As a personal trainer in Maynooth I see frustration. For most women, it is like the annoying relative that has over-stayed their welcome.
Recent research revealed that Dublin women suffer more from cellulite than the rest of the country with nearly one in three complaining it causes them problems. This compares to 19pc of women in other parts of the country who admit they have the orange peel on their thighs.
Cellulite is fat. But surprisingly it is often not related to how fat you are overall.
One plausible explanation – which also explains why very few men suffer from cellulite – is based on the composition and behavior of women’s fat cells and the connective tissue that holds them in place.
Very simply, a woman’s connective tissue is very inflexible, so as females gain weight their fat cells expand, and tend to bulge upwards towards the surface of the skin, giving the classic orange-peel appearance of cellulite.
In men, not only is there generally less fat on the thighs, but also the outer skin is thicker and thus obscures what is happening to any surplus fat below.
There is a way of attacking it though. It means approaching from a different route. Cellulite is often a symptom of a deeper underlying cause.
When we look at body composition and review where you store your body fat we can determine very quickly why you are holding it there.
Think that fat accumulates around your mid-rift to ‘spite’ you? Think again. This is reflected of your ability to handle sugar and how well you keep in check a hormone called insulin.
Cellulite’s partner in crime points largely to an imbalance in the hormones estrogen and insulin. High circulating levels of one or both together in women (and men) will be reflected in fat on the back of your arm, thighs and chest.
Why would you have this imbalance?
There are many reasons. We all produce the hormone, estrogen. What really matters is what happens to it once you make it as well as how much your cells and organs are exposed to.
It is like sunlight – get the right amount and good things happen (elevated mood, more vitamins produced) but get too much or spend too long over-exposed then you will more than likely get burnt.
In estrogen’s case we need it. But too much of it and a chronic over-exposure will lead to trouble.
In estrogen’s case, this is paralleled with some nasty diseases like endometriosis, PMS, uterine fibroids and benign breast tumors. Men – take note – as breast cancer in males is on the increase.
What’s more in the last 30 years man-made sources of estrogen called xeno estrogens are adding to the problem.
These are man-made sources that mimic estrogen. Sources include (in short) Plastic bottles, Carpet fibers, Teflon coating,
Pesticides and herbicide, Commercial meats grown with hormones, Birth control pills and Hormone replacement therapy drugs.
Estrogen is toxic. The liver treats it as toxic. In the process of detoxifying it, the liver will convert it into some nasty metabolites.
What’s more there is an enzyme in the body called aromatase that converts testosterone into estrogen. We need to inhibit this.
So why the orange peel?
Cellulite is an estrogen-type of fat. Think of your fat as your estrogen out of control and as a result body fat will accumulate in particular areas such (thighs, back of the arm and the chest)
As a personal trainer, this is easily managed. But several things have to be addressed.
Your nutrition has to lend itself to get rid of these cheeky critters. Start to ‘love your greens’. Watercress is the gold standard and stay hydrated.
Of course any toxic habits such as smoking and drinking will cause the liver to be distracted in trying to sort out the rubbish that you may be ingesting. Some hope of it trying to shift your estrogen if this is going on!
Your training has to lend itself to this as well in your bid to shift the peel. Extra spinning classes are a disaster! All they do is encourage the body to shift fat to the areas that are being worked (bums and thighs) for use as a more readily available source of fuel.
Unfortunately whilst a nice stroll with pals is good for the head. It does little to burn the fat or shift the peel.
Start lifting weights. Your backside will thank you for it.
John Lark is a personal trainer in Maynooth and founder of The Sphere Fitness Group.
