The Skinny
on Cellulite |
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| As the saying goes - rich man, poor man, beggar man, thief – no body, especially women, whether thin or heavy, is immune from developing cellulite. Cellulite is simply fat that develops primarily on the legs and hips as a result of having too much fat and too little muscle. | ||||
| Every year millions of women waste millions of dollars looking for an easy cure with creams, wraps and massage. Although cellulite is not a health hazard in itself, it is a symptom of the most debilitating factor encountered during the mid-life years, the loss of muscle mass. | ||||
| Beginning in the 20’s, most people lose 5 pounds of muscle and gain 15 pounds of fat per decade. This decrease in muscle results in excess pounds that seem to creep up on you even though you are probably not eating as much as you used to and your lifestyle is pretty much the same as always. | ||||
| Here is how it happens. Assume you are a well-proportioned 20-something. At a weight of 126 pounds you have 24% body fat. That means you have about 45 pounds of muscle and 30 pounds of fat, with the rest made of bones, organs, etc. | ||||
| But 30 years later at the age of 50 you now weigh 156 pounds, a 30 pound increase. Not too bad you may think. Think again!!! What has really happened is that you have added 45 pounds of fat, while losing 15 pounds of muscle. So instead of having 45 pounds of muscle, you now have 30. And instead of having 30 pounds of fat, you now have 75. You have gone from 24% body fat to almost 50%! | ||||
| Because muscle mass is the critical factor in maintaining metabolism, a 5 pound per decade loss of it results in a 5% per decade metabolic slowdown. So if you continue a sedentary lifestyle, the problem gets worse. Dieting alone can also compound the problem because it only addresses the problem of fat gain and often slows your metabolism further. And while endurance exercise, such as walking or biking, is a critical factor in a healthy lifestyle, it doesn’t build muscle or prevent the loss of it. | ||||
| Strength training is the most important weapon in this battle of the bulge, lumps and dimples. It only takes 3 thirty minute strength training sessions per week and you can expect to replace 2 to 3 pounds of muscle in 2 – 3 months. | ||||
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