Bye Bye Cellulite
A few of My Fav Natural Remedies For Cellulite…
Are you giddy with excitement that summer is right around the corner, but also DREADING it at the same time b/c it also means you have to bust the shorts out of your attic? You can’t help but dwell on what's hiding underneath those jeans, including that alarming patch of cellulite that somehow gets worse every year. If you have cellulite, odds are you’re extremely self conscious over it (even after a healthy dose of self love). But, do you even know WHAT it is? And that there are several natural remedies that can help reduce its appearance?!
Cellulite happens when you have globs of fat under the skin that push up against the connective tissue. It creates this “cottage cheese” or “mottled” skin appearance.
When it comes to getting rid of cellulite, quick fixes are exactly what they sound like - temporary solutions that are RARELY budget friendly and usually quite invasive. If you want to experience real, long term improvement there are SO many better options than pricey procedures and creams. Options that are non-invasive, beneficial to other aspects of your health and much much more affordable. Here’s what you SHOULD focus on instead:
1. What’s on your plate?
Sugar sugar sugar! It’s the WORST for cellulite! It causes fluid retention, inflammation and storage of body fat — all of which can increase the appearance of cellulite. Avoid added sugars as well as refined grains like white pasta, white rice, cookies, pastries, bagels, etc (b/c they rapidly break down into sugar). Opt for whole grain options instead and be sure to read all nutrition labels (try to keep added sugars under 20g/ day)! To help reach this goal, try to only buy packaged products that have a sugar content in the single digits.
2. THIS TYPE OF EXERCISE
Stop the running, stop the biking, stop the elliptical-ing (?) ... CARDIO IS NOT HELPING. Yes, it has many other health benefits so don’t stop it altogether hehe, but if you’re a cardi fanatic, you HAVE to incorporate some sort of resistance training into your exercise routine. Spend a few days per week focusing on interval, burst, and weight resistance exercise. Isometric training such as Barre and Pilates are also good options. You can achieve this by using the weight machines at your gym, getting a punch card at a barre studio, or trying an at-home routine with one of my favorite free workout sites: Fitness Blender, Tone It up, or the Nike Training Club app. Just experiment and figure out which works for you!
3. These SUPPLEMENTS & ROUTINES
Collagen (internal) - Yes, collagen is ALL the rage right now, but for good reason! It has tons of health benefits and can also be especially effective at reducing cellulite. Connective tissue, including the layers of the skin, is comprised of collagen. It’s needed for skin’s elasticity, youthful texture and strength so when the skin is strong, cellulite appearance is diminished.
Try supplementing with collagen everyday for a few months. I like Vital Proteins and would recommend supplementing with two scoops every day for a few months.
Grapefruit Essential Oil (topical) - Grapefruit oil contains large amounts of anti-inflammatory enzymes, which help break down cellulite and prevent the formation of new fat cells. Try this easy homemade cream:
Mix 30 drops of therapeutic grade grapefruit essential oil with 1 cup of melted coconut oil in a glass container. Let coconut oil harden. Rub into areas with cellulite for 5 min/ day. (Easiest to do right before bed).
Dry Brushing (topical) - Not only is dry brushing a phenomenal option for reducing the appearance of cellulite, but it also increases circulation to the skin, creates a healthy glow and softer skin, and also assists in lymphatic drainage (which releases toxins held by the body). Here’s how to do it:
Dry brush once a day for 5 min (easiest to do while standing in your shower, right before you turn the water on!) Use a stiff-bristled brush with gentle pressure on dry skin. Start at the feet and move the brush in a circular motion upwards towards the heart (as a good rule of thumb, always brush toward the center of the body). Spend a little extra time focusing on cellulite-prone areas.
Trending: Cap Beauty Dry Brush $40
Budget friendly: The Organic Pharmacy Skin Brush $15
Well there you have it- 5 easy and natural remedies for your cellulite that just so happen to have TONS of other health benefits. To make it a long term habit, try incorporating one at a time for a few weeks until it becomes part of your routine. Of course you’ll have the best results if you can do all of them, but even one or two should make a noticeable difference!
♡ Renée