How to Get Rid of Cellulite - 5 Easy and Effective Exercises

It happens to us all. 

You’re getting dressed in front of the mirror one morning, then the sun hits you at exactly the right angle, and there it is: cellulite.

The common reaction is to recoil in horror. Not cellulite! Not on me!

But the thing is, as many as 90% of women have cellulite. Meaning it definitely doesn’t deserve the negative stigma it gets. And if you’ve discovered some dimpled skin on your thighs, arms, tummy or butt, you are not alone.

That being said, you don’t need to live with anything that makes you self-conscious. And, no matter how common it is, there are ways to reduce cellulite. 

Bizarre skin wraps and cellulite-blasting creams aside, there’s really only one thing for it: exercise. And the good news is, many awesome cellulite reduction exercises are super simple and easy to incorporate into your normal workout routine. 

In this article we’ll touch on what cellulite is, why all us women get it, and how to get rid of cellulite fast.

Ready?

What is cellulite? 

Cellulite is totally natural, which goes some way to explaining why so many women have it.

Often referred to as ‘orange peel skin’, cellulite simply occurs when fat tissue deep within the skin’s layers presses up against higher tissues. This is what causes its characteristic dimpled appearance. 

Why do we get cellulite? 

There are a number of reasons why cellulite starts to appear, including: genetics, age, weight gain, hormone imbalance, poor circulation, and thinning skin. Indeed, your cellulite may be the result of a combination of triggers, making it difficult to pinpoint the root cause in the first place.

The most important thing to remember is that cellulite poses absolutely zero risk to your health. The only issue many have with cellulite is how it looks. 

But rest assured, no matter the cause of your cellulite, you can still reduce the visible effects of cellulite and get rid of it fast — even if you have a genetic predisposition for dimpled skin!

And with the right information and exercise techniques, minimising cellulite is not as challenging as you might think... 

How to get rid of cellulite

In truth, there’s no miracle cure for cellulite.

Instead, you’ll need to adjust your lifestyle and routine to effectively combat signs of cellulite. And long-lasting good habits will help keep ‘orange peel skin’ at bay.

For one: drinking plenty of water is key, as this helps your body remove harmful toxins responsible for the build-up of fat and improve overall circulation. 

Next: adopting an overall healthy lifestyle is also a winner, as simply losing weight can help naturally reduce the appearance of cellulite. The less fatty tissue present in your body, the fewer cellulite dimples you’re likely to have — it’s really that simple!

Which leads us nicely on to the best exercises to tone up and reduce dimpled skin...

Exercises to reduce cellulite

Thought you needed to spend a fortune on lotions and potions to get rid of cellulite?

Think again! 

These simple, yet powerful, exercises will target the areas in which cellulite typically appears. From cellulite on thighs, butt, arms or legs, here are the killer workouts we’d recommend to smooth out your skin....

Cellulite reduction exercise: cardio

Cardiovascular exercise is great for weight loss and fat burn, and as we said before: the less fat, the less cellulite you’ll see.

If you’re already an avid cardio queen, exercise such as steady running, cycling or even hiking outdoors can work wonders, helping you get rid of cellulite fast. 

If, on the other hand, you’re just starting out with exercise, something as simple as a 20-minute walk every day is a great first step. Walking still counts as cardio, and will act as the perfect stepping stone towards more intense cardiovascular exercises. 

Cellulite reduction exercise: stair climb

Whether outdoors or on the infamous stair machine at your local gym, climbing stairs is a serious cellulite blaster. 

Working your butt and legs like nothing else, stair climbing blasts the muscle groups commonly associated with cellulite development. It also burns a high volume of calories in the process!

So next time you’re in the office, mall or cinema, make sure you take the stairs!

Cellulite reduction exercise: squats

Squats are a great method for reducing cellulite on the legs and butt.

Put simply: the more muscle you build, the more likely you are to burn fat. And greater muscle mass results in burning a higher amount of calories throughout the day — even when at rest!

To squat, stand with your feet about shoulder-width apart, and slowly bend your knees. Keep lowering until your thighs are at the same angle as the floor, and gradually rise,  squeezing your butt as you go. 

You can even incorporate a jump as you come back up, making your squat more cardio-based and even more likely to shred unwanted cellulite. 

Cellulite reduction exercise: glute bridge

If you’ve never heard of this before, don’t panic — glute bridges aren’t anywhere near as complicated as they sound! Super simple and suitable for virtually all fitness levels, this is actually one of the easiest cellulite reduction exercises you can try. 

Lie on your back with your knees bent, feet flat on the floor, and arms resting at your sides. Raise your hips completely off the ground, forming a straight line from your knees right up to the top of your back. If you do yoga, you may be familiar with this as ‘bridge pose’.

Try to hold this position for 3-5 seconds, squeezing your butt as you do. Lower yourself slowly back down, vertebrae by vertebrae and repeat! 

Great for engaging your glutes and hamstrings, glute bridges target both your thighs and butt in equal measure. If you want to try burning more calories and pushing yourself harder, you can place a weighted bar over your hips. 

Cellulite reduction exercise: side leg lifts

Does your cellulite tend to gather around your outer thighs? Then you need side leg lifts!

Lie on your side on a flat surface, set your elbow down and support your head with the same hand. Raise your outer leg up as far as it will go, making sure your legs are straight at all times (pointing your toes can help with this!). Slowly lower back down, and repeat as many times as you can before switching sides. 

Banish ‘orange peel skin’ for good with these 5 cellulite reduction exercises

If you’ve been trying your best to get rid of cellulite once and for all, then why give these exercises a try? Simple yet extremely effective, most can be done from the comfort of your home with zero equipment required. 

It’s also a good idea to keep your water bottle topped up and try to avoid fatty foods and drinks — every little helps when it comes to getting rid of cellulite for good!

But, at the end of the day, remember that cellulite will affect virtually all women at some point in their lives, so don’t beat yourself up if you suddenly notice a few little dimples on your thighs when looking in the mirror! You’re a babe, cellulite or not!

For more tips on burning fat, getting in shape, and the best cardio workouts for weight loss, then check out our blog. We’re here to help, so let us know if there’s anything you’d like to see us write about — drop us a message on Facebook or Instagram, and we’ll see what we can do!