Cellulite Cure Diary

To date no magic pill or potion has provided the longed for miracle-cure for cellulite. However, there are many things that can reduce the appearance and effect of cellulite – and most of these can be tried at home for minimal cost.

One option is to use essential oils combined with massage to treat areas worst affected by cellulite.

Cellulite develops when the connective tissue that retains fat cells becomes weak allowing those fat cells to expand and push up against the skin causing the characteristic bumps and lumps that we all associate with cellulite.

Essential oils can be used in massage and also in a bath and they work to stimulate circulation and eliminate fluid retention.

A massage oil blend consisting of 5 drops of each of the following oils can be used at home:

• Grapefruit
• Cypress
• Juniper
• Clary sage

NB Orange, Lemon, Lavender or Rosemary may be substituted for any of the oils shown above. It is best to make a selection of four essential oils and use 5 drops from each one.

The essential oils must be mixed with a suitable carrier oil and then massaged on to affected areas every day immediately after a bath or shower.

Make the massage movements firm and stimulating, always applying pressure on the stroke working towards the heart. Massage should be avoided in areas where there are varicose veins.

The combined effect of the essential oils and the massage will help to break down fatty deposits and encourage the elimination of toxins by encouraging circulation.

By using a soft body brush on the skin before the bath or shower or using a loofah or scrub in the bath or shower the subsequent massage with essential oils becomes all the more effective.

Essential oils can also be added to a bath as a soak. Once again the oils can be selected from any of the citrus group – Lemon, Grapefruit or Orange plus a selection from Cypress, Juniper, Lavender and Rosemary. Choose a maximum of 4 oils and add 3 drops of each to a bath.

As for the massage, the essential oil bath soak is more effective if the skin is brushed prior to the bath or scrubbed whilst in the bath.

Essential oils are pleasant and easy to use. Many essential oils are not suitable for use in pregnancy and in this situation it is better and safer to consult with a qualified aromatherapist before self treating.

The use of oils alone will, unfortunately be enough to rid your body of cellulite, although they will help. It is also necessary to make diet and lifestyle changes to eliminate excess fat and to also strengthen connective tissue.

Salon and spa treatments for cellulite are expensive and not available to everyone. For this reason it is worth discovering what you can do for yourself to reduce cellulite – all in the comfort of your own home.

Cellulite occurs when the connective tissue holding fats cells in place beneath the skin becomes weakened. The weakened connective tissue allows fat cells to protrude through into the basal layer of the skin and it is these protrusions that cause the bumps and dimples of cellulite.

When the fat cells are not contained in the proper manner other problems can be caused such as varicose veins and fluid retention.

Any home based treatment, if it is to be successful, must focus on restoring the strength and integrity of the connective tissues which will then be able to better contain the fat cells and improve circulation of both blood and lymph.

You may be wondering just how you can achieve all of that from home.

The first thing required is an improvement in circulation and this can be achieved by incorporating some form of aerobic activity into your daily regime for a minimum of 30 minutes each day. You do not have to make time to go to the gym – remember this is all about home treatments for cellulite. Think about what you can do at home – perhaps some vigorous housework or gardening; a brisk walk with the dog rather than a comfortable stroll; putting away or ignoring some of those labour saving devices and doing things the old fashioned way.

By persisting with some form of aerobic activity for 3 months you will begin to see a reduction in cellulite.

Use a gentle skin brush before bathing or showering everyday. Allow your skin to breathe and eliminate toxins to restore the health of the underlying structures. Incorporate some form of massage of the affected areas into your day. Once again, perhaps bath or shower time would be a good time to give your self a massage always remembering to keep massage strokes moving towards the heart.

Encouraging detoxification through diet is also an effective home treatment. Drink at least 8 large glasses of fresh water, filtered if possible, every day. Increase your intake of fresh fruit and vegetables for their fibre, nutrient and water content. Cut out the excess calories from your diet – whilst cellulite is not necessarily caused by obesity it is fat cells that cause the problem and the less of these there are the less stress there will be on the connective tissues.

Consider supplementing your diet with essential vitamins and minerals to support the natural repair processes of the body. Connective tissue needs an abundant supply of vitamin C and copper if it is to be able to produce the collagen it needs to stay in shape. Grape Seed Extract has a tightening effect on tissue and is found in many modern anti-oxidant supplements.

Your aim in self treating at home is to support the repair of the connective tissue and to do what you can to eliminate the underlying causes of cellulite whilst adopting a diet and lifestyle to prevent recurrence.

Most women in their 30s have problems with cellulite. There are several causes, such as the lack of exercises, alcohol and drugs, stress or aging, but no one really knows what exactly causes the problem of cellulite. To be honest, there are many specialist that offer several treatment techniques for cellulite without being sure that they really work.

One of the methods believed to be effective against cellulite is a person’s diet. There is no actual or specific diet which will reduce or cure cellulite, the best you can hope for is to eat healthily and ensure you drink plenty of fluids. (It helps cellulite, but doesn’t prevent or cure it).

Here is how a common cellulite diet usually works for those inexperienced and gullible enough to pay large amounts of money.

To start off with, you will be advised to avoid toxins and foods that kill. We are all aware of this, and you don’t have to be a specialist or a genius to figure out you shouldn’t be eating these types of food.

The water cure is often propagated as a cure for cellulite, but again its effects are only minimal. You may also be recommended to consume more and more natural and organic foods, avoiding drinking and smoking, drugs and stress. Some diets will also include some exercises.

When it comes to cellulite diets, there is just one aspect that is useful and true, and this is that eating healthily and drinking more fluids brings benefits to your body. But it is far from the truth to say they will eliminate cellulite from your thighs, hips and buttocks.

Such a diet will improve the blood circulation and the nutritional health of the person; however it won’t cure their cellulite. It is much better to consider this type of diet a healthy eating and cleansing plan than an anti cellulite diet.

So, if you have a cellulite reduction plan, a diet is not absolutely necessary. Yes it can help you in your attempt to eliminate your cellulite but to reiterate the point, it won’t cure it.

If you really want to try something to help further your attempts to decrease your cellulite, then physical activity is the answer combined with topical creams and massages. You should then see a definite improvement in your cellulite problems.

An exercise plan will also eliminate toxins from your body. This is achieved by sweating. During the process of sweating when exercising, sauna or drinking hot tea in a warm room, you eliminate considerable amounts of toxins from your body, this assists in decreasing cellulite and ensuring your skin looks a lot smoother.

Don’t let yourselves fooled by all those promises made by those companies trying to sell you an anti cellulite diet which promises great results in a matter of days, it’s not true, and you are doomed to disappointment.

Your attempts to reducing cellulite can only be achieved by a strict plan, that doesn’t even necessarily include a diet. Do some research before you plan your diet, and don’t be afraid to ask for professional help. Your physician is a good start, as he will tell you the truth about any claims made about any diet’s anti cellulite effects.

Many beauty salons and spas now offer a variety of treatments that all promise to eliminate cellulite. Pandering to the desperate needs of women wanting to achieve the body beautiful image so adored by the media, the cellulite business is huge.

One treatment was developed in France some 12 years ago involves the use of a massage machine that was originally produced to give deep massage to injured horses. A side effect of the massage on the horses was noticed – smooth skin – and someone with an eye for an opportunity patented the machine for use on cellulite.

The Endermologie® machine works by exerting a gentle vacuum on the skin. The skin is sucked up into a chamber where it is massaged to encourage the break down of the underlying fat allowing it, together with excess fluid and toxins, to be carried away by the blood and lymphatic systems.

The treatment takes approximately 40 minutes and involves the client changing into what can only be described as a body stocking of white gauze like material before lying on a bed and being treated by the machine wielding therapist. If it hurts, the suction is too strong and needs to be reduced.

The effects do seem to be impressive although regular treatments are required for maintenance. This can be both time consuming and costly.

A body wrap is another salon option (although the determined can probably achieve this treatment at home with a bit of lateral thinking).

Many claims are made for the effectiveness of body wraps including that they will tighten skin, treat dermatitis, reduce size (inches), banish cellulite and eliminate toxins. They certainly seem to do all of these things – temporarily.

The process of having a body wrap usually involves undressing completely and donning a pair of unflattering paper knickers before being covered in whatever substance that particular salon promotes. Sometimes this will be a marine type gel, others use a clay based substance and some use a mix of Dead Sea minerals.

The body is then effectively mummified – the therapist envelopes every part in bandages. Sometimes these bandages are presoaked in another solution to assist with the drawing out of impurities.

Some body wrap systems wire the client up to a machine that emits a low current to stimulate circulation and elimination even further. This apparently feels like an army of ants walking up your extremities.

The client is usually left, sometimes under a heated blanket, for anything up to 90 minutes for the wrap to work its magic. Once the treatment time is over the bandages are removed and, depending on the nature of the treatment substance used, the excess may need to be showered off before dressing and going home.

Once again there appears to be no doubt that this treatment offers an immediate improvement in the tone and appearance of the skin and inches are indeed lost. However, the effects are once again temporary and repeated treatments are required to keep problems at bay.