Reduce Cellulite and Get Thin Thighs

As a woman, most fat-stores go directly to your butt and thighs. It often leaves the dimple effect making it uncomfortable or embarrassing to wear shorts or swimsuits. And with summer only a couple months away, you may already be shopping for cover-ups to hide the unsightly marks. But instead of hiding, start working now so you can flaunt your sexy legs come beach season! YES! It is possible to reduce or eliminate cellulite.

I've noticed how easily cellulite forms on my behind and thighs with each year I get older and older. And while it is difficult to eliminate it, there are exercises, creams, and foods that can make this process simpler. So, want to find out how to get rid of those lumps and bumps?

First, let's understand cellulite better. We all have strands of connective tissue that break up fat cells into compartments and connect fat tissue to skin. For women, these fibers form a vertical, honeycomb-like pattern, so any increase of fat in a given area tends to bulge. Men don't suffer from cellulite because their fibers run in a diagonal pattern that prevents dimpling.

Unfortunately, as we age, cellulite seems to appear overnight and get worse as we get older. This is due to a change in tissue. The strands of connective tissue thicken and our skin gets thinner. Women also lose muscle as years go by and it's replaced with fat. And because fat is soft, it doesn't make your skin appear firm like muscle will.

So what causes cellulite besides age? Your genes play a role. So if you mom has cellulite, chances are you will too. Lifestyle choices also play a role. Smoking, poor diet, eating too much fat, dehydration, not exercising, and poor sleep are also factors. The solution is to trick your body into becoming a fat-burning machine with some easy-to-perform exercises and simple nutrition tips. The more muscle tone you have, the less of a problem cellulite can be.

Cardio alone will not eliminate cellulite, but it is important to perform. The best cardio to perform is HIIT instead of endurance training. Work the muscles in the areas where the dimpling is occurring two to three times a week with strength training exercises. This means lunges in all directions - basic lunge, lateral lunge, reverse lunge, curtsy lunge. Then add some moves to get the most out of your lunges like a knee lift, leg lift, dumbbell twist, hip abduction, etc. Aside from lunges, perform plies and squats. Again, you can add variations to these to work your thighs even more. Just be sure to stretch at the end of each workout.

What's your favorite way to lunge?