I’m not sure there is a trait that is used more ubiquitously to shame women than the presence of cellulite. Case in point:
Uh...Scarlett Johansson does NOT look like hell. She looks freakin' HAWT.
Listen folks. Cellulite is not a ‘problem’. It is not a flaw. Cellulite is a normal function of the way women’s bodies store fat. 80-90% of women have cellulite to some degree. Lean women have cellulite, healthy women have cellulite, vegan women have cellulite, paleo women have cellulite, celebrities have cellulite, body builders have cellulite, bikini models have cellulite, women in isolated cultures who still live a hunter-gatherer lifestyle have cellulite, women with access to unlimited amounts of plastic surgery have cellulite. Most of the women reading this have cellulite. You’re not flawed. You’re normal.
An Anatomy Lesson
Above is a depiction of the way women’s bodies store fat. From the Mayo Clinic:
“Cellulite is caused by fibrous connective cords that tether the skin to the underlying muscle, with the fat lying between. As the fat cells accumulate, they push up against the skin, while the long, tough cords are pulling down. This creates an uneven surface or dimpling.”
This is a matter of structural mechanics, folks. It’s not caused by poor circulation, PUFAs, animal foods, sugar, toxins, ‘negative energy’, poor diet, laziness, or any of the other novel and ridiculous things charlatans have come up with to sell you ‘cellulite cures’. Men are less prone to cellulite for three reasons: their connective tissues have more of a criss-cross pattern, their skin is actually thicker so any unevenness in fat below the skin is less evident, and they store more fat viscerally (around their internal organs) than subcutaneously (between the skin and muscle). Ie, their bodies are structurally different.
In 2008, Dr. Molly Wanner, from Harvard Medical School, did an in-depth review of cellulite treatments and the evidence supporting them. You can see the abstract here. I got my hands on the full text and wasn’t surprised at all by the conclusion she reached after examining the evidence:
“The best of the currently available treatments have, at most, shown mild improvements in the appearance of cellulite, most of which are not maintained over time.”
In other words, even the best treatments produce only mild changes and those changes are temporary. When you consider how expensive cellulite treatments are, and how painful and time consuming some of them can be, I have to ask WHY we are willing to spend the money and put ourselves through the discomfort for such a minimal return on our investment. I’ll tell you why: because the media and our culture have made us feel ashamed of something that is perfectly normal and that almost ALL of us have. And in response, we spend our emotional and financial resources chasing an impossible ideal. It’s time to get the hell over it. We have FAR far far better things to do with our time and energy and money than ‘fight’ cellulite.
And here’s another thing, for the single women reading. Once a man has seen a couple real-life women naked, he knows that real-life women have cellulite and stretch marks and jiggly thighs and other normal little traits that the media tries to convince us are flaws. Men who expect women to be perfect are men who have more experience with porn and magazines and blow-up dolls than real-life women. Any man who judges your worth on the basis of the presence of cellulite is only doing you the favor of letting you know that he doesn’t have much experience with women, and that he isn’t worth your time. There are plenty of men out there who know what real-life women look like, and who will value you for who you are and not the dimpliness of your thighs. Do yourself the favor of not wasting your time on the former.
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I’m not sure why but this web site is loading incredibly slow for me. Is anyone else having this problem or is it a problem on my end? I’ll check
back later and see if the problem still exists.
Today I found a horrible picture on Instagram shaming women for cellulite. I instantly gave them my opinion is a super nice way and a link to this article. I went back to check out responses and saw that my comment was deleted. I have stopped following her (yep….her) on Instagram. Some people will never be open to forming their own ideas about certain subjects.
brutal
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Seems a bit extreme to say she looks like hell….she looks pretty good in that picture to me. People that create mountains out of molehills are basically unscrupulous marketers preying on people’s insecurities.
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Just leaving a note to say that I left the “your blog is scary” comment in response to a comment that was left by the person who runs the Nicole and Gwendolyn blog — a relatively popular ED/”thinspiration” blog. That blogger regularly talks about drinking to oblivion to escape food temptation; she is the one who very desperately needs help for both alcoholism and anorexia. Either there is something funky going on with the comment system or Nicole deleted her absurd comment about Scarjo looking like hell and “flaunting her fat.”
Anyway, just thought I’d clarify. Your blog rocks and you are an amazing inspiration, so I didn’t want you to think that my comment was directed to you. Like I said, funky things must be happening with the comments. Thanks so much for all you do.
Ah! Thank you for the clarification. That makes so much more sense.
Nicole deleted nothing.
Scar does, indeed, need to lose a few LBs to be aesthetically perfect, in my eyes.
My blog is about Girl and Dog.
Nothing more. Nothing less.
xoxoxo
NicoleAndGwendolyn
I don’t think Scarlett is worried about being aesthetically perfect in your eyes.
Right? I’m pretty sure she’s got that covered. (Moderately NSFW) http://www.craveonline.com/images/stories/2011/2011/November/Comedy/BigList/scarlett-johansson.jpg
You are torturing yourself and others. Look at what is real and stop obsessing over meaningless garbage and spreading negativity. Life is too short. You are what you consume and what you push. By this I mean your spirit and life are consumed with things that do not matter. I just wasted 10 minutes of my time that could of been spent looking at the wonders of life to get across this message. I consider it a public service announcement.
Your pro-ana site is sad. I suspect you are also sad on the inside, at least on some subconscious level you may not be aware of. Seems like you probably drink to cover up that awareness… Go, Kaleo. Thanks for sharing this BEAUTIFUL picture of Scar-Jo. She’s always been an inspiration for me. We have similar body types, I’m sick to bits of scary-skinny women who have curve-envy calling the rest of us fat. Trust me, my curves have never stopped a man from wanting to shower me with love and anything else I want.
And GOOD-looking men at that. Love this site. xx
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As usual, just letting you know that you are amazing. I love the way you describe things so that anyone can understand them. I always feel empowered and maybe a bit proud of being who I am when I read your posts. I am slowly moving towards accepting that I might just be enough. This has started happening ever since finding your blog. Thank you.
Star Bellied Sneetches….read it…Dr. Suess was onto something!
I’m 32. I’m 5’7″, 125lbs. and always felt I looked horrible. I mean, my height and weight fit the bill… but the stretch marks and the cellulite.. it always killed me. I read through these comments, of the many women who feel like I do. I have the stretch marks on the inside of my knees that one woman mentioned and honestly, I was so happy to hear I am normal. Thank you for posting this, and thank all of you ladies who commented. While I’ve never had a man tell me he thought I didn’t look good, when you feel ugly you look ugly to others. I am tired of feeling this way and knowing I am not alone is a great step toward looking beautiful because I feel beautiful.
While watching a movie years ago with an ex-bf in which Ms. Johannson was a co-star my boyfriend made a comment that “ewwww she’s chunky.” She actually looked pretty good and played a harlot in the film. It cut me to the bone because I too am built larger in the posterior section and am also “chunkier” than Scarlett. I wish I had walked out on him at that moment.
Anyone that thinks Scarlett is “chunky” is off their rocker. I’m glad he’s your ex… I’m sure you’ve moved on to better things!
When we look for perfection in the minutae we often miss the beauty of the whole.
Awesome post. Our definition of beauty is so narrow and idiotic.
OMG! What a phenomenal post! In this air-brushed, photo-shopped culture we live in it is easy to forget what a ‘real’ woman looks like, cellulite and all. And, I completely agree with the comments here. Men will, for the most part, not zero in on the flaws, but rather relish in the confidence that a woman exudes when she’s not too focused on her own physical hang-ups…
HELL YES! Men always comment on my smooth skin. I actually have very thin skin, which is what makes it nice…and now I know it’s also what makes those precious little dimples on my thighs so evident. Hey man. It’s a whole package. Let’s all get over it and move on. And there is no heterosexual man worth their salt who would refuse Scarlett Johansonn as pictured above.
No heterosexual man wortt his salt would refuse her?
Why do you say that?
Do you not realize that not everyone is attracted to or sexually compatable with everyone else?
I get what you meant, but please reassess.
Impressively good call on this. I’m really tired of the “standard” beauty rules. They’re never consistent and set up unrealistic goals for just about everyone. As long as we’re all striving to not be disgusting, I think it’s okay to maintain a physical appearance that resembles your natural (human) look. The bottom line is, sometimes bigger is beautiful and sometimes it isn’t. But every single person on planet earth is going to have scars, stretch marks, veins, cellulite or any other number of physical characteristics that the media tries to convince you of being so gross that you should pay money to hide them.
I have always had more men friends than female. So one time when the guys asked me if I wanted to go to a strip club with them while we were in Vegas, I was like, hell yeah! I’ve always wanted to see what all the hullabaloo was about. I seriously had the best time. Not because I was enjoying watching the ladies -although many of them were gorgeous- but because I was enjoying watching the men enjoy the ladies. We sat at a round table and as each lady came out to perform, the guys told me what they did or didn’t like -and not in a crude or obnoxious way. It was just me and 6 guys discussing what makes women beautiful. The thing they disliked the most? Fake boobs. But for the most part nothing else mattered. As long as the ladies were dancing in their underwear it was all good. We didn’t see any obese women, but we saw curvaceous, beautiful plump women and stick thin ones. They loved them all. Every lump, bump, wrinkle, it didn’t matter. They just like a watching a woman dance in a seductive manner. Not one of them zeroed in on flaws. As long as she had a thong on and danced to the music, the men thought they were all godesses! It was one of the best nights I ever had because not only was I with my best guy friends, but I learned to appreciate my flaws, because ladies, the guys just don’t see them the way we do.
Now put on your sexy undies and dance for your men!!
That’s so awesome that you have cool guy friends like that. I’ve always been friends with more guys than girls, and most of them had the same sort of opinion- pretty much all women can be sexy in their own way- real.
Since I started going to Crossfit and realized how much I like to watch men work out, lift heavy weights, struggle and sweat, I’ve gotten a whole new understanding of why men like to go to strip clubs! I used to go to all female gyms because I was embarrassed to have guys watch me work out and get sweaty. I’m in my 50′snow and have 30 pounds to lose, but the guys in Xfit treat me like I really belong there and are one of them. And I know they are watching me and aren’t disgusted by what they see. I realize now that my negative feelings about my body are coming from inside my own head.
a mom, a runner and i have cellulite and my husband thinks iam his sexy beautiful mama!! =)
Fantastic post. Fought a fleeting moment of apprehension myself when I first signed up for a mommy and me swim class-oh no, people will see what I look like after 2 kids!! The horror!! Then I thought, seriously, who gives a shit? My kids and I will have a great time and that’s all that matters. The more you adopt that attitude, the easier life gets
I am right there with ya!
I love watching old 20′s movies, the silent kind. In those movies you will see REAL actors and actresses without anything fake but a little stage make-up. These days the industry expect perfection. Oh how our values have changed. Fake is not beautiful. I can understand a little nip and tuck, but it’s gotten way out of hand.
WE also need a post on why the idea that your skin shouldn’t be shiny is ridiculous. Thanks photoshop.
I love women who have confidence about their bodies. Its time we as a society stop the dialog about womens bodies! Stop supporting magazines, tv show and media that put down women for their shape. Women are all shapes and sizes. Confidence is what makes a woman beautiful!
Great post! The only part I disagree with is when you talk about male expectations. I don’t believe that men are doing as much of the body snarking as women. I’m so tired of it. As someone else pointed out, most men don’t even notice cellulite and have a much wider (both metaphorically and literally
) range of what’s beautiful than women. I follow a funny mom blog on Facebook and last week she posted a picture of Kim K in a black and white dress next to a whale with the caption “Who were it better?” While I certainly have no love for Kim K, the female on female body shaming is just awful and doesn’t help any of us.
Actually I totally agree with you and tried to convey that in my post! Most men don’t even notice cellulite and if they do they really don’t care a whit about it. I get comments from young women pretty regulalry about feeling like men expect them to be perfect (and there are certainly loud and douchey men on the internet who seem to make it a point to seek out pictures of women in order to post derogatory and demeaning slurs against their physical appearance), that’s why I included the last paragraph.
The very worst body shaming I’ve received though, like you said, has been from other women. It’s incredibly sad.
I agree with you both. The sneers, snarking, and general “body hostility” towards women typically comes from other women. It’s some sort of strange, twisted competition that appears to be centered on the idea that women have nothing to offer besides being decorative. Ranking complete strangers is nuts.
My motto is, “Keep your eyes on your own work, moisturize, and go forth”.
On the topic of women being derogatory towards other women, does anyone else find it strange that women’s health and fitness magazines have nothing but pictures of thin, perfectly made up and airbrushed women in them, and so do men’s fitness magazines? Women and men of all ages are taught by what we see around us in our culture as to what is considered beautiful. When we read the magazines, even ones that promote women’s stregnth and fitness, we are bombarded with images of what we are supposed to look like. Who of us can measure up to the fitness models, celebrities and atheletes who make up 1% of the female population?
My trainer (male) and I were having a conversation about one of these women, and I said “I can’t compete with that!” He replied, “Why would you even say that, or think you have to?
It goes to show that even though men like to look at these women, most are well aware of the difference between models and real women, and chose real women over them.
This post actually sparked a conversation between me and a girlfriend about magazines and the images we are subjected to. As a 36 year old woman, I have a tough time looking at them and not feeling insecure. Probably a little crazy, but I wonder what happens when vulnerable, younger women see these images? What message are we sending them? That you should be a cartoon?
I have stopped reading women’s magazines for this very reason. Runner’s World is a keeper though.
I’m sorry if it’s already been asked, I didn’t read all of the responses, but what happens to those connective cords when a person has fat sucked (sorry gross, I know)? Do they re-grow, re-connect, or are they severed for good? I just have an image of someone who 30 years after having fat sucked, their skin just hangs there because the connective cords are damaged. Is this what happens?
That’s a very good question that I don’t know the answer to. I have an idea of who to ask, though. Stay tuned!
I have stretch marks as well they are very light and thin around my hips and my knees (!). I assume I got them not because I gained a ton of weight (I didn’t), I think it’s more likely because I simply grew taller and bigger, I have the ones on my knees since I’m about 12! I think they are hardly noticable and even if, they don’t disturb the way I look (and odly enough I always liked them because they reminded me of tiger-stripes – maybe stupid but true^^). When my Ex-Boyfriend said that if he could change one thing about my body, it would be those stretch marks and a scar on my hip I didn’t think “oh my god, I’m ugly”, I thought “screw what he thinks!”…well after all he’s my Ex now.
We shouldn’t get ourselfs down because of minor flaws like that and we shouldn’t others allow to do the same. Bodys change, they get bruised and they heal, they develop along with us and that’s why I consider things like that a part of my life’s story and who ever can’t accept my story doesn’t have to be part of my life
Perfect response!
What a baby. Stretch marks and scars are proof of having lived.
smart move on the ex part
Who wrote the caption under the photo? Someone needs to be taken out back and straightened out! She is hot! I can’t stand skinny women.
there is nothing more ridiculous than celebrity reporters. It feels like on my yahoo feed there is one story about Miley Cirus per week and they alternate between calling her “way too skinny” and allude she might have an eating disorder or a work out addiction, writing about how gorgeous she looks and babble about that she looks like she gained weight and is grossly fat now…same goes for dresses “they” like or dislike and Kim Kardashian which is a gorgous curvy woman on the one day and an obese abomination with way too tight clothes on the other…I feel really sorry for all famous women because you just can’t make it right…and I’d like to see how this people writing those captions look, they probably never saw themselves in a mirror
David wrote “I can’t stand skinny women.”
It is phrases like the one above that continue to polarize women. Some women are naturally curvy, some are not. Some women are naturally skinny, some aren’t. Putting down one type of woman doesn’t legitimize the other type. There are many body types of women. People who make comments like the one above only contribute to the body image issues women face. We all are attracted to different things, that’s okay, but lets not contribute to ignorant and hurtful messages!
Excellent reply. Body snarking towards any shape is not okay. Can’t we promote acceptance of some body traits without tearing down those with others?
Thank You!
There’s nothing wrong with the fact that he prefers non-skinny women. He’s entitled to that preference, and he’s entitled to share his preference out loud, in a forum, wherever. What’s not O.K. is the hateful tone. So you don’t dig skinny women? Then pay them no attention, and go on enjoying curvy women- there are plenty to go around! No need to sound so rude and bitchy!
A long time ago (1982, I think) I watched the military cross country running championships. I saw the women’s race winner finish; she was an excellent runner who had beat strong competition. She came across the finish line and, yes, had a few dimples in her upper legs (she was wearing a tiny bun-hugger that the faster female runners wear). If SHE had cellulite (given that she could run the 5K in 16 minutes or so), well, draw your own conclusions.
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LOVE this. I intend to make 39 my year of eating the food, exercising because it feels good and makes me strong and learning to love my body (bottom curves, cellulite, the “tapestry” 2 pregnancies left behind, and all).
You rock.
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I’m moving to Hawaii this summer. You would think its all about who looks the best on the beach in a bikini, but surprisingly it’s not! Everyone seems so relaxed and in tune with nature and just enjoying themselves. It’s a place known for little clothing, and I love that women there, whatever their shape, cellulite or not, walk on the beach, swim, lounge, play with their kids or dogs in their bikinis/shorts and don’t seem up have a care on the world…especially about cellulite. There’s just not a lot of pressure to look ‘perfect’ and that probably has a lot to do with the fact that those who live there have plenty of opportunity to see what normal looks like and it’s accepted.
I just got back from Hawaii and at first was VERY self conscious. As the week went on, I felt better and better. Coming home (San Jose, CA) was kind of rough. I’m looking forward to spending my summer weekends in Santa Cruz, pretending it’s Hawaii and not caring!
that one was good, thanks! any chance that you could send the pdf of that article?
I have had cellulite on my ass and thighs since I was 12. And now I’m 5’10″ and 115 lbs. and still have it. Its NOOOORRMMMAAALLL
Totally, completely normal.
Wait. I must have missed the memo. I saw the picture of Scarlett (and all the others at the top of the screen) and wondered just what everyone was going crazy about. I fail to see the “flaws”…We are all different, and I am so thankful for it! This culture is one to say that I have a weight problem because I weigh more than I should for my height…you’d never guess it to look at me, though…as a good portion of it is pretty much solid muscle. Priorities definitely need to be straightened out. My poor sister has spent her years growing up and being told that she’s not pretty/beautiful by media because she’s not the tiny little thing that I am (yes…I am quite small, standing at not quite 4’11″ and not quite 120 lbs. but even I am “not good enough” because I lack height…whatever. They can keep their opinions of me…I don’t care what they think.)…my response is to remind her that she has a different body build than I do and to not compare herself to me! It’s not fair to her. I wear clothing that pretty much covers me, but it’s for modesty so much more than anything else…and I’m not afraid of shorts or short skirts (although working with children, short skirts are a big no-no to me…) or showing off the rest of my body. Take a deep breath, everyone, and embrace who you are. Make changes because it’s what YOU want and not what media dictates…and I’ll get off my soapbox now…
Yep. The only person one should try to please is one’s self. because no matter WHAT you do, someone is going to hate it and tell you you’re doing it wrong. So just do what you want!
OMG yes! You know you can grab a dog by the back of his fur and it moves freely? Or when it shakes itself dry, its skin and fur follow the inertia? That’s because they don’t have that skin tethered to the muscle like we do. I would MUCH rather have cellulite and stretch marks from tight skin that hugs my body than have skin like a dog that just hangs there and moves like it has a mind of its own!
I am so glad I found your blog. I am excited to see more. As women we often feel like we are never good enough, or if somehow a woman happens to fit our modern definition of beauty then she has to use all her efforts to maintain that ideal. It truly just robs us of living our life to the fullest. We start to live our lives in the “when”: “(When) I lose ten pounds then I will buy that new dress”, “(when) my skin clears up then I will…”, “(when) my cellulite is gone, then I will go swimming with my kids”. Don’t live in the “When”, live in the now!
Yes!
Well said, Aimee.
This is such a great post! Glad to hear your voice loud and clear through the haze of so much body hatred in the media. Scarlett is gorgeous
Thanks Kendahl!
I once read a post where a fairly popular blogger was going to stop wearing underwear because she read that it caused cellulite. All I can say is LOL.
Oh goodness, that’s a new one.
LOL. I read the same thing. Also, bras cause breast cancer — another doozy. There is so much ridiculous fear-mongering out there.
Just out of interest, Jeannette, what made you think there wasn’t any truth to the bras-contributing-to-breast-cancer possibility? It sounded and felt quite reasonable to me, but I’d really be interested to hear why you felt otherwise. Thank you!
The assertion that bras cause breast cancer is based on the same reasoning that underwear causes cellulite — the garment is alleged to restrict lymph flow and enable a build-up of toxins. In the case of bras, the underwire is said to restrict lymph flow and cause a build up of toxins in the breast. Anatomically, I can’t figure how anyone makes sense of this, as my understanding of the lymphatic system is that fluid flows upward. So, fluid would be flowing up to the armpit, not down into the breast. In any case, no credible study exists that demonstrates any causal link between bras and breast cancer. The only study cited to prove such claims is the book “Dressed to Kill,” which is a very sloppy piece of pseudoscience. The authors’ “research methods” were virtually non-existent and they didn’t control for any factors other than hours spent wearing a bra — an obvious one being obesity, which is a well-known risk factor for breast cancer. (The authors themselves are not very credible and have produced other books that are questionable at best.) Cancer is complicated and I simply have no respect for people who prey upon people’s well-founded health fears with the stuff of email chain letters.
Note: newborn babies have cellulite. They do not burst forth from the womb, going, “OMG! Hold the breast milk; did I see a Detox Kit from Whole Foods around here somewhere?”
And, if anyone is in need of a visual feast of dimpled flesh, celebrated as a manifestation of feminine beauty, Google ‘Rembrandt’. His female models hardly represent the modern fitness ideal, but we’re not talking about fitness per se here, are we? We’re talking about a shallow and very narrow definition of beauty, as allowed by Western corporate media, the fashion and beauty product industry, et al.
Personally, I think anyone seriously concerned with cellulite and dedicated to its eradication should maybe go build schools in Haiti, or airdrop medical supplies to Darfur. It won’t get rid of the cellulite, but it might put it in a different perspective.
Yes. God forbid a woman think for a minute that her body isn’t a grotesque abomination, and that it’s not her own fault for failing to practice proper stress management techniques. If she thought that, she might start thinking about things that really matter, like politics and foreign affairs and human rights and shit. We certainly couldn’t have that.
I grinned so hard when I saw this post today. And than I got serial-killer eye-twitch when I saw the comments that are basically like “yeah but cellulite EWWWW” and “it’s misleading to suggest that women devote their time and energy to actual worthwhile pursuits! Just because there aren’t any proven cellulite cures, and no need for one because it’s normal, doesn’t mean we shouldn’t hate ourselves and try to get rid of it anyway!”
I’m like, did they even read the post?
Anyway, thanks again for a wonderful reality check, and for being a voice of reason in this crazy world where it’s somehow revolutionary to suggest that a woman not worry quite so much about how her ass looks.
That’s what I don’t understand, why do people take such offense at the concept that there are more important things to think about than cellulite? It’s kind of mind boggling. People. It’s freaking CELLULITE. Get over it. (Hence the title of the post.)
Love your comment!
Amber for President. That is all.
Ha! Hell to the no, I don’t want that job!
While that may be true in part, I never had cellulite until I went through menopause which leads me to believe there’s a hormonal connection.
Sheila, I’ve had it my whole life and have seen it in several preschoolers I’ve taught. I remember one particular kid had it at two years old, and that’s about when I said, “This ‘cellulite is bad’ thing is crap.”
Yes, there is a hormonal connection. It’s being female and having female hormones.
I am an extremely fit woman, have been all my life. I have always had cellulite on the bottom of my butt cheeks, even as a competitive runner and swimmer. One of my good friends in high school had cellulite on the back of her thighs, despite being a top-in-state hurdler. The hormone you are looking for is called “estrogen”. It is strange that you had cellulite as you started to lose estrogen…perhaps you started accumulating weight in places you hadn’t before (very common after menopause), and only noticed it then.
I think that some people who get it later in life also lose collagen in our skin, which serves to make our skin look more firm and thick, when that goes the collagen dimples shows more. That is also why our faces change so much . . .
http://www.naturalnews.com/038945_cellulite_hormones_cosmetic_surgery.html
I am going to have to respectfully disagree with you on this one. Cellulite is preventable by lowering stress and understanding your body’s nutritional needs, finding the correct metabolic balance. I believe, telling women that is acceptable (or not preventable) is misleading. I have worked with women who drastically reduced or lost all of their cellulite by reducing their stress levels (getting rid of a the stress “x” factors in their lives – bad relationships, changing jobs, etc.) and cutting out ALL processed foods and from their diets and learning to eat based off of their metabolic type -carb, protein, mixed. I am not saying that a female, or male for that matter, is bad, wrong, ugly or should beat themselves up over having cellulite, BUT to say “it’s OK live with it” is to sell someone short. Cellulite is a sign of something being out of balance, just like all unpleasant physical conditions form belly fat to insomnia. Our bodies display external signs when something is internally wrong – acne is a perfect example of this. The problem with cellulite is individuals seek to “treat” cellulite with exercise specific and other chemical or surgical procedures and fail to address it through their eating habits (like Hippocrates said, “Let they food be thy medicine, they medicine by they food”) and thought patterns. Fat absorbs toxins (that’s why we crave it when we have hang-overs), so the more toxic you are the more cellulite you will have. It’s a fact. Accepting it allows folks more room to justify other areas in their life – “Might as well eat this _______ , I am going to have cellulite anyways” – “Skip doing a leg workout today, I am going to have cellulite anyways” – “Meditate, why?! I am going to have cellulite anyways.” I think when we allow ourselves to start thinking (justifying) in this way, we walk a slippery slope. Slippery slopes turn into impossible climbs.
I have enjoyed reading your initial post and the other comments on here. Thanks for allowing me to offer my opinion, even if we disagree
I’d love too see your scientific studies backing up these stress gives you cellulite claims. Oh wait, there aren’t any. (and no, your pseudo-science personal observations don’t count.)
Nice to see another perspective. Remember folks for everything, “experts” on both sides have scientific findings relevant to their perspective.
Yeah, that’s the thing BP – you’re offering your opinion. Amber’s offering a fact-based reality check.
Natural News is one of those “broken clock right twice a day” websites. Sometimes they *do* have scientifically valuable information, though.
Eh, no. Even when they accidentally include a fact it’s usually so mixed into the fantasy, paranoia and delusional ravings of Mike Adams that it becomes untrustworthy by sheer proximity to nonsense.
I am so glad to read your comments about NN! I thought I was being too sensitive about some of the ridiculous topics they’ve churned out lately. Glad to hear I’m not the only one that thinks so!
No love for Natural News here either.
“Eh, no. Even when they accidentally include a fact it’s usually so mixed into the fantasy, paranoia and delusional ravings of Mike Adams that it becomes untrustworthy by sheer proximity to nonsense.”
That has got to be one of the funniest things I’ve read in a while!! I literally just lol’d.
Cellulite is not simply something being out of balance or due to stress. As with many things body related, genetics play a substantial role.
In high school I worked out daily. I was 5’1″ and 103 pounds with cellulite. I was not stressed or out of balance. I was a happy kid, stress free, and still plagued by dimpled thighs and bad skin.
Acne is also greatly dependent on genetics. I’ve been to dermatologists and tried very manner of treatment under the sun. I eat clean and workout regularly. I’ve had my thyroid and various hormone checks. Everything’s great. My skin is just an a$$. At nearly 40 my skin is just now starting to calm down with the acne. Wish I could say the same about the cellulite.
I’ve been plagued with acne and cellulite since my teens. I’ve tried everything to rid them to no avail. If diet, exercise, and stress reduction were the key to eliminating these issues then I’d look like an airbrushed model by now.
So while it’s great you feel strongly (and I do think you offer a solid point about the way we think), please don’t discount the fact that genes DO play a role and not everything can be fixed with diet or stress reduction. Obviously these things are good and can help a lot of people with such issues, but every body is different and reacts differently to different things.
I’m short, chubby, losing my hair, have a face covered in acne scars, a torso full of stretch marks, and thighs riddled with cellulite. I still work out. I still eat healthily. I still try. Attitude does count! But all the work I’ve done in the world has done nothing to solve the plaguing issues that emotionally cripple me the most (ie: cellulite, stretched out pregnancy belly, and bad skin). So reading things like this is sort of a slap in the face to anyone who has heaps of body flaws and still keeps trying. Are we just not trying hard enough?
YES to this! Even when I was 105 lbs I had it. My mom has it, grandma has it so on and so on. I eat alot healthier than them too and workout more.
If someone is exercising or eating healthy or ending bad relationships because they think it will make their cellulite go away then their priorities are REALLY screwed up. And if my saying ‘cellulite is normal’ makes a person stop exercising or eating healthy, or stay in a bad relationship, then their priorities are REALLY REALLY REALLY screwed up.
If my client told me that their primary motivation for exercising and eating healthy was to get rid of cellulite I would feel like I was doing a really piss-poor job promoting healthy goals and healthy motivation. There are far better reasons to exercise and eat healthy.
It seems like you got quite a backlash on this one, but I really appreciated the way you maturely wrote it. I think you may offer up some good counterpoints, which are always insightful to have, despite whether we all agree in the end.
It’s funny. After reading all this article and the comments, I felt so great. I mean, while reading I was thinking “well, mine has gotten worse due to diet and lack of exercise, but I’m working on that again, and it’s nice to know that some of it can’t be helped.” Until this comment. And then it’s like someone heaped a bunch of “if you only try hard enough!!!” perfection-striving onto me. The happy feeling of comradery, of loving our bodies the way they are, of not being stressed out because of not being perfect… just completely dampered. I know my body and I know this issue will get better (and by better I mean still noticeable) for ME by improving my lifestyle. But that isn’t the case for everyone. There are folks who literally work their butts off to perfect, and what they needed to hear was some grace. That they don’t have to strive so hard. I know you thought you were helping, but dude, we all have enough stress without being told that eliminating stress is the way to rid ourselves of cellulite. Thanks for giving us one more thing to stress about.
So, babies have cellulite and acne because they’re too stressed out? Do you think it’s because the breast milk they exclusively consume is “processed” by their mother’s body too much? How do you get a baby to meditate and do leg lifts? I don’t want my baby to have cellulite – how will she ever find a husband?
Are you seriously quoting NATURAL NEWS as a source? LOL! That’s a good one.
Poor hideous Scarlett Johanson. I’m sure men everywhere are gouging their eyes out. And women.
Yes, I imagine she stays up at night agonizing that teeny-peened internet dudebros think her cellulite is gross.
Photoshop and plastic surgery has ruined our perceptions. Wish we could go back to the days of real people with real bodies, hair and faces. Those were the days. :-/
love this post Amber!
deb xo
WORD.
Me too, Debbie! Thanks.
Can I just say–from the perspective of a gladly grey over-50 woman–AMEN. It’s ridiculous. BEing is being steadily overshadowed by LOOKing. Doesn’t matter what you do or who you are; it only matters that you LOOK “good.”
Interestingly, it’s spreading to the men, too, and it’s doubly nauseating to me to see a plucked and creaseless old guy with doll hair who thinks he’s got it all going on. Give me a man or a woman with their life story written on their bodies/faces every time. I have some stuff to talk about with THAT person.
Discovering this website (thru a friend) is the best thing to happen to me in 20 years, fitness and body-acceptance speaking. I just LOVE. IT. Thank you, thank you Go Kaleo for your message.
Thank you, Vicki!
Criticizing Scarlett Johanson for not being Photoshopped all the time and having a beach vacation like a normal person should be grounds for exclusion from the human race on account of being a jerk. She has a perfectly healthy body, her boyfriend has a perfectly healthy interest in it, and what business is it of whatever celebrity stalker site which posted that anyway?
And cellulite is still just an undocumented feature, not a bug.
I think this story is really purposeful and enlightening! I am one of the many women who have in the past been bothered by the unflattering cellulite in the back of my thighs so much i considered harsh treatments. Growing up having suffered eating disorders just to feel thin was damaging enough. Then I became a mom grew up and have two daughters that look up to me everyday I make it a point to tell them there beautiful just how they are. I had to finally accept my body and realize that I can wear shorts too even if I don’t have perfect legs. I’m confident and I’m beautiful without having to waste money and go through laser treatments that literally burn fat through heat. Ouch!! I just said “fu@%” it I’m proud of who I am and if you don’t like it then turn around!
Rad KC, your daughters are lucky to have a mom who ‘gets’ it.
Great post! One thing that every woman ought to keep in mind is how unrealistic those images of “perfect” bodies are. Unrealistic not in the context of out of our reach, but because those “ideals” don’t exist in the first place. There is not a single image out there that doesn’t go through extensive airbrushing and photoshopping. So at the very least we can educate ourselves on how to consume media responsibly, and separate fact from fiction.
My ass doesn’t look as good as it did when I was in my twenties but it doesn’t concern me. Humans have a pretty brief window when they look their best and then you get another 50-60 years where you have to accept you can’t be 19 years old forever.
I can’t relate to a woman under the age of 40. Scarlett is gorgeous but way too young.
Keeping women focused on something that isn’t an imperfection potentially deprives women of real lives and enjoying activities. I recently started wearing short shorts once a week to the gym, because I discovered that wearing a swimsuit in public panicked me. I realized that with my upcoming first triathlon that such fears were inconvenient and I decided to de-sensitize myself. My legs are strong and I worked hard to knock off a few pounds. They work beautifully and I am proud of them even though I still limp from my stroke. Life is short. People stare at me because I limp. For the people who sneer at me in my shorts, all I can say is enjoy the view of my cellulite because when I’ve run 3.5 miles on the treadmill after finishing a spinning class the last thing I’m thinking about is the appearance of my thighs. I’m so happy to be alive.
For every person who sneers at you there are a hundred people who consider you an inspiration.
Thank you.
You are awesome and I wish you the best of luck on your triathlon . I did the same thing I hid my legs during hot seasons because I was embarrassed now I lift weights everyday I am a size 8 from a size 12 and am as strong as I have ever been. My daughters see me work out and they are proud of me!! That’s all I need, so I wear shorts working out and can squat 70lbs.. No ones going to make me feel bad about it!!
Good for you! What a great role model for your kids!
everything about this is spot-on! we have been so deeply conditioned to believe that if we eat cleanly enough, work out hard enough, work out the “right” way…that we’ll have the flawless, bump-free, cellulite-free, and sometimes pore-free (and utterly photoshopped!) bodies we see in magazines and in the media. a lot of industries make a LOT of money convincing us that we need to be “fixed.” thanks for some wonderful words of truth!
I love this. It’s sad that we can all back it up with science as much as we want but misconceptions propagated by the media keep on winning the battle. Thanks for raising the issue, we just can’t do it enough times.
“Men who expect women to be perfect are men who have more experience with porn and magazines and blow-up dolls than real-life women.”
This and the next few sentences….pure awesome….I love it.
While I LOVE this post, I have to say that the problem is with all the pictures of the baby smooth thighs and bottoms that we see all over the place allowing us to think think that it’s not impossible and that if we workout hard enough it will go away. While this is the part of the media that is mentioned above, I have seen smooth bottoms in women. So is it just some women have more of a problem with it than others, or is there hope that if we work hard enough we can have a somewhat smooth bottom? I would love to have some insight because I have a couple dimples on my bottom that I would love to have go away.
I had a really candid combo with my trainer the other day. 1st of all I’m 40, 5’4″ 128 lbs. 37,27,34. I love to exercise in all forms. But I’m always striving for PERFECTION. I was going to do a figure/bikini muscle comp. (he is a coach) he told me I have the right shape to do well. But he said what entails to get there is not healthy. He said you are built the way a woman is supposed to be voluptuous. Not ripped.
THANK YOU!
as a woman learning to love her
cellulite, stretch marks & jiggly thighs,
and slowly embracing all of those other aspects of my body
that i have spent so long despising
i thank you for reminding us once again of how distorted our perceptions can be
you are a beautiful human being
Thanks Mel! You’re beautiful too.
While I fully endorse the idea of accepting our bodies (even though I still struggle), and I understand that cellulite is prevalent among women and not easily rid of, I am of the mind that if you eat as cleanly as possible and work out with intention, cellulite is not something that is to be embraced and loved because bottom line (as evidenced in photo above), it is not attractive. My opinion, no disrespect intended.
Who gets to decide what’s attractive, and therefore ‘worthy’ of acceptance? Oh that’s right, the media and popular culture.
The conditioning runs strong in you.
*APPLAUSE* to Go Kaleo for the response.
I feel badly for anyone who, like Susan, has internalized these terrible messages so deeply and without any examination, and believes our natural bodies are something which we should battle.
“The conditioning runs strong in you.”
Haha! This sounds like Yoda. I’m going to start thinking of you as the Yoda of Fitness. Great post once again. Thanks for reminding us to think for ourselves and not be led around by the nose by the media, or by shallow men.
Susan, what if you grew up thinking the look of cellulite was just normal and no one ever pointed it out or talked about it? You’d probably not have the opinion that it’s not attractive. It would just be there, no big deal.
Perhaps, but I did not grow up in a family that placed ANY emphasis on bodies, specifically female bodies. I just know that aesthetically cellulite is not attractive. Again, my opinion, and there is no underlying psychological, or any other hidden meaning.
Jean Kilbourne’s documentary “Killing Us Softly” is a must-see on the topic of how the ad industry contorts women’s self-images (and men’s images of women). I saw the film on vimeo.
There’s also a TED talk about how porn gives men unrealistic ideas about sex. Another must-see for all young hormonal men.
People totally need to get real about bodies, sex, and relationships
Wait… so you didn’t get the sarcasm about Scarlett Johansson? The point is that she looks amazing, as evidenced in the photo above.
Your thoughts are understood. My opinion has nothing to do with media, or any other convoluted outside source, it is simply the way I feel. I do not think cellulite is attractive, nor do I think it is a choice, but again, my opinion of what I find attractive. Emphasis on “my opinion”.
The question isn’t whether or not cellulite is or isn’t attractive. Like a lot of things in life, it just “is.” Plain and simple.
That’s kind of like saying you find noses unattractive on women.
From one Susan to another let me offer a piece of advice: you’re still struggling with body acceptance because you think that if you eat as cleanly as possible and work out with intention you’re going to someday be perfect. You won’t be, even if a lurking paparazzo snaps a picture of you with a perfectly smooth, taut backside. You certainly won’t feel perfect. Relax your standards. It’s kind of like looking at a picture of pubic hair. A picture of it is not all that attractive, but who cares in real life. If my husband started waxing his man parts, I would not be thinking how aesthetically pleasing they are, now. I would be calling for an appointment with a shrink. I think Amber nailed it when she said that the guy who posted this probably has only had relations with victoria secret catalog in his mom’s guest bathroom. Any red-blooded guy looking at her would be thinking about how hot she is. In fact, I showed my husband the picture (sans captions) and asked if he thought she was attractive– he was like ” is this a trick question? Am I supposed to say not as a hot as you or too skinny or something?” When I assured him honesty was in order he answered, ” um, she’s gorgeous.” Me: “what about the cellulite?” Him: “what’s cellulite?” (he grew up with a bunch of brothers, no girls- still confused about periods and such) Me: “you know — the dimpled skin on her thigh”. Him: “Don’t all girls have that? you sure do.” Then he proceeded to playfully give me a slap on my behind. End of story.
Uh….thank you for your insight as to my struggles (sarcasm noted). I know what MY struggles are and I can assure you that my opinion re cellulite is again, just MY opinion. No psychoanalysis needed, thank you. And as an aside, I do not think man parts are aesthetically pleasing, whether au natural or waxed. And before you respond to that, I am happily married for 30 years, have four children, and still find my husband very attractive.
I get that it’s your opinion and I can say that most people are in agreement that man parts, cellulite, stretch marks, etc… are not attractive. I know I agree — at least when you see it on the screen or some glossy pic– but, who gives a fig in real life with real people. Your opinion is a majority one. But your opinion that you just have to eat as clean as possible and exercise to get rid of the abomination is, frankly, tiresome and sad in the comments on this page and in this article. I’m sorry if you thought my remarks were patronizing, but I swear I don’t know what happens to women in middle age that they think if they just get all their ducks in a row–eat perfectly, look perfect, perfect house, perfect kids– that they are going to win the game of life. I’m not saying this is you– I don’t know you, but I know that anyone who mentions ‘eating as clean as possible’ is fiddling with perfectionism. That juice ain’t worth the squeeze. Of course be healthy and take care of your appearance, but not as much as possible. Don’t exercise as much as possible, don’t eat clean as much as possible, don’t keep your house as clean as possible, don’t earn as much money as possible.
Let me get this straight, you look at this photo and think Scarlett Johanson must not be “eating cleanly and working out with intent”?!? Do you get that it is a still photo? Not staged, no make-up, not air-brushed, not professionally lit… I guarantee that if you saw Scarlett in real life that day, your jaw would hit the floor. She looks amazing.
Doesn’t this cause you even for a moment to consider that perhaps your standards of beauty are completely unrealistic? You are finding flaw in a woman who is almost impossibly beautiful. God help the rest of us!
No, Bob, I am looking at the photo of a woman who has cellulite. I never once said she was not pretty or that I am privy to whether she works out or eats a healthy diet. AGAIN, whatever the cause, or whether you eat healthy and work out, I do not think cellulite is attractive. Period. Only that. God bless the people who are happy with their bodies and have no desire to be their best, cellulite or not. Remember the saying, your body is a temple. If you want to justify your eating and/or workout ethics by blaming cellulite, and it makes you feel good, by all means, do so. But, at the end of this day and every day, I find it unattractive. Enough said.
I’m pretty sure Susan isn’t who s/he says s/he is, or s/he wouldn’t be so emotionally invested in keeping this argument going.
Mature, emotionally healthy adults generally aren’t compelled to engage over a three day span in a matter as trivial as this. If they even feel the need to share their opinion in the first place, they certainly don’t return day after day to defend their stance on what is ultimately an extremely insignificant subject (ie, their opinion on the attractiveness of cellulite).
Hmmmm….interesting. Thanks for the insight. Truly. And, I can assure you I am exactly who I say I am..54 yo woman, married for 30 years, with 4 (yes 4) daughters, who enjoys working out for the good feelings, and to eat healthy for the same reasons. Also enjoy reading what i thought were insightful forums and fitness and women, etc. So to be certain I have this straight, this is supposed to be a blog where opinions are expressed and rebuttals made, but apparently only a limited number of rebuttals? I thought you were operating a forum that encouraged opinions and responses. Apparently, I was wrong. My bad. Last response. The end.
Keep rebutting all you want ‘Susan’.
I’ve always known that cellulite was just “one of those things” – everyone has it, impossible to get rid of. But I never bothered to read up on what exactly causes it, so it was nice to read a scientific explanation. Thanks! Also, Scarlett Johansson looks amazing in that photo. Nothing wrong with that backside!
Yeah, the resounding opinion of the men in my news feed is that Scarlett is eminently do-able.
I would be curious to hear others comments on the women who are obsessed with ridding themselves of cellulite??
Scarlett Johanssen looks amazing, I wish for her cellulite any day!! Tabloids are ridiculous. Why does everyone want us to hate ourselves?!
Because when we hate ourselves we’ll buy their useless crap.
Eh. Painfully true.
What an awesome way for to see the light in cellulite!
Or, the ‘lite in cellulite!
The existence of cellulite treatments makes me ragestroke. I was researching a similar (never published) post last year and I kept finding all of these horror stories about women who were seriously disfigured – and in some cases even died – as a result of these quack-a-doo “treatments.” Even though I’m pretty sure no one has ever died from having cellulite in their entire lives.
Yes, I didn’t even get into the dangers of some of the treatments. It’s awful. We think cultures that encourage female circumcision or feet binding or other forms of female mutilation are barbaric, but look what we voluntarily do to ourselves here in the good ol’ USA!!!
Epic. Love this! You hit the nail on the head! I’ve actually never been bothered by cellulite on my thighs, never thought of it as a problem when I was skinny or heavy. But I understand that so many women do. Its saddening. All the time, money, and/or emotional energy they waste on trying to fix/worrying about, something natural and normal. You’re beautiful ladies! Don’t you forget it!
I just love your approach so very much – thank you for your wit, your candor and your intelligent common sense. Kickass.
Thank you Jenn!
You rock.
Thank you!
Excuse me?
Define scary.