Cellulite Solutions (52 Brilliant Ideas): Tips and Techniques to Lose the Lumps by Cherry Maslen and Linda Bird is the current selection for our Cellulite Book-of-the-Month (BOTM) Research Group.
To actively participate in the group, you can order the book from Amazon for under $4 including shipping, or simply add your questions or observations in the comment section at the end of this post.
Who are the Authors?
Last month’s Cellulite BOTM was written by a weight-training expert, so I thought this month we could select a book from the other end of the cellulite-guru spectrum.
Cherry Maslen and Linda Bird are British journalists with decades of experience writing and editing for various Women’s magazines in the UK. As you can imagine, they reviewed more than their fair share of cellulite treatments and products during that time.
While Bottoms Up! focused on weight training (with a hint of diet advice) for treating cellulite, Cherry and Linda’s approach runs the proverbial gamut. They cover everything from anti-cellulite creams and body wraps, to dry brushing and lipo.
They even include a chapter on those infamous cellulite knickers we’ve been hearing so much about. (After all, they are British.)
What’s their take on Cellulite?
According to Cellulite Solutions, cellulite is essentially body fat. The only reason it looks different from other forms of fat is because the collagen fibers that attach the fat cells to the skin (septae) lost their elasticity. When a woman gains weight, which is usually in the butt and thighs, the fat cells swell and bulge out between the connective fibers.
“The truth is that cellulite is part of being a woman,” the authors lament. “There’s nothing disease-like about it.”
Chapter One starts with a reminder that fatness was once the epitomy of beauty, “just think of those Rubenesque lovelies, writhing about in the nude.” Yet despite their aversion to clothing, few (if any) of Rubens’s subjects seem to display the dreaded blight.









{ 6 comments… read them below or add one }
Sadly, I do think that cellulite is a part of life for most women. There must be a genetic component as well. I've seen women in fantastic shape at the gym sporting visible cellulite. I've also seen heavier women without a hint of it in sight.
I find that the more muscle I develop, the visible my cellulite appears. I'd rather save the money that could be spent on those creams and do some strength training instead.
Hi, Karen. I'm assuming you meant "the more muscle I develop, the less visible my cellulite appears," right? You are right about the creams. They seem to offer fleeting results, at best. But did you read the Cellulite Story from yesterday? She had cellulite even when she was a marathon runner with 7 percent body fat, but lost it when she changed her diet for other health reasons. These kind of stories fascinate me!
I agree with you, Melissa. Cellulite is not just part of being a woman. I don't have cellulite, it's not because my cellulite is less visible due to muscle mass or low body fat (I'm not thin). I did have cellulite once but it disappeared when I transitioned to real food and it did so within a matter of a few months.
Jenny, I'm so happy to read your comment. Since I hang out a lot in the Real Food blogging world, I was hoping to hear from some real foodies who have had experiences like yours. How exciting! Thanks so much for stopping by. Hopefully I can convince you to share more details in a Cellulite Story.
I have recently transitioned to real food, but I have never had a problem with cellulite. I was a swimmer from age 6 to 19, and when I stopped swimming daily I went from about 170 lbs to 240 ish. I’ve not seen any cellulite develop even with the weight gain. I attribute this to the fact that I have always loved whole milk, animal fats and fish, and home made bone broths. Although I am not happy with my weight, I know people much skinnier than I am that eat the Standard American Diet, and have major cellulite problems. My best friend in high school was 110 lbs at 5’8 with a vegitarian tendancy and had cellulite from ankle to waist. I think it is definitely a nutrient deficiency of some sort.
So interesting, Brittany. Thanks for contributing your experience to our investigation! Surprisingly, a lot of experts believe cellulite is generally worse in thin women than it is for women who are overweight. Sometimes extra fat makes it more difficult to see cellulite. A lot of women see an increase in cellulite when they lose weight. Doesn’t sound like that would happen for you, though, since you didn’t have it to begin with. I think you are onto something with the healthy saturated fats and bone broths. They seem to be the most valuable nutrients when it comes to cellulite. Lucky us!