Thread: Do bellydancers get less cellulite? (Here's hoping!)

OK, this is an inane question, but enquiring minds want to know.... do you reckon bellydance helps keep away the cellulite? Thankfully, I don't seem to have that much cellulite. But I'm not sure if that's because of bellydance, lucky genes, or the fact that I hardly ever turn my head the 180 degrees necessary to cop a full view of my ass. Plus, I don't get to see too many other women's asses to compare.

What are your thoughts on this very important topic???,r:;

(PS - what sort of age does cellulite typically appear?)

I have had cellulite my whole life, starting when I was about 14....it's hereditary, my mom has it too.

I even had it when I was 113 pounds and ate salad all day when I was on the dance team in colleg. I have it now - pretty bad because as my butt grows, the cellulite increases.

So, no - while I WISH that bellydancing kept it away, in my experience this is not the case!

Yes I think so! I am not a skinny minnie and I don't have cellulite either. I think because we are smooshing all our internal organs and fat cells around when we dance - keeping the toxins from accumulating in our cells that it keeps us looking young. Haven't you noticed that belly dancers always look younger and fresher than their age? I have!

It's genetic I believe. I have had it since I was 15. Ofcourse, I didn't start BD until my 30s...LONG after my cellulite made a happy home for itself on my bottom. So I have no idea if it prevents it. I know no amount of shimmying seems to make it go away for me.

Actually, didn't Rania imply in her book something to that effect? I've still got mine, though...

I got mine when I was 12 ..cr.: and I was superskinny!

I think it's mostly a genetic thing
Maybe bellydancing helps a little because even if the cellulite doesn't go away I don't see it getting worse when I gain weight either!

I don't know, I sure hope so! I have less cellulite now than I did 5 years ago, so I like to think it helps ;-)

It's just the fat pushing up against connective tissues. I believe all women technically have cellulite, but it's more visible on some than others. From what I understand, diet, excercise, weight, etc can have some bearing on how apparent it is, but it's not going away completely. And genetics to play a role in amount and appearence.

And weight doesn't always matter. I'm a skinny person, but I've got a few cute little dimples on my bum! And check out how many celebrities get ragged on for having it and you know they have nothing but skin and bones.

Originally Posted by LeylaFahada

It's just the fat pushing up against connective tissues. I believe all women technically have cellulite, but it's more visible on some than others. From what I understand, diet, excercise, weight, etc can have some bearing on how apparent it is, but it's not going away completely. And genetics to play a role in amount and appearence.

And weight doesn't always matter. I'm a skinny person, but I've got a few cute little dimples on my bum! And check out how many celebrities get ragged on for having it and you know they have nothing but skin and bones.

Isn't that the truth! One celebrity gossip magazine had pics of Mischa Barton and railed on her for her cellulite and she probably weighs only 100 pounds soaking wet! I think it is mostly genetic; I have seen very tiny women at the gym with it and I have seen heavier women without.

i think it's genetic. it may not be very pronounced at times, but i've had HHD (helenic hip disorder- the greek version of cellulite) ever since i hit puberty

I didn't have any visible cellulite when I started dancing in my mid twenties but I sure as hell have it now in my mid thirties. Belly dancing did not keep it away. Sitting a lot at my day job has probably made it worse and dancing isn't improving it. Even with doing approx 4-6 shows a week.

Originally Posted by latriamou

i think it's genetic. it may not be very pronounced at times, but i've had HHD (helenic hip disorder- the greek version of cellulite) ever since i hit puberty

Me too - and it hasn't changed over the [many] years. I think exercise, especially bellydancing, has had a lot to do with that. But in any event, I think I will cut down on the pasta

Okay, this is coming from a different angle, but here it goes. Even at my lowest weight, starting sometime around thirty, I would get cellulite and sometimes I would have hardly any and sometimes more.

About that time I began seeing a naturopathic Dr. for digestive issues and found out I had food allergies. She told me that food allergies and food that cannot be properly digested by one's body can be a cause of the dreaded cellulite. For me it has been true. I do not digest carbs well and if I minmize those and stay away from my offending foods and eat a healthy balanced diet, the cellulite pretty much disappears.

I know this may not be true in everyone's case, but it was in mine.

Lisa

Originally Posted by Lisa Michelle

if I minmize those and stay away from my offending foods and eat a healthy balanced diet, the cellulite pretty much disappears.

wow!!!

Originally Posted by Lisa Michelle

Okay, this is coming from a different angle, but here it goes. Even at my lowest weight, starting sometime around thirty, I would get cellulite and sometimes I would have hardly any and sometimes more.

About that time I began seeing a naturopathic Dr. for digestive issues and found out I had food allergies. She told me that food allergies and food that cannot be properly digested by one's body can be a cause of the dreaded cellulite. For me it has been true. I do not digest carbs well and if I minmize those and stay away from my offending foods and eat a healthy balanced diet, the cellulite pretty much disappears.

I know this may not be true in everyone's case, but it was in mine.

Lisa

That's really interesting! Makes one wonder...

I've had cellulite for as long as I remember. If I have extra weight on me, it's worse than if I'm thinner, but it's still always there. Everyday I dance, so no - I don't think MED has an effect on it in my case.

HHD....love it! We need a Helenic Hip Disorder support group...BTW in my humble opinion cellulite is genetic, for the most part. We can also blame estrogen; most men, even fluffy ones, don't have it.

My mother is cellulitey and so am I, but I'm only really getting noticeably so now, in my 40s, and I'm sure the fact I drink gallons of coffee doesn't help. But my teacher always put down the fact she had little cellulite on her butt to shimmies and the way I see it is, shimmies have *got* to be doing you *some* good. Think of all the oxygenated blood swishing round a place that normally just gets squashed by being sat on.

I BD full time and my butt and thighs look like cottage cheese. So I think not.

Some of you will remember the story I told of my 10 year old daughter coming into my bedroom about a year ago. I was getting dressed, and looked over to see this horrified expression on her face. When I asked her what was wrong, she said, "Your butt!!! Why is it all wrinkly like that????" ..l;,

I was quite happy to inform her that since it's genetic in our family, hers will look the same way in about 15 years.

Although they say diet and exercise can help cellulite, I think that the amount you get is determined by genetics and then helped along with your lifestyle. So yea, BD can help with getting rid of it cause it is a form of exercise.

note: Hellenic hip disorder is not an actual medical disorder
it's a term that greeks use- at least those on the east coast that i know.
it's used to describe "greek" hips for lack of a better way of describing it lol

One of my friends has done the "Fat Flush" diet and swears it helped her cellulite lessen because her body was ridding itself of toxins that were stored in it.

Originally Posted by jewelbellydance

OK, this is an inane question, but enquiring minds want to know.... do you reckon bellydance helps keep away the cellulite?

NO

Deborah

I think it helps. I'm thin and I had a little when I didn't dance very often. Now that i'm dancing all the time I have less.

I have noticed that most of us look younger than we are. I think it's the stress reduction and doing something we love. Alot of women don't get time to celebrate themselves at all. that's gotta age you.

Originally Posted by rakgirl

I think it helps. I'm thin and I had a little when I didn't dance very often. Now that i'm dancing all the time I have less.

I have noticed that most of us look younger than we are. I think it's the stress reduction and doing something we love. Alot of women don't get time to celebrate themselves at all. that's gotta age you.

I totally agree with that last statement. Women who belly dance tend to look far younger than they really are! While it may not take away the cellulite, it does keep us youthful.

Cellulite forms when the connective tissues break down. Alot of factors cause that break-down to occur, one of those is hormones.

I had zero cellulite until a few years ago when I switched birth control pills to try to calm some skin probs (I think I was 34 at the time). The new BCP had a much higher level of progesterone than my previous pills and I - quite literally - developed some very, very visible cellulite during the 2 weeks I was on that pill (along with several other crazy-bad complications). (My doc had never seen such a thing, but can vouch that it happened.)

I´ve always had a LOT of cellulite,
but my cellulites are really nice ´cause it´s get to be wiggly AND bejewled!:D

BTW:
When I asked about 8 of my male friends if they knew what cellulite was,
they looked like ???