Cellulite Free

Step 5 to Cellulite Free Skin: Professional Treatment

Every so often, it's nice to be pampered--especially when the treatment results in cellulite free skin! When it comes to reducing the appearance of cellulite, you can indulge in a professional treatment called VelaSmooth, which is the first FDA-approved noninvasive medical treatment for cellulite reduction. It uses a combination of radiofrequency and infrared emissions. During the 30-minute session, the system mechanically manipulates, massages, and vacuums the skin, all to increase circulation and metabolism, stimulate fibroblast activity for increased collagen production, and enhance distribution of fat cells.

Step 4 to Cellulite Free Skin: Boost Your Collagen

It takes great nutrition to produce the abundant, strong, and healthy collagen that supports beautiful, smooth, cellulite free skin.

To reduce cellulite, the collagen-boosting nutrients you should be taking daily include:

• Silicon (4 mg)
• Vitamin C (1,000 mg)
• Biotin (2,500 mcg)
• Bioflavonoids (100–300 mg)
• Rutin (400 mg twice daily)
• N-acetyl glucosamine (500 mg), and
• Alpha lipoic acid (25 mg)

In addition, studies show that conjugated linoleic acid (CLA) increases collagen levels while also keeping fat cells from accumulating more fat and becoming larger. I recommend 3,000 mg of CLA daily, in divided doses and taken with meals. Try Tonalin CLA  or TonaLean-3.

Biopsies of cellulite show that, unlike fat in other areas of the body, the fat within cellulite is inflamed. Research on diabetics has clearly established that the high-carbohydrate diet of affluent cultures not only predisposes a woman to diabetes but also profoundly increases her circulating levels of inflammatory compounds, increasing her risk of developing cellulite.

To dampen inflammation and, as a result, reduce the appearance of cellulite, adopt a Mediterranean-type diet that’s rich in fruits, veggies, whole grains, legumes, raw nuts, and the occasional cold-water fish like salmon, trout, and tuna.

Step 2 to Cellulite Free Skin: Boost Your Cardio and Metabolism

Increasing your lean-to-fat ratio requires gaining muscle first, which naturally makes fat melt away. So engage in muscle-building exercises at least two to three days per week. 

In addition, boosting your metabolism is important because, as your metabolism ramps up, your body’s sensitivity to insulin—which interferes with fat breakdown in cellulite-prone areas—sharpens, and circulating insulin levels go down. Enhanced metabolism also increases fat loss throughout the day, even when you’re idle.

To increase oxygen supply, boost your metabolism, and reduce the appearance of cellulite, engage in aerobic exercise for at least 45 minutes, at least six days a week.

Cellulite is a misunderstood condition. Here are some common myths debunked:

Myth #1: Cellulite is due to obesity. No, it isn’t. It’s true that increased fat can accentuate cellulite’s appearance. But even slender, fit female athletes can have cellulite.

Myth #2: Cellulite is caused by advancing age. No, it isn’t. It occurs in up to 98 percent of women over 20.

Myth #3: Cellulite is abnormal fat tissue. No, it isn’t. It’s a connective tissue disorder that happens when strands of the connective tissue “fishnet,” which normally hold subcutaneous fat smoothly in place, break. Fat then bulges through the breaks and creates that lumpy look.

Myth #4: Cellulite is inherited. Only in the sense that being female is inherited. There are several contributing factors, including insulin resistance, lack of exercise, and the hormonal peaks and valleys associated with menstruation and pregnancy.

Knowing this, I am going to give you five steps you need to know to be cellulite free. These steps can be used in addition to the other tips Kimberly and I have given you on this blog, including dry brush massaging and using my latte lather.

Step 1 to Cellulite Free Skin: Hormone Balance

I briefly touched on the connection between cellulite and estrogen levels here. To reduce the appearance of cellulite, some of the best hormone-balancing supplements you can use include black cohosh, genistein, and hops.





 

To reduce cellulite, use any of the hormone-balancing solutions I discuss throughout my blog. You can also try dry brushing and my "latte lather," both of which reduce the appearance of cellulite from the outside.
 

1. Rub your skin vigorously to stimulate it and remove dead cells.
2. Using short, brisk strokes, start with your extremities and brush gently at first because your body is likely to be sensitive. Brush as follows:
   
   • From your feet, brush toward your pelvis;
   • From your wrists, brush to your armpits;
   • From your chin brush to your navel.

• Sodium Lauryl (or Laureth) Sulfate, a foaming agent in many shampoos and skin cleansers. (Sodium laureth sulfate is the alcohol form of SLS.) Many sources claim that SLS contains large amounts of nitrates that, when used in conjunction with other chemicals, can form nitrosamines (a kind of carcinogen). But what we do know for certain is that SLS is associated with eye irritation, skin rashes, diarrhea, hair loss, scalp dryness (like dandruff), and allergic reactions. And, according to the Journal of the American College of Toxicology, SLS damages your hair follicles, actually causing your hair to fall out!

• Alcohols (Ethyl and Isopropyl) virtually destroy your skin’s pH balance by stripping the acid mantle. In doing so, they also strip away your skin’s defensive barrier, leaving your skin and body open to infection. Alcohols also absorb water, while at the same time dissolving your body’s own natural moisturizers. As a result, they can actually contribute to wrinkles and fine lines.

Marlene asked how you know if you are estrogen dominant. In our book Hormone Revolution, Dr. Lark and I give a couple of ways for you to determine your estrogen levels. While several doctors recommend blood testing, Dr. Lark prefers saliva testing, as it contains a particularly accurate indicator of free (unbound) hormone levels. This is the key, as only free hormones are active, meaning that they can affect the hormone-sensitive tissues in your breasts, brain, heart, and uterus. You can talk with your doctor about ordering a saliva hormone test.

For a non-testing a quick peek into your hormone balance, you can also use the following checklist to determine if you suffer from estrogen dominance and have high estrogen levels. What these symptoms have in common is that they are due to estrogen levels that are too high in relationship to progesterone.

• Are you over age 35?
• Do you suffer from PMS?
• Do you have heavy, irregular periods? 
• Do you suffer from anxiety, irritability, and/or mood swings?
• Have you gained more than 10 pounds over the past few years? 
• Do you have noticeable cellulite?
• Do you have puffiness around your eyes or face?
• Do you have a decreased interest in sex? 
• Are you experiencing sleep difficulties? 
• Are you retaining fluids? 
• Are you having headaches? 
• Do you have bouts of brain fog—forgetting your friend's first name, where you put your car keys, or the point of a text you recently studied? 
• Have you recently discovered cysts in your breasts? 
• Have you been told you have fibroid tumors? 
• Do you have symptoms of endometriosis? 
• Have you been diagnosed with either hyperplasia or endometrial cancer?
• Have you been diagnosed with ovarian cysts?

If you answered yes to three or more of these questions, you likely have estrogen dominance.

 

I am heading to a lakefront cottage soon, and while I am thrilled to be getting away and spending time with family, there is one aspect I am not looking forward to—those few dimples that peek out the side of my swimsuit. Yep, I too have a bit of cellulite and will be spending the next week or so trying to reduce the appearance of cellulite on my tushie.

The first thing I’ll do is really clean up my diet. No sugar, dairy, and wheat for me! Plus, I’ll add in lots of complex carbs and lean proteins, such as brown rice, flaxseed, free-range eggs, and wild-caught fish. Eating this type of diet can help to reduce cellulite.

I’ll also up my water intake and reduce anything that makes me retain water, such as salt and caffeine. This will help me flush the toxins and fats out of my system, and more importantly, flush out the fat stores that contribute to cellulite.

And my cardio exercise will get a kick in the pants as well. This means increasing my daily walk to a daily run of at least 45 minutes. I’ve found that the more cardio I do, the easier it is to reduce cellulite in my problem areas.

Lastly, I’ll do a few coffee-ground massages to help remove toxins and improve circulation in the affected area, thereby reducing the appearance of cellulite. While ingesting caffeine can contribute to the appearance of cellulite, rubbing coffee grounds on cellulite helps to tighten your skin and tissues by constricting your superficial blood vessels.

There are several good products on the market that help to reduce the appearance of cellulite , but I prefer to make my own. Below is one of my personal favorite natural skin care recipes for cellulite-free skin. And it smells amazing!

Reduce Cellulite With a Luscious Latte Lather

1/3 cup raw brown sugar

1-1/2 tablespoon fresh coffee grounds

1-1/2 tablespoon ground almonds

2 teaspoon peppermint oil

4 teaspoon flaxseed oil

1 teaspoon squalane

9 drops peppermint oil

1/4 teaspoon cocoa powder

1. Mix all ingredients in an air-tight container (preferably plastic).
2. Use in the shower, rubbing all over your body in a circular motion. (You can use as much or as little as you want.)
3. Store remaining mixture in the refrigerator until your next cellulite-blasting massages!
    

When I think of addiction, I go right to alcohol or drugs. But one of the most common (and most dangerous) addictions is sugar addiction.

Like most narcotics, eating a diet high in sugar gives you a “high,” and can help to mask negative feelings like loneliness, depression, resentment, or fear. In fact, sugar has opioid or narcotic properties, meaning it acts like an endorphin in your body. But, like any drug, this lift is short-lived, and soon you need more and more sugar to achieve the same effect.

There is also physical withdrawal from sugar. During the SkyLab bootcamps that I run, we break sugar addictions from the onset. And within four to five days, many of the participants experience sugar withdrawal. This can take the form of shaking, anxiety, low energy, and extreme cravings as they come off sugar. And research has shown this detox to be very real.

In a study published in the June 2002 issue of Obesity Research, scientists deprived rats of food for 12 hours, then fed them a glucose solution for the next 12 hours. Withdrawal was then induced using either 24 hours of food deprivation or the withdrawal drug naloxone. In both cases, the rats showed signs of withdrawal, including teeth chattering, shaking, and tremors. Researchers concluded that withdrawal from repeated, excessive sugar intake created symptoms that were similar to those of withdrawal from morphine and nicotine.

Sugar Wreaks Havoc on Female Hormones

Sugar depletes your body of important nutrients, including calcium, magnesium, and potassium. This leaching actually leads to cravings and binges as your body desperately seeks to replenish the nutrients that have been taken away.

It also increases estrogen levels, which can exacerbate estrogen dominance and worsen menopause symptoms, including hot flashes, night sweats, and other menopause problems.

Sugar Sabotages Weight Loss

If you have a few extra pounds you have been fighting to lose, then sugar may be the culprit. Sugar is a born enemy of natural weight loss. Sugar contributes to false fat, increases inflammation, and can worsen digestive problems. It also provides empty calories, meaning you tend to overeat sugary, starchy foods without ever really feeling full and satisfied.

So, if you are looking to lose weight, reduce the appearance of cellulite, and regain appetite control, cut the sugar…today!

Sugar Damages Your Skin

Sugary foods overstimulate your sebaceous glands and can trigger excess oil production. They can also contribute to blood sugar imbalances, which can worsen symptoms of anxiety and stress, both of which can lead to breakouts. Who needs acne at our age!

Sugar also has a vasoconstrictive effect, which translates to decreased circulation to the skin. This can lead to wrinkles and sallow-looking skin. So wrinkle-free skin is your goal, then losing the sugar is the best natural skin care program you can find.

Overcoming Sugar Addiction

Beating any addiction can be difficult, and sugar is no different. I have found that the best way to break your sugar addiction is to go cold-turkey. This means no candy, bakery items, sugary coffee drinks, etc. Nada. Nothing.

This will take about five days to completely break. In that time, lean on fruits when you need a sweet treat, and drink lots and lots of water and herbal tea to help flush the sugar out of your system.

You can also try using to of the nutrients Dr. Lark recommends for controlling your appetite and reducing cravings. These include 5-HTP and chromium.

5-HTP is the precursor to serotonin, a critical neurotransmitter in your brain that influences mood and diminishes hunger. Take 50 mg of 5-HTP twice per day. Take it with half of an apple and 50–100 mg of vitamin B6 to facilitate uptake into the brain.  

Chromium is an essential trace mineral that is necessary for controlling blood sugar and helping to reduce food cravings. Aim for 100–200 mcg of chromium picolinate once or twice per day.