Now that it’s summer and we’re exposing more skin, you might be a little (or more than a little!) concerned about the appearance of cellulite on your butt and legs. Well, take heart, because there are 5 natural and effective ways to banish cellulite forevahhh. Results may start appearing within 1 week, but expect some serious change within 3–4 weeks.
{1. Strengthen your muscle.} When the muscle in your backside is strong and lean, the fat has a very hard time popping through and making you look lumpy. The key is doing hamstring curls and squats at low weight and high repetitions. Try 3 sets of 15–25 reps on a low weight. And try participating in exercise classes like spinning (or go bicycling outside) and kickboxing, which seriously tone your legs and butt. If you are a beginning exerciser, start with 2–3 times per week. If you are intermediate/advanced, train your legs 4–5 days per week, which will not only tone and strengthen the muscle, but slim your thighs and lift your butt much more quickly. For other exercise ideas, check out BodyRock.tv — I do one of her workouts 5–7 days per week and LOVE it.
{2. Strengthen your connective tissue.} Plump, healthy collagen fibers are important for keeping your skin youthful, firm, and cellulite-free. In order for your body to convert amino acids (protein) into collagen, vitamin C must be present. Find a good food-based vitamin C powder or capsule, such as acerola cherry or camu camu powder, or Vitamin Code Raw Vitamin C. It’s water soluble and you can’t overdose. Take at least 1,000 mg. per day, with meals (I take 2,000–5,000 mg.). For more protein and vitamin C, focus on eating foods like egg whites, fish, fresh berries, fruit, goat dairy, and legumes (beans). Glucosamine and MSM may also be two supplements worth looking into for yourself, because it also supports collagen and healthy skin. Personally, I take 3,000 mg. of MSM daily, with vitamin C.
{3. Lay on hands!} Once or twice per day, massage your butt and thighs with a cellulite massager (try Bliss’s circulation stimulator) and an anti-cellulite massage oil (try Weleda’s Birch Cellulite Oil). This helps to bring circulation and nutrition the cells in the area, plumping them out and making cellulite look less noticeable.
{4. Get hydrated.} Drinking 1–2 liters of water per day has been drilled into all of our heads as THE best way to stay hydrated. While I do recommend it for glowing skin and zero cellulite, I always say to eat more hydrating foods as your first line of defense. The more hydrating foods you eat — like fresh fruit, green juices, green smoothies — the better hydrated your body will be. You will not bloat up, your skin will glow, and your cellulite will diminish or entirely disappear. For liquids, I personally prefer to drink herbal teas and coconut water, since your body also absorbs those fluids better than straight water. When drinking water itself, make sure it’s either spring water or filtered water from a high-quality filtration unit (try Environmental Water Systems). And remember to eat less dehydrating foods, like bread, pasta, muffins, pastries, crackers, and dried fruit.
{5. Alter your undies.} Buy undies that don’t have elastic around the leg openings, as that restricts blood flow. Try string bikinis and softer fabrics without the elastic, like lace or seamless stretchy undies.
BONUS: Do you sit on your bum all day working? Try setting an alarm to go off every hour, so you know to get up, stretch and walk around, and get the circulation back into your legs and butt. It only take 2–3 minutes, but it will do a world of good for your looks!
I hope that helps you get rid of that pesky cellulite! Let me know how it goes. 
~Stephanie x
