Find out if you need massage if you want to lose weight and if it will help you. The standard of beauty changes depending on public opinion and this happens quite often. That the most attractive are girls with a thin physique, and ten years later, women in the body are already held in high esteem. However, in any case, being overweight does not fit into any canon of beauty. In addition, a large number of subcutaneous adipose tissues negatively affect human health. Various means are used to fight fat today. And we will tell you about whether massage for weight loss works.
Does massage for slimming legs and abdomen work?
For most women, it is the legs and abdomen that are the most problematic areas and it is quite understandable that they want to know if massage for weight loss works. Although there are many methods for fighting fat, a holistic approach always brings the best results. It should be noted that massage has become an extremely popular procedure in recent years.
There is nothing surprising in this, because the beneficial properties of massage have been known since ancient times. Along with ancient techniques, new types of services have appeared, for example, anti-cellulite massage. If you have already studied this topic, then you have probably heard opinions that massage for weight loss is not as effective as it is commonly believed. However, in practice, everything is not so obvious and this topic will be considered by us today.
Massage involves a mechanical effect on the upper tissues of our body - the skin, ligaments, muscles, etc. Simply put, all actions when your muscles and skin are stroked, pinched, rubbed, stroked can be called massage. Everyone knows that adipose tissues are located under the skin and therefore numerous advertisements can be misleading, because they assure that, thanks to mechanical action, fatty tissues can be destroyed.
However, mechanical action practically does not contribute to the acceleration of lipolysis processes. Otherwise, fat people simply would not exist. To lose weight, first of all, you need to achieve an energy deficit, which is achieved through a well-designed nutrition program and sports. If you spend more energy throughout the day than you get, then the body's fat burning processes are activated.
However, in this matter, everything is somewhat more complicated than it seems. It should be said right away that now we are talking about losing weight only due to the utilization of adipose tissues, because body weight can also decrease with the destruction of muscle tissue. The main catalysts for lipolysis are stress hormones such as cortisol or norepinephrine. Under the influence of physical exertion or with a lack of energy, they begin to be actively synthesized and, once in the bloodstream, travel throughout the body. Getting into adipose tissues, these substances activate the process of fat burning.
From this we can conclude that if you stimulate blood flow in a certain part of the body, say, in the abdomen, then fatty tissue will be utilized there faster. Surely you have already understood that the conversation is now about point fat burning. In theory, all this looks extremely tempting, but there is no research to support this theory.
Slimming massage benefits
Thanks to massage, you can get certain positive effects, although they are completely unrelated to the processes of utilization of adipose tissue. Speaking about the benefits of massage, it is necessary to note its ability to relieve swelling, eliminate muscle fatigue, and accelerate blood flow.
Of course, massage has a significantly greater number of positive effects, but the above are the most valuable. With muscle fatigue, everything is quite clear and after the massage they relax, and this leads to the release of tension. But thanks to the increased blood flow, massage can be an excellent tool for treating injuries and even colds.
As you know, the blood carries all the nutrients throughout the body, and if you massage the damaged parts of the body, then the quality of their nutrition increases dramatically. If you are injured, you can recommend using a contrast shower. First, the damaged part of the body must be heated for a maximum of a minute, and then cooled for a similar period of time. It also helps speed up blood flow and the injury will heal much faster.
Today, you can often hear that massage after training helps to quickly utilize lactic acid. This substance is a metabolite of energy processes and is synthesized during training. It is because of lactic acid that after a well-conducted workout, athletes experience a burning sensation in their muscles.
However, the statement we spoke about just above has nothing to do with the real state of affairs. As soon as you have completed the set, the concentration of lactic acid drops sharply and after a maximum of an hour its concentration is minimal. Swelling of the extremities, especially the legs, is a serious problem for many women of age. This is primarily due to age-related changes in the water-salt balance. If you do not eat properly, then these processes are more active and this problem will arise before you faster. As a result, cellulite appears on the skin.
For most people, cellulite is common subcutaneous fat, but this is not always the case. Fat, of course, is also "to blame" for this, but there is a second component of cellulite - water (edema). As we have already said, massage cannot help the body to utilize adipose tissue, but it expels water in a short time.
The most effective types of massage for weight loss
We have just found out whether massage for weight loss works, and now we should talk about those types of it that can give the best results. Just want to warn you that you should not trust advertising and there is simply no such thing as "the best massage for weight loss". There are different types of it that can give excellent results in a specific situation. Thus, you need to choose the type of massage that suits your goals. First, you need to decide which part of the body you need to change first, for example, remove cellulite or correct the size of the waist.
The female body has several of the most problematic areas: the sides, inner legs, thigh, abdomen, and upper arms. When choosing the type of massage, you should also take into account the elasticity of your skin. If the turgor is not high, then more efforts will have to be made to obtain the desired result. We have already talked about cellulite, but we will repeat once again that with the help of massage you will accelerate the outflow of water from the problem area, which will lead to the elimination of the whole problem.
How to properly massage yourself?
It is quite possible to perform massage on your own, but you must adhere to certain rules. First of all, this concerns the intensity of manipulations. Many people believe that the more intensively the massage is performed, the faster you can get rid of fat. However, this can only harm yourself.
Massage should be done carefully and avoid strong pressure. In addition, to obtain good results, the procedure should be carried out regularly. We recommend that you massage daily for one month. In most cases, this is enough to get great results. After completing the course, you need to take a pause for a couple of weeks and after that the cycle can be repeated.
- Honey massage. Before starting the procedure, a layer of honey should be evenly applied to the skin. After that, lower your hand to the surface of the body treated with honey and tear it off abruptly. Gradually increase the range of motion, and as a result, you should be doing flip flops. The duration of the procedure is about a quarter of an hour and is carried out until the honey is absorbed into the skin and loses its ability to stick together. This is one of the most effective treatments used to combat cellulite.
- Vacuum (cupping) massage. This procedure will help you get rid of cellulite, but you need to approach it with maximum attention. Among all the massage techniques that are used to combat fat, it is the vacuum that is the most traumatic. We recommend not using cupping massage for people who have problems with the work of blood vessels, as well as with high sensitivity of the skin. This is a very aggressive procedure and after it is completed, bruises often remain on the skin. To carry out a vacuum massage, you must take a plastic or silicone jar and lower it onto the skin. In this case, a little effort should be made so that the jar sticks to the skin. After that, move it over the treated area of the body, without tearing it off the skin. You can perform various movements - circular, transverse, and longitudinal.
- Water massage. This procedure is performed in many beauty salons and sanatoriums. Unlike most types of massage, here the effect on the body is carried out not by hands, but by water. A pressurized water jet is directed to an area of the body and stimulates blood flow.
- Manual massage. This is the most affordable type of massage at home. Do not forget to apply a moisturizer to the skin before starting the procedure. Press with the inner edge of your hand on the treated area and make longitudinal movements.
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