The Two Best Ways to Reduce Cellulite This Summer

by Jessica Smith, REDBOOK


Let's be clear: no matter what those laser or lotion commercials try to tell you, there is no way to completely rid yourself of cellulite. Unfortunately, all women have some degree of cellulite (even Cindy Crawford told us she's got it), and it becomes more visible as we age. But there are some things you can do to help reduce its ugly appearance:

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1. Need a quick fix before donning those spring weather shorts?

Try coffee grounds! For short-term minor improvement, caffeine (most cellulite lotions contain this) does have a temporary effect on the appearance of cellulite. But there is no need to buy an expensive cream, you can easily create one yourself using a mixture of olive oil and coffee grounds, let it sit on the skin for five minutes or so and then rinse. (This gets messy, so do it in the shower).

2. Reduce it over the long term

The best way to combat cellulite over the long term is to consume less calories than you burn, made of mostly whole, unprocessed foods, lots of lean protein, fruits and veggies along with weight bearing and cardio exercise to help reduce your overall amount of body fat. (Remember that there is no such thing as spot reduction, so you have to work the entire body). Try this great "melt away winter weight" plan to help you get started.

Jessica Smith is a certified fitness lifestyle expert and creator of the 10 Pounds Down DVD series.

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