Infinite Ideas - Get rid of cellulite: Simple shortcuts to beautiful skin

Get rid of cellulite

Simple shortcuts to beautiful skin

Infinite Ideas

Previously published in paperback as Shape up your bum

8. Creams crackers

Moisturisings the No 1 beauty rule, and experts say keeping skin hydrated can help banish those dimples.

When you slather on moisturiser, it helps plump out your skin. The effects may be temporary but adding moisture can smooth out those dimples and orange peel bits to a degree. When your skin lacks moisture, it looks thinner, so those little pockets of fatty cells beneath the skin (which are the cellulite) are more noticeable. If you re-hydrate your skin, you reduce the appearance of cellulite. Aim to moisturise day and night after a shower in the morning and before bed. Expensive, delicious smelling unguents make it a more pleasurable task, but any good moisturiser or body oil will do the trick.

There are many specialist cellulite creams out there. These days many products are impressively endorsed by various scientific studies, many of which claim that testers lost inches and pounds after using the said unguent for a period of time. But cellulite creams alone, however impressive, arent likely to transform fleshy saggy buttocks into a nectarine-firm bottom.

However they may help more than ordinary moisturisers. Many cellulite creams also contain temporary toning ingredients, which help improve skin texture. Effects can be pretty immediate but are temporary good for a hot date, beach day, black dress occasion, that sort of thing.

Heres an idea for you

Avocadoes are good for your skin. They make a delicious snack or a sandwich/salad ingredient. You can even make a moisturising beauty mask with them. Simply mush up two or three avocados into a soft paste and smother over your bottom massaging it in using circular movements with the avocado stone. Then just wash it off with warm water.

Defining idea

I love to put on lotion. Sometimes Ill watch TV and go into a lotion trance for an hour. I try to find brands that dont taste bad in case anyone wants to taste me.

Angelina Jolie

9. Stepping up a gear

Step is a full-on cardio workout to music that firms the thighs, shapes the bum and hones the hamstrings.

A lot of women decide on the spot that they are either too uncoordinated or too unfit to take part in the choreographed stampede of a step class. But if you want to shape up your bum step is a great class to try out.

Steps of any kind are a surprisingly hard workout so make sure you start with a beginners class: step is hard enough work without the stress of playing catch-up. Youll probably warm up with some nice simple side-to-side movements, a bit of stretching as you sway, and some step up/downs. Then the pace will gradually pick up with new moves being added such as stepping sideways on the step, stepping down on the other side, stepping over the step with a twirl to face the other way. The whole thing is done to a strong beat and you may be surprised by how much you sweat. Step is one of those things where it gets easier the better you get at it. As a newbie you are putting in more effort, and getting more of a workout, than the more slick-looking steppers around you. Keep up the good work and marvel as your bottom becomes more pert.

Heres an idea for you

As you get used to step it gets easier, reducing the benefits of the workout. Progress to the next level offered by your gym as soon as you find that you know what move comes next, youre not as breathless or sweaty as you used to be, or you just fancy something new. If the new class is too much for you, then simply skip some of the moves to keep up youll get it in the end.

Defining idea

To get fit, be fit, and stay fit, one had to be consistent, yet consistently change.

GIN MILLER, step priestess

10. Sea nymphs

Get the low-down on seaweed and algae body wraps.

Marine products are thought to help with cellulite by boosting circulation and encouraging fluid loss from the skin; so if you think your own cellulite is caused by water retention, its worth investing in some of the green stuff.

Body wraps have long been used as a cellulite treatment. The process goes something like this; you go to a salon and undress, then a therapist applies some kind of blue, green or browny marine-based mud, then wraps your waist and bottom up in foil, or cling film or some kind of gauze. Thus trussed, youre left gazing at the ceiling or floor, for about an hour, after which youre cleaned, moisturised and sent out into the world, inches smaller and with smoother, firmer skin.

The heated blanket/cling film part of the process is thought to encourage the skin to sweat further, and you tend to lose water, which is why you often emerge having lost a few pounds and inches during the treatment. Sometimes the therapist will measure you before and after any inch loss does make you feel youve had your moneys worth. Make sure you drink plenty of fluid post-treatment, though, as you could feel dehydrated.

Its not a miracle solution, as the pounds will return as you drink to replenish the lost fluids. But if youre beach-bound, look upon it as a temporary cellulite-minimiser or tummy flattener. Plus its actually fairly pleasant deeply relaxing, and wonderfully pampering. And, appearance aside, the products usually smell delectable.

Heres an idea for you

Swimmings a great all-over exercise that can burn fat and calories, boost your skin tone and firm your wobbly bits at the same time. If you dont fancy swimming next time youre at the beach, walking through waist high water is also great for toning the muscles in your legs.

Defining idea

Eternity begins and ends with the oceans tides.

Anon

11. I want muscles

Muscle-building exercise can boost your metabolic rate and help you burn more body fat, which means less cellulite.

Lean muscle fills out your skin, so saggy cellulite tissue could be transformed into neat, toned, smoother, taut buttocks in a matter of weeks. When you work on building and firming your muscles and reducing body fat, it helps effectively lift the skin, which can help prevent that puckering which takes place when the fibres pull downwards. In fact, one study found that 70% of women said their cellulite improved in just 6 weeks by doing weight training on their legs.

The trouble with muscle is that when we reach our late 30s, we start losing it whilst gaining fat, even if our diet stays the same. So you may find your cellulite has become more noticeable over the years.

Working with weight machines, dumbbells, barbells, body bars, body bands, wrist or ankle weights constitutes an effective resistance workout, so head for your local gym and ask a trainer to devise a workout for you. The aim is to build in three sessions of resistance work a week. Outside the gym, walking or cycling with ankle weights, doing squats and lunges or taking part in spinning or step classes will all help build muscle.

Stick to low fat foods, with plenty of fresh fruit and veg. Lean protein is important for muscles, as it helps repair the muscle fibres you may have damaged. So eat plenty of chicken, fish, dairy tofu, lentils, nuts. Spread your protein evenly over 5 or 6 meals a day to maximise absorption and minimise fat gain. If youre working out three times a week you need about 57g of carbs per kg of body weight daily. Remember to include calcium-rich foods such as dairy, beans and green leafy vegetables to help support your bones.

Heres an idea for you

Is water retention making your wobbly bits puffy? Try eating lots of natural diuretics such as celery, onion, parsley, aubergines, garlic and peppermint.