Ok let’s take a look at something we all try to avoid!  Let’s take a look at  cellulite - so many of us have it, hate it and wonder where on earth it came from. Weirdly enough you do not have to have extra weight to have cellulite.

We really do need to look into how we treat our bodies and the effects that our diets and exercise regimes have on it. Here is an example of the effect a diet can have if not done properly.

When Ian turned 65, he was 25 pounds overweight. By strict dieting, he shed the extra pounds, but he lost more weight; he also lost his energy and vitality. He was always exhausted, and his friends, seeing his gaunt, drawn face, worried about his health.

Now doing it right.

By the time he volunteered for a particular fitness program two years later, he had put 25 extra pounds back on. After 6 months of exercise and some willpower at the dinner table, Ian slimmed down again. This time he felt better than he ever had, brimming with energy and glowing with good health.

What made the difference?

The first time Ian lost weight; the second time he lost fat. The distinction is important. According to research, a large portion of the weight lost by dieting alone is active tissue, such as muscle and connective tissue, while a smaller fraction is excess fat. Exercise has the opposite effect. It increased his lean body mass and decreased his excess fat.

Same thing goes with cellulite. Most people tend to think that cellulites are only present in people who are obese. That is why they sometimes associate cellulite with fats and obesity.

Actually, cellulite refers to the chain of wrinkled “fat cells” and “subcutaneous connective tissues” beneath the layer of the skin, it should never be associated with people who are fat or obese. In fact, there are many people who have cellulite but are not fat at all.

In reality, nobody knows the main reason why certain people accumulate cellulite. However, there are some factors that health experts are considering, such as the structure of the fat cells or the toxins that enter the body. Some experts say it could be caused by hormonal changes in the body. But none of these things has been proven to cause cellulite.

However, most doctors and scientists agree that the dimpled fat is just ordinary fat and an entirely normal process.

The reason why so many women, even slim ones, get cellulite on the hips and thighs, is because the female hormone oestrogen makes women acquire fat there. Unfortunately women store their fat just under the skin's surface whereas men store some of their fat internally, underneath their muscles.

Be careful those of you lured by the wonderful sunshine and thoughts of a sun tan - cellulite is made worse by sunbathing, since you are exposing your skin to sunlight which causes the skin to lose its elasticity.  If you want a tan, take a walk on a sunny, ideally windy, day, and catch the sun without prolonged exposure to it. This is a real win, win situation as you get a much healthier tan and you are exercising at the same time - perfect to make you look and feel so much better while working against cellulite.