This spring, I began a series of cellulite treatments called endermologie. These sessions were expensive and painful, involving a deep-tissue massage with a roller-like device that suctions the skin and targets specific areas to reduce the appearance of cellulite.
I’ve struggled with cellulite for as long as I can remember, at least since the day I caught a clear glimpse of my thighs in a department-store mirror. I’ve always been fairly thin (thank you, Mom and Dad, for the good genes) and I work out regularly. Over the years, I’ve tried it all: endermologie, a strict “cellulite diet,” excessive exercise, and costly topical creams. And yet, the cellulite remained.
I became creative in hiding it. I tanned weekly because “experts” claimed it helped camouflage cellulite. I bought cover-ups for my bathing suits. I even found myself backing out of the room when naked so my husband wouldn’t notice. Still, it remained.
After my wallet took a serious hit and I grew tired of the soreness that lingered for days after each treatment, I decided it was time to make peace with my cellulite. Despite what we’re told, cellulite is inevitable for most women. Even many of our favorite celebrities, the ones who appear flawless on magazine covers, have it too, trust me.
Accepting yourself as you are isn’t easy. When we allow our inner critic to take over, we limit our ability to love ourselves unconditionally. Ironically, we often extend this grace to others far more easily than we do to ourselves.
I may never get rid of my cellulite, but I can let go of the obsession with fighting it. Cellulite does not define who I am, nor does it make me less desirable. I am a thin, sexy, intelligent, confident forty-something woman who happens to have cellulite.
Changing how I think and feel about cellulite has made the biggest difference of all, and it didn’t cost me a dime. It starts with thinking highly of yourself, changing what you can, and accepting what you cannot.
Caring for your emotional health is just as important as caring for your physical body. Be gentle with yourself and kind to your perceived imperfections. I guarantee you notice them far more than anyone else does.
Today, I exercise because it’s good for my mind and body. I enjoy my favorite not-so-healthy foods in moderation, drink red wine, and worry far less about my cellulite. After everything we’ve been through together, it’s still part of my life, so I’ve decided to make peace with it.
