In my previous article about anti cellulite exercise, I explained that the best exercises to get rid of cellulite are those that tone the muscles in the hips, legs and thighs. Fat is very soft tissue and does not naturally sit in a smooth or shapely fashion on the body. Muscle on the other hand, is firm and smooth and can provide shape to the legs and hips by keeping the skin taut. If too much fat is unsupported by enough muscle from underneath, the fat layer clumps together and cellulite results.

Many women do not know how to correctly utilize strength training in order to tone lean muscle in an effective way. This often ensures that women become disappoint from the results that they gain from their cellulite exercise routine. The first step is to ignore the conventional gym wisdom that is geared towards men looking to build large bulky muscles.

Instead, focus on these three muscle toning principles:

• Lifting the weights in the correct manner to work the muscles efficiently and avoid injury.
• A short workout of no more than 30 minutes that incorporates intense sets of exercises that fatigues the target muscles.
• Plenty of rest and proper nutrition between workouts to enable your body to recover.

Let look at each of these principles in a little more detail.

Correct Lifting Form

If you lift the weights in an incorrect manner then you are not working the muscles in an efficient and safe way. This means you are not getting the full potential value from your workout and are possibly setting yourself up for injury. Correct forms means lowering and raising the weight slowly, ensuring that you are not bouncing or throwing the weights. A cadence of 3 seconds on both the up and down phases is usually recommended for most exercises.

It is important that you avoid injuries at all costs. Discomfort is normal during exercise but almost everyone knows the difference between the discomfort associated with working out intensely and pain which is caused by injury or potential injury. Do not ignore any signs of pain – stop immediately and seek medical advice.

Brief But Intense Cellulite Exercise

Exercise fatigues a muscle and this stimulates it to grow. However, the effect is not directly linear. A muscle has a fatigue limit which, if it is reached, further fatiguing of the muscle will have little effect. This means that if you incorporate intensive sets that sufficiently fatigues the muscles then you will not need to spend a particular long time in the gym.

By my definition, an ‘intense set’ is one where you can almost no longer lift the weight on the last repetition – the point where if you where to do another repetition that you wouldn’t be able to complete it because your muscles are too tired. You can increase the intensity of the set by trying to complete the repetition but this is for advanced trainees only. If you are using intense sets then only 1 to 3 sets in total for a particular exercise is required. The more intense you workout, the smaller number of sets you will need.

Plenty of Rest

Muscles recover from a workout and grow while you are resting. Intense strength training as described above can tax the muscles significantly and you may not always be conscious of how taxing a workout has been. In the days following a workout, make sure you eat healthy and get plenty of sleep to give your body the right ingredients for it to recover. Also, avoid doing two intense workouts back to back. Instead, give yourself at least a day between workouts so you don’t exercise before your body is fully recovered from the previous workout.

Further Information

For women who are interest in pursuing cellulite exercise, I recommend two books.

• “No More Cellulite” by Wayne Westcott and Linda La Rosa. This book is written specifically about how strength training can help women to reduce cellulite. Westcott’s program cab see results in just 8 weeks and requires just 40 minutes of cardiovascular, strength building and stretching exercises, performed together for 3 times a week.
• “Build Muscle, Lose Fat, Look Great” by Stuart McRobert. This book is one of the most complete and comprehensive guides on how to transform your body. While it is not directly written for cellulite removal, following Stuart’s advice will certainly help in cellulite elimination.

Herbs are plants that are used for medicinal purposes. When consumed or applied externally, they strengthen the body’s systems and increase the body’s natural healing powers. Herbs by themselves are not often recommended as a cellulite treatment but are instead usually found in anti cellulite creams, lotions used for body wraps and other natural cellulite treatments where they assist other active ingredients or therapies.

This article will focus on herbs that are usually recommended for home treatments in the form of food, supplement capsules, aromatherapy or body oils.

Birch Tea

Sweet birch contains salicylate, which is the active ingredient found in aspirin. The antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties of birch tea enable it to eliminate cellulite toxins and the accumulation of fluid in the fat cells.

Everlasting Essential Oil

This oil is distilled from the flowers of the Helichrysum angustifolium plant. With its anti-inflammatory and regenerative properties, it is commonly used to treat cellulite and stretch marks. The oil is also known to stimulate the production of collagen. It can be used in aromatherapy or as topical treatment for the skin.

Kelp

Kelp is also known as Bladderwrack or most commonly, seaweed. This is a herb that is commonly used for cellulite and is found in many cellulite creams or it can be taken as a supplement capsule. It is thought that the high iodine content of Kelp stimulates the thyroid and this causes the body to burn more energy, reducing the amount of fat and associated cellulite.

Gotu Kola

Gotu kola stimulates both blood flow and collagen production, and can stabilize the connective tissue of the thighs via glycosaminoglycan production. The herb can be consumed as a tea or applied as a lotion.

Grapefruit Oil

When used during massage, grapefuit oil stimulates the lymphatic system and tones the skin.
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Guarana

Caffeine enriched herbs like guarana are thought to reduce fat and decrease the built up fluid from under the skin. In fact, caffeine is the main stay active ingredient found in the majority of anti cellulite lotions. It is recommended that you apply guarana as an external treatment to the cellulite affected skin.

Horse Chestnut Bark

Horse chestnut bark contains aescin, which has anti-inflammatory and anti-swelling qualities, and this helps to reduce the appearance of cellulite. It is often found in cellulite creams but can also be taken as a tea.

Juniper Essential Oil

Juniper essential oil is often used in cellulite massage to help draw out the toxins from the fat deposits, increase circulation and detoxify the skin.

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Cellulite usually appears on the hips, lowers limbs and stomach. For the majority of women, leg cellulite is often the most problematic because it is difficult to conceal when wearing shorts, skirts, swimsuits and other pieces of clothing that reveal the lower limbs. While the treatments for cellulite are the same regardless of where it appears on the body, here are some specific tips about leg cellulite that could help you refine these methods.

Anti Cellulite Creams for the Legs

Cellulite lotions use ingredients that help to reduce the appearance of cellulite. Some creams are specifically marketed for leg cellulite but the fact is that all lotions will work the same no matter where it is applied on the body. When researching which cellulite cream to use, ignore this type of marketing and instead closely examine the ingredients in the product. You want to see cellulite-busting ingredients such as caffeine, Retinol (also known as Vitamin A), ginko extract, bladderwrack and aminophylline. It is also important to see plenty of positive customer reviews of the cream.

Massage Away Leg Cellulite

Anti cellulite massage is a very popular way to treat cellulite. By gently massaging the legs, it is possible to reduce the condition by increasing lymphatic drainage, stretching and relaxing the connective tissues and breaking up the fat deposits.

Generally, there are two ways you can conduct this type of massage – at home or in a beauty clinic. Your at home options include massaging the area with your bare hands in conjunction with a moisturizer or cellulite cream; or using a home massage device such as the Verseo cellulite roller. The main problems with only using your hands is that can be difficult to apply enough pressure, lead to sore fingers and some women find it hard to reach the back of the legs effectively. A massaging device can overcome most of these difficulties and can reduce the time it takes to effectively massage your entire legs.

There are a number of commercial anti cellulite machines that are used in beauty therapy clinics. Endermologie, Velasmooth and TriActive are the most well known. These machines are non-invasive and give a gentle and pleasant massage that is much more effective than a home massage device. However, a complete block of treatments on these machines can be expensive. Sessions cost between $60 and $100 each, and up to 15 sessions are normally needed to see the best results. To keep the results, you will need ongoing sessions once per month.

Exercise: How to Correctly Tone The Legs

Clinical trials have shown that an exercise program that balances both cardio and weight bearing exercise can significantly reduce cellulite when performed over 8 weeks. As a result, a correct anti cellulite exercise program should not just focus on reducing fat levels with intensive cardio exercise. Instead, it should also have a major strength training component to increase lean muscle mass in the legs.

Lean muscle gives the legs a smooth and firm look by tightening the skin and supporting the natural subcutaneous fat layer that cannot be removed by cardio exercise. It is recommended that women focus on leg exercises for cellulite that work the hips, legs and buttocks like the squat, leg curls, lunges and the leg press machine.

However, not everyone likes to lift weights. An alternative to an intensive strength training routine is to undergo a program which utilizes your own body weight such as those based on Pilates or dance moves.

One of the most highly recommended programs like this is Kim Overton’s Love Your Legs, Cellulite Reduction At-Home Program DVD. This DVD is designed specifically to be used at home. Ms Overton has a background in Pilates and gymnastics, and has a sports nutrition certification through NETA.

Her program consists of 3 components: nutrition, exercise and circulation. The exercise component has 10 home exercises that tighten and tone the legs and butt without weights. The nutrition element has suggestions about what foods to eat and an interview with Dr Howard Murad, a cellulite expert, and Dr Jack Tipps, an expert nutritionist. Finally, the circulation component has techniques on how to increase circulation in the legs and thighs.

Women who follow the love your legs cellulite reduction at home program can expect to see results in 2 weeks and maximum results in 6 to 8 weeks. Customer reviews of this program have been excellent.

Loreal is one of the leading cosmetic and skin care companies in the world with 67 percent of women in the UK using one of their products. Due to their well known name and good marketing, their anti cellulite products are very popular and can be easily found in supermarkets, online retailers and discount beauty stores. The creams have been marketed under two names – “Sublime Slim” and “Perfect Slim” – but the lotions inside the bottles are only slightly different.

Loreal Cellulite Cream Ingredients

There are two versions of the Loreal cellulite cream – a day lotion that comes in a green bottle and a night lotion that has a blue bottle. For the best and fastest results, both creams should be used together. However, you can choose to use just one and still see the effects – just at a slower rate.

The day cream is formulated to work when you begin your day. It contains caffeine which is thought to burn away fat from under the skin, ginko extract for improved blood circulation and Par-Elastyl, a powerful firming agent. Combined, these ingredients help to visibly reduce the fatty look of the cellulite affected area and smooth and firm the skin. The lotion is designed to be non-greasy, non-sticky and penetrates instantly so that you dress immediately after it has been applied. Finally, the cream hydrates the skin for a refreshing feeling to start the day.

The night cream is designed to be used when your body is resting and requires less energy. It works with your body while it is asleep and cell rejuvenation is occurring. The lotion ingredients include ginko extract which is a natural plant extract that improves circulation and Par-Elastyl that firms and tones the skin. Rutin, a powerful anti-oxidant, is used to further stimulate blood flow, improve the health of the skin and reduce inflammation caused by trapped toxins under the skin.

Loreal instructs its clients to apply either cream twice a day. If you choose to use the day and night cream together, then the day cream should be used first thing in the morning and the night cream just before bed. The product comes with instructions on how to massage the lotion into the skin.

Effectiveness of Loreal Anti Cellulite Cream

According to Loreal, after four weeks of using the creams the average client will see a visible reduction in the appearance of cellulite. After eight weeks, the average client will see an improvement in the tone and firmness of the skin.

However, actual customer reviews are mixed. Some customers have stated that the product has reduced their appearance of cellulite by (on average) around 30 to 40 percent with in the 4 to 8 week time frame. In contrast, a sizeable majority have stated that the cream did little, if anything, for their cellulite. Many customers commented that the cream was more like a gel than a lotion.

Value for Money

Loreal anti cellulite cream retails for between $11 and $16 in the US, and between £7.99 and £10.99 in the UK. This makes this lotion an inexpensive and value for money product.

Conclusion

The mixed customer reaction is not surprising given the actual ingredients and formulation of the L’Oreal cellulite creams. Unlike more effective cellulite creams, it does lack a combination of some key active ingredients. However, as it retails so cheaply when compared to other products, this anti cellulite cream is one of the best value for money lotions on the market. It would be best purchased by women who want to experiment with a cheap cellulite lotion. They always have the option of trying a more expensive cream if the L’Oreal did not work out for them.

Ultrasound is one of the newest beauty spa treatments for cellulite. It has been previously used to treat soft tissue injuries such muscle sprains, tendonitis and bursitis and has the ability to speed up healing, relieve pain and decrease inflammation. Ultrasound has only recently been discovered as a method to reduce cellulite and several machines have been developed specifically for cellulite reduction.

Dermosonic Ultrasound Cellulite Treatment

Dermosonic is the most well known machine that is designed for cellulite and has been used in Europe since 1999. It uses a combination of external ultrasound and non-invasive subdermal therapy (NIST) to achieve cellulite reduction, inch loss and body contouring. The machine can also be used to increase local blood circulation and relieve minor muscle aches, pains and spasms. The treatment is a non-invasive and non-surgical system that has shown to be effective and safe.

To address cellulite, the Dermosonic treatment consists of two steps. In step one, external ultrasound is applied to the target area or areas for two to three minutes. This softens the connective tissue that pulls down on the skin which creates the dimples and liquefies the fat cells so that they can be absorbed by the body. The external ultrasound can be applied using four different emission modes so that the treatment can be changed to suit the client’s particular condition.

Step two utilizes NIST -- a vacuum therapy form of lymphatic drainage massage. Using a vacuum hand piece, the NIST modality helps the body to flush out the fat liquefied by the ultrasound, increase blood flow and drain the toxins trapped under the skin. It also contours the body and helps stretch the connective bands that pull on the skin.

The treatment is painless and many people describe it feeling like a pleasant massage. Some clients may experience minor bruising that goes away in a few days. Clients are asked to drink plenty of water for 72 hours after the treatment to assist the body in flushing out the liquefied fat and toxins.

Soft cellulite responds best to this type of ultrasound cellulite treatment.

Treatment Frequency and Costs

A single session lasts 50 to 60 minutes on average and costs about $100.

Clients often see results in the first one or two sessions and research shows that 87% of clients will have ½” to 1 ½” reduction in the treatment area in the first session. In total, ten to twelve sessions are recommended at a rate of two per week. In order to maintain results, one session per month is usually recommended.

Dermosonic Video

Dermosonic was recently featured on CBS’ The Doctors’, a successful CBS show where four renowned physicians give solutions to guest issues. The SlimLine Pod mentioned in the video clip is separate to Dermosonic and is an optional and additional cellulite treatment.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=VU05R1FCH18

There are various surgical treatments that can be employed to remove cellulite. The two most common methods are cellulite lysing and fat injections. RejuveSkin is a recently developed surgical technique that is an advancement of these two methods and can lead to better results than just one technique alone. It has a remarkable 80 percent patient satisfaction rate and the highest patient recommendation rate for any surgical treatment for cellulite.

How It Works

RejuveSkin employs a custom designed surgical instrument called a DermaSecter and an innovated fat grafting method. The DermaSecter is inserted under the skin through tiny incisions and is used to break up the fibrous septae – the stringy tissue that pulls down on the skin, creating the dimples. Tissue that was previously grafted from the patient is then re-injected to fill in the dimples and smooth out the skin.

The entire procedure will take 60 to 90 minutes.

It is important to note that RejuveSkin is not a liposuction procedure. Liposuction is designed to remove fat from deep under the skin and is therefore a more invasive form of surgery than RejuveSkin. A liposuction procedure also does not target the septae, which is the main cause of cellulite, and is therefore an ineffective method for cellulite removal.

Results and Side Effects

The results are, in the most cases, permanent. In a minority of cases, a second ‘touch up’ surgery is required.

According to the RejuveSkin company, a survey of patients showed that the average patient has a 60 to 70 percent lasting reduction in cellulite and 90 percent were satisfied with the result. Some patients even report an 80 to 90 percent improvement, which is almost complete cellulite removal. Individual results will vary due to differences in skin composition, density and texture, and the age of the patient.

After the surgery, you can expect to experience a feeling of tightness where the surgery has taken place. With in 24 hours, you will develop bruising and swelling in these areas. The amount of bruising and swelling experienced will vary on an individual basis. The swelling will begin to disappear within 7 to 10 days but some bruising can remain for up to 8 weeks.

The incision scars will eventually fade to about the size of a freckle.

Ideal Candidates

Good candidates for the RejuveSkin Treatment are in the 30 – 49 age group, are not obese and in good, general physical condition. Patients who are aged less than 30 tend to have slightly poorer results from the fat transplants because of their higher metabolism. Those patients older than 50 tend to have less firmness in the areas treated due to less elasticity in the dermal tissues.

Risks and Complications

While not as invasive as liposuction, RejuveSkin is still a surgical procedure and therefore, there are risks associated with it. Possible complications can include infection, scarring, bleeding and a disappointing outcome.

Costs

RejuveSkin will costs between $3,000 — $4,500. Learn more about RejuveSkin at their official website.

Caffeine is often the main active ingredient found in anti cellulite creams. It is a natural diuretic and is thought to improve the look of cellulite by increasing blood flow, removing built up fluid in skin cells and decreasing fat. Given caffeine’s anti cellulite proprieties, the question naturally rises whether it is possible to use coffee grounds as an inexpensive cellulite treatment. However, the answer is not entirely simple. Coffee can be both an enemy and an ally in the battle of cellulite reduction.

How Coffee Can Increase Cellulite

While coffee can certainly help the appearance of cellulite, consuming it as a drink can actually worsen your cellulite. One to three cups a day will have little effect but as you go beyond three cups a day the risk of lymphatic blockages increase. This is due to the caffeine – in its role as a diuretic – dehydrating the skin cells and impeding circulation to the skin. When your skin cells are dehydrated, fluid containing toxins can build up between the cells because there is no water to flush them away. The end result is lumpy hard deposits under the skin.

Treating Cellulite With Coffee

When applied externally to the skin, coffee is thought to help reduce the number of fat cells under the skin and increase the blood flow to the skin to help flush away the toxins. The coffee grounds also act as a gentle exfoliant for the skin due to their coarse nature.

Coffee Grounds and Cellulite Wrap: A Simple Home Remedy

If you can’t afford cellulite cream or another similar treatment, a cheap home remedy that you can try is a coffee ground body wrap. Many women swear by this remedy, including celebrities and catwalk models. It is actually a very old technique, originating in the 1950s with Hollywood starlets. In general, you should do this procedure about two to three times per week depending on how severe your cellulite is.

Here is how you can do your own cellulite body wrap:

• Warm the coffee grounds in a microwave (but not to a point where they are hot enough that they will burn your skin).

• Go into the bathroom or a similar tiled room in the house. Mix about a tablespoon of olive oil with the coffee grounds and apply the mixture to the problems areas.

• Take some plastic wrap and wrap it around the area that has the mixture applied. Leave for ten to fifteen minutes.

• Remove the plastic wrap. Shower to remove the excess coffee.

One of the most common questions asked about cellulite removal is whether cellulite cream actually works. This is not surprising given the huge range of creams that are currently on the market and the new brands that are being released every year.

In fact, every major skincare company makes one: Neutrogena, Dove, Nivea, Vaseline, Hergens, Elizabeth Arden and Clarins. Other popular but smaller brands include Revitol, Dermology, Murad, Adonia and Fat Girl Slim. Most of these brands range in price from $5 to $58.

How Does Cellulite Cream Work?

Anti cellulite cream will not permanently remove cellulite but it can effectively reduce its appearance while you are using it. This means it can be a relatively easy way to enable you to start showing off your arms and legs again in a matter of weeks. Most creams work by tightening and firming the skin and penetrating the top layer in order to rejuvenate the cells and connective tissue, and increase blood flow.

Does Cellulite Cream Really Work?

Many women expect that anti cellulite cream will work in one or two applications. However, most creams require at least two to three applications daily for four weeks or more. As a result, a large number of the women who are disappointed with the results from a lotion did not apply it often enough or for too short a period.

Another common reason why a woman maybe disappointed in the results from a treatment cream is that her cellulite is particularly stubborn or severe. If you have being using a cream as instructed by the manufacturer and have not been seeing the expected results, it maybe practical for you to investigate continue using the cream along with more intensive spa treatments like Endermologie, Ionithermie or body wraps.

Ingredients

It is unquestionable that cellulite creams are very popular and that it can be an effective method for cellulite reduction. But how effective a particular brand of lotion can be is dependent on the ingredients and their quality.

There are a number of key ingredients that you want to see in a cellulite cream. A lotion won’t have all of the following ingredients but you want to see at least one or two:

Caffeine is one of the most common ingredients found in anti cellulite lotions. It works by increasing the blood flow to the problem area and this helps to remove toxins and fluid that has built up in the fat cells. Consuming caffeine through coffee or soda will not work as it can’t reach the cellulite. In contrast, topical creams containing caffeine can be directly applied to the problem areas.

Aminophylline is best known as a medication for asthma and is derivative of theophylline which is used to relax muscles. It is thought that aminophylline turns fat cells into fatty acids so that the body can remove it from the system more easily. It is important that cream containing this ingredient is kept away from heat.

Retinols are often found in anti wrinkle treatment lotions and are used to improve the texture of the skin. It helps to smooth and firm the skin in order to even out the lumps and bumps.

AHA (Alpha Hydroxy Acids) accelerates the removal of dead cells from the outer layer of skin.

Ionithermie is an anti cellulite treatment offered in spas, salons, and physicians’ offices by certified Ionithermie therapists. It was originally invented in 1978 by Olivier Fouche, who was a French biochemist. Today, over 1 million Ionithermie treatments are conducted worldwide and scientific research has shown that it is effective way to reduce cellulite.

According to the proponents of the treatment, a single session is equivalent of doing 600 steps on a Stairmaster for 30 minutes. Ionithermie reduces the appearance of cellulite by smoothing the skin, slimming the body, firming and toning the muscles, and detoxifying the body of toxins and fluid.

In clinical trials, the average client lost 4.6 inches after one session and gained a significant reduction in the appearance of cellulite. The best results are usually seen on the hips, knees, thighs, arms, stomach, buttocks and bust.

How Does It Work?

The therapist will begin by rubbing down and scrubbing the problem area with hot mitts and exfoliating cream. This helps to increase circulation to the skin and cellulite, and removes dead cells to prepare the skin for the treatment.

A mask of purifying algae is then applied to the cellulite area. Other natural ingredients can also be applied along with the algae and can include ivy, amino acid, kelp, seaweed, ribonucleic acid and vegetable extracts. Fabric is wrapped around this mask and it is covered with a mixture of thermal clay and algae.

Electrodes are attached to specific points along the clay mask and two types of electrical stimulation are used via a handheld machine. Galvanic stimulation consists of positive and negative ions which draws toxins out from the skin and helps the body to absorb the nutrients of the clay mask. Faradic stimulation causes the muscles to contract and assists in firming the muscle and improving skin tone.

The clay helps to conduct the electricity. The stimulation is not painful but there can be some discomfort that is similar to a strenuous muscular work out. The therapist will control and balance the strength of the electrical impulses to minimize any discomfort.

At the conclusion of the session, the now hardened clay mask is peeled from the skin and moisturizing lotion is gently rubbed into the treatment area. The main reported side effects are reddening and irritation of the skin.

Treatment Frequency and Costs

A typical treatment session will last 35 minutes and usually costs about $140. Most clinics will offer a discount if your purchase a large number of treatments upfront.

Minor to moderate cellulite will require around 5 treatments. More serious cellulite may need 10 or more treatment sessions.

The results of Ionithermie cellulite reduction program are not permanent. How long they last will depend on the severity and type of cellulite, and the lifestyle of the client. Proper nutrition and exercise can prolong the gains of the treatment.

Ionithermie Video

The following is a good video on what an Ionithermie session is like.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=1Tc5nHW7cDo

Are you one of the 90 per cent of women who suffer from cellulite? Do you wonder how to get rid of cellulite?

This website is dedicated to discovering the best cellulite treatment for you. Whether you are looking for cellulite reduction from cream, massage, diet or exercise we will show you what to do and what products are worth your investment of time and money.

But like anything that is worth it, cellulite removal takes time. There is no miracle cure or fool-proof solution. Learning how to get rid of cellulite is easy but it is only 5 per cent of what is required. You will need to invest effort and hard work in order to see results.

Hopefully, we can help you save time and money by showing you the best cellulite cream, massager or machine for your budget or circumstance. Will we also show the the diet and exercise programs that have been known to help people lose cellulite as quickly as possible.

Many women who suffer from this unsightly condition believe that they are in the minority. The fact is that most women at some point in their life will get this skin condition. Age and being overweight are the main risk factors. But there are also many others as well including smoking, alcohol, toxins and genetics.

There are many treatments available. The most popular is creams, lotions and gels. Body wraps, massage, laser therapy, sound wave therapy and body scrubs are some others.

This website is aimed to provide you with information on these treatments and aid you in finding the best cellulite treatment for you. We say ‘for you’ because every woman is different. Not only do we have different levels of free time and money to invest in looking better, but the factors that are making our cellulite worse vary from individual to individual.