Does Cycling on a Stationary Bike Reduce Cellulite & Buttocks?
With age and hormones, cellulite increases and orange peel is gaining ground. That's why it's important not to rest and wait without doing anything but to act! It is indeed possible to muscle and refine your thighs, your legs and your buttocks! Discover our tips to eliminate cellulite.
1. Cellulite: what is it exactly?
Cellulite is a very common phenomenon that affects 90% of women. So it is not abnormal to have cellulite! Cellulite is simply the accumulation of fat cells under the skin of the thighs, buttocks, belly and sometimes the arms of women.
This is because the woman's body stores fat for a future pregnancy and breast feeding (unlike the male body!*). It is somehow biologically inscribed, it is a normal fat and no case an abnormality. However, this does not mean that you should not do anything against cellulite or that you cannot prevent it!
WHAT YOU SHOULD KNOW. Fat cells located under the skin (called adipocytes) can fill up with fat and reach up to 50 times their initial size!
*Men can also have cellulite. However, cellulite affects only 1 in 50 men (I know, this is not fair ;)
Having cellulite does not mean you are overweight since cellulite affects virtually all women, however to varying degrees.
2. What Causes Cellulite?
As we said, cellulite is a natural phenomenon among women. However, the appearance and extent of cellulite can be influenced by various factors:
• A diet too rich in fats and sugars. Absorbed fats are too large to be expended and are then stored in fat cells.
• Lack of physical activity. Physical activity allows you to burn calories, that means that your body needs energy and that it will get it from the fat reserves. An insufficient level of physical activity therefore promotes the storage and accumulation of fat.
• Water retention, which can be promoted by excessive salt intake.
• Hormones, which play an important role in the formation of cellulite. Estrogens and progesterone (female sex hormones) promote the storage of fat. This explains why periods of life such as puberty, pregnancy and menopause, characterized by hormonal changes, are particularly conducive to cellulite.
• Genetics: Asian women for example do not have cellulite (yes I know it's not fair ...). There is indeed a genetic factor against which we cannot fight.
So it is essentially on your diet and your level of physical activity that you must take action to fight cellulite!
WHAT YOU SHOULD KNOW. Recent studies tend to show that the consumption of alcohol and tobacco (or coffee) could promote cellulite formation.
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3. Stationary Bike: a powerful weapon against cellulite!
Sports that help strengthen muscles and stimulate blood circulation in the legs and thighs such as walking, cycling and swimming are very effective in preventing or fighting cellulite.
The exercise bike is therefore particularly effective because it tones legs, thighs and buttocks and thus help to get rid of the fat stored in the fat cells! You will be able to strengthen your thighs and legs and fine-tune your silhouette by cycling regularly on a stationary bike. In addition, you will lose weight by training regularly!
Combine training with a healthy and balanced diet!
Generally speaking, how healthy your lifestyle is plays an essential role in the formation of cellulite. Regular physical activity and a balanced diet promote good skin tone and blood circulation and thus help with cellulite.
Our 8 tips to fight cellulite:
1. Cycle 30 to 45 minutes on your stationary bike 2 to 3 times a week.
2. Walk 30 to 40 minutes every day.
3. To motivate yourself, do not think long term but challenge yourself every day: "Today and today only, I will do 45 minutes of exercise bike" then repeat the same challenge 2-3 days later. (you can also apply that for your diet)
4. Avoid sweet drinks and sodas, reduce your sugar intake with tea, coffee, yoghurt or other.
5. Replace the chocolate bars with fruits (oranges or bananas). 1 chocolate bar contains 250 kcal (including 12g of fat and 30g of sugar). 1 banana contains 90 kcal (including 0.3g of fat and 12g of natural sugar) and is rich in vitamin B. 1 orange contains 60 kcal (including 0.2g of fat and 12g of natural sugar) and is also rich in vitamin C.
6. Limit the consumption of salt (which contributes to water retention) by avoiding chips, fries, over-salted industrial dishes and limiting ham and cheese.
7. Eat fruits and vegetables. For example: 1 orange or a banana at breakfast with a cup of green tea or thyme in boiling water.
8. Stop complexing yourself because cellulite affects practically all women and is a natural phenomenon!
Clara Miller has a Master's degree in Sports Science and Sports Management and has worked for famous sports and fitness brands. She is passionate about sports and regularly writes about fitness, weight loss and motivation for various blogs and magazines.
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