...the beloved Cellulite...

[Tanze]

Ok, I know this is a very surface centered question, but... I just need some advice.

As most every other female I know, I have grown up with issues on how my body looks. I've always been pretty thin, as I have matured I have filled out all nice and curvy. I dance and workout regularly- I am in pretty good shape.

But it seems no matter what I do, I have this cellulite on my thighs and butt. Aggghh.. And again I hate to sound like it's a big deal- but it kind of is. It makes me feel like I'm not in shape, almost embaressed to wear a swimsuit and that is not a cool feeling![:(]

Is there any advice out there on how I could improve cellulite? Because of course I would never ever even consider those silly creams, so you guys are my only hope[:I]
Tanze

[karen joy]

Hi Tanze, I wish I had some thoughts for you. I hear it really matter to you so I would not judge it a silly or surface question. I do hope you either find a way to correct what you don't like or grow to like what you have... or something in the middle [;)]

[maria]

dry skin brushing works wonders. use a natural loofah sponge, you can even get them in Target I believe. all cellulite is is unevenness in tissue, things don't move like they should. Skin methabolism, if you will. So the more you stimulate it the better it gets. skin brushing and oil massage are the best.
If you are willing to make a lifetime change, swimming is it. Join a masters swim group in your area. Swimmers do nto necessarily have no fat, but I've never seen cellulite on a serious swimmer.

[Persephone]

I have a big response to this, that I'll post later, but I wanted to say that I don't think it's a surface issue. I think that cellulite is a sign that all is not right within. So it makes perfect sense to me. I also have large amounts of cellulite on my butt and thighs. I thought of a solution today. I asked my fiance if he would massage my thighs and butt to help break up the cellulite if I exercise that day. We both benefit: He gets to exercise with me, which he really wants to do, and I get the health benefit of exercising and hopefully reduced cellulite. Ok, more later.

[Leaf]

Hi Tanze,
I always make an infused oil with English ivy (hedera helix) leaves and add a few drops of atlas ceder (cedrus atlanticus) essential oil. I use this as a massage oil. And Persephone's right: swimming a lot helps too.
Leaf

[Persephone]

Here is my post about cellulite:

Ok, with cellulite, it's very important to get your lymph system moving. Lymph is a fluid in your body that pads, and cleanses. When you get a blister, that water is lymph. The thing about it though, is that it doesn't have something like the heart to pump it through your system. If you don't move your body parts, it doesn't move, and toxins accumulate. It's my personal belief that this leads to cellulite, and more serious things like fibrocystic breasts. The best way to get your lymph moving is to exercise! Massage also works, and this is best for those huge areas where there's lots of thick cellulite, like your thighs. (Mine too, lol) When you do massage, don't be gentle with it, be rough, like you're trying to break it up... cause that is what you're trying to do. Take a firm hold, and kind of twist from side to side. It shouldn't be relaxing (It's not that kind of massage), but it shouldn't hurt, either.


There are also some essential oils that cen help eliminate toxins, and help your cellulite. They work in a bath, or as a massage oil. If you make them into a massage oil, then make sure to add them to a carrier oil, like olive or almond oil. Applying essential oils to your skin neat can be dangerous if you don't know what you're doing. The essential oils for celluite are: cypress, geranium, fennel, grapefruit, juniper, and rosemary.

I also have a recipe for a bath that you can draw to help eliminate cellulite.

2 cups epsom salts
1 c baking soda
5 drops juniper EO
5 drops grapefruit EO
1 tsp witch hazel

fill a bath with comfortably hot water, add epsom salts and baking soda while water is running. dilute the EOs in the witch hazel, and add to bath just before getting in.

It also helps to dry brush your skin before you get in, because it helps eliminate toxins through your skin as well. take a soft body brush, and brush towards your heart, starting from your feet and working up. avoid senstive areas, and face.

The book I'm getting this from also recommends drinking parsley tea while in the bath, to cleanse from the inside. It's very simple. Take 2 tbsp fresh parsley, and pour 2 cups boiling water over it, allow to cool to a temo you can handle, add honey and lemon to taste.

I got these ideas from "The 14 Day Herbal Cleanse" by Laurel Vucovic. I highly recommend it.

[Anonymous]

Just a suggestion...

Here is a testimonial from a woman in Australia who uses In-Liven Probiotic Super Food:-

<i><i></i>"I had suffered from ill-health for over 12 months, from cellulitis to autoimmune dysfunction and adrenal exhaustion when my Health Practioner introduced me to In-Liven. Three containers later I'm happy and feeling much better with no return of cellulitis. My general health has also improved. I love this product, it feels right. I feel like I am drinking life. I will continue to use In-Liven to ensure my health is maintained at the best level possible."</i>

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Why?
To re-colonise the gastrointestinal tract with the full spectrum of Lactobacillus (friendly) bacteria.

When?
1 teaspoon, 1 to 3 times daily

How?
Blend with water or juice to make a delicious smoothie or sprinkle on your favourite food.

Ingredients
All Certified Organic: Spirulina, Rolled Oats, Brown Rice, Wheat Grain, Pearl Barley, Linseed, Kidney Beans, Mung Beans, Adzuki Beans, Red Lentils, Chick Peas, Wheat Grass, Barley Grass, Alfalfa Grass, Beetroot, Sweet Potato, String Beans, Zucchini, Cabbage, Silverbeet, Spinach, Chinese Cabbage, Asparagus, Broccoli, Malt Liquid, Molasses. All ingredients are certified organic and have not been genetically modified. All ingredients are predigested with organic Lactobacillus; acidophillus, delbrueckii, caseii, bulgaricus, causasicus, fermenti, plantarum, brevis, helveticus, leichmanni, lactis, bifidus, sporogenes.

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Love & Light,

[LadyB]

Now earthangel, that sounded just a little bit like a commercial.
The Wise Woman Tradition of knowing yourself, listening to yourself, finding what you thrive on and NOURISHING yourself doesn't wrap itself around a multi-ingredient, highly concentrated 'product' like that, that's supposed to 'do it' for everybody, very easily.
And cellulitis <i>([n] an inflammation of body tissue (especially that below the skin) characterized by fever and swelling and redness and pain)</i> is not quite what I think Tanze is asking about - just plain ole rumply bumpy cellulite.

I want to ask the *Swimmers Without Cellulite*....in light of the other posts, is it the friction of the WATER along with all the muscle movement that makes it so effective?

And this cellulite thing is a really interesting looks/health issue. While all these nutty creams and magic potions are supposed to simply VANISH the dreaded cellulite, making it seem like the other 'beauty problems' that must be ERASED, these notions of lack of skin circulation and metabolism make it seem more like a symptom/signal of the lack of circulation/metabolism that warrants some attention in order to be healthy, not just to LOOK a certain way.

Interesting, interesting, interesting.
And leaf! I have all that English ivy oil I made last fall, why specifically do you use that particular essential oil in it?
LadyB

[Ayla]

Persephone -

I really like that bath salt recipe.. it sounds like it would resonate with this issue. Juniper & Grapefruit.. never thought of it, but it does sound wonderful! I will try it! I agree with you on your post about exercise being a part of it.. not just the fat issue.. but a healthy body issue. It sounds like you have a more positive outlook on things these days.. how creative to make the "cellulite massage" something enjoyable and gratifying!!! I am proud of you and happy to see you more spirited!

XOXOXO
[:D]

[Persephone]

Ayla: Thanks! This week, my fiance is with me, and that always helps. And spring is here, and that helps. And soon, I'll be out of my house, and on my own (with my almost-husband) and I think I'll stop feeling trapped then. But this is off topic, so back to cellulite! Good to see you too, Ayla. (Oh, btw, I'm reading Clan of the Cave Bear now, so I know what you're talking about. Good series! )

[Leaf]

LadyB, I use the essential oil of atlas ceder since it's a great thing for lymph circulation problems, and works specifically for cellulite (one of my teachers during my herbalism study is an aromatherapist who lives in France now to extract his own essential oils and writes books about it and he lists atlas ceder specifically for cellulitis).

As for the swimming: I swim about 6 km every week, and just noticed that my cellulite disappeared... nice unexpected side effect [:D]. I don't know WHAT EXACTLY makes it so effective though... maybe it's just because I'm so utterly happy when swimming [:)][:)].