Welcome to The Cellulite Investigation!
If you found your way to The Cellulite Investigation, chances are you are searching for real answers to your questions about cellulite. There is no shortage of websites offering information about this common condition, and yet so often their answers are less than satisfying.
Many of these sites claim cellulite is fat that you can work off through exercise or by restricting your calorie intake. Other sites sell miracle anti-cellulite creams, usually accompanied by persuasive (often fictional) client testimonials. Still others blame cellulite on genetics or aging and insist it’s a condition that most of us must simply accept as a fact of life.
But if cellulite is simply fat, then why do so many thin women have cellulite while heavier women do not? Why does a woman’s cellulite often increase when she loses weight? If cellulite is genetic or an inevitable part of the aging process, why has the percentage of teenage women with cellulite so dramatically increased in the last few generations?
Ask any woman who remembers the 1940′s if cellulite was a common condition amongst her high school friends. Some of us want to believe it was, so we don’t have to worry about addressing the issue. But if we are honest with ourselves, we must admit that cellulite is increasing in our society at an alarming rate –even faster than our waistlines. I don’t believe it is a stretch to use the word “epidemic.”
If you are skeptical about these common approaches to cellulite, then you are in the right place. Welcome! I’m so glad you found us.
[To skip this intro and start treating cellulite right away, choose a room to begin here.]
Why All The Confusion About A Few Dimples?
With all the great achievements our modern society has attained, why are we still baffled by the blight? There are many reasons why cellulite is so poorly understood.
Consider the source of most of our information on cellulite. The anti-cellulite industry is by nature only interested in finding a solution to cellulite that can be bottled and sold. What if the real answer is more complicated than that?
Cellulite is largely ignored by the medical community because it is seen as cosmetic and superficial. The few doctors who do address cellulite are still bias towards solutions that can be applied, prescribed, or “administered.”
Even the media has certain biases in their segments about cellulite. Every year in April, media outlets run pieces on how to banish cellulite as swimsuit season approaches. In this fast-paced business, they favor stories that are quick and easy. The media is unlikely to use precious time or resources for a fluff piece on cellulite. They usually turn to cellulite “experts” from the massive anti-cellulite industry as authorities for their reports.
The media is also biased towards featuring cellulite products that are either common or bizarre. They write pieces for the woman who passes by the Nivea cellulite cream at Wal-Mart and wonders if it works. Or, they try to get your attention by writing about cellulite-busting marshmallows or magical anti-cellulite panties. (Who would stoop so low?!) The real answers are more likely found elsewhere.
The Cellulite Investigation to the Rescue
With my thirtieth birthday fast approaching, I found myself lost in this onslaught of misinformation. I hit my breaking point in a dramatic (if cliché) cellulite meltdown that involved stark fluorescent lights and a fitting room mirror.
Following previous cellulite crises of this nature, my normal reaction was to exercise more, eat less, and invest in the latest anti-cellulite product
But because I had just started graduate school, I responded to this fitting room incident with a more studious approach, albeit one I found just as instinctual. Instead of jumping into another round of the same unsuccessful treatment options, what if I put my analytic training to work and opened an investigation on cellulite?
By day, I am a professional analyst for a government agency, specializing in subject matter with a strong scientific or technical aspect. By night, I blog about my efforts to uncover the truth about cellulite. I admit, I like to think of myself as a cellulite-fighting superhero.
How You Can Participate in The Cure
After carefully researching cellulite for several weeks, the first new treatment I tried was dry skin brushing. This simple technique produced such dramatic results in my own legs that I knew there was more to cellulite than the conventional wisdom could explain.
Since launching The Cellulite Investigation, nearly everything I thought I knew about health and wellness has changed. I discovered the source of my cystic acne. I no longer experience cramping and other PMS symptoms each month. I am still working at cracking the cellulite case completely, but the improvements I’ve seen so far tell me I am on the right track.
If you want to get in on the action, and I hope you do, you can begin your own cellulite investigation by clicking on one of the images below. It doesn’t matter where you start with your anti-cellulite strategy. You can choose to begin in the bedroom, the kitchen, the bathroom, or the gym. Choose the approach that is most appealing to you right now. When you start making progress in one area, you will probably feel added motivation to explore the others.
Before you get started, be sure to subscribe to The Cellulite Investigation blog, either through RSS or email. If you have any questions or breakthroughs, you can reach me by email or by commenting on any blog post (preferred). I’m always happy to talk cellulite with my fellow cellulite sleuths!
Please choose a room to begin…
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{ 66 comments… read them below or add one }
This website looks professional!
It is a work in progress, but I’m starting to like how it is turning out. Thanks for the feedback!
Hello -
My very next move is to subscribe to the Cellulite Investigation. I am very interested in the fact that you’ve been examining the dilemma of cellulite in a sustained and scientific way. I have spent the last few years as something of a cellulite dilettante, but it is clear that my approach will need to change. I am 45, and very fit, but with increasing amounts of cellulite. My nutrition in the last few years has been hit and miss, and I am now coming to terms with how to manage on a longer term basis. My single question to you at this juncture – do you concur with the consensus about the negative impact of coffee consumption on cellulite?
Thanks and regards,
Mary J.
Welcome to The Cellulite Investigation, Mary J. I’m so glad you found us! The coffee question is an interesting one. Regular caffeine consumption is said to contribute to cellulite, and yet caffeine is the active ingredient in many topical anti-cellulite treatments. I don’t think coffee always causes cellulite, but it could be an aggravating factor if it contributes to chronic dehydration. You can read more in this post: Does Coffee Cause Cellulite?
Does that answer your question? I hope to see you around again soon!
Wow, this is packed with information! Great post.
Thanks, Sheila! There’s so much misinformation about cellulite. It’s a lot of info to get out there….
Thanks for putting this together. I’m further down the road than you, age-wise, and have had some experience with cellulite.
I found that dry skin brushing worked very well. It has so many other benefits, it is definitely worth doing regularly.
I also believe that switching to a diet that contains only good fats is very helpful. I cook with coconut oil or ghee, and I use extra virgin olive oil in salads. That’s it for fats. The adage goes that “good fat drives out bad” and when it does, the cellulite seems to go away also. Again, many other benefits, besides the cellulite relief.
And, of course, regular massage is a major plus.
Awesome –thanks, Gaelle! Your experience supports a lot of the research we’ve uncovered so far. The success I saw with dry brushing is what inspired me to launch The Cellulite Investigation in the first place. Many of our cellulite success stories involve women who started including a lot of these healthy fats in their diet. I’ve never heard that adage before, but I like it! Thanks for your comment!
Great site. Packed with helpful information and resources. Thanks for your investigative efforts. As a massage therapist, I understand the importance of a healthy lymphatic system. Keep up the great work!
Thanks, Tara! Encouragement is always appreciated!
Melissa, I’m so glad I found your blog. I recently broke out with this rash near my mouth/chin. The dermatologist said it was caused by fluoride toothpaste. It didn’t sound right to me. For the past month I had been doing a detox cleanse and I wondered if something from that was causing it. Your blog helped me trace it back – I’d been drinking tea (for the first time ever), drinking loads and loads of fluoridated tap water, combined with pure cranberry juice. My understanding is all of these things put me into fluoride overload. A couple questions – what do you advise for getting this out of my system? I have already read up on the things to avoid from now on. Second question, did you take tetracycline for your fluoroderma and did it work? I’m inclined to stop taking it. I don’t think it’s helping and probably only hurting. Thanks for your thoughts.
I’m glad you found us too, JL! Good work figuring out the fluoride connection. Most dermatologists don’t understand that fluoride in the diet can cause acne, too. But tea and fluoridated water could certainly put you well over the “recommended” limit. I can’t remember if I ever took tetracycline. I tried so many different products over the years. But once I figured out it was the fluoride, I didn’t need any of that anymore. I don’t even use any special cleansers or topical treatments and my skin is completely clear now. It took a long time to figure out what foods to avoid but it sounds like you are ahead of the game with that.
Your other question is more difficult. I found that avoiding fluoride is sufficient for keeping my skin clear, but like you, I want to get all this stored fluoride out of my system. There is not a lot of solid research on this, so I feel like I am entering uncharted territory. First, I read up on iodine because it is well known for releasing fluoride from the body. I even took this iodine-loading test from Hakala Research. The lab specialist at Hakala told me boron seems to have an even greater ability to detox fluoride from the body.
I am now experimenting with including boron-rich foods in my diet. I know bone broths are a traditional source of dietary minerals, including boron, so I’ve been making a pot of homemade beef stock every week. I can’t have chicken or turkey stock because those animals are usually overdosed on fluoride which ends up in their bones, and then in the stock. I’ve been drinking the stock 2-3 days in a row, and then taking a few days off to let my body detox. This seems to keep my body from any detox reactions. If I don’t take breaks, my lymphatic system can’t handle all the released fluoride and I end up with breakouts. The beef stock theory is an experiment in progress. I’ll be sure to let you know how it turns out on the CI blog.
Thanks for your questions, JL!
Thank you! This is very helpful. Your blog is so informative on the topic of fluoride that it gave me a very good headstart on figuring out how to reduce my intake. I will stay tuned to hear if the beef broth experiment gets the fluoride out of your system entirely.
I’m so glad you find it helpful, JL. That’s my whole reason for blogging!
Thanks for the great website! I’ve had cellulite since my early teens, and I’m in my 60s now, but I’ve always had terrible digestion which I now know was caused by eating too much sugar and refined carbohydrate. I’ve since corrected that after reading Sally Fallon’s book along with Weston Price, Gary Taubes etc. I also bought myself a Far Infrared Sauna and have been using it for detoxing–it’s wonderful!! I have a mini-trampoline from Qi-Bounding as that is supposed to be helpful for moving the lymph too. I’m not sure I’ll ever get rid of my cellulite, it may take many years, but I’m feeling so much better. Thanks for the tips on dry skin brushing… I’ll let you know how I get on…..maybe I’ll be in my 70s and cellulite free and swimming in warm, aqua blue sea water….
I love the way you think, ML! Your vision for the next decade sounds fabulous.
I have been wondering about those saunas recently. Your endorsement makes me even more curious about them.
You mentioned Sally Fallon –have you been including a lot of bone broths in your diet, as she recommends? Along with the healthy fats, that seems to be the most critical healing food when it comes to cellulite.
Thanks for your comment. Please do let us know how it goes!
Hi Melissa, Far Infared (FIR) Saunas are fantastic at detoxing fat cells of heavy metals, pesticides, plastics, all the stuff that gets stored in our cells because our bodies can’t metabolize it etc etc. When someone can no longer lose excess body weight it often turns out they can’t because of their toxic overload. Check out HiTech Health (talk with Vicki) for more info and you can also read Dr. Sherry Rogers ‘Detox or Die’ (a rather grim title)book.There is a Swiss Dr. who is currently using their saunas to rid his patients of cancer through the delicate application of slightly raising body temperature along with detoxification. The saunas are amazing for that and leave your skin feeling like silk while giving you a wonderful, gentle energy. They are also great for people like me who have difficulty sleeping through the night. Anyway, lots of health benefits. And yes, I love bone broths but I find making them for myself can be time-consuming so I purchase mine from US Wellness who uses Sally Fallon’s recipe. They have all organic/grass-fed meat, poultry etc. Of course I make my own but when I don’t want to they are great resource.
Awesome, ML. Thanks for the info! HiTech Health looks like they have some great products but I hate when they don’t list the prices online. To get a quote, you have to give them your phone number. Do you have any idea what the price range is on their saunas?
Quite by chance, a friend recently asked me if she might be able to store her new IR sauna at my house! Her parents are retiring to Florida and they are giving her a lot of furniture she doesn’t have room for at the moment. How crazy is that! I’ll be sure to let you know if I get the opportunity to test it out.
I ordered the 3 person sauna because it has the longest bench, which I think is 5′? I’m tall, 5’8″ and I wanted to be able to lie down, well, some what. With tax and shipping it was $3700. The two person is around $2500?? Something like that. They’re great, just had another sauna this a.m. The units snap together and took about 30 minutes to have up and running. The one and two person units plug into a wall socket, the 3 person needs it’s own 20amp circuit so that’s not an option for people who rent. But they are super easy to take apart so when you move your sauna goes with you….
That sounds a lot like what my friend is inheriting. Thanks for the info on the price estimates, ML! It’s good to know what we’re dealing with here. Definitely something to consider for the future…
Hey Melissa- have you tried the IR sauna yet?? They have one person versions that are very affordable that I’ve considered. Though it may need too much electricity for the old building I live in.
I’m still hoping my friend will “store” hers at my place. I should know in a few weeks. I’ll let you know if I get a chance to try it out!
Melissa, In answer to all of your questions about cellulite there is not just one cause but several. When they all come together then you have it bad but when only one or two are in play then it is not so bad. And the same is true for the “cures”. Some only target one cause and so are ineffective for for many people. Some target one or more of the causes and can be more effective, depending upon what is causing it for you.
Great site and I would love to work with you but you have “nofollow” all through your site. I have you in my RSS reader though so keep up the great posts.
I just checked out JH’s blog and I’m wondering why s/he does not provide any info about themselves on there? JH, I’d be interested in actually seeing something indicative of your personal experience with cellulite, rather than a generalized statement. I guess I find it odd, as the above comment supports the contentions of this site, but is stated in a manner that would imply otherwise. In any event, I did read a few of the posts on that blog and found somewhat contradictory info. I’m very interested in learning the basis for JH’s expertise or experience.
Thanks!
You are right that there are multiple causes and cures for cellulite, JH. If you check out our pages on What Causes Cellulite and How To Get Rid Of Cellulite, you will see that we definitely don’t shy away from the complexity of cellulite here at CI. Since launching the investigation, I’ve discovered that my lymphatic congestion is caused in large part by fluoride, probably because of fluoride poisoning I experienced as a child. For other women it could be something completely different. Sugar is a common culprit.
Thanks for reading along here as we continue our investigation. I have the comments set to nofollow because it cuts down on spam links from the anti cellulite industry. As you can imagine, we are a tempting target for that. Also, I want people to join the discussion because they genuinely have something to contribute to the conversation. I don’t have a lot of time to spend promoting the blog, so my plan has been to focus on the investigation at hand and provide useful content about cellulite. If people find the info here helpful or interesting, then hopefully it wil grow naturally. Thanks to everyone who has shared links or liked the page on Facebook, etc. It is appreciated!
Hi! Fabulous website! I am trying to find you on Twitter and Facebook….do you have links to them?
Robin
I know you already found this info, Robin, but in case anyone else is wondering, the social media links are at the top of each page on the right. Thanks for following!
What a great idea – looking at how Cellulite is caused and finding which room works for treatment! I love the idea of the bathroom and the gym, as I love working up a great sweat – and the bath tub is my favorite place to relax!
Cheers
Lisa
Thanks for stopping by and commenting, Lisa. I guess you can tell I used to like those “choose your own adventure” stories when I was little. I’m glad you are having fun on the site!
Phenomenal site! I am hooked!
Hi! I have been in a constant battle with cellulite for as long as I can remember. I’ve always been thin, and in the past few years have become a very active cyclist. I have noticed little to no improvement in my cellulite since I started riding – my weight and booty size has actually increased as I gain muscle mass, so it would seem that the fat content of my body is in a healthy range. Alas, those accursed dimples remain!
Your website is very interesting and helpful. As a fellow scientist, I love your approach to the cellulite investigation! I’m going to get on this body brushing post haste, and look forward to putting some of the other theoretical treatments to the test.
I’m so glad you found us, Anna! The info on cardio exercises regarding cellulite is conflicting. Some people claim it will make cellulite worse because it releases free radicals and causes stress on your cells. Most gurus recommend less intensity exercises for cellulite, like rebounding, walking, or weight training (not high-impact), etc. I’ve curious to hear how dry brushing goes for you!
OK, folks. I have taken the plunge. I got two of the brushes (one for my back and one for the rest of my body). Then I purchased the coconut oil. I have been dry brushing regularly, then putting the coconut oil all over my body, then using the steam sauna followed by getting rid of the oil with my version of a strigil (need to find a better one). Wonderful results. Then I tried my own version of the caffeine infused body oil. Fantastic! But there is one problem: my dog follows me around as if I am a doggie treat…. I figure it has to be good for him. We will see how he does with the caffeine infusion. But my skin looks radiant!
I love this website! I have been very lucky. I’m almost 50 and no trouble with cellulite. But the ideas that I have gotten from you, Melissa, has made such a difference in my life! I am a stroke survivor who is very lucky to have regained the use of my limbs. I still deal with excruciating pain on the right side of my body. So I look for ANYTHING that might cause my brain to re-wire so that this pain will be gone forever. I have dejerinne-roussy syndrome. It is chronic pain on the entire right side of my body, 24/7. I have tried accupuncture, accupressure, prolotherapy. You name it, I have tried it. I figured that the dry brushing might help. And it has. The pressure from the dry brushes on my skin feel amazing! My next investment: the Rumble Roller.
I have learned so much about the benefits of coconut oil, so I have started taking a teaspoonful a day. I am running a half-marathon in less than 10 days and the coconut oil is a great way to increase my immunity and my energy level. I just wanted to say thank you. I will be running my 10th marathon in January and I truly believe that some of the insights that I have received from your forum have been invaluable. I am on my way to order the Rumble Roller. So excited!
Aiiiee! Victoria, please don’t let your dog eat the coffee infused oil! Caffeine is lethal to dogs!!
http://www.provet.co.uk/petfacts/healthtips/caffeinepoisoning.htm
Victoria, this is fantastic! Thank you for your encouraging comment and for sharing your story with us. I am honored to play a small part in your journey to healing. Please let me know what you think of the RumbleRoller. I obviously love it, but it would be good to get another opinion. Best of luck on the half marathon. What an accomplishment!
Boy, do I feel foolish! I have had dogs all my life, was aware of the chocolate issue but not the caffeine issue. My dog is fine, thank you for letting me know.
I’ve never heard of that before, either. Based on the article, it looks like he would have to consume a rather large amount to experience any ill effects, though.
While the amount that can be safely consumed obviously depends on the size of dog, why take the chance? Besides, if a dog were to get into a batch of it, what’s the likelihood they’d stop before they’d eaten it all?
Yes, I’m not taking any chances. I think I’ll just use the coconut oil, as is, or put some safe aromatic oils in. And then put on my jammies after my evening bath. My doggie’s health comes first. He eats better than I do. He is my running partner and my buddy. I would not know what I would do if I found out that I was responsible for hurting him. I appreciate herama’s guidance. And Chumley thanks you, too. Big lick to herama’s face!
Alternatively you could not let him lick you after application and keep the caffeinated oil out of his reach.
I wasn’t suggesting you don’t use it on yourself! But having a dog, I totally get being overly cautious. I just paid $$ for surgery for her that required me getting her across town to the vet by 9:30 am. I realized the day of her surgery that I was spending more on her procedure than I’ve ever spent on my own healthcare AND i won’t even see a specialist if it means getting up in the morning. Yet i did both for her and had to rent a car to get her to and from the surgery!
Oh those dogs.
Herama:
See what you started? It was that “aiiee!!!!”. Although this is wwwaaaayyyy off topic, your comment sent me on my own little investigation. Poor Melissa, Lead cellulite investigator!!! Your site has gone to the dogs!!! And i am the reason…. However, I found out that coconut oil is very good for doggies! So here is the way that I have resolved this issue…. My dog, although he appears to be cellulite-free, is going to get a tablespoonful of coconut oil with his food. (He has dry skin. We live in Arizona. And I can apply it to his hot spots as a doggie moisturizer!) I have saved my caffeine infused potion for the a.m. Shower. So what if I smell like a big pot of coffee at work? (Actually if you have tried the caffeine infused oil, you’ll be pleasantly surprised at how good it smells). Then for evening I will use my new concoction, lavender infused coconut oil as a moisturizer. Everyone wins!!!
No worries, I have been known to send it to the dogs myself on occasion (see this one about dogs and hormones, or this one about dogs and food “allergies”…) I’m glad to see you’ve reached a solution on this! The lavender coconut oil sounds wonderful, too.
Herama–Best wishes for a speedy recovery for your pup! I hope she’s feeling better soon.
If I didn’t know any better, I would swear that the dog pictured was my Chumley! Herama. Hope your puppy is doing all right!
So then I assume you have a yellow lab, Victoria? Aren’t they wonderful dogs!
OK Lady — I had to tell ya, this site has been a pivotal motivating force and guidance I had been seeking a long time. Thanks so much for having the courage to post this site. I also commend you especially for the investigation into Fluoride poisoning. It dawned on me like a ton of bricks on my brain and led to new world so that I wouldn’t dare go back. Since consciously eliminating sources of Flouride, and looking closely at other toxic propaganda the results have been beyond astounding and a catalyst for positive change. Thanks so much. Cheers
Thank you, Mdolly! I’m truly humbled to be a small part of your journey back to health.
First of all, I love your web site!
I have been using everything to remove my cellulite – you name it, I tried it! I cannot tell you how much money I have spent over the years.
About 4 months ago, I was referred to a spa, to try this “cupping massage”. Instead of the glass fire cups, she used some kind of rubber suctioned cups. They simply sucktioned onto my thighs and she went on and massaged in circles, up and down etc. I continued this for three months, three times a week. I cannot tell you how happy I was with the results. Somehow, the vacuum sucked up all the toxins (that’s how she explained it) and once the toxins are close to the surface of the skin, it is easier for the blood to carry them out and dispose of them. Anyway, I can say that after years of not being able to wear shorts, I finally was able to this summer!!! What a joy!
Look into a cupping massage session at the spa, I even bought the cups from the spa, this way I can continue using them at home. I believe I paid around $25. The name on the package says only “acucups”. Check if your spa sells them! Good luck!
Marianne, this is fantastic info. Thank you! I just received a pair of cups to review on the blog. I will definitely include your comment in the post. I can’t wait to write all about it. I was impressed after just one session!
I haven’t heard of Acucups but it looks like they are similar to the ones I’m trying. I’ll have to check them out, too. Thanks for the tip!
Dear Melissa,
I must say this is my favourite blog ever. Your open-minded approach and critical thinking is intriguing and this blog is of great value to my own path of healing, and I see many experience the same. I guess this blog will become quite famous if it’s not already. Great job! BTW if I find the time I’d like to contribute with my own story and investigation some time in the future. Xoxo, T
Thank you, Tee!! I’m so glad you are enjoying it! I would love to be able to share your story on the site. Let me know when you’re ready.
Hello – I just want to give my feedback on what works and what doesn’t. #1 please do not waste money on creams or treatments. I read reviews and still did the stupid expensive Velashape. You think its working initially after the treatment, but it’s just your skin swelling from all the vaccuming. It goes right back to normal. I am very thin 5’7″ 115 lbs. So weight is not my issue. I did have a baby 3 years ago and that’s when the cellulite came. This is what works. Get off birth control. Drink lots of water. Take Omega 3,6,9′s (this is the key) Weight training with a focus on lower body. Eating well. I’ve eliminated all on the back of my legs, still working on bum. But I’m confident it will be “cured” soon!
Thank you for your fantastic comment! How long did it take before you saw the results on your legs? Did you make all the changes as once or one at a time? Also, which Omega supplement are you using? Thanks again!
I’m so glad I found your site. Someone who actually talks sense when it comes to cellulite! I’ve had pretty bad cellulite for about 8 years and just recently started changing my diet for good (thanks to having a baby and wanting to be in the best health possible for my little one). I feel confident now that as I continue on my journey to health and fitness that my cellulite will subside with time. Great site, well done!
Thanks for your comment, Kassie! It makes my day to hear from fellow cellulite investigators who are as excited as I am about all this. Congrats on the baby and all the positive changes you’re making! Please keep us updated!
Hi Melissa -
I came across your website a few weeks ago and was fascinated. I’ve been wanting to come back and read more about all sorts of stuff, because not only is cellulite a hot topic with me, but I’ve had acne all my life and have tried to avoid fluoride for over 10 years after reading about all the problems it causes.
I haven’t had time to come back till now, but the reason I’m here today was to see what you might know about neoprene shorts/pants that claim to reduce cellulite. I see a few mentions of slimming pants, but nothing specific about neoprene. I was wondering if they would be worth a try when I got this ad today: http://www.savemore.com/DailyDeals/National/5378/Neoprene_Slimming_Pants_71_Value/ (and if the link expires, it’s this product: http://www.livethin.net/products/neoprene-slimming-pants.html ). Googling brought me to this interesting piece: http://www.lipocontour.co.uk/press.htm and I’m sure there are tons more like it, but I was REALLY interested in your take on all this. I saw that earlier this year you were looking for volunteers for similar products, but overall it seems this option is yet to be investigated. Maybe I’ll have to try the deal and let you know. =)
Hi, Diane! So glad you found the site. We haven’t had any positive reports about anti cellulite shorts yet, although that doesn’t mean none of them work at all. I’m still holding out hope! I received a tip to look into Zaggora hot pants, but I haven’t heard back from the company yet. If you do try these babies, please let us know how it goes!
I’m just 18 and I have the worst cellulite on my bottom and on the back of my thighs! I’m quite slim, and must admit to having a high fat diet over the last 12 months, but it seems so awful for my age! What can I do and why is it so bad?
My cellulite started in my teens, too, even though I was always thin and very active. What kind of fat are you eating? We are learning that a lot of fats are actually good for cellulite (such as coconut oil, organic butter, full fat yogurt, etc.). Trans fats are a different story. Hydrogenated fats are awful for your lymphatic system. Cellulite forms when the lymphatic system (one of the body’s “garbage disposal system” for the cells) becomes congested. It could be caused by something in your diet that your body is having trouble processing, such as a gluten allergy, or an overdose of sugar, etc. I had no idea I was so sensitive to fluoride until I started investigating cellulite. Who would have thought! Do you know if you live in a fluoridated neighborhood? Fluoride is another chemical that can be hard on the lymph.
Melissa – I’ve been a lurker on your website for a long time and I must say it’s very informative; thank you. I’m 44 years old, 5’6 and weigh 128 lbs. I’ve struggled with cellulite since I was in my 20′s. I have tried: Endermology, AccentXL, CelluPulse, Zerona and I bought a WellBox. All with VERY little positive outcome especially considering the $ spent. I’ve read most of the recommended books you have on your website; also with no significant result. This past August I decided that I would undergo liposuction surgery (figuring at least I could look good IN my clothes). I was told by the surgeon that my cellulite would more than likley get worse – I knew this but hey I wasn’t wearing shorts or skirts anyway – so why not? While recovering from surgery I started reading a book called The Beauty Detox by Kimberly Snyder (terrible name for this book – if you read it you’ll understand why) anyway Kimberly ultimately advocates a lifestyle of a Raw Food Vegan. The book really moved me and I decided I had nothing to loose; I went for it… in fact, I went much farther past her program and I am enjoying a 90% raw food lifestyle, no meat of any kind,no dairy products, no sugar, no caffeine (that was HARD) and no added salts (I was a salt freak). As of today I am 95% cellulite free!!!! This lifestyle has literally changed my relationship with food for the better as well as curing 95% of my cellulite. I must also note that I haven’t really been exercising much; maybe once a week. I plan on changing this next week by running and adding yoga. I am sure that the remaining small (and I have to hunt for it) amount of cellulite will vanish once I stay on a consistent exercise program. I don’t use any lotions nor do I use my WellBox. I am a testament to the very simple notion “you are what you eat.” Looking back I wish I had know this lifestyle was an option, however if I’m going to be honest with myself I wasn’t ready for this type of change. My surgeon was literally shocked by 3 month check-up he told me he’s never seen anything like it. I am not advocating surgery in fact had I know the results of my lifestyle change I wouldn’t have done it. I go back to my surgeon in Feb. for a six month check and I will ask for the before and after pictures – I’d love to share with everyone… there is hope! If you can send me your email address I will forward them on to you to post if you wish. Thank you for all the valuable research; I love your website!!
Sincerely,
julia
Julia, this is so frickin cool!! Thank you for sharing!! I am familiar with Kimberly’s book after I saw it at the book store one day. It almost inspired me to buy a juicer but I was overwhelmed with the selection and never figured out which one to buy. Then the holidays came and I forgot all about it. So glad you brought it up again!
I’ve got so many questions for you, but I’ll limit it to a few. What was your diet like before you went raw? When you say you read the books on my website, are you referring to the books about cellulite or the ones about diet or both? Also, what do you eat now? Are you into juicing? Okay, I hope that’s not too many questions.
I just added a forum to the website where you can post pictures, so feel free to head over there to continue the conversation. Here is the link to the section about food/diet: http://www.celluliteinvestigation.com/forum/food
Melissa,
My diet before was the standard american diet. Off the top of my head I read the book: Eat Fat,Loose Fat and Dr. Murad’s books and basically followed both theories somewhat. I have never been a big red meat eater I mostly ate chicken, turkey and fish. I don’t drink too much usually wine on Friday and Saturday evenings when I go out to dinner with my carnivore husband… LOL. Loved, loved, loved yogurt and cheese with a passion. I can say that I’ve never been a vegetable eater; even as a child so this lifestyle was a radical shift for me ( I think I only ate a few vegetables- now I eat them all). While I was recovering from my surgery I decided to give up salt (hoping to decrease the swelling sooner). I was successful giving up salt with less cravings then I thought so I pushed the envelop and decided to give up all breads and sugars. This was a much tougher road so I devoured greek yogurt with lots of fruit to help me satisfy my cravings. I felt great after three weeks and can honestly say that my sugar cravings were under control. This was about the time I picked up Kimberly’s book and it absolutely resonated with me. She advocates going raw/vegan in slow stages (which I would definitely recommend) it would have been impossible for me to acquire a taste for vegetables let alone raw vegetables without slowly saying goodbye to the foods that I believed I really needed. I skipped Kimberly’s first stage since I was already close to it by the time I read the book. I spent a month in her second stage and then moved on the the third/final stage (where I am now). You should have seen my families face when I told them I wasn’t eating meat, dairy or eggs any longer! My husband is a carnivore (he weight trains) so he was not very supportive initially but, I persevered because frankly I was feeling better and better everyday and he couldn’t argue with the results I was getting!
I have not started juicing yet because Kimberly really didn’t advocate juicing as a necessity she has you make these green smoothies and I love them! The smoothies are loaded with fiber since the vegetable are blended (you have to buy a great blender- Vitamix or Blendtec) and frankly, I believe this was key to a lot of my cellulite success. The fiber really cleans out your body and that’s exactly what I needed! I am planning on buying a juicer (still researching which one I want) because I’d like to start the morning off with fresh juice and have my green smoothie later in the morning. I’m up at 6:00 am and I’m starving ( I’ve always been a big morning eater). I’ve purchased lots of Raw Food Cookbooks and I’m planning on attempting to start making some of my own fancy dishes but now I buy pre-pared raw dishes from a company here in Portland,OR (where I live). There are many Raw Food places that ship nationwide and internationally and the food is incredible!!! I can send you links if you want to check them out. This has been a big help for me since I have not invested in a “Raw Food kitchen” set-up yet.
I only eat cooked vegetables when I go out to dinner and I’ve found that steak restaurants are the best places for vegans to eat because they serve their vegetables as huge side dishes (weird… I know). I still drink wine (it’s technically considered raw). I can’t drink as much wine as before because it really hits me quickly (guess my system is really working) so it’s 1 and half glasses max for me now. Honestly, the hardest thing for me to give up was my coffee addiction – go figure, I would have thought cheese and sugar was going to kill me but it was my caffeine addiction. I sleep so much better than and I wake up actually feeling rested and ready for the day… and I’m us at 6:00 am. My skin is glowing and my friends keep asking me if I’ve done anything to my skin… finally, I can say I haven’t.
There is lots of great information about living a Raw Food lifestyle which has been a big help for me. I will probably invest in a dehydrator and more raw food tools as I approach the 1 year mark as I believe I’ll feel confident that this is a permanent lifestyle change (it’s the goal). I made it through Thanksgiving (in Cabo San Lucas, Mexico) and Christmas in Atlanta, GA without having to compromise my lifestyle changes which was a huge milestone for me. I could travel and still maintain my lifestyle and it felt like I’d been truly liberated from my unhealthy habit. I will most definitely post pictures in late February when I get them (you will be amazed) I couldn’t believe it myself when I looked down at my legs in the shower and noticed my cellulite dramatically going away – before it was dramatically getting worse – I couldn’t even wear long golf shorts anymore!
Any questions you have or anyone else I’m happy to answer – if someone else can benefit I’d be happy to openly and honestly share!
julia b.
Great info, Julia! Thank you!! You can tell what a novice I am on juicing. I didn’t realize there was a difference between the green godess drink she writes about and juicing! I looked up the Vitamix and it seemed really expensive and I didn’t know if I would use it enough to get my money’s worth out of it. Is that what you use for the green goddess drink?
It’s really interesting to hear about the changes you’ve seen in your cellulite since starting the raw food diet! How long did it take before you noticed a difference? What stage were you at when it really started to shift (were you still drinking coffee, were you already completely raw, etc.)?
I can see how a raw food diet would be excellent for detoxifying the body. It is full of enzymes that aid digestion and help the body heal itself. I just read an interesting book on enzymes. The author is not a raw foodie in the modern sense of the term, but he does advocate including raw (preferably fermented) foods at as many meals as possible, something I’ve been trying to do more since I read the book.
I think raw food is great for detoxing, but I’m not convinced it’s a good long term solution. Did you happen to read The Mood Cure by Julia Ross? (I wrote about is a few months back.) She explains how she has seen many people in her clinic, especially young girls, whose mood problems and eating disorders are caused by chronic deficiencies in amino acids that come from protein. Just something to keep an eye out for as you continue on your raw food journey. I think a lot of people feel like they have to stay on it forever because they were won over by the initial results. A raw food diet might be working great right now compared to the standard american diet most of us are used to, but that doesn’t mean it will be the best thing for your body forever. You seem like a smartie though so I’m sure as long as you are listening closely to your body, you’ll be okay!
Melissa – Great input; thank you. The Vitamix is an expensive blender but it will probably be the only blender you’ll ever need to buy (7 yr. warranty and very durable).
I make the glowing green smoothies 2x a week (they last in the refrigerator a few days and you can freeze them too). I already had this blender before I started – my husband was sick of blenders burning out on us and decided to research the best most reliable blender and little did I know… it really is a “work horse.”
The possible lack of protein was a source of concern for me as well. I do add Vegan protein powder to my glowing green smoothies which, adds all the protein I could possibly need…possibly more than I need. When I start running next week I’ll possibly add that second scoop in.
Now…. if all Vegans are honest there is a vitamin deficiency of B12 that can only be obtain by supplementation. So, I just go to my Dr.’s office once a month for a B12 shot and my levels are great. I’ll continue to monitor my blood work every 6 months. I do still eat cooked vegetables and beans too on occasion so I don’t consider myself a “High Raw Foodie.”
I went through the stages Kimberly recommends in her book and I noticed the most dramatic improvement by month 2 and by month 4 I can honestly say I’d put shorts on a go out in public (although I desperately need a fake tan first).
Another upside my hairdresser noticed was that my grey hair at my temples is almost gone (she thought I was pulling them out again). Less hair coloring will add up to a savings I’ll enjoy.
What is truly interesting is that I can’t find one piece of literature that actually ties cellulite and a raw/vegan diet together. When I started down this path it was purely to improve my health. I had lost weight on many diets but couldn’t sustain them and they certainly did nothing to improve my cellulite in fact, some of my diets seemed to actually make it more noticeable.
I’d really love to know if anyone else experiences similar results – maybe it’s just all the super foods that I eat – maybe it’s eliminating dairy – maybe eliminating meat has nothing to do with it…. well you get the drift.
julia
Awesome info again, Julia! I will have to check Kimberly’s book out again to remember the different stages of her plan. I haven’t seen any specific info either tying a raw/vegan diet to cellulite loss, but your experience does sound similar to a few other success stories were received so far (see, Our Cellulite Success Stories). Some women lost their cellulite by eliminating sugar or dairy or carbs… and it all seems to happen rather quickly once the dietary changes are made. I tried the anti candida diet mentioned in success story #7 but I didn’t see any results in the cellulite department.
Actually, I just went back and reread that story and saw that she was on a raw/vegan diet for 5 years before she changed to the anti candida diet. The raw diet didn’t work for her, which makes me think her cellulite was caused by something different than yours. Any idea what the source of your cellulite was (aka, your kryptonite)?
I would love to explore this topic more. I love uncovering another good cellulite mystery! I created a topic for it on the new forum. It’s kindof a pain because you have to login to comment (I don’t know how to turn that off), but it would be fun to get a discussion going on raw food diets and cellulite. Here is the link: http://www.celluliteinvestigation.com/forum/food/is-a-raw-vegan-diet-good-or-bad-for-cellulite
Hi Melissa – sorry it’s taken me so long to respond (been traveling). I hope I’m not writing in the wrong section… just let me know.
I’ve heard of the anti candida diet and in fact Kimberly addresses this issue as well. I should probably been on it or I should have started there but giving up sugar was hard enough and fruit was the only reason I survived the sugar detox!
I would love to know what my “kryptonite” is; I suspect it was a slow moving digestive track (my body just wasn’t absorbing the vitamins and minerals it needed to repair itself). I also believe that my increased fiber intake was fundamental to decreasing my cellulite (moving all my stored toxins and fat out of my body certainly didn’t hurt). In addition I suspect that keeping my body in a more alkaline state vs. an acidic state has helped contribute to body repair.
Looking back I believe that when I eliminated dairy I started seeing more dramatic improvement-it’s so frustrating to not be able to pinpoint exactly!!!! I remember my physician explaining to me that my fat cells actually store toxins and it really made sense to me… I was subsequently on a mission to rid my body of all the horrible eating/lifestyle habits I’d maintained for the last 25 years (at least). I’ve also heard that the foods we tend to crave are the foods we should really try to avoid.
Cellulite is such a mystery – and I think based on all the research and stories you’ve collected points to the fact that everyone’s different. My success may only have happened by me dramatically changing my entire food lifestyle. I never (and I mean never) ate vegetables let alone raw (I grew up in a meat and starch household)… how I stumbled upon this book and then read it with an open mind is still a mystery.
The irony of me finally just resigning myself to never getting rid of my cellulite was probably what needed to happen in order for me to focus on my inward health vs. my outward appearance. It’s like when your trying to get pregnant and can’t … well you know the rest.
julia