Cellulite is simply a term that describes the appearance of bumpy looking fat on the body. It is not an actual disease, but it is a condition of bulging fat cells and other coexisting factors that result in the appearance of cellulite.
Sometimes the fat cells expand so much that they cause the collagen fibers around them to bend causing puckering of the skin above. There are three layers of fat found in the body. Cellulite is located in the layer of fat closest to the skin. There fat cells are enclosed in pockets formed by collagen fibers.
Sometimes the fat cells squeeze on the connective tissues (collagen fibers) and there is little room for the lymphatic drainage system to relieve this build-up of fluids, fats, and toxins. Fat in this layer does not respond well to diet or exercise. Fibrous strands can cause performing successful liposuction to be difficult in this layer of fat. Also, hormones can be responsible for the accumulation of fat in our cellulite layer.
The next two layers of fat are not structured. The fat cells are not separated by connective tissue. The fat in these layers is also, to some degree genetically influenced. The big difference is that the fat in these layers is also easily coaxed by lifestyle and dietary changes.
Why should we care about having cellulite? In the competitive world we live in, how we look and feel about ourselves can sometimes dictate important aspects of life, including love, employment and personal friendships.
When does cellulite appear?
As discussed, the appearance of cellulite is made worse when fat cells in the subcutaneous connective tissue under the skin becomes too closely packed together. Usually found on the thighs and butt, especially in women, cellulite has a characteristic “cottage cheese” appearance. The areas cellulite attaches itself differs between men and women. The reason it probably affects more women than men stems from the basic muscular makeup that is different from women than men. Simply, the cell structure between men and women is inherently different; a woman's connective tissue becomes more and more inflexible, especially as she ages, undergoes hormonal changes, and experiences any type of weight changes, gains and losses, including those from pregnancy, especially repeated pregnancies. The rippled effect known as cellulite occurs when a woman gains weight and her fat cells expand and fold upwards towards the surface of the skin. In contrast, men do not usually go through the same type of weight differentiations in their lifetimes or dramatic hormonal changes like women, thereby less fat on the thighs accumulates. Moreover, men’s outer layer of skin is thicker than women, hiding any indication of congested fat cells within.
Who Is More Likely To Have Cellulite? Do YOU?
How does a person determine how much cellulite is just too much? You can grade your cellulite according to the tools that are included on celluliteusa.com such as the cellulite pinch test, and the cellulite quiz.
How bad is our cellulite? Give yourself a pinch – really. Grab some of your cellulite between two hands and push it together. Now look at your Cellulite Pinch Test Results.
Drs. Nurnberger and Muller classified cellulite into four stages ranging from 0-4.
Stage 0 - We don’t have it. No dimpling.
Stage 1 - Our cellulite only appears when we actually pinch our cellulite-prone areas.
Stage 2 – We don’t even have to pinch to see cellulite while standing, only when lying down.
Stage 3 – We see cellulite all the time with no pinching necessary.
Now that we know the degree of our cellulite, let’s figure out what kind of cellulite we have:
If your cellulite is loose, in large areas, and a bit wobbly, it is called soft cellulite. Soft cellulite is the most common type, and luckily it is easier to get rid of. It makes us look like we have poor muscle tone even though we have been working our ferociously, since we jiggle when we walk.
Cellulite due mostly to loose skin is a bit different and is treated differently.
Hard cellulite is more common in muscular solidly built women. It has a stronger attachment to the muscles.
When Do We Get Cellulite?
The appearance of cellulite can be worsened be some, or all of the following lifestyle factors: hormones, age, and diet and exercise. Within this passage we will examine each of these lifestyle factors to help determine how each specifically may be affecting you.
Hormones, primarily, plays an integral role in the appearance of our cellulite. A woman’s body is always changing. From the onset of menstruation, birth control use, child bearing, and so on, the levels and type of hormones in our bodies can wreak havoc on our skin. Thereby, an increase in the appearance of cellulite can be during each major and minor hormonal change.
Age, secondly, can exact a toll on our skin. We notice cellulite developing more as we age. We probably had the conditions for cellulite since adolescence, but we see the cellulite more as our collagen production decreases. Hence, our cellulite looks worse as our skin slackens. Repeated sun exposure can help speed the process on aging our skin and should be avoided as much as possible.
Diet and exercise, thirdly, can affect cellulite, although minimally. It is true that if you gain weight, your cellulite may be more apparent, but diet and exercise alone does not seem to remedy the appearance of cellulite. It does seem, however that a diet high in fiber and water can help flush the system of some of the lymphatic congestion that occurs in the crowded outer layer of fat. Thereby, any treatment preferred to decrease or eliminate the amount of cellulite in a person’s body should be supplemented with good hydration and vigorous cardiovascular activities.
Sometimes the fat cells expand so much that they cause the collagen fibers around them to bend causing puckering of the skin above. There are three layers of fat found in the body. Cellulite is located in the layer of fat closest to the skin. There fat cells are enclosed in pockets formed by collagen fibers.
Sometimes the fat cells squeeze on the connective tissues (collagen fibers) and there is little room for the lymphatic drainage system to relieve this build-up of fluids, fats, and toxins. Fat in this layer does not respond well to diet or exercise. Fibrous strands can cause performing successful liposuction to be difficult in this layer of fat. Also, hormones can be responsible for the accumulation of fat in our cellulite layer.
The next two layers of fat are not structured. The fat cells are not separated by connective tissue. The fat in these layers is also, to some degree genetically influenced. The big difference is that the fat in these layers is also easily coaxed by lifestyle and dietary changes.
Why should we care about having cellulite? In the competitive world we live in, how we look and feel about ourselves can sometimes dictate important aspects of life, including love, employment and personal friendships.
When does cellulite appear?
As discussed, the appearance of cellulite is made worse when fat cells in the subcutaneous connective tissue under the skin becomes too closely packed together. Usually found on the thighs and butt, especially in women, cellulite has a characteristic “cottage cheese” appearance. The areas cellulite attaches itself differs between men and women. The reason it probably affects more women than men stems from the basic muscular makeup that is different from women than men. Simply, the cell structure between men and women is inherently different; a woman's connective tissue becomes more and more inflexible, especially as she ages, undergoes hormonal changes, and experiences any type of weight changes, gains and losses, including those from pregnancy, especially repeated pregnancies. The rippled effect known as cellulite occurs when a woman gains weight and her fat cells expand and fold upwards towards the surface of the skin. In contrast, men do not usually go through the same type of weight differentiations in their lifetimes or dramatic hormonal changes like women, thereby less fat on the thighs accumulates. Moreover, men’s outer layer of skin is thicker than women, hiding any indication of congested fat cells within.
Who Is More Likely To Have Cellulite? Do YOU?
How does a person determine how much cellulite is just too much? You can grade your cellulite according to the tools that are included on celluliteusa.com such as the cellulite pinch test, and the cellulite quiz.
How bad is our cellulite? Give yourself a pinch – really. Grab some of your cellulite between two hands and push it together. Now look at your Cellulite Pinch Test Results.
Drs. Nurnberger and Muller classified cellulite into four stages ranging from 0-4.
Stage 0 - We don’t have it. No dimpling.
Stage 1 - Our cellulite only appears when we actually pinch our cellulite-prone areas.
Stage 2 – We don’t even have to pinch to see cellulite while standing, only when lying down.
Stage 3 – We see cellulite all the time with no pinching necessary.
Now that we know the degree of our cellulite, let’s figure out what kind of cellulite we have:
If your cellulite is loose, in large areas, and a bit wobbly, it is called soft cellulite. Soft cellulite is the most common type, and luckily it is easier to get rid of. It makes us look like we have poor muscle tone even though we have been working our ferociously, since we jiggle when we walk.
Cellulite due mostly to loose skin is a bit different and is treated differently.
Hard cellulite is more common in muscular solidly built women. It has a stronger attachment to the muscles.
When Do We Get Cellulite?
The appearance of cellulite can be worsened be some, or all of the following lifestyle factors: hormones, age, and diet and exercise. Within this passage we will examine each of these lifestyle factors to help determine how each specifically may be affecting you.
Hormones, primarily, plays an integral role in the appearance of our cellulite. A woman’s body is always changing. From the onset of menstruation, birth control use, child bearing, and so on, the levels and type of hormones in our bodies can wreak havoc on our skin. Thereby, an increase in the appearance of cellulite can be during each major and minor hormonal change.
Age, secondly, can exact a toll on our skin. We notice cellulite developing more as we age. We probably had the conditions for cellulite since adolescence, but we see the cellulite more as our collagen production decreases. Hence, our cellulite looks worse as our skin slackens. Repeated sun exposure can help speed the process on aging our skin and should be avoided as much as possible.
Diet and exercise, thirdly, can affect cellulite, although minimally. It is true that if you gain weight, your cellulite may be more apparent, but diet and exercise alone does not seem to remedy the appearance of cellulite. It does seem, however that a diet high in fiber and water can help flush the system of some of the lymphatic congestion that occurs in the crowded outer layer of fat. Thereby, any treatment preferred to decrease or eliminate the amount of cellulite in a person’s body should be supplemented with good hydration and vigorous cardiovascular activities.
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