It’s official. Spring is here. Which means there is now 13+ hours of sunlight. Which means bikini season is around the corner. Which means…arghhh cellulite.
Before we go on, let’s get a few things straight. Here are the facts about cellulite:
As Lindsi tells all of her clients, cellulite affects over 95% of women, so don’t beat yourself up. People of all sizes have cellulite (yes, skinny girls, too), so it has nothing to do with size or weight. It is caused mainly by genetics, poor diet, lack of exercise, hormone changes, and sometimes, the level of pigmentation or thickness of the skin. But that doesn’t mean we are all completely doomed. There are still a few things we can do to reduce the appearance of cellulite.
Combine strength training moves with bursts of high-intensity cardio to burn fat fast. Run 10 flights of stairs, taking the steps two-at-a-time or try running 100 meter sprints in sets of 3 at a track or in the park to rev up your metabolic rate (the rate that your body burns fat) and get those glutes burning. Between sets, alternate between squat thrusts, jumping lunges, curtsy sits and plank leg raises. The key here is to target the areas that need a little extra TLC like the quads, hamstrings and the glutes (your butt muscles) because in reality, cellulite is simply a type of fat that doesn’t lay smooth beneath the skin. When you tone and tighten the muscles right underneath the skin, you draw the skin surrounding them in, giving your skin a smoother look.
Coffee beans. Did you know that one of the main ingredients in most high-end anti-cellulite creams is caffeine? Make your own DIY coffee bean invigorating anti-cellulite scrub using a few tablespoons of extra virgin olive oil and coffee grounds beans. Apply 2-3 times a week to skin. The idea here is that you want your skin to be tight and taut. The abrasiveness of coffee beans works as a great exfoliant but the real magic comes from the caffeine in the coffee beans, which stimulate the blood vessels to work to tighten and tone the connective tissue when the mix is applied.
Cut back on dairy products. Dairy foods inhibit your digestive system to do it’s job and flush out all of the bad stuff that can amplify the appearance of cellulite.
Eat more fiber. You want to be able to flush out all of the fat cells so that they’re less lumpy and bumpy. Fiber is great because it helps to detox your body faster and works efficiently to remove toxins from your intestines. This can cause the fat to press against your organs and result in a cottage-cheese look.
Use a self-tanner or get a spray tan. This helps to define your muscle tone and gives it a smooth appearance. Think Dancing With The Stars. But in a good way.
Wear Spanx. Let’s be honest: sometimes we all need a quick fix. Shape-wear helps to give a smooth appearance to the skin. While you’re on you way to tightening up your skin and changing up your diet (which you must do) wearing Spanx is a great quick-fix and does a lovely job of smoothing things out.
Love,
Your Fast Lane Girl, Danielle
Photo Credit: Clubreduceflorida.com
