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What is Cellulite & How to Exercise to Reduce It

Cellulite pops up unexpectedly around the hips, buttocks, stomach, thighs and arms, and can be spotted as dimples or lumps just under the skin's surface. Cellulite is often associated with overweight women, but the truth is that anyone can develop cellulite – no mater their gender or weight. However, it's no surprise that cellulite and obesity are often associated together because many of the same bad habits can lead to these two problems. Speaking of which, let's discuss some of the habits that can cause cellulite, in addition to exercises that will help you blast cellulite away.

Woman with Cellulite on Thighs

Stages of Cellulite

There are three stages of cellulite:

  1. the first stage shows no visible symptoms of cellulite until you pinch your skin.
  2. Stage two of cellulite causes your skin to lose elasticity, and in some cases, the areas of concern become a lower temperature than the rest of your body.
  3. Stage three of cellulite offers the most visible symptoms with rough or bumpy-looking skin, along with symptoms from stage two.

The Many Causes of Cellulite

There are a lot of causes of cellulite, and some are easily managed while others are not. Cellulite can be caused or intensified due to genetics, diet, lack of exercise or issues with hormones and insulin. Hormones are oftentimes the first to be blamed due to the changes your body goes through during puberty and pregnancy.

The way your body distributes fat determines how much, and where cellulite develops. If you have poor circulation or slow metabolism, this will play a part in creating cellulite on your body. Your gender and race can also have a negative effect on this unsightly problem.

Everything you eat contributes in some way to the amount of cellulite your body develops. If you're consuming too much unhealthy fat, salt or carbohydrates, you are more at risk of developing the lumpy fat pockets on your thighs, butt, arms and other areas of your body. Be sure to eat plenty of fiber because not eating enough will also contribute to the development of cellulite.

Some minor lifestyle changes that you might want to consider are exercising more, not smoking, and not drinking too much. This all helps you maintain the cellulite you currently have, while keeping more cellulite from forming. You should also keep from wearing undergarments that have tight elastic bands, which can limit or constrict your blood flow.

Your age is an important aspect of the appearance of cellulite on your body too. As you age, your body's diminishing ability to maintain muscle mass inevitably causes you to gain weight and develop these fatty pockets.

Different Methods

Removing cellulite is a lengthy process because it takes dedication. There are massage therapies that are helpful in reducing the appearance of cellulite, and the use of anti-cellulite creams can sometimes erase all appearances of cellulite – depending on the amount you have on your body. Other cellulite treatments include heat therapy, coffee/caffeine, body wraps, surgical methods and exercise.

Exercises for You

Any type of exercise will allow you to begin the process of eliminating cellulite, and it's important to incorporate a variety of different movements in order to keep from becoming bored or used to your routine.

Cardio Exercises

Walking is still considered an exercise, even if jogging and running are the most popular forms of cardio. Walking causes you to burn calories and make your muscles move, which helps reduce your cellulite.

Other forms of cardio are sports like basketball, which incorporates jumping into the mix; but tennis, badminton, swimming, volleyball, soccer and football are also fun to play, and cause you to move around while having fun! Kickboxing is considered a cardio workout too and shouldn't be forgotten about. This form of exercising causes you to manipulate both your upper and lower body, and learning how to throw a punch is just a bonus!

Aerobic exercises are also very effective when dealing with cellulite. Like cardio exercises, aerobic exercises get blood circulating in your body, and can even build muscle in the process. Having good blood circulation and strong muscles will create a not-so-suitable environment for cellulite to grow in your body. And because muscle burns more calories than fat, your body won't need to find places to store calories because they'll be burned off by your muscles. Jumping jacks and jumping rope are both forgotten as we get older, but adding them to your routine can help you burn the calories and cellulite off of your body.

Using Weights

Weightlifting sometimes feels like a chore, but it can be the difference in keeping cellulite or losing it. Fortunately, lifting weights doesn't have to mean you are building huge muscles to compete in bodybuilding competitions! Furthermore, in order "to stay cellulite-free, it's just as important to lift weights as it is to burn fat with cardio exercises". As a reminder, it's important to practice caution when beginning a new workout routine to avoid injury. Consult with a physician for a better personalized program.

Upper Body Exercises

Overhead dumbbell extensions will help reduce cellulite on your arms while building strength in your triceps muscles.

  1. To perform this exercise, begin by sitting on a chair or bench with good posture.
  2. Grab the weight with both hands; place one hand over the other and raise the dumbbell over your head with both arms.
  3. Lower the dumbbell behind your head – still keeping your back straight – and then raise the dumbbell back up to the raised position.
  4. Repeat 12-15 times, rest for 15-25 seconds, and then do another set.

Doing shoulder exercises also helps eliminate the appearance of cellulite on your skin by building muscle and reducing fat.

  1. Begin by sitting on a bench or chair with back support.
  2. Pick up a dumbbell in each hand, and raise them so that they are at the same level as your head; this is your starting position.
  3. Raise the dumbbells at the same time up into the air above your head; pause, and then lower them back down to the starting position.
  4. Do this 12-15 times, rest for 15-25 seconds, and then repeat for another set.
    This can also be done by doing one arm at a time, or alternating the hands as you press the dumbbells up into the air.

Bicep curls will keep your arms free of cellulite by allowing you to gain muscle. This is a basic exercise that's well known, but if you're still uncertain, here is how to perform a bicep curl.

  1. Begin by sitting on a bench, or standing with your feet a shoulder-width apart.
  2. With a dumbbell in both hands, hold your elbows close to your body, and raise your dumbbells up at the same time so that your elbows are bent and the dumbbells are in front of your shoulders.
  3. Bicep curls can also be preformed one arm at a time.

Lower Body Exercises

Lunges will help reduce the appearance of cellulite by forcing your leg muscles to become stronger and leaner while also tackling the gluteal muscles. This exercise targets the cellulite on your butt and thighs.

  1. Begin by standing firmly with your feet under your hips; holding dumbbells in your hands is optional.
  2. Now take a large step with your right leg while your left leg bends. If you're flexible enough to touch your left knee to the floor, do it; but if not, then only go as far as you're comfortable with.
  3. Now bring your right leg back to the starting position and move your left leg out in front while bending your right knee.
  4. Repeat 12-15 times, twice, with a 25-second rest in between sets.

Squats will also target cellulite on your butt and legs, and are best executed by holding a barbell across your back. Practice caution when performing squats because the tension in your legs can cause some pain, and when not performed correctly, can result in a back injury. Also, with the barbell resting on your back, your hands holding the bar in place, and your knees bent slightly, bend down so that your bottom almost touches the bench under you. Pause for just a second before returning to the start position.

Now that we've covered both some habits to avoid and exercises to reduce cellulite, hopefully you'll be on your way to getting rid of these nasty little fat pockets!

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