How far would you/do you go in the name of healthy eating/looking the best you can?

[Pickingmyselfup]

Inspired by a conversation with a friend because I was complaining about my cellulite.

In order to get rid of it it would appear I can never touch anything "nice" ever again. No cheese, no carbs, no cake, no alcohol, caffeine, processed meats. Definitely forget about meals out!

I know my diet could be better but on the whole it's not too bad. I eat carbs but I try aim for wholemeal, I drink alcohol at the weekend, eat eggs and a lot of chicken for protein and usually get some form of fruit or vegetable in every meal.

I exercise 6 times a week both cardio and weights and I am at a normal weight but I still can't shift the cellulite or the c section pouch and it makes me really self conscious. However I'm not willing to in my eyes give up enjoying life by never again letting a piece of cake or a glass of wine pass my lips.

Is anybody ever that strict and if yes do you look perfect? No cellulite, perfectly toned, fat free in the absolute peak of your health and if yes is it worth it?

I’m not sure your friend is correct. Maybe it’s partly genetics. If you eat well, exercise most days, drink enough water, don’t drink alcohol very often and are a healthy weight and still have some cellulite … I’d make my peace with it!

You wouldn’t get rid of existing cellulite even if you did all those things.

Was reading about an ex model who still looks fantastic but as far as I can tell she eats one egg white omelette a day and that's it.

Nope, not me, no siree.

Nobody looks "perfect". I don't know how old you are, but I guess I'm older. When I look back at all the time I spent dissatisfied with how I looked, I could just kick myself. I was bloody gorgeous frankly and it's such a shame I couldn't see it. I bet you are too.

I think cellulite is genetic

Diet has little influence

I'm a PT
I had a visible six pack even after kids but I was absolutely fucking miserable

The level of body fat required to make those muscles visible was zero fun

And actually my performance decreased because you need energy to run and get stronger. I was constantly hungry and moody.

A lot of it is genetics too

Now I strike a balance. I'm really bloody strong in the gym and I can run a 5k in 22 minutes but yes I have a tummy and enjoy treats as part of a mostly healthy diet. I can't stand fitness on social media which is largely six packs and fad diets.

The pressure to have this perfectly flat stomach and no cellulite is so toxic

Those women that reach the top of their sport have gravitated towards those sports because of their favourable genetics. They didn't get that tall or that lean just because they did that sport

We can all be healthy and within a healthy weight range but I think balance is important for mental well being

Well there is real "No cellulite, perfectly toned, fat free in the absolute peak of your health" and there is social media filter induced version of this, which can only be achieved with the filter, standing still in the perfect lighting. Which one are we chasing?

Definitely! I've noticed I really struggle to run when I've not eaten much, I just have no energy.

I can run without breakfast as long as I've had a big dinner the night before, if I haven't had either of those things...forget it!

I do think there is a lot of pressure on women to look perfect. When I go running I wear really short shorts because they are comfy, I feel a bit like I should be hiding my cellulite and wobbly legs away but I'm very much trying to embrace the "if you don't like it tough shit" attitude.

I am a PT and I have a flat stomach , with barely any cellulite. Perhaps it is partially genetic, as I am also a 55 year old mother of 1.
I have a healthy diet, but still enjoy my treats. I cook all my meals/ treats from scratch.

I have a few friends who don't live a particularly healthy lifestyle and look gorgeous. One friend eats only crisps and chocolates for lunch, isn't big on vegetables and doesn't get any exercise. She's a size 8, glowing skin, flat stomach, no cellulite. She looks amazing in a bikini. Her mum also looks gorgeous at 60. So yes genetics is a big part of it.
I eat moderately healthy but am I no way extreme about it. I like to look good enough but I have cellulite, a bloated stomach etc. I think it's more important to have a healthy body than look like a super model.

do think there is a lot of pressure on women to look perfect. When I go running I wear really short shorts because they are comfy, I feel a bit like I should be hiding my cellulite and wobbly legs away but I'm very much trying to embrace the "if you don't like it tough shit" attitude.

I am willing to bet a serious amount of money that you legs are not that wobbly and the cellulite isn't that noticeable. People will notice you are healthy and active.

It’s about learning to love yourself and your body, don’t moan, be thankful.

I have cellulite but am thankful that my legs are strong and I am mobile.

I'm not really interested in perfect, perfect in what way and to who?
I'm a lot more interested in what I can do.

My thighs are larger than they could be, but they work perfectly. I've hiked and run thousands of miles. I'll eat what I need to fuel that and maintain general health because that has a much bigger impact than what size trousers I'm wearing. I'm in my 40s, if the biggest complaint I have is that they are a bit wobbly then I'll take that.

I don't go that far to lose weight, my parents are horrified.

I was always very skinny, slightly underweight. Now (late 30s) I'm "normal" BMI but getting a mini double chin, and have fat on my belly and legs, cellulite. I'm 5 foot 10, size 12-14. My parents commented about my weight. I said, if I want to shift it I will, but I have much more important things to worry about.

I'm cutting back and trying to move more, but I would never "diet" or go without. More like alcohol once a week. 3 regular meals (e.g. oats with fruit and plain yoghurt for breakfast; salad for lunch; snack of fruit and nuts; normal dinner- pasta, chilli or curry with rice, shepherds pie etc). Cutting out refined sugar and ready meals (UPF). Trying to do a few days of weights and cardio, and get in my steps everyday.

Still going out to eat. Still drinking alcohol and eating ice cream on holiday. Life is too short. It's only a bit of fat.

As for you, it sounds like you're very healthy, so why deprive yourself. We all get old and die. Health and happiness are the important things.

Cellulite is normal, it's practically impossible to get rid of. It's more important to focus on maintaining a healthy weight, lots of fresh and unprocessed foods, feeling strong and energetic.

When I started dieting and exercising (I was a healthy weight but too much fat for my frame) I decided that if it was making me miserable I would try something else, or stop. Being ridiculously strict was never going to be worth it for me but I'm happy with the weight I lost and discovered I actually enjoy (some forms of!) exercise.

Heavy lifting will improve cellulite

It doesn't, I've been lifting heavy for years now and it's still the same, annoyingly so!

How far would I go to look the best I can? Not very far! Any efforts I make with eating healthily and exercising are mostly in order to reduce my chances of serious illness, to maintain good mobility and to be able to stay relatively active as I age. Beyond looking presentable, wearing clothes I like and not actively getting fatter, I don't care that much about my appearance.

I'm not sure your friend is right. But tbh not very far. Life is too short to be that strict for smooth thighs.

I wouldn't deny myself. Moderation and portion control yes, but I don't think foods are naughty.

I also don't think other people would notice so much either. People tend to be more critical of their own bodies than others are.

I was bulimic for most of my 20s. I exercised purely to be thin, hated myself, and was permanently exhausted and self conscious. My sole, crowning achievement in life was that I was thin. Looking back, it was a narrow, sad way to live.

Now I’m mid thirties and fat (not mumsnet fat, actually fat 😂) with thighs that could crush a grown man. I wear bikinis on the beach and feel amazing. I have a very fit and active DP who adores every squishy, confident inch of me. I eat well, walk everywhere, hike at the weekends, deadlift heavy, and teach yoga. I’m fit and healthy and do not give a flying fuck what anyone else thinks about my body.

Life is too short to conform to ‘perfection’. Embrace your natural body. Nourish it, move it, treasure it, treat it with love and respect. Appreciate every inch of it.

Not very far...,

I'd rather eat chocolate and drink gin - everyone has cellulite unless theirs good lighting and photo shop

No, I cba.

I eat upf free a lot of the time. Organic most of the time. Sugar a bit too often. Sweeteners I'm stricter on. I work out 4 times a week minimum and usually do a minimum of 13k steps a day + cycling. I'm a bit overweight but I'm happier than when I was super skinny and toned.

I watched a tv show years ago that did experiments on cellulite exercise vs body brushing. daily body brushing has the best effect on removing cellulite but exercise did help and those in the exercise group felt better about their cellulite than the ones with more improvement.

This.

Also, please try to see your self worth in being intelligent, funny, interesting, healthy, creative, having good relationships with friends and family, making a positive difference to the world.

At the end of the day, we are here for so little time op. "Looking perfect " is a pretty shallow thing to base your life's energy on.

Just my thoughts.