If I told you that movie stars suffer also from cellulite I wouldn't make you feel any better, right?
I am just trying to point out a thing which is obvious to us already: once you get it, it's hard to get rid of it. The more you wait before you take action, the longer it will stay with you.
There are afew things that can facilitate the 'getting rid of cellulite' process. Obviously, exercise is the first thing, and losing weight is the second one. According to other sites, however, neither exercise not fat loss will decrease the cellulite. FALSE. They both do, as many of you already know. If you start exercising a lot, particularly for those areas, you reduce it. I've been there, done that, witnessed it.
If you read websites and articles you will realize that everyone disagrees. And if you make a list with the FALSE ways that help you get rid of the orange peel effect, you will be left with nothing to do. To summarize for you: there's nothing you can do, if diet, exercise, water, massage, laser therapy, etc, do not help.
It's wrong. All women know it, because the moment you take action against cellulite, you see the results.
What is cellulite actually? It is an accumulation of fat, fluid and toxins trapped into a hardened network of elastin and collagen fibres in the deeper levels of your skin.
The causes? Many, including poor diets and hormones.
If you can get rid of it? Yes, you can.
What I started doing and worked, no matter what others say about these techniques?
Exercise: lots of exercise for legs and thighs, especially the ones that build lean muscle. Try yoga or winsor pilates. Why some athletes have cellulites? Unless your exercises focus on those particular areas, you will never get rid of it! Anyway, forget the athletes. Look at some of your skinny or good looking friends who don't have it. Some of them had it but now they don't anymore. Ask them the secret. Exercise they will say.
Losing weight: You will see the difference! Or you think that when you lose weight you don't lose at all from certain areas? You think you can end up with very thin arms and a tight butt and stomach and still have all the kilos on your thighs? I doubt it.
Massage: Whoever told you that it doesn't work, doesn't know what he/she is talking about. Whenever I start my own massage routine or use the electric 'machine' for massage, it helps me. Do it every day, five to ten minutes, even fifteen for one leg.
Creams: They do help, especially combined with massage. Ask the ones who use them regularly! I did so for a month, before summer and I could see the difference! Many of my friends use creams and see the difference. First, in only two weeks, your skin becomes a lot softer, then the orange peel starts disappearing. I have tried Dove Firming Intensive Cellulite Gel-Cream for 10 bucks. There are others too.
Hot and cold showers: They help. Maybe not directly, but the Scottish showers always helped metabolism.
Plastic bags: It sounds weird, doesn't it? Well, a 'tactic' used here, in Romania, by young girls, was to wrap their legs in plastic bags or something similar and then exercise or ride a bike, even sleep. The area perspires thus gets rid of your extra water and the toxins retained in the cellulite tissues. Try it once and see the drops of sweat!
I'm not taking money for this advice, but if I were to take, I would guarantee the results. If you combine all of the above there is no possible way in which you can cheat the fat on your button or legs!
Not today. Today it's gone and you want to enjoy your pasta still.
But be ready for tomorrow. Get positive! You will defintely not start a crazy diet to famish yourself! You will simply apply some of the easy tricks I shared with you. You will have fun tomorrow by making a change!
Changes are fun, aren't they? Routine is boring, and all that eating and living in front of the TV became too much. So making a change is like having a small vacation.
When you wake up, imagine the energy you will have! You are full of life, ready to start. Remember: no sweets! Try lots of teas and bubbly water (if you need pops), eat until almost full but only good calories. Do not famish yourself!
You should find 10-15 minutes to exercise a bit, so you can actually feel the adrenaline being released into your body. Force yourself a little, and try to touch those muscles to see how nice they feel when they are like steel. Don't worry - soon you will get there!
Encourage yourself!
Go shopping! Not to the fast food place, but to the super market. Or go shopping for clothes. If you shop for food - which might be a wonderful idea - admire the sweets on the shelves and don't buy! That will give you more confidence! Buy instead any veggies or fruits that you feel like eating. Instead of chocolate, have a fruit yogurt - preferably a diet one. They will definitely make you feel better! Get ham, get white cheese, olives, lemons, limes, chicken breast, or fish. If you buy bread, remember that rye bread is the best, so go for it. Do not have more than two slices a day though! Buy juice without sugar: grapefruit, orange, apple, whatever you like.
When you get home, don't start eating everything. But if you want to try everything however, take one bite from whatever you please (the good things that you've bought, that is). That will calm you down. Remember, your plan today is not to lose 5 pounds, but to change your frame of mind and get yourself used to the new life!
The best way is not to lose tens of pounds a week and then put them all back on. Your goal is to have fun with your new diet and feel the change in you. Your goal is to feel that today you took the step towards losing one extra pound, one step towards building a beautiful body, one step towards feeling your body clean again.
So go for it and stop whining! Boost up your morale tomorrow!
I ain't gonna put a picture of a chocolate because that would start me right away!
Have you ever smoked? In case you haven't - good for you - then you should know that eating healthy and giving up chocolate is easier than quitting smoking. And that should make you feel better.
Chocolate is addictive. I don't know why - maybe because it causes your body to realease endorphines, the 'happy' fellows. If I don't have a chocolate or a bar one day, I can survive the next day. But the first day is always hard.
Of course, I tried to trick myself into eating chocolate without sugar, but that doesn't really help. What you need to do is to break the addiction!
I could tell you to have only one square a day and everything will be fine. But we both know that one square will never do. It's at least four squares!
There are no tricks in breaking an addiction, but just giving up the idea of chocolate. Try it at least for a while. Pretend it's a game. Pretend you don't even know what chocolate tastes like. And make sure you have no sweets around the house - not where you can see them, at least! And if the word 'chocolate' crosses your mind, find something to do: fast!
This is maybe one of the number one factors why you do not lose weight, if you do eat properly.
Normally, the growing hormone is responsible for growing in children, but once you become an adult, it is produced less and less. The body stops producing it when you are around fifty.
This hormone plays with the fats in such a way so that you remain fit.
So how can you stimulate the production of the growing hormone? There are a few tricks and a few other nutritional supplements. First, it is produced while you sleep, and the maximum quantity is released 90 minutes after you have fallen asleep. Exercise also stimulates the production, even more if you exercise 15 minutes before going to bed.
Aminoacids are the most responsible for stimulating the production of growing hormones. For example, omitine and arginine. These two aminoacids form a very strong connections and they can be found in similar foods: nuts, popcorn, gelatine, chocolate, raisins, sesame seeds, sunflower seeds, and all the food rich in proteins.
It's funny how all of the above help you both lose weight and put on weight, isn't it?
As a conclusion, if you don't want to risk it, try getting a nutritional supplement that already contains the two aminoacids. Or eat small quantities of nuts, raisins, and seeds. The body needs them anyway and if you are careful and don't overdo it, it's fine.
First, unless prescribed by your doctor, do not take it on your own. As a nutritional supplement it is not reccomended. Instead, try to get it from food.
Seaweed, any sea food, and onions are very rich in iodine.
There is also salt with iodine but I do not reccomend overdoing it because too much salt is bad for your body. Very bad even! The smallest thing that can happen is to make your body retain too much water. As for the worst things, there are too many, including increasing your blood pressure.
Chromium is said to help people lose weight. It is not completely proved, but I did see a change in my own body while I taking it. I never take as much as the prescription says, but less, so I can always be on the safe side.
Research does not support claims that chromium piccolinate supplements facilitate weight loss, build muscles or decrease body fat. However, chromium supplementation has been found to improve glucose tolerance in elderly adults who have low blood chromium levels. Tissue chromium depletion has been observed with age and may be responsible for abnormalities in glucose metabolism that often develop with age.
If you eat a lot of processed food, you might lack chromium. In any case, chromium does not have any adverse reactions and no chromium toxicity was found.
Chromium deficiency is characterized by insulin resistance, hyperglycemia and lipid abnormalities.
If you don't plan on having it as a nutritional supplement, then try to take it from food. The richest vegetable in chromium is raw onion - and remember I also had my own little post on onion! Another great source is broccoli, then raw tomatoes, turkey legs, grape juice, ham, green beans, potatoes, and beef.
It's a blue-green algae, a natural extract obtained from Spirulina platensis which grows in some alkaline lakes in Australia. It has been used over the centuries by different civilizations and it is known to contain unusually high amounts of protein. The protein inside is even superior to the ones contained in legumes.
It also contains essential fatty acids, vitamins, minerals, and photosynthetic pigments. In other words it is also rich in anti-oxidants. Its beta-carotene is ten times more concentrated than in carrots and it also is the richest natural source of Vitamin E.
Given the concentration of proteins, it is also highly recommended for vegetarians.
Why buy and take it? Because:
it enhances immunity and helps the body fight even against cancer;
it helps the formation and development of red blood cells;
it decreases the allergic reactions;
it helps fight infections, including HIV;
protects liver against damage;
stimulates diggestion;
inhibits appetite when taken before meals;
helps you stay young and pretty;
helps reproduction;
through its beta-carotene it helps the ocular problems;
it regulates the endocryn system by stimulating hormones like adrenaline, insulin, etc.
it helps you lose weight - which is why I listed it here!
So next time you go shopping, don't forget to check it out! It's worth it!
What they have in common? Iodine, probably, and the fact that they are healthy food.
Iodine can help you lose weight, but unless your doctor prescibes, don't start taking it on your own. It's better to get it from food that has it.
What works for me just fine? Well, sometimes I crave food in the evening, around 10 or 11pm. That is mostly because I go to bed at very late hours and I have a crazy schedule all day. How do I deal with the cravings?
1. Onion. I have it with cheese and nothing else. No bread, no nothing. I eat onion like a maniac when I get the chance and I love it. First, the combination is good, because the veggie goes perfectly with protein according to many diets. Second, the iodine helps lose weight. Third, the onion has fibers that also help lose weight. So I don't plan on putting on weight when I eat this late at night. Cheese is also good because it contains calcium, and calcium helps you lose weight also.
2. Lemon. Cheese with any salad that you can use lemon with. Or tea with lemon. Do not have more than one lemon or lime a day, however, because it is not good for the heart. Lemon also has iodine plus a lot of vitamin C. Vitamin C is both an antioxidant and a good fighter against colds and such.
3. Seaweed. It goes with anything, but don't combine with too many foods. Put it next to fish, and have your dinner. Seaweed and sea food, in general, plus fish, are rich sources of iodine and contain a lot of minerals and vitamins.
Did you know that the more sugar you have in your blood the harder it is to lose weight?
Well, you can't live without insulin in your blood, but too much is also bad. If you have a high insulin your body tends to store fat easier; it causes you to grow hungry faster, and also causes the body to retain water.
So, if you don't want to have this problem, pick carefully your carbs - rye bread, veggies, and fruits are wonderful choices. If you eat a chocolate bar that has only 120 calories and you think that is little, think about how hungry that chocolate will make you through the day and how it will increase your insulin and cause your pounds to add up on the scale.
Try to reduce the bad carbs in the morning and see the results. I tried and indeed, the days I didn't start by having a chocolate bar or chocolate milk instead of breakfast, I didn't feel that hungry by lunch. So it must be true.
One thing is for sure: you should not eliminate bread from your diet. It is not a healthy thing, and even if you lose weight now, later on you will put it back on. Instead, pick the right bread to eat.
How do you do that?
Fiber is good. Never go for white bread. Never. You might like the taste of it, but it's the poorest choice for your body. Whole grain is better, or those kinds of bread that contain seeds. But, according to some studies, the best bread is rye bread, especially it terms of losing weight.
I found a quote for you on everydiet.com, so you don't say that I am inventing things:
"Rye bread typically contains moderate portions of protein and fiber per slice. A 100-calorie slice will contain a few grams of protein, a few grams of fiber, around 20 grams of carbohydrate, and decent amounts of calcium and iron. The addition of flaxseed increases protein and fiber (for the same 100 calorie slice) but also adds trace amounts of healthy, unsaturated fats."
That's the story of bread. When you buy, please check not only the calories, but the fibers as well.
Not only water will help you lose weight but also tea, if you don't put any sugar in it.
First, water boosts up your metabolism so you burn fat faster.
Second, water cleans your body of toxins. It helps your body fight against cellulite as well.
Try not to drink too much water all at once though because excesses do not help your kidneys. In other words, have a full glass every one hour or so. Eight to ten glasses a day should do the trick.
If you like tea, try the green tea with jasmine. It has a cleansing effect on the body - which you should know if you're a Chinese food fan.
Another trick I've heard and tested is lots of hot cups of tea. If you are on an Atkins diet or if you ate lots of proteins and fats, the hot tea will help you eliminate the fat. I don't know if it is scientifically proved or not, but I know it works. Couple these mugs of tea with a bit of exercise and you are in for a big surprise.
I was at 110 pounds, which is about 50 kilos, and I was exercising all day and not eating a thing. However, I had a little residue left on my belly. No matter how much I exercised that thing wouldn't go away. Then I heard this tip from a lady that was on something similar to an Atkins diet, plus she had hot tea after each meal. She was also doing 3 kinds of exercises every day: 30 semi-push-ups, 50 sit-ups, and a funny exercise with her legs, where she would be lying on her back, feet two palms from the ground and she would spell in the air with her feet brought together the names of her family members. So I thought to myself: 30 push-ups and 50 sit-ups? For God's sake: I am doing 100 at least each day. I don't know what happened, but the thing worked for me and the belly residue was gone. So if you want, try this technique too.
Not everyone puts on weight, though, and that is extremely frustrating. I remember back in highschool and university girls that would eat three sandwiches by lunch, have a big lunch and dinner, and weigh a few kilos/pounds. You wonder why this blessing could not happen to you.
On the other hand, my husband doesn't have a weight problem. If he has a daily intake of 3500 cal. he might put on 3 pounds in two weeks. If I have a daily intake of 3500 cal. I put on 10 pounds in three weeks. Life just isn't fair.
Well, actually it's the metabolism. I bet you've heard of it. It is the one responsible for burning that fat; the faster it is, the smaller the chance to put on weight. The older we get, the slower the metabolism gets, thus the harder it is for us to lose weight.
In other words, for a healthy person, it would be enough to be able to eat all he/she wants if his/her metabolism would work perfectly.
Are you one of those that dieted a lot? Bad news. According to a study, diets that famish you decrease the speed of your metabolism by 45 - 70%. That explains why, once you start eating normally, you put all the weight back on. Besides, it's written in our genes: the body stocks up in winter and after a period when it thinks it didn't have enough food, so in case it happens again, it will be protected against losing too much weight.
The good news is that you can increase the speed of your metabolism by using some tricks:
1. Drink water or tea without sugar. Eight glasses a day should do the trick, summer or winter. Of course, in summer you might need to drink more. Anyway, more on water and why it is good to drink this much will be posted later.
2. Have a couple of small meals a day and never skip breakfast. That way the body understands that it will not be famished again and it will not stock up fat.
3. Don't forget the proteins. Studies show that proteins can boost up your metabolism. So have a bit of it every day. You can find proteins mostly in animal products, but vegetable protein can be found from other sources too.
4. Good 'carbs' help. You can find them in vegetables, fruits, whole-grains, etc. Not only are they good carbs, but they also provide fiber, which is very important for a healthy diet. Again, more on it, since it's a large chapter, later. There is a problem in USA especially when vegetables - some are known to contain hormones that keep them pretty for the buyers. If you can find organic products, try those.
5. Dairy products. Again, America has a problem with diary products - any foreigner can tell you that when he/she moves there. Try to find a good source, try imported cheese if necessary, jogurts, milk, etc.
6. Spices. Many condiments help your metabolism, so don't go easy on black pepper or paprika. I will give you a list of good spices later too.
7. Exercise. Did you know that muscle actually helps you lose weight? Muscles consume a lot of calories only by themselves. However, try to build lean muscle not bulky muscle. Work-out speeds up your metabolism. Also, again, later, I will tell you the story of the growing hormone and why it is good to exercise 15 minutes before going to bed, for like 20-30 minutes. Personally I lost the most weight when I broke up my exercise sessions: I was exercising every 30 minutes - an hour for like 5-10 minutes.
8. Sleep. You think you put onweight when you sleep? Not if you didn't have a large dinner. Metabolism needs to be refreshened, so sleep from 10pm to 7 or 8 am. If you are tired you can bet your metabolism is also tired.
9. Women, careful with PMS. Mine are horrible sometimes. I cannot live without Nurofen or Ibuprofen. I will have a whole post dedicated to this later on, because it is a large subject. I will tell you how I got over my pain and what helps. For now, take it for granted: a bit of exercise and a healthy diet before and during your period can rid you of your pains. If you feel those urges hitting, eat veggies, not chocolate. Sometimes the body creates cravings because it lacks certain vitamins or minerals, so try to understand what your body really needs.
10. Smoke less. And that goes for me too. Drink healthy liquids instead.
While writing this little guide I came to realize that I have so many things to say and not enough time to say them. So each day I will post one more myth or reality about losing weight and healthy living. If I will ever run out of things to say? I doubt it.
I got the idea of creating such a blog when I realized that my obsession can mean something good. I have friends who keep asking me stuff about losing weight so if I can help them with my advice, I can help others too. No, it's not professional, but it's tested. However, I will not quote myself but serious sources.
I will add the pros and cons for the diets that I know, and I will talk about essential elements when you try to stay fit and healthy or when you try to lose weight.
I, myself, have managed to put on a few good pounds during the last year and this 'diary' will help me 'reinvent' myself. I am not fat and I am not skinny either. I will never be very skinny because my body doesn't allow it: I know my limits. But I can look good if only I started to care again. :) Sounds familiar?
Losing weight and staying healthy is easy, when you care. Forget famishing yourself: there are other ways.
Since I was 15 I've been obsessed with healthy diets, losing weight, sports, and everything included. I read books after books and I collected articles on staying fit and healthy. Even now, 12 years later, I am still reading everything I find on the subject.
I will share with you, step by step, everything I know. Free advice.
About Me
Name: Andreea Home: Bucharest, Romania About Me: Post graduate student, happily married, who has found the perfect job in a perfect company. :) See my complete profile
