Cellulite is not just limited to people who are overweight or have excess body fat. Everyone can have cellulite, including skinny people. Around 85-90% of all women have cellulite! So how do you get rid of cellulite?
Is there anything you can do?
First of all, let me explain what cellulite actually is.
WHAT IS CELLULITE?
Cellulite is fat, located in the dermis layer (just underneath your actual skin). The dermis layer contains connective tissue made from collagen, and the connective tissue is formed in a honeycomb shape. When fat cells increase in size, they push up against the connective tissue, making the fat cells bulge out through honeycomb, giving that dreaded dimpled appearance.
WHAT AFFECTS CELLULITE?
There are a few things that can affect whether or not you have cellulite.
BODY FAT
One of the key factors is your amount of body fat. The more fat you have, the larger your fat cells will be and the more dimpled your legs will look. The main cause of cellulite is the enlarged fat cells that you can see at the top of the above image.
GENETICS
As I mentioned earlier, skinny people can get cellulite too. These skinny people can be skinny fat (i.e. appear skinny but actually have a high percentage of body fat) or they can be genuinely skinny with a low body fat percentage and still have cellulite (this is much rarer, but does happen).
Unfortunately, cellulite is partly genetic and may explain why skinny people with a low body fat percentage can have cellulite. The distribution of your body fat is influenced by your genetics and can determine if and where you will get cellulite.
[optin-monster-shortcode id=”tfemuahwazpsulxk9jad”]
OTHER FACTORS
Other factors such as skin thickness, the strength of your connective fibers and blood circulation can also affect cellulite. Blood circulation is another one that may be influenced by your genes.
So now we know what cellulite is and what causes it; but how do we get rid of cellulite?
HOW TO GET RID OFF CELLULITE?
Cellulite is purely fat. So the BEST way to get rid of cellulite is to reduce your overall body fat. And the best way to reduce your body fat is to eat a healthy diet and be active. Read more here for more detail on how to drop body fat.
EATING A HEALTHY DIET
Firstly, eating a healthy diet will assist with weight loss, which will mean that your fat cells reduce in size and the dimpled appearance will reduce. Easy as that!
Make sure you eat plenty of fruit, vegetables, fiber and whole grains, which will help to remove waste and toxins. Avoid all the regulars like junk food, processed food, sugar and excess salt.
Read about my daily diet here and here.
AVOID TOXINS INCLUDING ALCOHOL AND CIGARETTES
Alcohol and cigarettes harm your body’s lymphatic system. The lymphatic system is important for removing toxins from your body. Cigarette smoke also weakens the formation of collagen, which is what the connective tissues are made from, hence adding to your cellulite problems!
DRINK LOTS OF WATER
Drink 2L to 3L of water per day to help keep your body hydrated and flush out toxins. Read my blog post here on how to drink more water!
EXERCISE REGULARLY AND BE ACTIVE
Exercise regularly and make sure your workouts include a combination of cardio and weights. By reducing your body fat and replacing that fat with muscle, you will greatly reduce the appearance of cellulite on your legs.
If you have a job that requires sitting at a desk, make sure you stand up and walk around regularly. Keep that body moving!
To find out more about my Lean Legs workout and nutrition program, click here.
[optin-monster-shortcode id=”ztqsicuhchkszu1rhjzh”]
WHAT ABOUT CREAM, SCRUBS AND MASSAGES?
Unfortunately, there is no easy way out. You can try every cream, scrub, etc in the world, but it won’t get rid of the cellulite. There is no scientific evidence to prove that creams, scrubs and massage get rid of cellulite permanently. There may be some minor improvements but these are only temporary. Lots of creams and scrubs contain caffeine, which dehydrates the skin and can make it look firmer. But this is likely to only last 24 hours. If you do use a body scrub, it is best to use it the morning before you head to the beach!
Hope you are enjoying my how to get skinny legs blog series! More blog posts to
It’s FREE
Hey Rachel,
I’m naturally very thin; I’m 5 ft 10 with 14.3% body fat. I eat a diet high in both protein and healthy fats, and am physically active. Despite this, I still have cellulite on the back of my thighs!! Is there anything I can do??
Hi lovely,
thanks for reaching out! <3
There are other factors that play a role such as genetics, skin thickness, hormones, etc. I would first recommend getting your hormones checked. Sometimes hormone imbalances may affect the way your body stores fat and can also affect your circulation. You can also try:
Dry brushing which increases blood and lymph flow to an area.
Massage or foam rolling which helps improves circulation.
Wear loose underwear which can help improve circulation.
I hope this helps, please let me know if you have any questions! xx
Love,
Sanja
hi, i’ve been working out for over 3 months now regularly and i’m not sure why i’ve only lost 4kg. My body fat percentage however isn’t as high but after weighing myself i feel rather discouraged and i’m not sure if i see the difference… Can you tell me why? or what excersises i can do to loose fat. Thanks.
Hi lovely,
That’s a pretty good progress in just 3 months! I’ve found that taking measurements and progress photos can sometimes help you see the difference more clearly.
Everyone gets results at different rates. It might just take you a bit longer, so I suggest to keep going and stay persistent!
We have designed the Lean Legs Program to include the perfect type of resistance training and cardio to give you a lean and toned look, without making you bulky.
It’s an 8 week workout and nutrition plan that will help you slim down your legs, but will also help you slim and tone your upper body and core too (the workouts are full body).
It also includes a full meal plan, a separate recipe ebook and demonstration videos.
If this is what you’re looking for I would definitely recommend giving our program a go. :) You can find out more about it here:
Lean Legs Program
Love,
Diana
xx
I’m new to losing weight and am wanting to lose my legs. I do hitt and occasionally I like running but I live in a rainy city and my building has an elliptical. Will an elliptical help my legs or no?
Hi Emily, an elliptical will help you lose weight and get fit but is not as good for leaning out your legs as running and walking. I would try to run / walk when you can and use the elliptical as a last resort in bad weather times. Good luck! x