Cellulite is a HOT topic, not because anyone wants it of course, but because many of us have it!
After about 3 weeks of decreasing weight training to 3 times a week with basically zero cardio, and not being as strict with my nutrition – I BEGAN TO GET CELLULITE!
Yup, it’s true. But the best part is it only took me 2 WEEKS of eating well (90% of the time) and getting back to my regular routine of weight training 4-5 times as week and cardio 3-4 times a week to get rid of it.
The keys to getting rid of cellulite is to rid your body of toxins which accumulate under the skin AND using your BUTT. That’s right, using your glutes is perhaps the most important part of the “getting rid of cellulite” equation.
Firming up the skin around your glutes can be accomplished with exercises that build muscle which will tighten the skin.
Here are 4 exercises I did twice a week to firm up my glutes
What is cellulite?
Cellulite is a description of  a skin change that occurs more often in females than males. It is thought that 80-90% of females have cellulite. THAT’S MASSIVE! There are some hormonal factors, genetic factors, diet factors and lifestyle factors contributing to this. However, the only 2 methods I have seen work, not only for me, but also for MANY other women and they are:
1. Diet
2. Exercise
Cellulite occurs when the fat-storing compartments become over-full and rigid, causing the compartments to be unable to hold access fat. With age, there is a loss of tone and thickness in the connective tissue in the fat layer of the skin (dermis) causing cellulite to occur.
DIET
Eating whole foods without any processing is important to beating or preventing cellulite. Cutting out all refined foods, such as sugar, bleached flours, anything containing wheat and gluten will clear the body of toxins.
Want More Exercises and a Diet Plan to help Tighten Your Tush? Click Here!
See also:
A Day in The Life of Flavia Del Monte
At Home 20 Minute Butt Firming Workout
Very well written and informative article Flavia! Thank you, great as always! 🙂
Hey Anna,
Flavia says you’re answering questions. I have never been in a gym in my life. I just joined a few weeks ago and have been getting familiar with it as well as Flavia’s program. I did day 1 (legs) yesterday. Yesterday after the work out and today as well, I am extremely bloated, especially my stomach, which is normally flat. I have been drinking water and I eat well. The bloating seems to coincide with working out. I read that this happens sometimes when you just start to work out because your body is in a state of shock. Is this true? Otherwise, what could be causing the bloat? Boy am I sore & achey today! Not feeling well enough to work out today, and my jeans are really tight. Hoping to do day 2 tomorrow. Let me know if you have any insight.
Hi Melanie!
I’m not really sure about the bloating. If you just recently increased your fiber intake this can cause some bloating. I also find I get bloated when I eat dairy. Your water needs increase the more you exercise. Make sure you are getting 2 – 3 liters of water per day. It’s possible you could have over done your workout a little. If you haven’t worked out before and just jumped in to doing 3 sets of everything you may have only needed 1 set. That’s ok though. I would suggest getting back to working out as soon as possible, even though your sore. Working out will help to flush out the lactic acid and within a week or two your soreness should greatly diminish. Soreness is good though, whenever I start a new workout program I am upset if I am not sore the first few days 🙂
Thank you!
I did more research on post workout bloating and saw that it is pretty common when you just begin to work out or increase the intensity. Apparently it’s a shock to your system, and can cause water retention that subsides within a week. I’ll be back in the gym tomorrow. Thanks for the advice about just starting with one set. I tried to do 2 but it was so hard. I think I overdid it.
Yes, that makes sense. Glad I could help! Let me know if there is anything else I can do. 🙂
Love it!! Thanks for the tips Flavia x
awesome, thank you!
Hey Flavia,
I absolutely love my curvalicious workouts, but have come to a busy time in my schedule. I’d like to continue doing all of the exercises; however, my schedule won’t permit me to workout 5 days a week.
Are there exercises you can recommend from each disc that I can combine into one workout and do it maybe 3 times a week so that I’m still targeting each area?
I sincerely appreciate your help and the time you take to answer my questions.
Sincerely,
Yvonne
Hi Yvonne,
In the Curvalicious workout guide Flavia states “If you can only workout 3 – 4 days a week, do the exercises in order and continue from week to week. For example, if you are doing Day 1-3 this week, next week start at Day 4 and go in order, Day 5, Day 1 – next week Day 2, Day 3, Day 4 etc.” Hope that helps!
Hi Anna,
Thank you for letting me know, I guess I should have read the guide! 🙂 I appreciate your reply.
Have a wonderful Thanksgiving!
Yvonne
Your welcome, no problem! Happy Thanksgiving to you too! 🙂
Thanks Flavia! Love your honesty, your such a great role model 🙂
You mentioned to reduce or eliminate wheat and gluten, how does dairy fit into the solution for reducing cellulite?
Thanks
Jd
Hey Jdee, I always suggest having no more than 2 servings of dairy a day!
What if you already have cellulite , will this get rid of it. That is what I need help with. Also my stomach As I am getting older my stomach is getting harder to control the extra tires if you know what I mean. What should I try?
Nutrition and exercises are really the only proven methods to help flatten the stomach and lesson cellulite!
I have terrible cellulite on my butt and on my lower hamstrings. My trainer told my healthy fats help like LSA, avocados etc My butt needs alot of work!!!
Hello Flavian, do you have any HITT or Plyometrics. Videos?
Here you go: https://flaviliciousfitness.com/2012/02/29/cardio-workout-for-fat-loss/ 🙂
All the best!
– Anna, CPT, FF Specialist
Very informative as always thankyou.
is there a video for the 4 exercises for getting rid of cellulite??
Lilly
Hi Lilly,
In Flavia’s Curvalicious program she demonstrates exercises 1, 2 and 4. The 3rd exercise is very similar to what Flavia demonstrates in this video (exercise 2): https://flaviliciousfitness.com/2013/01/08/fat-loss-workout-videos/
All the best!
Anna, CPT, FF Specialist
Hi..
I work out 5 days a week about 2 hours a day and I don’t see results as fast as I think i should. I do everything from yoga, kickboxing, step, spinning and body works plus abs. I have been doing this regime for about 3 months. How long should I wait for to see results?
Also, what do you recommend to eat after a high impact workout?
Thanks!
Katherine
Hi Katherine,
You should be seeing some results by now. Make sure you are taking pictures weekly, every two weeks so that you can monitor your progress. Since you are looking at yourself every day you may not notice it quit as much so pictures will help.
Check this out for post workout nutrition: https://flaviliciousfitness.com/2011/07/21/post-workout-nutrition/
All the best!
Anna, CPT, FF Specialist
So do eat wheat and gluten?
Flavia does not recommend eating wheat or gluten. Check out this article: https://flaviliciousfitness.com/2011/12/07/wheat-free-diet/
All the best,
Anna, CPT, FF Specialist
My biggest problem area for cellulite is just above my knees. I hate wearing shorts, skirts or dresses that fall above the knee. Any suggested exercise for this area? I’m not even sure what it would be, it’s not exactly quads… Any advice would be appreciated!
Hi Amanda,
This is more than likely just overall unwanted bodyfat. Try to eat as Flavia recommends and following a balanced weight training and HIIT regimen should do the trick. Here are a few great articles to get you started: https://flaviliciousfitness.com/2012/11/01/nutrition-for-women/ https://flaviliciousfitness.com/2012/05/30/female-fitness-cardio-tips/
Also try to eliminate toxic substances from your diet like sugar, wheat and processed foods. Drinking lemon water is also beneficial in eliminating toxins from the body.
All the best!
Anna, CPT, FF Specialist
What are these exercises called?
Thanks!