fitness articles

Exercises to fight Cellulite

Cellulite is the lumpy substance resembling cottage cheese that is commonly found on the thighs, stomach, and butt. Cellulite is actually a fancy name for collections of fat that push against the connective tissue beneath a person's skin, which causes the surface of the skin to dimple or pucker and look lumpy.

Several factors  like your genes, your gender, the amount of fat on your body, your age, and the thickness of your skin are all associated with the amount of cellulite you have or how visible it is.

Cellulite exercises improve circulation, metabolism stored fats and allow the body to detoxify itself. Instead of just turning into excess fat these cellulite exercises will help you convert the fat into actual muscle tissue.

The best aerobic exercises to fight cellulite are  walking, jogging, or swimming. Since cellulite has much to do with poor circulation, these exercises stimulate blood flow and lymphatic circulation.
 

This helps fat trapped under the skin move through the blood stream and out your body. Cardiovascular exercises also promote sweating which helps detoxify the skin and burn fat.

Here is a list of great cardiovascular exercises and the muscles they work out:

Anaerobic Exercises to reduce cellulite

• Squat- A ninety degree angle in the thighs and never extending the knees beyond the toes are essential. In addition, it is helpful to contract the muscles of the abdomen when performing this exercise to protect your lower back area. Click here, to check out exercise instructions.

• Lunges- When you are performing a lunge, you should always remain in control and never let your knee to extend pass your toe. Also, you always want to keep your thigh at a ninety degree angle. Click here, for instructions.

• Donkey Kick-One of the best exercises to tone the backs of your thighs is the Donkey Kick. In this, you get down on all fours, and then kick one leg behind you, all the while keeping it bent at a 90 degree angle. An exercise that targets the sides of your thighs is the L Lift, in which you lie on your side, and lift on leg straight up in the air as high as it will go.

• Leg extension- This works the quadriceps (at the fronts of the thighs). With your ankles secured behind the cushioned pad and toes pointing straight ahead, slowly extend your legs until they are stretching straight out in front of you, hold and then lower them back down. To get maximum benefit, go slowly and exhale as you’re lifting your legs up. Do as many reps as you can manage. After two or three sessions, see whether you can slightly increase the ‘hold’ when your legs are stretched out.

• One-legged buttock squeeze- Lie on your back, tighten your abdominals and do a pelvic tilt. Keep your hands by your sides. Bring your right foot over your left knee and place it on your left high. Tighten both your buttock muscles and lift your hips off the floor. Squeeze your left buttock for 2 counts and release for 2 counts. Repeat with the other leg. Keep your hips still and your abdominals held in tight; do not over arch your back; do not hold your breath.

• Hip adduction: Lie on your left side supporting your head on your hand and with the other hand on the floor for balance. Bend your right leg and rest it on the floor in front of your left one. Keeping your left leg straight lift it up from the flour to strengthen the muscles of the inner thigh.

There is no easy cure for cellulite. Reducing its appearance or eliminating it altogether takes some work and dedication. A good exercise regimen will not only improve your cellulite, it will promote a sense of well being and improved health all around.

To lose weight and improve your body for the long haul, you must eat healthy, begin a cardiovascular program, and adopt some form of weight training.

- WF Team

Dated 08 July 2011

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