Cellulite: that nasty bastard that destroys confidence and leaves you feeling unattractive. It isn't selective in who can get it. Anyone can suffer from cellulite. Male or Female. Young or Old. Big or small. Even your genes can have an impact. For me, the appearance of my cellulite actually got worse as I lost weight, off-putting huh? I tried all the gimmicks, creams, and tricks I had been conned in to trying, but all they managed to do was drain my your bank account. Because of this I learnt 8 natural ways to dramatically help minimise the appearance of cellulite:
1. Dry Body Brushing.
Dry body brushing helps to stimulate the lymphatic system, increase blood flow and circulation, aid in detoxification, and improve the appearance of your skin AND cellulite! It also helps to break down fatty deposits which are the main cause of the appearance of cellulite! Dry body brushing is simple: use long strokes with the brush moving upwards towards the heart, and when you get to an area that is prone to cellulite, brush in circular motions. You want to brush hard enough that the skin feels refreshed and has a slight pink tone, however don't brush so hard you end up burning your skin (trust me this can happen!).
2. Drink water
You've probably heard this, and there's a reason for that, drinking water helps to flush out excess water weight and salt, improves your skin tone, and aids in detoxification, all of which lead to better skin and a reduction in cellulite. Also, if water isn't your cup of tea then switch to herbal teas such as dandelion, yerba mate, fennel, white tea, celery seed, and nettle which are known to help with flushing out excess water weight.
3. Stress less & Sleep more
Stress produces the hormone cortisol which is linked with weight gain and hormonal fluctuations, aka the cellulite promoting bad guys. Also, disturbances in your sleep pattern can also lead to hormonal fluctuations and an increase in stress levels. Reduce stress and sleep better to reduce cellulite.
4. Coffee Scrubs
This is one of the best ways to reduce the appearance of cellulite (that I have found for me). Similar to all the benefits of dry body brushing, but the inclusion of the caffeine in the coffee helps improve skins elasticity and has a tightening effect. A simple scrub to make is coffee and an even blend of melted coconut oil and olive oil. Mixed in to a paste. Store in a jar in your bathroom and use 3 times a week before your shower (whilst standing in the shower as it can get messy!).
5. Eat well
Loading up on anti-oxidant rich foods (think bright and dark coloured foods), green tea, loads of vegetables, fibre, lean protein, good fats (such as coconut oil, avocado, salmon, nuts, chia seeds, and flaxseed) helps to improve your skin, as well as promote a healthy weight.
6. Switch your salt
Get rid of iodized processed salt which has an acidic effect on the body and replace it with real salt such as sea salt, rock salt, or Himalayan salt which has an alkalizing effect on the body. Swapping to more alkalizing foods in general will dramatically help with cellulite reduction.
7. Moisturize and massage
Nourish your skin with quality oils such as coconut oil. Massaging the coconut oil (and getting massages) in helps break down fat deposits and cellulite, and improves the lymphatic system.
8. Strength train and Walk
Improving the muscle tone helps dramatically with the appearance of cellulite. Tighten the muscles, lose weight, and watch the results. Also walking is great for the lower body and helps to stimulate a reduction in cellulites appearance.
By including these as part of your daily routine for 3-4 weeks (and then continue to do so) you will begin to see a dramatic improvement in your skin. The best way to notice the difference is by taking before and after photos. Give it a go, you will shock yourself.
If you need more help feel free to reach out to me here http://www.catelliott.com or on Facebook http://www.facebook.com/catelliottHWL
Got any extra tips? I'd love to know.