cellulite sucks. {the beach babe series}

There’s very few things in this world that I despise. Cellulite is one of those things. Cellulite is my number one nemesis every year when the sun comes out, and I am determined to win the war against cellulite for good this year.  I would describe myself as a fairly confident person, but bikini season always brings out my inner insecurities. Of course I want to look hot in my tiny bikini, but more importantly, I want to feel confident in a swimsuit. I’ve slowly been taking steps to improve my health and fitness for a few months, but now I am ready to take serious action. This week marks the start of my Beach Babe series, where I’ll share everything that I’m doing with my health, beauty, and fitness regimens to get ready for beach/bikini season! I’ll be sharing my favorite healthy snacks, workout DVDs, fitness inspiration, tanning products, and of course- my favorite bikinis! 

It may seem like a superficial thing to worry about how you look in a bathing suit, but my goal is to get to a weight and fitness level where I feel confident with my body. There’s nothing worse than hanging with your friends at the beach and wanting to cover up your stomach or adjust your position to make your thighs look smaller. I want to go to the beach and not worry how I’ll look playing beach volleyball or walking along the shoreline. Even when I was at my lowest weight and was as tan as an ad for self-tanner, I didn’t feel good about myself in a bathing suit. I’ve come a long, long way with my self-confidence and emotional issues since then, but my fitness regimen has gone seriously down-hill. I truly believe that I’m at a place where I could finally be happy and confident strutting my stuff at the beach if I really push hard to improve my diet and fitness. 

Today, I’m starting my Beach Babe series with my battle against cellulite. Cellulite is pure evil. Seriously, the stuff won’t go away, but I am determined to get rid of it for good this year. Here are the steps that I’ll be taking to banish the evil bumps and lumps!

Maintaining proper hydration is a key aspect of good health. Not only does getting the proper amount of liquid each day make you feel better, but it makes you look better. I’ll be making an effort to drink as much water as possible to keep my hunger under control, to stay properly hydrated, and to keep my skin looking fabulous! Maintaining a balanced diet is another no-brainer. I’ll be eliminating fast food and trying to limit my beloved sugar!

At the end of the day, amping up your fitness routine is going to give you the quickest results in fat and cellulite reduction. I’ll be going more in-depth into my fitness routine in a later blog post, but I’ll be re-focusing on fun classes that combine cardio and strength training, like dance classes, yoga, and pilates to reduce my overall fat percentage. In terms of cellulite reduction, I’ll also be targeting my trouble areas (hips/thighs) with lots and lots and lots and lots of weighted squats and lunges!

A good tan can hide quite a bit of flaws, including cellulite. This step is purely superficial and won’t fix any of your problems, but it can help you improve your appearance in a pinch! Again, I’ll be going into my tanning routine soon and sharing all of my favorite self-tanning products!

I’ve been hearing fabulous things about the Bliss Fat Girl line for years, and I’m not sure why I haven’t tried it until now. This year, in addition to adjusting my diet and exercise routine, I’ll be taking any and every beauty step I can possibly take to improve circulation in my skin and break up fat deposits. 

 This little baby is my new favorite. The Bliss Lean Machine (available at Ulta and Sephora) is a vacuum system that can easily be used at home in conjunction with the FatGirl Slim cream. This system increases circulation in your skin and helps to create a smoother, less dimpled surface. The clinical trials referenced in the manual showed incredible results, so I’m looking forward to continue testing this product out!

The bottom of the Bliss Lean Machine features two rollers and a vacuum mechanism. The vacuum suctions your skin, and the roller smooths the skin. Before using the Lean Machine, I apply the Bliss Fat Girl Slim cream all over my hips and thighs. Then I run the machine slowly over each leg. The suctioning strength can be controlled, but even the highest setting is not painful at all. For the past few days, I’ve simply applied the cream after my shower, started a YouTube video, and completed both legs and my stomach before the video was over. The system is easy to use and doesn’t feel uncomfortable at all.

The massaging and suctioning action of the Bliss Lean Machine help to increase circulation in your skin, and the Bliss treatment gels help to amplify your results. I’m currently trying out the Fat Girl Slim cream on my hips and thighs, and I’m using the Fat Girl Sixpack on my stomach. I apply both creams before using the Lean Machine to increase my results. Both creams are light, non-greasy, and feature a light minty smell. I love how both of the lotions apply to the skin, and I’m hopeful for great results after hearing so many great reviews. 

Even if you’re not able to purchase the Bliss Lean Machine, the Bliss Fat Girl Sixpack featured a textured, bumpy applicator that helps to massage the gel into your skin.

The same Bliss products are used in their high-end spas nationwide, so even though they’re on the pricey side, they are still way, way cheaper than getting treatments done at the spa! I’ll definitely keep you updated on my results after a few weeks of continuously using the products and amping up my diet and exercise program!

There’s nothing more beautiful than seeing a woman comfortable in her own skin. I’m hoping to be one of those women at the beach this summer. My goal is not to be supermodel-skinny but to be confident and secure with my appearance. If you have any request for the Beach Babe series or any tips to share, please let me know in the comment section below! I think this series is going to be a lot of fun!

Are you battling cellulite too? Are you excited for bikini season?




This post was sponsored by Bliss as part of the #BeautifulConfidence campaign.