cellulite predominantly appears on my thighs and buttocks, becoming worse in the
summer months (I'll go further into why this is in the coming chapters), which makes it
near on impossible to wear a bikini without feeling conscious most of the time.
I have tried and tested a whole load of creams (which could probably fill out the whole of
Boots), treatments and fad recommendations from ‘experts’, which claimed to
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miraculously cure my cellulite. All of which made little to no difference, leaving me fed up,
frustrated and out of pocket (some of these creams cost a small fortune).
Working in the Beauty industry can be hard at times, glamorous though it may seem it
does have its drawbacks. The media consistently portrays images of women, appearing
perfect to us, but they have been photo shopped within an inch of their life! Not that it
makes any difference to us, we still get the magazines and buy into the ideal world of
what we are told is ‘perfect’, no cellulite appears on models in the fashion advertorial!
I do believe this can have a negative effect on how we see ourselves, but then again it
would be too easy to blame the media for the way we look at ourselves in the mirror. We
compare ourselves to other women everyday, wishing we had straighter hair, glowing
skin or even a bag she is carrying. When does it ever end?
By reading my articles on my battle with cellulite, I will share with you all of my tried and
tested remedies, from non-‐invasive treatments to creams and exercise routines. We are
all going through different beauty battles we are hoping to conqueror and win. Let my
cellulite battle commence!
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Chapter 2.
Testing products to get rid of cellulite
You know the drill; you look in the mirror and turn in as many positions as you can to see
which angle you look best from.
The trouble with a bikini or shorts and cellulite is there is no best angle, at least in my
opinion anyway. I promise you I am not crazy, I am merely giving you an example of the
types of thoughts that go through my mind.
It was a mind over matter situation for me and it was time to address the problem once
and for all. I was 25 and had had enough! But I guess I was a little too hopeful as I thought
that a cream just labelled ‘aids cellulite’ would do the trick and would put an end to my
problem.
I first opted for Shisheido Body contour and scrub as it
looked like the perfect solution. It was featured in plenty
of magazines and stores, it was expensive and it promised
to deliver great results. The main selling point was
its aromatherapy properties. I still remember the shop
assistant telling me, “make sure you take a deep breath
when you put it on to inhale its fabulous properties and
get better results”.
After those promising results, I didn’t really bother doing much more research and I
would later discover that not every recommended product you read in a magazine would
actually work and be right for you! I tried the scrub and contour for over a month and
aside from my skin feeling and looking moisturised and smooth, the cellulite was still
there and not much had changed.
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So I had a look at various websites, a few of them included advertisements with creams
that promised to miraculously ‘cure’ cellulite. I decided after spending quite a bit on the
Shisheido products, I needed to try something different. I wasn’t going to get conned into
another expensive product just yet!
I turned to a few close friends to discuss my cellulite problem and all of them could relate
to this. I spent a lot of time researching different solutions; from coffee scrubs and natural
solutions, to creams and non-‐invasive treatments (including a kit that looked like a car
vacuum cleaner – gimmick or not? I read mixed reviews on this) and I decided to try
caffeine based products.
Caffeine is meant to be one of the best natural solutions for cellulite, as it has a tightening
effect on the skin and can therefore reduce the appearance. I gave this a go but I have to
say, the results were just not good enough. Yes, it reduced the appearance, but it hadn’t
disappeared completely and after a couple of months my cellulite was back to its old self.
Then, my latest discovery was seaweed. I’ve tried
some treatments with seaweed, which I liked and
will tell you more about, so I thought it should
work. I went on the hunt for a product that
combined caffeine and seaweed, to my surprise I
found it! I am currently using a slimming and
firming soft Gel from Sephora, which includes a
caffeine ingredient to drain and reduce the appearance of cellulite and seaweed extract
for boosting collagen and firm. It’s the best product I’ve tried so far. The product has a
good price and is big (470ml), so it lasts!
From the products I tried and tested, I would suggest looking for a cellulite skin cream
that includes ingredients like caffeine to reduce the size of the fat cells that cause
cellulite,seaweed to stimulate collagen production; and a couple that I haven’t tried yet,
but will do soon: retinol, which thickens and improves circulation in the skin and alpha
hydroxy acids, which improves the overall texture of the skin by helping to rid it of dead
cells.
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I do also want to point out that it is always much better to use a cream than not. Just by
massaging the cream in circular motions will help to stimulate your muscle tissues and
get rid of some toxins. It will increase the flow of oxygen, nutrients and blood circulation;
which all helps to slowly improve the appearance of cellulite.
The thing to learn from products is that yes, some ingredients will help, but there is no
magical ingredient that breaks and dissolves cellulite permanently. The results for me
were only temporary and didn’t get rid of my cellulite for good. At the end of the day,
cellulite is caused by fat that sticks to your skin, so… it takes a lot more than a cream to
break that fat down!
What to do… Perhaps I should just test out the lookalike car vacuum cleaner? You never
know it might work; desperate times call for desperate measures after all. Bottom line, if I
want to get rid of cellulite, I think I need to find something complementary or stronger
than just a cream.
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Chapter 3.
DIY recipes to get rid of cellulite
As you will know from reading my previous chapter, I have been testing and trying out a
lot of products to get rid of my cellulite, all with little to no success.
After much time (and money) testing these products, I decided it was time to try
something else. Just as an FYI, I did continue to use the creams I mention on my previous
chapter but I needed to find something with better results. I figured there couldn’t be any
harm keeping the products I was using, after all, using a cream is better than not using
anything at all.
I have always been a fan of natural products and I try to choose natural wherever
possible. I think you would be surprised to find the amount of ingredients that are sitting
in the kitchen cupboard, which could double as a beauty saviour too!
So with that in mind I decided it was time to do it myself! Cost effective and natural? This
was just what I was looking for. I searched online to see which were the best ingredients
to use. I knew coffee was good because of the many products I already tried contained
this ingredient.
Caffeine is meant to be cellulite's enemy #1, as it tightens
and provides antioxidants to the skin when applied topically.
If applied religiously, it has been shown to reduce the
appearance of cellulite, especially over time. With all of the
different products and treatments I have and will discuss in
my diary, I would highly recommend caffeine as a go to
ingredient for fighting cellulite.
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I have linked a video so you can get rid of your cellulite too with a coffee body scrub!
These are the ingredients for a coffee scrub recipe that Lorraine Dallmeier
recommends. You will need:
25g fresh coffee grounds
25g brown sugar
25ml sunflower oil, organic & unrefined
5 drops of rose geranium essential oil
Blend together the coffee grounds and brown sugar to ensure they are fully mixed. Next,
blend in the sunflower oil and make sure there are no lumps. Finally, mix through the
essential oil droplets.
By massaging this onto my thighs and buttocks, it stimulates blood flow leaving my skin
smoother and firmer. Read more on this recipe here.
I also read that adding a dry brush to my routine along with the coffee scrub could help
aid my cellulite even further. So I invested in one!
Massaging the skin whilst using the coffee scrub exfoliates, gets lymph and blood
flowing, helps with water retention and the oils in the recipe moisturise my skin leaving it
super smooth to touch. I was pleased with the results, and I am continuing to use the
scrub and brush now. My cellulite has visibly reduced over a month of using the scrub,
creams and dry brush.
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I wasn’t done just yet on my quest though. There must be something out there that can
banish my cellulite for good and I was still on the hunt for it!
Then I found a winter warmer (and I would just like to point out, only for winter
otherwise you will be way too hot!) and it consists of sitting in a bath with algae for at
least 45 minutes. I have been using Voya’s Lazy Days organic seaweed. Algae detoxifies
the body, clearing it of excess water retention and helping to reduce cellulite. Your system
is simultaneously re-‐mineralised as toxins are pulled out from your body.
After trying this a few times, I prefer using an Algae cream over the bath treatment. This
is my personal opinion on it though; you may love to sit in a hot bath for 45 minutes, but
it was just a little too much for me!
Something else on my list to try was Geranium oil. This
ingredient can be added to your moisturiser or used in the
bath (not as hot as Algae!). This ingredient is mainly used
for aromatherapy but apparently is a proven treatment for
cellulite too. Most spas and salons use the benefits of
geranium essential oil by mixing it along with the paste
used in body wraps.
Massage therapies also use the oil in smoothing out the cottage cheese or orange peel
appearance of the skin. The results of these cellulite treatments are not immediate, but
with continued usage cellulite visibility is improved.
Geranium oil has the capacity to balance out the female hormones, therefore ultimately
preventing the curdling and lumping of the skin. To enhance the benefits of using
geranium essential oil as a cellulite treatment, I read that it is best to accompany it with
other known remedies.
So as you can see, I have many DIY recipes to get going with, brushing and scrubbing
those dimples away!
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Chapter 4.
DIY treatments to get rid of cellulite
Covering your body in mud may not be everyone’s idea of fun, but as soon as I read about
the benefits of the mud sea and salt lake and how it can help cellulite, I just had to try it! I
was visiting Murcia in Spain this summer so I decided to test them both out to see if they
made any difference to the appearance of my cellulite.
You will know from reading my previous chapter that I am a fan of DIY and natural
ingredients, so I thought I would take my DIY treatments to a new level!
Firstly, I tried the mud sea mask. The Mar Menor
(known as the sea of health because of its warm
waters, high salinity and healing muds) is the
biggest salt-‐water lake in Europe. The healing
power of the mud, which lines the bottom of the
shallow waters, has been known for centuries. The
water is also very salty and heats up to a warm temperature in summer (I would recommend this as a summer treatment).
Minerals such as potassium, sulphate and fluoride mix with the very fine sand, and the
resulting mud is said to help arthritic conditions, rheumatism, skin conditions and is also
meant to be great for helping reduce the appearance of cellulite. The treatment increases
your metabolic rate, makes you perspire, and enhances the elimination of toxins, thereby
breaking down cellulite.
The mask needs to be left on your skin until it is completely dry, so don’t worry about
standing covered in mud for a while, you certainly will not be the only one!
I have to say this is definitely one of my favourite DIY treatments so far, not only did I see
a reduced appearance in my cellulite but also my skin felt super soft and glowing after.
The locals say that to fully see all of the benefits from the treatment you should do it 9
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times. I unfortunately only got the chance to go 5 times, but wished I had managed all 9
trips. There are endless health benefits to trying out this treatment, it is also completely
free which is an added bonus!
Next up I tried the salt lake (right next door to the mud
sea). You lay on the sea salt for 20 minutes (this is the
recommended time as the salt is so pure you will reap the
maximum benefits by this period of time) rubbing and
massaging it so that your skin absorbs the salt.
Scrubbing with salt has antiseptic qualities and helps to
remove bacteria from the skin along with any itching and
pain associated with bacterial-‐related skin disease. The
abrasive action associated with salt also invigorates the
skin and helps to improve circulation and gives the skin a natural glow.
Salt is a great exfoliator as it not only removes dead skin cells but also increases
circulation and encourages regeneration. Sloughing away dead skin cells actually
promotes the growth of healthy new cells and unclogs pores. This regeneration process
tightens the skin, giving it a firmer and younger-‐looking appearance.
Skin regeneration also reduces skin discoloration, evening out skin tone and improving
texture, which in turn reduces the appearance of cellulite, exactly what I need!
I would highly recommend both treatments as an effective DIY for combatting cellulite.
My skin was left smoother and the appearance of cellulite had reduced too.
If you were planning a trip to Murcia any time soon, I would highly recommend these two
treatments (or if you already have, please do share your pictures!). Not only are these
treatments great for cellulite but also for many other health benefits I have mentioned
too. Never underestimate the power of natural ingredients!
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Chapter 5.
Summer vs. winter + Water retention + Bloating = Cellulite
I don’t know whether I am on my own when saying this, but in my opinion summer and
cellulite just don’t mix well together.
Summer is meant to be a time for shorts, dresses and bikinis but I can’t be happy with
these outfit choices when I am feeling bloated. I look in the mirror and my cellulite looks
and feels more apparent compared to the winter months. I don’t believe this has anything
to do with wearing more clothes and covering up in the winter. It isn’t just in my head, I
see more cellulite in the summer I am sure of it!
In case you are thinking this is me being too self conscious in a bikini, I have done some
research on this but I am yet to find any solid evidence and reasons as to whether this is
actually true or not. I do however have one theory, which I believe back up my reasons:
water retention and bloating.
So in this blog I will share with you my findings and please do let me know if you have the
same issue, I would love to hear your theories too!
We all know we should drink more water in the summer, as our bodies need more fluid
due to sweating from the heat. After all, water accounts for 60% of our body’s weight. You
find it in cells, blood (of which it is the main component), skin, organs and muscles. In
order to keep our fluid level constant, our body draws on a complex hormonal system
that acts on the kidneys. Normally, when you drink more than you are accustomed to, the
kidneys take charge of eliminating excess liquids and toxins.
However, at times something in the system goes wrong and the liquids start accumulating
in our body tissues. Water retention is a deficiency in the drainage of the lymphatic
system. The system is unable to send the toxins and excess water into the circulation
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system and therefore cannot drain oedema, or the swelling (which can lead to us feeling
bloated).
Water retention and the degeneration of collagen fibers, or skin tissue fibers, give the
skin a padded aspect called the orange peel effect (hello cellulite). This phenomenon is
particularly prevalent in certain areas of the body: notably the thighs and buttocks
(exactly where my cellulite lives!).
Our body tends to be less efficient at removing fluid from tissues in the summer
months. There you go – hey presto, more cellulite in the summer!
Now for the less scientific part, what can be done to reduce the appearance of cellulite
and bloating in the summer? I have discovered some foods to avoid and favour to keep
cellulite to a minimum.
Eat the right food
I - Foods to avoid
-‐ Sweets
Sugar, honey, jams, jellies, cakes and pastries
abruptly raise the insulin levels in blood,
which favours water retention. In addition,
sugar and its derivatives appear to have a
harmful effect on the kidneys.
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-‐ Stimulants
Paradoxically coffee, tea and alcohol are harmful because they are diuretic. In fact,
diuretics stimulate natural elimination but over the long-‐term the process can lead to
dehydration. To compensate, the body retains water.
-‐ Saturated fats
A diet too rich in animal fats (red meat, butter, cream) affects your kidney function and
may cause inflammations and swelling on the level of the skin and joints because of its
high arachidonic acid content.
-‐ Bleached flour
All foods made with bleached flour (white bread, ordinary pasta) contain little in the way
of magnesium and zinc. Lacking in B vitamins and fibers, they can lead to a sluggish
digestive system and water retention.
-‐ Potential allergens
Wheat and wheat-‐based foods (bread, pasta, flours), milk products, eggs and yeast can all
trigger allergic reactions that contribute to water retention.
II - Foods to favour
-‐ Green vegetables and fruits
They supply minerals and vitamins, essential
for organic balance. The fibers prevent
constipation, which can exacerbate water
retention.
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-‐ Proteins
Foods rich in protein are ideal for an anti-‐water retention diet. When you eat enough
protein, the liver produces albumin, which naturally slows down the water retention
process.
-‐ Water
Plain water (or in the form of herbal teas, chicory or fruit juice) are essential to hydrate
the body. If you are prone to water retention, you shouldn't limit the amount of liquid you
drink, quite the opposite. If you stop drinking liquids, you hinder the functioning of your
kidneys which will no longer be able to filter waste matter. Your body will then retain
water to dissolve the toxic residue.
-‐ Whole grains
Except for wheat which can produce an allergic reaction, all non-‐refined starches such as
whole rice, buckwheat, rye, etc., are excellent foods rich in magnesium, potassium,
selenium, and anti-‐water retention minerals.
-‐ Soya and its derivatives
Tofu, soya or ewe milk and yoghurt are all healthy replacements for traditional dairy
products.
Now of course we should have a healthy balanced diet all year round but the food listed
above will help with water retention and bloating which I believe is especially more
prominent in the summer months and causes cellulite to appear more so.
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Chapter 6.
Exercises to get rid of cellulite
Whilst running on a treadmill for 30 minutes isn’t my idea of fun, I do believe cellulite
creams aren’t enough to keep my cellulite at bay. You do need to put some work into it
too.
Exercise is an integral part of any cellulite prevention and reduction regime. Diet is
simply not enough, as inactivity (lack of mechanical stimulation on the tissues) can
trigger the loss of collagen cells and proliferation of fat cells, on it's own, regardless of
calorie balance (I did the research!).
So with that in mind, in this chapter I am going to share with you my exercise discoveries
for zapping away my cellulite; some are good, some are bad, and others are just painful!
When I was younger and throughout my teenage years, I did a lot of ballet, taekwondo,
tennis, skiing and rollerblading (which I still love now). So I guess you could say I was an
active child, I didn’t find exercise hard work and I did it because I chose to. I once even
took on a triathlon at university although it nearly killed me (haha) so one time was more
than enough!
Once university finished, I found myself sat behind a desk for 9 hours a day and my
motivation for exercise quickly subsided. The only exercise I did throughout the day was
typing on my computer at 100 miles an hour writing countless emails, visiting the
vending machine for regular caffeine top ups or running to catch my train in the morning.
Hardly proper exercise, right?
The thing I find hardest is motivating myself. We all know that we should be exercising
more and eating healthier but it is motivating ourselves to do it that is the problem. Who
wants to go to the gym after a hard day at the office? A box set and a glass of red sounds
more appealing I think? That is when I believe the cellulite starts to build up, not moving
your body enough and of course we have to factor in age too!
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There came a point where I had enough and I wanted to do something about it: I wanted
to move my body and feel energetic again. I noticed the appearance of my cellulite
seemed to be increasing too.
Spinning to get rid of cellulite I found a gym close and took on a spinning class. I
read that spinning provides moderate mechanical
stimulation but burns calories very fast, so it
offers enhanced cellulite reduction. It sounded the
perfect solution! I am not going to lie, it wasn’t
easy and after a 1 hour class I would sometimes
get off of the bike not being able to feel my legs.
They would literally feel like jelly. It was hard work but I got better as the weeks went on,
and I did see results (some that I wasn’t expecting). I don’t know about you but I felt my
muscles and thighs were bigger with the more spinning I did. My aim wasn’t to end up
like a body builder!
So that put me off spinning for a while, I just stuck to the gym and trekked at weekends. I
would go to the gym 3 days a week (1 hour at a time), running on the treadmill and using
the rower, cross trainer and some weights but I can’t say that I saw much of a difference,
no cellulite reduction or even weight loss really. I soon got bored and found it hard to
motivate myself to go.
One day I was venting my frustration to a friend on my exercise troubles and he quickly
pointed out that if you worry about your bottom and back thighs, you need to work hard
on those problem areas at least 3 times a week to really see results.
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3 good exercises to get rid of cellulite at home Here are 3 of the exercise workouts he shared with me. I am sure you will love them! (I
am not being sarcastic!).
Pelvic Curl
The Pelvic Curl is a standard warm-‐up
exercise in Pilates and is great for toning your
buttocks.
Find out more on pelvic curl.
Squats
The squat is a compound, full body exercise that trains
primarily the muscles of the thighs, hips and buttocks. Perfect
for combating cellulite and getting toned thighs and buttocks.
Find out more on squats.
Quadruped hip extensions
This exercise really allows you to contract the
muscles of the buttocks. Getting those muscles
workings = toned buttocks in no time!
Find out more on quadruped hip extensions.
Believe me when I say these exercises do really work if you stick with doing them 3 times
a week. I did these exercises plus my usual jogging, trekking or rollerblading. Bottom line:
you need to work for it. This is the best cream or treatment you’ll find, but it is a pain! I
usually just have my favourite music playlist playing loud so that at least I get motivated
to continue.
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Although I did see results, I got bored after a while! So I started to really think about
what I would love to do. I knew I enjoyed dancing, but could this really get rid of my
cellulite?
Dancing to get rid of cellulite After researching I found a class in a dance
studio that I discovered would be my
absolute favourite out of all the exercises I
had tried. My passion for dancing plus my
favourite tunes mixed in with some exercise
routines (such as pelvic curl, squats and
even plank) made for the perfect class.
I go twice a week and since then, I also have noticed that my cellulite and leg shape has
improved and I get the satisfaction of feeling great after the class and during the week
too! And I still continue the jogging and rollerblading (when it doesn’t rain of course!)
Conclusion: no pain no gain!
You need to motivate yourself to do it, and my advice would be to find something you
genuinely enjoy doing. Not only then are you enjoying yourself and feeling motivated, but
you will feel and look better too! Win Win!
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Chapter 7.
Avoid sugar as much as you can!
As I write this I am sat with a piece of chocolate cake, the familiar 4pm slump has arrived
and I am craving sugar.
From reading the last chapter you will know I was trying out different exercise regimes to
zap my cellulite away. As tough as they were, some did actually work wonders and I am
still making sure I attend my dance classes twice a week to keep on top of things.
But here lies another problem that I need to conquer and that is SUGAR. Even when I try
to be healthy and purchase the reduced fat yoghurts or decide to buy a smoothie over a
diet coke, I read somewhere else that by taking out the fat from these foods more sugar is
just added in. How can you win?
Apparently when you have too
much sugar in your diet it
hardens the collagen fibres in
your body. Collagen fibres are
surrounded by fat cells and as
they stiffen, the fat cells get
trapped under the skin.
I know for sure I have way too much sugar in my diet especially eating foods I didn’t think
contained sugar.
This results in the unsightly and stubborn "orange peel" effect that I know all too well. I
haven’t ever really thought of sugar (which of course turns into fat) as being a culprit for
the cause of my cellulite, but of course as you get older (More on this next on the next
chapter) your body can’t burn off fat as quickly as your younger self and in turn you store
more fat than you probably should.
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So how do you cut excess sugar out of your diet but steer clear of the reduced fat aisle. Is
there really a balanced diet minus sugar that can get rid of my cellulite?
First of all giving up sugar isn’t easy, especially for those with a sweet tooth e.g. me! But
what I learned from this experience is going ‘cold turkey’ isn’t the answer, it just doesn’t
work! So with that in mind, I will share with you some tips I learned along the way that
helped me get the sweet stuff out of my life and in turn reduced the appearance of my
cellulite.
What you need Reduce the amount of sugar you consume (especially in the evening, and especially
industrially-‐produced sugar) and increase your consumption of anti-‐oxidant substances
such as Vitamins E and C, carotenes, selenium and zinc.
What you should be eating All veg, sprouted seeds, nuts and
pulses (lentils, peas, etc.), whole
wheat cereals, brown rice, durum
wheat, oily fish (tuna, sardine,
salmon, etc.), seafood, lean meats,
eggs, natural yoghurts, rye
bread, fruits, oleaginous fruit (walnuts, almonds, etc.), certain oils (rapeseed, grape seed, olive), green tea, honey.
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What you need to reduce
-‐ Potatoes
-‐ Sweet corn
-‐ Sweetened milk-‐based desserts
-‐ Fruit compotes
What you need to cut out Now for the hard part… cut out all types of sugar in the evening (I say evening because
your body finds it harder to break down sugar and fats whilst you are slowing down
ready for sleep).
Milk, commercial fruit juices, all 0% -‐ fat foods (because as mentioned -‐ without fat,
lactose, a sugar naturally found in dairy products, is less easily absorbed therefore
creating cellulite to appear worse than it actually is).
This could be…
-‐ Fried food
-‐ Cold meats
-‐ Ready meals
-‐ White bread
-‐ Biscuits
-‐ Cakes (ahhh!!) -‐ Sweet foods for example; Haribo (my personal favourite!)
-‐ The fatty parts of meat, fatty meats, smoked meat/fish
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After reading this you are probably questioning how I feel now minus the chocolate cake
on my desk. I primarily quit sugar to see if it reduced the appearance of my cellulite
(which it did but it took a few months for me to start seeing results). I did however feel
better in myself too, I found I had more energy, my skin appeared glowing and I didn’t get
the terrible sugar cravings come 4pm. I instead replaced the chocolate cake with some
seeds and nuts when I feel hungry between meals (ahh so sensible!)
Of course every now and then you will give in and have the birthday cake someone is
telling you to eat, or enjoy an ice cold can of coke on a hot day. But I have learned that it’s
okay as long as it is in moderation, you need to enjoy the sweet stuff sometimes!
Giving up sugar isn't easy but your lifestyle will feel a lot sweeter without it, believe me!
Cellulite appearance reduced = mission complete!
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Chapter 8.
How to get rid of cellulite in my 30’s
Have you watched the film ’13 going on 30’? A girl plays a game on her 13th birthday
party and she wakes up the next day as a 30-‐year-‐old woman. It is a funny film with a
serious meaning, when we are teenagers we spend most of our time wishing and hoping
for things that we don’t have and pretending to be grown ups generally to be taken more
seriously by our older peers.
But then as soon as you get to 30, reality hits and
you would do anything to get back to the carefree
life your 13-‐year-‐old self had! Fast-‐forward a couple
of years and you are faced with options that will
shape your career. Not the glamorous image I had of
my older self when I was sat in my room wishing to
be an adult and to be taken more seriously.
Goodbye carefree life, hello real world! I didn't celebrate my 30th birthday with a wish to
be 13 again, but I was hoping to turn back the hands of time on a number of beauty issues
that I was starting to face.
Lots of things started to become apparent to me that I hadn't noticed before, for example;
fine lines started to appear on my face, the odd dark spot became noticeable and it was
hard to eat what I wanted without putting any weight on like I used to. Not to mention the
dark circles under my eyes after a late night (my body couldn't seem to cope with a lack
of sleep anymore!).
But the part I hate the most is I noticed my muscles started to get saggy and the
appearance of my cellulite became worse. I feel this was the poignant moment my
cellulite battle really started, not to mention the ageing process was clearly getting
underway too! Two beauty problems that I seemed to be fighting a losing battle with.
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With this is mind it led me to take out some extensive research on the ageing process and
my cellulite issue. I read that as you age your cellulite becomes worse in women as
the dermis reaches its maximal thickness at 30 years of age. Secondly, the dermis area
which is bound together by the connective tissue, starts to get looser, due to the ageing
process of the collagen and elastic fibers. This allows for more adipose cells to protrude
into the dermis area, accentuating the sight of cellulite and making it appear worse than it
was back in your 20s.
Interestingly in addition to this, an increased
deposition of subcutaneous body fat may
often reflect a lifestyle of less exercise and
changes in dietary consumption. I also found
out that muscle density decreases as we
age. I could go too scientific on this but it is
basically because our muscles become weaker as we get older, so even with continued exercise the muscles don’t feel as tight as
they once were.
Another big issue is water retention after exercising, leading me to feel more bloated
than before I started to workout! However light and easy my exercising was my body still
felt bloated. I read that both weight bearing and even endurance exercise may cause tiny
micro tears in your muscle fibers. The more strenuous the workout, the more trauma
inflicted. One way your body defends itself against further injury after this micro trauma
occurs is to surround the afflicted area with fluid leading to more water retention that
usual. It is typical for your freshly worked muscles to look temporarily pumped up from
the additional fluid surrounding them. The scale may temporarily reflect this extra water
weight even though you may be working hard to lose weight.
Skin elasticity is best up to the age of 35 to 40 years. Collagen and elastic fibers can
retract best to lesser volumes (from fat loss) before this chronological age. So what to do
to slow this process down? Exercising (not to excess) as well as a healthy lifestyle can
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help to slow the process down. But I am yet to find a miracle treatment that will get my
younger body back.
As they say, prevention is always better than cure. So instead of wishing ourselves
younger, let's be happy with what we have got and look after ourselves as best we can.
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Chapter 9.
Treatments to fight my cellulite
I am now focusing on treatments that I have come across in my quest to end my battle
with cellulite. Believe me I have tried a lot, some have worked better than others!
Radiofrequency
Radiofrequency (RF) treatments are
procedures involving the use of a
radiofrequency (RF) energy device to heat up
and tighten tissue to boost blood flow and
break down cellulite and fat.
The radiofrequency energy heats the skin without damaging it, in order to break down
fatty cells and stimulate collagen production, which improves skin tone and elasticity.
Radiofrequency treatments can be used to treat excess pockets of fat on the stomach, hips
and thighs, reduce cellulite and tighten saggy skin caused by weight loss or pregnancy.
The treatment is very safe and has minimal downtime.
My opinion I had approximately 10 sessions of this and unfortunately I wouldn’t do it again as it just
didn’t work for me. I didn’t see any results at all, and I was really surprised about it,
considering the amount of times I tried this treatment. I was under the impression that it
may be intended for people with more cellulite or saggy skin than me, but I guess it just
isn’t for everyone.
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Cupping massage with aromatherapy oils Cellulite suction massage breaks up cellulite
using suction and lymphatic drainage. The
cellulite is physically broken up, circulation is
greatly increased, and the fat and toxins are
delivered to lymph drainage areas to be
escorted out of the body. The most important
aspect of the cellulite treatment is that it relaxes the fibrous connective cords that actually are THE CAUSE of cellulite!
My opinion I had this treatment over a month twice a week and I have to say the results were so
noticeable right away! I think the main reason for its advantages as it is great for detox
and is very effective at eliminating water retention. The massage intends to eliminate all
toxins and water retention through the lymphatic areas in your body. I would highly
recommend this treatment; it isn’t the cheapest so definitely something you have to
invest in from the beginning.
Unfortunately I discovered this treatment whilst in Murcia (Spain), so I am not able to
recommend any salons in the UK which offers this. If you do come across this treatment
here, make sure you email me, as I would love to find someone who does it in the UK.
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Lymphatic drainage
Lymphatic drainage massage works to
improve the function of the lymphatic
system, which helps to remove and filter
waste, toxins and excess fluid from the body.
Good lymphatic circulation in the body will
prevent lymph fluid from solidifying and
binding with the collagen fibers that are in the fat cells.
My opinion I found this treatment a little weird, as it doesn’t feel like a massage at all! Like most
treatments, you will not find the results after just one session. This is something you have
to invest in as it can take time before you will see results.
Mud wrap They may decrease fluid retention and
improve the overall appearance of skin, but
these effects are temporary. It is also not
possible to "detoxify" the body by the use of
herbal or other wraps.
My opinion Yet again this is a treatment that needs to be done on a regular basis, my skin looked
very smooth and soft directly after the treatment. After a couple of days the results
disappeared.
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Other treatments to get rid of cellulite I haven’t been able to test the treatments below, but they are also recommended to treat
cellulite:
Cavitation During cellulite cavitation, ultrasound waves break up fat cells and their contents. The fat
cells and fluid are then released from the body through urine.
Mesotherapy This can eliminate cellulite on the legs and buttocks, breaking down the orange-‐peel
appearance of skin, and producing a smooth feel. Please note that this has a temporary
affect.
Laser treatments They may decrease fluid retention and improve the overall appearance of skin, but these
effects are also temporary. It is also not possible to "detoxify" the body by the use of
herbal or other wraps.
Conclusion All of these treatments helped my
cellulite in some way but they all had
temporary effects. If you are adamant
you want to get rid of your cellulite
for good (as I am!) then you need to
invest the time and money in the best
treatment that works best for you.
Starting out can definitely be trial and
error but once you find something
that works for you, make sure you stick with it!
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Chapter 10.
The full guide on How to get rid of Cellulite
We are now at the end of my “How to get rid of Cellulite” diary series but this by no
means indicates my battle with cellulite has ended, it is still very much continuing.
If I were to sum up my experience with finding a ‘miracle cure’, I would have to say that
unfortunately, there isn’t one. There is no shortcut to perfect, smooth skin and it comes
with hard work, effort, time and determination.
I would definitely say that lifestyle and diet impacts dramatically on the appearance of
my cellulite. If you haven’t got a good balanced diet and are not exercising regularly then
any creams you are applying before bed time will not make much difference at all.
So to summarise I would say find what works for you, stick with it and be patient. Here
are my top picks when battling cellulite:
Cellulite products Creams and any other products that claim to miraculously cure cellulite in my opinion are
just add on’s and ‘nice to have’ as none of them are a quick shortcut to getting rid of
cellulite. Please note this has taken me years to realise, as there is so much to try and test.
Whenever I found a new discovery, I always thought "this is it, this will be the cure to my
cellulite".
Read more in Chapter 2: Testing products to get rid of cellulite
Exercise but find something you love I continue to go to my dance classes every week (the idea of running on a treadmill for 30
minutes fills me with dread). Exercising is a lifestyle choice and is therefore something
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you have to continue to do to see any results. Do something you genuinely enjoy, whether
it is dancing or a spin class!
Read more in Chapter 6: Exercises to get rid of cellulite
Choose natural where possible Covering yourself in mud may not be everyone’s idea of fun but at least you know it is
100% natural and good for you!
Read more in Chapter 4: DIY treatments to get rid of cellulite
I would also recommend making your own. The coffee scrub was brilliant and I used it
alongside a dry brush, which I massaged into my skin. Cost effective and good for you!
Read more in Chapter 3: DIY recipes to get rid of cellulite
Sugar As I mentioned in one of my diary's chapter, cutting out sugar is also a good place to start.
I found this to be really helpful, not just in helping reduce the appearance of my cellulite
but also my health in general as it cleared up my skin and I generally felt better in myself
as I had more energy.
Read more in Chapter 7: Tip -‐ avoid sugar as much as you can!
Don’t believe everything you read If there is one thing I have learned from this, it is that you shouldn’t believe everything
you read whether that is online when researching or on a label from a product promising
a cure to your beauty concern.
I hope this information helps your fight against cellulite!
