Cellulite is a natural thing, despite what the media and beauty industry may tell us. It’s not the prettiest part of my body, but it certainly isn’t the worst part either.
We have a tendency in our society to create a direct link between our body and our worth, and I want to start off this post by reassuring you that YOU were uniquely made and that alone makes you beautiful and worthy!
We are told a lot of different things about our bodies, and the media is not a good resource on this topic for multiple reasons.
Comparing ourselves to over photoshopped photos is not a healthy way to live, because those pictures ARE NOT reality.
WHAT IS CELLULITE?
It is a part of EVERYONE’S body. Probably, when you think of cellulite you think of your thighs.
It happens when the layer of fat above the muscle, the subcutaneous fat, gets through the weave of the connective tissues.
It typically increases with a higher body fat percentage.
Men typically have less cellulite than women because their muscles and connective tissue have a tighter weave and they typically have less body fat and build muscle more quickly
MYTH #1 – CELLULITE MEANS YOU’RE OVERWEIGHT
This is so so so wrong! Having it does NOT mean that you are overweight. The majority of people have cellulite, even those who are thin. It basically subcutaneous fat deposits that can occur on ANY body type.
MYTH #2 – ONLY WOMEN GET IT
Though women tend to have more of it, it also occurs in men. The reason men do not exhibit cellulite like women do is solely based on their sex and the body composition that occurs in a male body versus a female body.
Men have fibrous bands that run more parallel to the body, where as women also have fibrous bands that run perpendicular. The perpendicular fibrous bands cause a dimpling effect as they lose elasticity and “fall”.
MYTH #3 – IT ONLY HAPPENS IN OLDER PEOPLE
WRONG! It is not age specific. Cellulite can occur at any age.
MYTH #4 – TONS OF CARDIO WILL DECREASE CELLULITE
Actually, you need to be lifting! Throw some heavy weight around! Yes cardio is great, but decreasing cellulite has more to do with increasing the fibrous bands, which improves with muscle development.
When you lift, you strengthen the fibrous tissue, which then decreases the signs of cellulite.
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