Why Cellulite Doesn’t Mean You Are Fat
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Cellulite – it's a term that brings up a lot of insecurities, especially as summer approaches. But what if we told you that cellulite is completely normal and up to 90% of women experience it at some point in their lives? Whether you're dealing with it now or have in the past, this episode will help you understand that cellulite is a natural part of being human and not something to be ashamed of.
In this episode, we dive deep into understanding what cellulite really is, why it happens, and how you can embrace your body just the way it is.
What I discuss:
Skin Structure
Hormonal Factors
Genetic Predisposition
If you loved this episode, be sure to tune in to…
Episode 67: Cellulite is Normal (So Let's Normalize It!)
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Transcript:
[00:00:00] Hey, hey, beautiful human. Can I steal five minutes of your time? I have something super important to share with you, but I promise I'll be really quick. You're listening to my weekly bonus episode of Embrace Your Real with me, Julie Ledbetter. I'm about to give you a quick tip for building your confidence, honoring your body, and unconditionally loving your authentic self. Stay tuned. If you're ready to embrace your real let's get it. Let's go. [00:00:31]
[00:00:37] Hello and welcome back to another bonus episode on the Embrace Your Real Podcast. Cellulite is one of the most common concerns for so many women. This oftentimes leads to feelings of insecurity, misconceptions about your body fat, your health. And people think that you know because they have cellulite, they have they still have so much weight that they need to lose, or they need to tone their legs and glutes more, or that something's wrong with them or whatever. There there's this spiral that happens when we when the word or topic or subject of cellulite comes up. But here's the thing. It's so important to understand that cellulite is actually not an indicator of being overweight or unhealthy. And that's why in today's episode, I kind of want to explore what cellulite is and why it doesn't mean that you're fat, in hopes that you can hopefully experience more peace with cellulite that you might have on your beautiful body. But before we dive in, I want to share this review. It comes from Speak and act in Faith. She gave a five star view and said, uplifting. I have recently come across your podcast and have seen a complete mindset shift. I love your upbeat personality. That makes me want to also be more positive and talk positively about my body. [00:01:43][65.7]
[00:01:43] I also have shared this podcast with a dear friend, and she has also told me that she's loving it. Thank you so much for my mindset shift change, and also thank you for giving me the motivation to honor the body that God gave me. I love this so much. Thank you so much for taking time out of your day and also sharing it with your friend. It genuinely means the world to me. I love just hearing how this podcast is helping you and also when you share it with your friends. Like that is just music to my soul. It is joy to my bones. And so I just want to say thank you in advance for doing that. Okay, so let's start off by first explaining what the heck is cellulite. I know we probably all know what cellulite is in terms of like what it looks like, but what is cellulite? Cellulite, it just defined is the appearance of a lumpy, dimpled flesh on the thighs, the hips, the buttocks, the abdomen. It happens when fat deposits push through your connective tissue beneath your skin, creating a bumpy texture. Often described as orange peel or cottage cheese skin, cellulite is extremely common, especially among women. In fact, studies have shown that up to 80 to 90% of women will experience cellulite at some point in their lives. And this is the most important thing that you need to know, is that it can affect all different types of bodies, regardless of their weight or fitness levels. And let me kind of explain why. So number one skin structure. So cellulite is actually related to the structure of your skin and your connective tissues, not the amount of fat that you have. Let me say that again. [00:03:10][86.6]
[00:03:10] Cellulite is related to the structure of your skin and your connective tissues, not the amount of fat that you have. Even individuals with a low body fat percentage, they oftentimes still do have some cellulite. And this is because fitness levels do not determine the presence of cellulite itself. Athletes and fit individuals oftentimes have cellulite because it's about the distribution of fat and connective tissue, not the overall body fat. Let me repeat that again. It's about the distribution of fat and connective tissue, not the overall body fat. Women's connective tissue under the skin has a vertical fibrous structure. And this creates compartments that also allows these fat cycles to push through more easily, causing that dimpled look. Whereas men's connective tissues have this crisscross pattern, which oftentimes better supports and prevents fat from bulging, which is fascinating. Plus, women have higher levels of estrogen, and estrogen promotes the production of collagen, which is a protein that gives skin the elasticity. Right, but estrogen levels that fluctuate throughout women's lives. This can actually lead to a decreased collagen production as we age, and this directly weakens the connective tissue, further contributing to the visibility of cellulite. Whereas men generally have higher collagen levels and stronger connective tissues throughout their lives. Which leads me to number two hormonal factors. So hormones actually play a significant role in the development of cellulite. Estrogen significantly influences how and where fat is stored in the body. So it can promote fat accumulation in areas like your thighs, your hips, your buttocks, which those areas of our body actually have a higher concentration of estrogen receptors. This localized fat storage contributes to the appearance of cellulite. Estrogen also plays a role in regulating blood flow and lymphatic drainage in cellulite prone areas, so reduce blood flow can actually lead to a decrease in oxygen and nutrient delivery to skin cells, where while poor lymphatic drainage impairs the removal of waste products, this combination can actually weaken the connective tissue which. [00:05:24][133.6]
[00:05:24] Which could potentially worsen the visibility of cellulite. Plus, estrogen stimulates collagen production, which provides this structural support to your skin. But as women, we actually have fluctuating estrogen levels, and they can decline during like perimenopause or menopause, which can lead to the decreased production of collagen in your body. Then that thus leads to a weakened connective tissue, which then leads us more prone and susceptible to cellulite. So all that to say, I mean, you could go and relisten to what I just said. I know that was very sciencey, but there is actual scientific evidence as to why women typically have more appearance of cellulite than men. And there are also some other hormone like hormones that can play into the appearance of cellulite, which is the thyroid hormone hormone that regulates metabolism and influence fat storage and breakdown. So an underactive thyroid, which is called hypothyroidism, that can actually slow down your metabolism, potentially contributing to cellulite development by promoting fat accumulation. So again, there is so much science when it comes to this by goal of, you know, stating all of these scientific facts when it comes to cellulite is that you look at this as it's just a fact. It's a, it's a, it's a scientific fact that this is just how our skin is created. You know, as women, we tend to have and will tend to see more cellulite just because of how we are created and to just look at it objectively like that, instead of having so much emotional connection to cellulite, I want you to see it through a scientific lens, because I think that that will help you to objectively look at it just in a different light, maybe a light that you've never seen it before, right? Like you've always had such an emotional connection to cellulite. [00:07:13][109.0]
[00:07:13] I want you to look at it through a scientific lens and say, you know, it is what it is. Like our estrogen levels, you know, they stimulate the collagen production that's going to provide structural support. But as women, we go through fluctuations in estrogen levels and especially during like the menopause, premenopausal state, all of those things that can lead to a decrease in collagen. It just is what it is, right? And lastly, number three, genetic predisposition. So what most people don't realize is that your genetics definitely have an influence and the likelihood of developing or not developing cellulite. Things like gender, race, metabolism, circulation levels, those are all kind of inherited and all contribute to the presence of cellulite on your body, like losing weight and working out harder. That's not going to change your genetics. So kind of what do you do about it? You you've learned about the cellulite, you've learned the scientific facts. You've learned it kind of look at it through a scientific lens so that you can objectify it more so that it's not so emotional to you. But what can you do about it? Is there anything that you can do about it? Well, number one, realize that however much cellulite you have after nourishing your body with what it needs and giving it the amount of movement that it needs, the amount of cellulite you naturally have is meant to be like there's nothing that you can do about it, so just find peace in it and how beautiful your body was. Intricately created, right? And and again, just looking at it through more of an objective lens of just like this just is what it is. Don't be so emotionally attached to it. Number two, realize that you're not alone, that almost 90% eight. [00:08:49][95.7]
[00:08:49] Right? Studies have shown 80 to 90% of women have cellulite. So if you think that you're the only one, it's because you're not looking close enough. It's because you're looking at these photoshopped images of women on social media that are, you know, perfectly curated. And you're you're just you're not seeing real skin in real light. Number three, you have to stop believing that you need to work out more or eat less in order to get rid of it. This is honestly, again, if you are fueling your body with what it needs, like there is no problem and you having these goals of wanting to honor your body with movement and nourish your body with what it needs and properly do that. But I also don't want you to think that you have to eat less. You have to work out more in order to get rid of it. Because if that isn't what is causing the cellulite on your body, that's not what's going to help it to go away. Right? And so just remember that. Just remember that whatever it is, at the end of the day, if you're honoring your body with move it, if you're nourishing your body with what it needs and you have cellulite, that cellulite is meant to be on your body. Number four, please hear me when I say this. Stay away from the supplements. Stay away from the cellulite. Be gone. Supplements. That's just a waste of money. Yes, if you want to take some collagen. Absolutely. Totally fine. I personally take collagen every single day. I love it. The skin elasticity. It's it's so important for your joints, your bones, all of those things. But please don't fall into the trap that there's some sort of cream or gel or something that's just going to magically take away your cellulite, because that's just that's not the case. [00:10:17][87.2]
[00:10:17] It might mask it, but it's not going to take it away. And lastly, number five, if there is one thing that you can. Do. It is to ensure that you are working with some sort of neuropathy or a medical professional to ensure that your hormone levels are healthy and balanced. So getting those CBbC panels, you know, every six months, every year, making sure that your blood, your hormones are at an optimal level that is so, so important and so underutilized. So many women don't realize that they actually have hormone imbalances. They might not have the direct effects immediately, but maybe somewhere down the road they realize, oh my gosh, for the last ten, 15 years, my hormones have been totally imbalanced and I didn't even know. So I want you to prioritize really making sure that you're either working with someone or at the very least, getting a baseline to see where you're at in terms of your blood levels, your CBC panel, as well as your hormone levels to make sure that they are healthy. They are balanced so that you can be thriving. So there you have it. Cellulite is not just due to, you know, too much fat on your body. Those two are not they're not related. There's so much more when it comes to cellulite. And I hope that this episode really helped you to reframe your mindset in terms of understanding cellulite, looking at it through an objective lens, and not having so much emotional connection to it so that you can finally have more peace in your beautiful body. If you love this episode, I know you will also love an OG episode. Episode 67 cellulite is normal, so let's normalize it. I go into just a further pep talk for you. [00:11:48][90.9]
[00:11:48] So if you are struggling, still struggling with cellulite, the idea of cellulite, please tune in to this. I will link it in the show notes. But again, I hope that you found this episode helpful. I hope that I gave you some, maybe some new insight, some new research, some new scientific knowledge when it comes to cellulite and just help you to reframe it in your mindset so that you don't have such a big emotional attachment to it. You are beautiful. You are powerful. I love you so dang much. I mean it and I'll talk to you on the next one [00:12:19][31.1]
[00:08:12] All right, sister, that's all I got for you today. But I have two things that I need you to do. First thing, if you are not already following me on the gram, be sure to do so. Julie A Ledbetter. Yes, it's with an A in the middle for that daily post-workout real talk, healthy tips and tricks, and honest accountability to keep your mind and heart in check. The second thing, be sure to subscribe to Apple Podcasts to never miss an episode. Thank you so much for joining me. It means the absolute world, and I'm going to leave you with one last thought. The most beautiful women that I have met in my life are the ones who are completely confident and secure in being authentically themselves. Remember that beauty goes so much deeper than the surface. So go out there and embrace it real because you're worth it. [00:09:26][0.0]