What you should know about the difference between fat and cellulite

Understanding Fat and Cellulite

Yes, I said it, "cellulite"! It is the dreaded word that we all try to stay as far away from as possible. Almost hard to let it roll off your tongue isn't it? If you have this skin condition, you are not alone. Approximately 85 percent of women are affected by it. Even skinny people have cellulite. It's just that they have less surface area to show it off. Yes, contrary to popular belief, the lumpy, dimply, "orange peel" appearance of cellulite occurs on all shapes and sizes - thin, average, and overweight - not just on obese bodies.

Change is actually the impetus for cellulite. Changes in blood flow, lymphatic drainage, fat, connective tissue, hormone balance, and lifestyle all contribute to the unsightly sacks of fat. Unfortunately the physiological changes that occur due to the existence of cellulite can worsen over time, thanks to poor lifestyle choices including lack of exercise, poor diet, insufficient water consumption, and then there is the inevitable - aging.

As we age, our bodies naturally lose tone as muscle and skin turns to flab. Our connective tissues have a similar response to added years. Their thickness and resiliency slacken, making cellulite more visible. The rippled dimples are most often found on the hips, buttocks, and legs. Though labeled as fat, cellulite is actually a combination of fat, water, and "toxic wastes" that the body has collected in the form of deposits, instead of eliminating, as it should. It is the result of poor circulation, weak connective tissue, hormonal imbalance, fluid retention, and, most often, genes.

As you have probably noticed, fat cells on the lower body are better at hanging on for dear life than fat cells on the upper body - translation: you probably have more fat on the lower half of your body than on the upper half. No, it is not just you. Fat cells on your butt, thighs, and legs are 6 times stronger, making them more likely to stick and be stored. The frustrating outcome of such resiliency is that it is much more of a challenge to get rid of lower body fat than it is to get rid of upper body fat. Let me break it down for you.

Connective Tissue

Beneath the skin lies a layer of collagen fibers and fatty cells that support the organs and fill any open spaces between them. They also form the tendons and ligaments. Connective tissues run up and down, perpendicularly, at a 90-degree angle from the muscles, through the fat, and connect to the undersurface of the skin. This configuration allows for lumps, bulges, and wrinkles to misshape the skin (the connective fibers in men crisscross at a 45-degree angle, avoiding the skin creasing). When the connective issue is weak, it allows fat to penetrate it, pushing through and causing fat pockets known as cellulite. Strong tissue prevents the fat from pushing through and revealing itself.

Fluid Retention

Did you ever notice how your favorite pair of jeans will fit one day and be snug the next? No, you didn't suddenly gain 5 pounds, you are probably just retaining too many fluids. Salt and PMS are two of many causes for bloat, or water retention. Aside from being uncomfortable and giving you the unnecessary scare that you gained a lot of weight overnight, fluid retention can also cause swelling in the connective tissues, weakening them and potentially opening the door for fat to enter.