I want to share a personal story with you on how I changed my thinking about cellulite.

I am currently taking a certification course for Post-Partum Corrective Exercise Specialist. Yes, I’m always learning and never wanting it to stop. The instructor of the course shared some information about cellulite that I related to, and I want to share this information with any of the AlignMend Family that may be struggling with body imagine and cellulite.

Before I do that, let me be honest with you. I used to hate the cellulite on my body. It just was not fair. I had cellulite and my sister did not. Why did I have cellulite when many of many friends did not? I remember first noticing it in high school and weighted 105 pounds. For many years it became a point of negative focus for me. It is hard enough to struggle with body images, but often I felt it was my close peers that were the most judgmental about it. It seemed like they looked at me like I was out of shape or did not take care of my body and/or diet. When in fact, healthy eating and exercise have been a part of my life for many, many years.

As my professional career developed, I began to learn more and more about fascia. Fascia is an incredible structure. Your individual fascial make up determines whether you have cellulite. Cellulite is basically fascia pressing on subcutaneous fat. You can be really overweight and out of shape and NOT have cellulite or you can be an elite athlete in great physical shape and HAVE a lot of cellulite.

The number one cause of cellulite in people is GENETICS!!! Yep, you heard me…those genes that come from Mom and Dad is what causes cellulite, NOT how fit or healthy you are. This explains why I have cellulite and my sister does not. My sister has a different birth father than I do…she is built just like him. He had no cellulite. Think of cellulite as the same thing as your eye color or nose size. These are traits you get from your genetics…from the “rents” as I call them.

Moral of this story…YOU can choose to hate your body for what you were gifted, or YOU can choose to shift your thinking and love the beautiful look and resilience of the body you were gifted. As I get older, I have realized that there are way more important things to worry about in life — cellulite just should not be one of them. The last 16 months has taught me that life can change in a split second. Time has taught me to be grateful for the genetic lottery I was given. To appreciate how my body can cope, adapt, and change for the better. Who gives a shit if I survived this last 16 months with dimples on my ass or not…CAN I GET AN AMEN!!!

So long gone are the days of worrying what others might think…the days that I hate my body for dimples…

Oh cellulite… you have taken up way too many brain cells for too many people for far too long!

Spread the word.

Cellulite is genetic, not a sign of how healthy or fit you are.

Love to all of you and your beautiful and individual bodies!!!

Paige, PT, PRC