Josh Bezoni's Blog - Posts Tagged "exercise"
Cellulite is Not a Condemnation
Recently, and by recently I mean in the last five years or so, the concept of “cellulite” has been dragged through the mud in the mainstream media as a phenomenon reserved for the obese and the unhealthy. Yet, despite the unappealing aesthetic cellulite presents, the fact is that it’s just fat. That’s all.
It’s just normal fat that is a little bumpy because the fat is poking through the connective tissue between tendons that generally covers it. Since it pokes through these areas and is not forced to distribute, the resulting appearance is one of fat with dimples, not unlike a golf ball. In this light, it’s not like cellulite is some curse plaguing those unfortunate enough to be cast under its spell. It’s merely fat, and as such, it can be reduced, shed, and eliminated, but not without what will undoubtedly be hard work.
Despite the fact that cellulite is just fat, it does tend to affect more women than men since women’s skin are generally thinner. There’s a lot of things that go into it, really. There’s your total percent of body fat, your age, and your genetic predisposition as a whole, but again, even if you are naturally inclined towards cellulite, it is possible to overcome.
Just for context so you can truly understand that cellulite is not some rare and disgusting disease, it is estimated that as much as 85% of all women have some cellulite somewhere on their body regardless if is overweight or even underweight. Even women under 100 lbs are susceptible!
This all said, there are a dangerous amount fitness gimmicks and unsubstantiated products and techniques that claim to erase your cellulite like it’s some sort of sickness and not just fat that can be lost with the right combination of nutrition and exercise. I’d like to point several of these out to ensure no one spends their hard-earned cash on a product that doesn’t even work.
Cellulite Creams
So, so many of these creams flood the market and they flat out do. Not. work. That’s all there is to it. They just don’t. There’s no research to support their working, and honestly, how is rubbing cream on your fat deposits supposed to make them disappear? Theoretically, these fatty deposits are surplus resources of energy your body is essentially saving for a rainy day. So why would smothering them in a cream on the outside of your body have any effect on their reduction? It wouldn’t.
The fact is that cellulite is located much deeper than the very superficial exterior layer of skin that said cream would cover. Just as well, your epidermis is specifically designed to keep things from soaking in and affecting your internal organs; so, really, even in theory, and definitely in practice, these creams don’t work. Put simply, steer clear.
Liposuction
No. No, no, no. Does liposuction reduce your fat? Yes. Does it reduce cellulite? No chance. In fact, the reason for this is the very opposite reason that cellulite cream doesn't work. Liposuction removes fat that is too deep to affect cellulite. Those tricky fatty deposits are too close to the surface for liposuction to be a viable option, and too deep for any cream to have an effect.
Mesotherapy
While I can’t outright prove this is a crock, I can certainly say I am highly skeptical. Essentially, mesotherapy is a procedure that concentrates a series of injections to the cellulite area, and then the fluid in those injections is supposed to break down and dissolve the fat in question.
Yet, like the creams, there is no scientific evidence to substantiate these claims; and the medical community itself is very distrusting of mesotherapy. Not to mention, you need to get a ton of injections, which could very well incite any number of possible side effects. Plus, every single session costs hundreds of dollars, thus making it very expensive to undergo a procedure that most of the medical world doesn’t believe in, anyway.
The only way to get true, lasting results is to make a lifestyle change that focuses on your health. Eat nutritiously. Workout religiously. Live tremendously.
It’s just normal fat that is a little bumpy because the fat is poking through the connective tissue between tendons that generally covers it. Since it pokes through these areas and is not forced to distribute, the resulting appearance is one of fat with dimples, not unlike a golf ball. In this light, it’s not like cellulite is some curse plaguing those unfortunate enough to be cast under its spell. It’s merely fat, and as such, it can be reduced, shed, and eliminated, but not without what will undoubtedly be hard work.
Despite the fact that cellulite is just fat, it does tend to affect more women than men since women’s skin are generally thinner. There’s a lot of things that go into it, really. There’s your total percent of body fat, your age, and your genetic predisposition as a whole, but again, even if you are naturally inclined towards cellulite, it is possible to overcome.
Just for context so you can truly understand that cellulite is not some rare and disgusting disease, it is estimated that as much as 85% of all women have some cellulite somewhere on their body regardless if is overweight or even underweight. Even women under 100 lbs are susceptible!
This all said, there are a dangerous amount fitness gimmicks and unsubstantiated products and techniques that claim to erase your cellulite like it’s some sort of sickness and not just fat that can be lost with the right combination of nutrition and exercise. I’d like to point several of these out to ensure no one spends their hard-earned cash on a product that doesn’t even work.
Cellulite Creams
So, so many of these creams flood the market and they flat out do. Not. work. That’s all there is to it. They just don’t. There’s no research to support their working, and honestly, how is rubbing cream on your fat deposits supposed to make them disappear? Theoretically, these fatty deposits are surplus resources of energy your body is essentially saving for a rainy day. So why would smothering them in a cream on the outside of your body have any effect on their reduction? It wouldn’t.
The fact is that cellulite is located much deeper than the very superficial exterior layer of skin that said cream would cover. Just as well, your epidermis is specifically designed to keep things from soaking in and affecting your internal organs; so, really, even in theory, and definitely in practice, these creams don’t work. Put simply, steer clear.
Liposuction
No. No, no, no. Does liposuction reduce your fat? Yes. Does it reduce cellulite? No chance. In fact, the reason for this is the very opposite reason that cellulite cream doesn't work. Liposuction removes fat that is too deep to affect cellulite. Those tricky fatty deposits are too close to the surface for liposuction to be a viable option, and too deep for any cream to have an effect.
Mesotherapy
While I can’t outright prove this is a crock, I can certainly say I am highly skeptical. Essentially, mesotherapy is a procedure that concentrates a series of injections to the cellulite area, and then the fluid in those injections is supposed to break down and dissolve the fat in question.
Yet, like the creams, there is no scientific evidence to substantiate these claims; and the medical community itself is very distrusting of mesotherapy. Not to mention, you need to get a ton of injections, which could very well incite any number of possible side effects. Plus, every single session costs hundreds of dollars, thus making it very expensive to undergo a procedure that most of the medical world doesn’t believe in, anyway.
The only way to get true, lasting results is to make a lifestyle change that focuses on your health. Eat nutritiously. Workout religiously. Live tremendously.
Stress Eat in Style
So many of us struggle with stress eating. The struggle of daily life can feel overwhelming and in an attempt to cope, we stuff our mouths and stomachs with fatty comfort foods. Yet, this only exacerbates the issue. As stress mounts, our waistlines expand and our self-esteem shrinks—but what if there were a way to eat and lose pounds? What if there was a way to eat comfort foods that make us feel don’t just make us feel comfortable, but make us feel better?
There is! Seriously. Here are some fantastic healthy alternatives to traditional ‘comfort foods:’
Oatmeal: Oatmeal has carbs, a LOT of them. Carbs tell your brain to make serotonin. Serotonin=happy hormone. Therefore, if you eat oatmeal, you will be happy. Though this is a simple explanation for why oatmeal is such an awesome substitute, it is more or less the extent of it. Oatmeal also coerces a steady blood sugar response, which one, is great for your waistline and metabolism, and two, means steady serotonin.
Oranges: The beloved fruit of Florida decreases cortisol levels in humans. Cortisol is the body’s number one stress hormone. So more oranges equal less stress. Plus, oranges have been proven to reduce blood pressure levels when people are subject to stressful circumstances.
Turkey: The staple of Thanksgiving boasts an amino acid that goes by L-tryptophan, and L-Tryptophan also triggers serotonin release which means it triggers happy for you.
Salmon: Salmon and many other types of fish have a very large count of omega-3 fatty acids. Although ‘fatty acids’ may not exude undertones of fresh, healthy, nutrition, these do. In fact, they incite a reduction in stress levels when consumed in appropriate servings. According to a study published in none other than the respected Diabetes & Metabolism, omega 3s prevent cortisol events from peaking. Another study conducted in Michigan went so far as to say that omega 3s decrease anxiety by an astounding 20%.
Avocados: Everyone’s new favorite food has wonderful nutritional benefits when consumed in moderation. Their high potassium content helps reduce stress-induced spikes in blood pressure. Although bananas may get all the credit for potassium, avocados actually have more!
These are just a few foods that provide a tremendous alternative to more generic comfort foods. The next time you open the freezer to look for a gallon of ice cream, consider eating something that not only tastes good, but is good for you.
There is! Seriously. Here are some fantastic healthy alternatives to traditional ‘comfort foods:’
Oatmeal: Oatmeal has carbs, a LOT of them. Carbs tell your brain to make serotonin. Serotonin=happy hormone. Therefore, if you eat oatmeal, you will be happy. Though this is a simple explanation for why oatmeal is such an awesome substitute, it is more or less the extent of it. Oatmeal also coerces a steady blood sugar response, which one, is great for your waistline and metabolism, and two, means steady serotonin.
Oranges: The beloved fruit of Florida decreases cortisol levels in humans. Cortisol is the body’s number one stress hormone. So more oranges equal less stress. Plus, oranges have been proven to reduce blood pressure levels when people are subject to stressful circumstances.
Turkey: The staple of Thanksgiving boasts an amino acid that goes by L-tryptophan, and L-Tryptophan also triggers serotonin release which means it triggers happy for you.
Salmon: Salmon and many other types of fish have a very large count of omega-3 fatty acids. Although ‘fatty acids’ may not exude undertones of fresh, healthy, nutrition, these do. In fact, they incite a reduction in stress levels when consumed in appropriate servings. According to a study published in none other than the respected Diabetes & Metabolism, omega 3s prevent cortisol events from peaking. Another study conducted in Michigan went so far as to say that omega 3s decrease anxiety by an astounding 20%.
Avocados: Everyone’s new favorite food has wonderful nutritional benefits when consumed in moderation. Their high potassium content helps reduce stress-induced spikes in blood pressure. Although bananas may get all the credit for potassium, avocados actually have more!
These are just a few foods that provide a tremendous alternative to more generic comfort foods. The next time you open the freezer to look for a gallon of ice cream, consider eating something that not only tastes good, but is good for you.
