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| Trust me…you need the Spanx. |
Oh Spanx? how I love thee?I’d count the ways but there are too many.? Most of my female readers know exactly what I am referring to you.? For those of you who don’t, either you haven’t yet discovered Spanx? due to bad luck, or you have good enough fortune to not NEED to know what they are.? If you fall into the second group, well?lucky you.? Insert Maude Face.
For those of you who don’t know, Spanx? are the best ?body shapers? (affectionately known as ?couture sausage stuffers?) on the planet.? If you have any bit of cellulite, excess skin, or other unpleasant bumps, bulges or anything of the sort?Spanx? will suck it all in and smooth it all out so no one ever needs to know.? I don’t care how big or small you are?most people should wear Spanx?.? They eliminate shadowy areas and panty lines under lightly colored pants or fitted skirts, beat the bulge in the middle in fitted tops and dresses, keep “the girls” locked and loaded with no VBL (Visible Bra Lines), etc.? I know there are substitutes and knock-offs out there but when it comes to these garments, there can be only one.
So now that I have professed my neverending love for Spanx? let’s get down to the most common reason people wear them: cellulite.? Ugh.? Cellulite.? Orange peel.? Cottage cheese.? There is no nice way to refer to it, and it is very hard to get rid of.
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| EW. Nothing else to say. |
What is cellulite?
Despite the ?euphemisms? listed above, cellulite is not actually food trapped under your skin.? Underneath the epidermis (outer layer of skin) and dermis (inner layer of skin) there is the subcutaneous fat layer, also known as subcutis or adipose tissue.? This layer of fat is there to give contour and shape to the body, as well as to provide a protective cushion for the skeleton and vital organs underneath.? This fat layer, like the dermis above it, thins with age.
Cellulite appears when these subcutaneous fat cells become engorged and are ?too large for the natural fiber compartments which hold the skin; these compartments bulge and form unevenly? underneath the skin, giving a dimpled and bumpy appearance.? Cellulite is most commonly seen on the thighs and buttocks women, but can also be found on other parts of the body and in some men.
What causes cellulite?
There is not one single cause of cellulite; rather, there are several likely culprits.? Many people assume it has to do with one?s weight.? While people who are above their ideal weight tend to have cellulite, it affects just as many people who are at or below their ideal weight.? Take me, for example.? I was always a very slim person (before I had my second child), sometimes too slim.? But I still had cellulite?even as a 115 pound teenager who was very physically fit.? So just because you may be larger than the person next to you doesn’t mean you have more cellulite.? Ninety percent of all women have cellulite?and it doesn’t discriminate based on weight.? Although it tends to get worse as we age due to the break-down of the subcutaneous fat layer, young people have it too.
One popular theory is that these fat cells become engorged due to build-up of toxins in the body.?? ?We are exposed to more chemicals via household cleaning products, personal care items, the food we eat (vegetables, grains, beans, and meat), than ever before.? We eat food that has often been exposed as well.? Many of these chemicals are stored in fat cells and fatty tissue.? Here are some other suggestions of how toxins cause cellulite:
- ??? Dehydration: Drinking adequate amounts of water helps the body eliminate toxins on a regular basis.? When the body becomes dehydrated due to lack of water, these toxins cannot be eliminated, and thus become trapped inside the cells, causing a build-up of toxins and other matter.
- ??? Smoking: Inhaling smoke, tar, nicotine, and other toxic and carcinogenic substances do not just damage the lungs and heart.? It also damages the skin, and the subcutaneous fat cells underneath.? Smoking decreases circulation in the body and robs the cells and tissues of oxygen and nutrition, therefore causing them to weaken and unevenly disperse.? This can cause the dimpled effect of cellulite.
- ??? High amounts of estrogen: this can either be naturally occurring estrogen or excessive estrogen due to birth control pills and hormone replacement pills, as well as chemicals in foods and skin care products that cause estrogenic activity in the body.? High levels of estrogen compromise the body?s ability to excrete toxins, thus causing retention of water which causes retention and uneven build up of toxins and fat.
- Sedentary Lifestyle:? Due to technological advancements and certain job demands sitting on the couch playing video games or watching TV, and sitting at a desk all day behind a computer have become the majority of how people in our society spend their time.? This does nothing good for the body?s functions of circulation, digestion, and elimination of toxins.? Lack of physical activity means that the body is not building muscle or burning excess fat, which not only can cause weight gain and muscular atrophy, but also?you guessed it?cellulite.
- ?? Poor Nutrition: Many people in our society consume diets that are completely lacking in vitamins, minerals, antioxidants, whole grains, and essential fatty acids.? Excessive consumption of ?alcohol, processed foods, and caffeine contributes to cellulite since the toxins they produce get trapped in fatty tissue? as well.? Furthermore, these substances release free radicals, which cause cells to break down and DNA to become irreparably damaged.
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| Are you really sure you want to eat that? |
Can cellulite be reduced?
It can be reduced, often by addressing the points listed above.? However, if you are one of the unlucky ones to be genetically predisposed to cellulite, you may never be able to get rid of it.? After you have treated your cellulite holistically by remedying any of the above situations that may have applied to you, there are some things you can do to help improve the appearance of cellulite.
There are plenty of detoxification body wraps and treatments that are aimed at cellulite reduction and inch loss. These treatments ?break up? these large fat cells and help the body eliminate their contents (which is usually pretty gross), either by compression (body wraps that use mineral-soaked compression bandages to literally ?squeeze? the toxins out) or by some form of electrotherapy (Ionithermie, detox foot baths, etc).? There are also detox body masks and body soaks available at spas and wellness centers that are made up with absorbing muds and clays, that have been infused with certain herbs, seaweeds, and botanicals that are known to facilitate detoxification.
Like many things, detoxification and cellulite reduction is an ongoing process.? There are quick fixes (Ionithermie and inch loss wraps) that can cause temporary results?this is great for special occasions?but of course they come with a high price tag.
I always encourage people to hydrate, quit smoking, reduce intake of caffeine and alcohol, eliminate unhealthy chemicals and processed foods, and adopt overall heathier lifestyles, but if you need a quick fix and don’t have the money for one of these pricey spa treatments, I say get thee to the store (or click on the link below) and go for the Spanx?.? Once you see how good your body looks in your clothes with the correct foundations, you will never go Spanx-less again.? At least not to special occasions 🙂
