Are you a cellulite sufferer? Have you spent a small fortune on miracle creams that indeed promise the ultimate miracle cure, only to be found wanting? Or have you perhaps been focusing on dieting, to find that the psychological battle with it has always become too much, and you slump into the old habits of feel-good foods high in saturated fats and all and sundry?

You are not alone! Far from it, actually!

I want to discuss briefly 3 areas whereby body fat levels are targeted, cellulite is tackled and a general sense of well-being is enhanced no-end.

1 Massage: and yes, I do mean lying on a massage couch having a wonderful, relaxing massage. Does not get much better than that, does it! Massage, if provided to the deep tissues, will stimulate the blood vessels which increases over-all blood flow. Massage alone will not tackle the problem of cellulite head-on, but let’s see what else it can do:

– blood circulation is improved as is lymphatic circulation
– helps to remove unwanted toxins from the body
– improves the function of the digestive tract
– the body’s musculature is stimulated and revived
– connective tissues are strengthened and rejuvenated
– relieves muscle spasm and fatigue
– improves the over-all tone of the skin
– can help to enhance and promote a general sense of well-being

Massage is a great method to improve the condition of the body as a whole, so if you can, try to ensure you get a good deep tissue massage at least a couple of times a month.

2. Nutrition

Nutrition obviously plays a huge part in cellulite production and reduction, so let’s focus on a number of things you can do to improve your diet, if you have not already done so.

– eat smaller meals and frequently – 4 or 5 times a day is good
– try not to overdo the sodium (salt) intake
– why not replace sodium with things like pepper and other spices, vinegar, lemon juice, just to add a bit more flavor
– consume more fruit and more vegetables. All sorts of amounts are bandied about these days but I suggest you try to increase your fruit and veg intake, even by an extra piece a day
– milk. Low fat milk is very topical. The problem is it is devoid of a lot of goodness that “normal” milk maintains. There is no harm in adding “normal” milk to a healthy balanced diet
– eat more foods high in fiber such as whole grain breads, whole grain breakfast cereals, root vegetables, green vegetables, oats and barley. There’s much more besides
– try to lower consumption of saturated fats which can be found in fast foods (even now). No harm in a treat now and again, however
– don’t over-do on the caffeine – found in both coffee and tea and soft drinks also
– alcohol consumption should be minimum while tackling the problem of cellulite

3. Exercise

Exercise need not be painful. We’ve all heard the saying “no pain, no gain!”. In this case, that’s simply not true! Exercise can be anything from swimming on a regular basis, to jogging. From cycling – even at home on the cycling machine infront of the television, to walking. A brisk half hour walk each day is a great way to get some exercise. Its enjoyable, its not too taxing, but at the same time its improving over-all fitness levels. By all means increase this to 45 minutes, if time permits.