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Are you one of those women who are keen to hide an area of dimpled, cottage cheesy flesh somewhere on your body? If you said yes, then you are pretty normal as about 90 percent of all women have some amount of unwanted cellulite on their thighs or buttocks. What causes this lumpy cellulite? Basically, we all experience undesirable changes in our body composition (muscle tissue/fat ratio) as we get older, most notably less muscle tissue and more fat. In fact, the average woman who does not keep her muscles strong and toned with the right exercise program loses around five pounds of muscle and adds about 15 pounds of fat every decade of adult life. At first, the muscle tissue loss goes unnoticed because of the additional body fat along with the increased body weight. Also, until significant muscle tissue is lost the body fat stores are fairly evenly layered between the underlying muscle and the overlying skin.
As time goes on more of the muscle that gives us a solid, firm and toned body is reduced and replaced by increasing amounts of body fat. Because fat is exceptionally soft tissue it does not keep our skin taught and firm like muscle does. Consequently, when there is too little muscle to cushion the skin it tends to take on the lumpy look of the irregular fat deposits beneath it. The combined result of too little muscle tissue and too much fat is largely responsible for cellulite which becomes more noticeable with age, because the skin gets thinner over time. There is no quick fix, no magic potion or procedure and there is no cream that can be applied to the skin that can penetrate and rearrange the fat cells beneath the surface. Some people try liposuction, which can remove fat but won't do anything for skin texture. Long lasting, permanent ways to eliminate cellulite are not for sale. What gets rid of cellulite? As excess body fat is an important component of cellulite the first step is to reduce the underlying fat stores. But decreasing the fat deposits by restrictive dieting alone without the correct exercise does not necessarily improve the skins appearance. It may still stay soft, saggy and lumpy, and look even more dimpled because without the fat there is even less substance underneath it to give it shape Strength training exercise is an important element in reducing the unsightly appearance of cellulite to replace lost muscle tissue and decrease total body fat. Only when firm and fit muscle is rebuilt will the skin become taught and toned. Without question, toning the muscle is as important as losing body fat to rectify the rippled look and reshape the body. A cardio (walking, jogging or cycling) only program is not enough to achieve this. By burning more calories during the workout, burning more calories after the workout, and burning more calories all day long to meet the higher energy demands of well-conditioned muscles you will see results. Stick to a strength training program and the more toned the legs and buttocks become the better they will look. And as a bonus the exercise will make you feel better, too.
Do you want to discover the secret to rejuvenating your body and improving the quality of your life? Download my free ebook "I've Found the Fountain of Youth- Let Me Show You Too!" here: Reverse Aging For Free Fitness Report here Fitness Weight Loss Carolyn Hansen is a certified fitness expert and fitness center owner who coaches clients to look and feel younger.
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