What is cellulite?

Cellulite is the bane of many, especially women. Strangely, it is not a phenomena that appears only in fat and over-weight people.

Cellulite results from the abnormal storage of fat in the skin and subcutaneous connective tissue retraction and is more common in women than men.

Whether you are young of elderly, underweight or overweight, you are likely to be plagued by cellulite if you are leading a highly sedentary lifestyle and do not have a balanced diet. Unfortunately, cellulite tend to worsen over time. Gradually, the lumpy orange peel effect of cellulite become more pronounced on the hips, abdomen, thighs and buttocks.

In women, the tissues is particularly sensitive to variations in hormone levels (menstrual cycle, pregnancy, menopause) which promote the storage and build up of fat reserves.

According to Joey Atlas , Publisher and Editor of "The Cellulite Reduction Report":

Several years ago, Neil Solomon, M.D., conducted a double-blind
study of 100 people to see whether "cellulite" differed from
ordinary fat. Specimens of regular fat and lumpy fat were obtained
by a needle biopsy procedure and given to pathologists for analysis
and comparison...

No differences between the two types of fat samples were found.

More recently, researchers at Rockefeller Institute used
ultrasonography, microscopic examinations, and fat-metabolism
studies to see if "cellulite affected" and unaffected skin areas
differed in seven healthy adult subjects - five women, two men; four
of them "cellulite" affected, three unaffected.

Not surprisingly - the researchers concluded: (a) certain
characteristics of skin make women more prone than men to develop
the appearance of "cellulite"; and (b) there were no differences in
the appearance or function of the fatty tissue or the regional blood
flow between "cellulite" affected and unaffected body areas within
these individuals...

So, make sure you have a balanced diet and practise healthy living as a lifestyle. Not only will that keep you healthy, it will keep you good looking too.

Eat and Lose Fats

If you, for whatever reason, find that you want to lose fats and yet, would like to eat as much as you feel like, your friends might think you have lost your mind. Fortunately, this is possible. All you need to do is select foods with fewer calories or with a lower energy density.

What is the meaning of lower energy density? Foods that have a high water and fiber content have low energy density. So, eating such foods will cause you to feel satisfied, bloated even, while calorie intake is reduced and you might even lose weight.

One example of low energy density food is fruits. However, note that only fresh fruits qualify. Canned fruits are loaded with sweet and heavy syrup, and that means high sugar content. Avoid dried fruit. Though commonly referred to as a healthy choice, it has four times the energy density of fresh fruit. This is because they don’t have much water in them - concentrated calories. Fresh and whole fruit has the least amount of calories and the highest amount of fullness and satisfaction.

Some fruits for your consideration are grapefruit, melons (watermelon, cantaloupe and honeydew), berries (strawberries, raspberries and blueberries), papaya and peach.

24. Recipe of the Month – Chicken-Alfalfa Sprout Sandwich

When we are too concerned about losing weight and losing those fats, we sometimes forget to eat healthy. One of the most healthy foods we can eat that does not contain a lot of fats is the Chicken-Alfalfa Sprout Sandwich.

Sprouts are considered the miracle food, as they contain a lot of enzymes and vitamins and minerals. These are best when eaten raw, hence, in this simple recipe, the sprouts are not cooked.

This is an easy and quick recipe. Wash it down with honey or milk. Let me know how you like it. I found this recipe at NurtureYourOwn.com

The recipe is really simple and you can easily add more items to suit your taste buds.

Chicken-Alfalfa Sprouts Sandwich

2 tbsp alfalfa sprouts
2 tbsp carrots, shredded
1/2 cup chicken, skinned, boned, cooked and diced
1 tomatoes, diced
1/2 green peppers, diced
1/2 lettuce, shredded
1 tbsp low-fat mayonnaise

What are the ways you can lose Fats?

One of the most frustrating thing in the world that anyone can do, is to try to lose fats. Have you ever watched helplessly as the weighing scales continue to fight your best intentions?

I would like to share with you a few ways that can help you to really lose fats on a permanent basis. Yes, not just a temporary drop or those “yo-yo” effect style of weight loss.

#1 – Eat Properly

Are you surprised that the first thing you need to do to lose fats is to eat? But not just eat, you need to eat proper food. Forget about eating diet pills, special diet concoctions and even those fat burning pill. Eat good, nutritious food. Food that will give you proper energy. Otherwise, when you feel listless and tired, your metabolic rate drops, then you gain more weight.

#2 – Build Muscles

A lot of misunderstanding here. You do not have to become a gym fanatic. But as you exercise, you will build up your muscles naturally. Why is this important? Muscles are the body’s natural fat burning factory. The more muscles you have working, the more fats are burned, even if you do nothing more than walk normally, or even just resting.

#3 – Stop Eating Till Stuffed

When you eat just a little short of feeling really full, that is good. A better gauge would be to eat with a calorie deficit. This means that you take in less calories than your body actually needs. This will force your body to burn up fats to make up for the difference. Some people find it hard to overcome the mental challenge of hunger pangs. One good way to fight this is to take many small meals.

#4 – Never Starve Yourself

You will need to learn to eat well, exercise and maintain a healthy lifestyle. When you starve yourself and fall ill, you become bedridden and lose all the good exercise habits that you fought so hard to build.

So, by following the above, you will find that not only will you start to lose those fats, you will not find them creeping back again. This is because you not only cut down on food or rely on artificial means. A change in your lifestyle and eating habits is the best way to lose fats and maintain your weight.