“For years, I refused to wear any color other than black to the gym. I would barely even look at my thighs and bum after a shower without cringing…all because of cellulite.” This was me. No matter how thin I got, no matter how much water I drank or greens I ate or stairs I climbed, the dreaded cellulite still covered my legs like a giant sticker. In my mind, that sticker read “UGLY!” I remember making the “horrible choice” of wearing shorts to a friend’s house at a summer bbq and I stood in the 100 degree heat the entire time because I didn’t want to sit down knowing that my “sticker” would then be showcased front and center in neon lights… no thank you, I will just sweat through my shirt instead. Sooo basically, cellulite ran my life. The thought of it on my body disgusted me… But if you asked me what exactly it was, I couldn’t have told you.
Cellulite, What even are you?
Cellulite is a buildup of fat underneath the skin which shows itself in little dimples. 80-90% of women will experience it in their lives (umm that is most of us). The exact cause of cellulite is unknown, but it appears to result from an interaction between the connective tissue in the dermatological layer that lies below the surface of the skin, and the layer of fat that is just below it.
In women, the fat cells and connective tissue in this layer are arranged vertically. If the fat cells protrude into the layer of skin, this gives the appearance of cellulite. In men, the tissue has a criss-cross structure, which may explain why they are less likely to have cellulite than women.
The amount of cellulite you have and how noticeable it is can be based on your genes. Also, the thickness of your skin affects the appearance of cellulite. In some cases, body fat percentage or age could potentially factor in, but this is not the majority.
To quickly summarize, most women have cellulite AND for most women, it is genetic.
So, now that we know that cellulite is a totally normal thing, especially for women, how do we stop seeing it as a bad thing? We start by replacing all the “stickers” in our minds that say “UGLY,” we wear the beautiful, pastel green leggings in public, and we start speaking loving words to ourselves as we brave the mirror after the shower.
This is easier said than done, so take it one mirror selfie at a time.
Also, Instead of saying, “well, we are more than just our skin” or “beauty is more than skin deep,” let’s start acknowledging our outside beauty AS WELL AS our inside beauty! We need to stop telling people…”well, at least I have a big heart” as a way of deflecting our negativity toward our outward appearance. You know that you can have a kind heart, extreme intelligence, and a beautiful and capable body all at the same time, right??
