Almost all women past puberty age carry some degree of cellulite, although it may not be visible. Cellulite is a progression and occurs in stages. As mentioned, most people think cellulite is a direct result of being overweight, but medical research disputes that notion.

The two biggest contributors to cellulite are hormones and genetics. Hormonal factors revolve mostly around estrogen levels. Genetics, on the other hand, offer more complex factors, like body composition for one. Another genetic factor is body composition. An additional genetic factor is circulatory patterns, which affect skin cells.

Specific Exercises Will Help

Diet and exercise have an indirect effect on cellulite reduction, particularly in their role as stress fighters. If you've ever been treated for a stress problem, exercise is often a primary recommendation. The same holds true for cellulite reduction. Also, a good clean diet is another factor. Excess fat, salt, and alcohol have negative effects not only on weight and appearance, but stress levels as well.

While exercise alone won't eliminate a cellulite problem, it has an extremely positive effect on several levels. First, of course, are the physical benefits. In conjunction with those benefits are the mental and stress reduction benefits. As such, it's important to incorporate exercise, and specific exercises, to help combat the problem.

Specific Exercises

There's an exercise called the stiff legged deadlift, which might sound somewhat intimidating but it's really easy to do. This exercise will attack the area where cellulite is commonly found ... the back upper part of your legs, i.e. the upper hamstring area. First, stand tall with feet should width apart. Place two dumbell weights in your hands (start light at first, then increase the weight as you become more comfortable with the exercise). Then, with weights in hand, bend over at the waist, keeping your knees straight, until the weights touch the floor or get close to touching the floor. You'll feel this movement in the back of your thighs and the upper hamstring area. The stiff legged deadlift also burns a surprising amount of calories. Try 2-3 sets of 10 and increase as you gain proficiency. This is an excellent exercise to improve your appearance.

Another good exercise for cellulite reduction is indoor cycling. Try taking a spinning class if you belong to a health club. If not, use a stationary bike for at least 1/2 hour at a moderate pace. Spinning classes in particular are recommended because they burn a significant amount of calories. Further, they're fun and challenging, which helps reduce stress.

To summarize, a combination of factors will help you reduce cellulite or prevent you from gaining much cellulite to begin with. Combine stress reduction, a healthy diet, and specific exercises or an overall consistent exercise program to help ease the problem.