One sure way of helping you reduce the unsightly “orange peel” appearance of cellulite is by exercise. Exercise is important to our lives. It helps us stay in shape; look good and can help you increase your life expectancy.
Some of us face the problem of finding time to exercise. Most of us would just avoid wearing any clothing that will expose the unsightly cellulite.
Here are five easy toning exercises to help you reduce the appearance of cellulite. These exercises can be done anywhere and whenever you have time.
1. The Bridge Hips Lift – Sounds like a plastic surgery technique but it is an easy way to tone your hips. Lay down with feet flat on the floor, legs shoulder width apart. Place your hands, palm side down, on either side of your body. Pushing with your feet, squeeze your gluteal muscles and lift your butt off the floor. Hold the position for a count of five to ten and release down to the floor.
2. Squats – Squats work the hips, the hamstring muscles and the quadriceps. If you aren’t sure of proper form, you can use a chair. Stand with feet shoulder width apart and feet firmly planted. Push your hip back as if you were preparing to sit in a chair. Keep your abs tight and your upper body straight. Once you reach chair level stop and hold the position for a count of two to five and release. At the lowest point, place all of your weight on your heels for balance and maximum toning.
3. Reverse Lunges – Lunges work the quadriceps muscles. They can be hard for people with knee problems. A reverse lunge still tones the right muscle groups but with less pressure on the knee. Stand with feet together and arms at your sides. Take one leg and move it backwards until you are in lunge position: front leg bent at a 90 degree angle and back leg extended until you are on the ball of your foot. From this position lower yourself down until the back knee almost touches the floor. Hold for a count of two and return to starting position.
4. Weght bearing exercises aren’t just for bodybuilders. As you age, especially once you hit the age of forty, you begin to lose muscle mass. Cellulite becomes even more noticeable especially for women. Do repetitive exercise with light weights targeting at thighs, stomach and arms.
5. Crunches – Abdominal muscles can be worked every day to build strength and muscle tone. Lying on the floor in sit up position, lace your fingers behind your head. Squeezing your abdominal muscles, lift your upper body until your lower back is about to come off the floor. Hold for two to five counts and return to starting position.
These five exercise moves can be done whenever you have time. The best thing about exercise is that its effects are cumulative. Even five or ten minutes at a time will work to your advantage.
Though exercise is an important factor that will help you reduce cellulite, it’s even more effective when combined with proper diet. Daily body care like dry skin brushing and massage with anti cellulite cream will help tone and smoothen skin on thighs, stomach and hips.
