Most of us have it. It's the reason we want to wear a sarong over our bathing suit. It's cellulite, and it's a nasty reality for nearly all women. But most don't really understand what causes the ripples and bumps that invade their thighs, buttocks and even the mid-section, or how to get rid of cellulite. But the secret to cellulite treatment may not be creams or lasers. It may be exercise.
John Kent, owner of the North Pinellas and Westchase Adventure Boot Camps for Women in Florida explains cellulite by comparing it to a skinless chicken breast. The filmy fiber around the meat is like the human collagen fiber net that connects skin and muscle. Excess fat on those cords adds pressure, the gooey mess oozes through the net, and -- voila! -- visible dimples appear.
Genetics is the top reason that 80 percent of all women have cellulite, according to the National Institutes of Health, which means there is little anyone can do to completely avoid it.
Experts at the Mayo Clinic say losing pounds and strengthening muscles in your legs, thighs and buttocks can improve the appearance of the dimpled skin. "The benefits of weight loss alone are limited, however," they warn. "Though the cellulite may be less noticeable after weight loss, it won't go away completely."
It's not all gloom and dimply doom, though. Kent says with a proper diet, exercise and a few tricks, the damage can be minimized. His top solutions include:
