Cellulite worse Postpartum?

So I have decided to talk about cellulite today because this seems to be 75% of women's worst enemy! So I had always had cellulite pre-pregnancy, but with diet and exercise, I got it under control. Postpartum it seemed like I had so much more of it and seemed like it was so much harder to get rid of it! So first things first; what is cellulite? Cellulite is subcutaneous fat that causes dimpling of the skin. Have you ever hear someone refer to their legs or another's legs as cottage cheese legs? Well, that is cellulite, and if you are a woman congratulations, the chances of you having it are higher than a man's chances of having it. Cellulite is most commonly found on the thighs, buttocks, stomach, and arms. Cellulite does not discriminate, those who are overweight, underweight, man or woman you can still develop cellulite. The primary cause of cellulite is your body fat percentage vs. lean muscle mass. If you have a higher body-fat percentage, you are more likely to have cellulite. Another considerable factor is hormones! This is where being a woman affects your chances of having cellulite. Estrogen helps keep blood vessels flowing, and promotes healthy circulation. As we age, our estrogen count lowers causing a decrease in circulation and new collagen production. Lack of physical activity is also a huge factor! Those who live a more sedentary life will be more likely to have cellulite. The reasoning behind this is because the more sedentary the lifestyle, the less likely you are to have lean muscle mass. Getting rid of cellulite isn't something that can happen overnight trust me! This coming from someone who has literally had cellulite since I can remember. The best way to get rid of cellulite on a more permanent basis is DIET AND EXERCISE! Suprise Surprise huh? All those other quick fixes will not work! There are wraps from here and gels and creams from there that say "they work miracles" but many of them are just temporary. Having a well-balanced diet will make all the difference in the world. This will help promote healthy weight loss. By adding exercise to your daily routine, you will be able to increase your lean muscle mass which will also promote healthy weight loss as well as reduce the appearance of cellulite. You want to incorporate fruits, veggies, whole grains, lean protein and healthy fats in your diet. Water is the last macro-nutrient that most people forget about. Staying hydrated is also so very important. You can also incorporate teas such as green tea (using only honey to sweeten if necessary) to aid in healthy fat loss. Cut out all those fried foods, all that added sugar, and all those processed foods. Try to go organic if you can! At least stay away from the isles in the middle of the grocery store and just shop the perimeter of the store this is where all the less processed and healthier foods are located in most grocery stores! As far as exercise goes, I always recommend a balance of cardio and strength training. If you add 3 days of cardio exercise as well as 3 days of strength training you will see a MAJOR difference. 30 minutes of cardio followed by 30 minutes of strength training is sufficient. I personally recommend HIIT training to really blast the fat! So while cellulite doesn't hurt anything but your feelings, it does just that in making many self-conscious about yourself! Your body is BEAUTIFUL no matter what, but if you have some stubborn cellulite focus on making some lifestyle changes that will help reduce the appearance of cellulite as well as prevent the formation of new cellulite. This will also help set you up on a healthier lifestyle long term! Make a change! Start today!

---

PEACE LOVE & HAPPINESS. LOVE THE SKIN YOU'RE IN. #BBTE