Cellulite is known medically as adiposis edematosa, and there are three grades. Grade 1 shows no clinical symptoms, Grade 2 requires the skin to show pastiness, and Grade 3 cellulite has visible roughness of the skin, according to Medical News Today. The main areas affected by cellulite are the stomach, buttocks, hips and legs. Exercises will help reduce the appearance of cellulite, but they cannot remove it completely.
Walking
Walking is a low-impact form of cardiovascular exercise. Not only does it burn calories, but it also helps tone the muscles in the legs and buttocks. A 160-lb. person burns more than 360 calories in one hour while walking at 4 mph. Regardless of your weight, mix in intervals of jogging to increase your caloric expenditure even more.
Lunges
Lunges work the glutes, quadriceps and hamstrings while you keep your abs engaged to maintain a straight back, making them effective at combating cellulite. While standing with your feet together, take a long step forward with your left foot, lower yourself down by bending your knees, and then bring your foot back to the starting point. Repeat with your right leg and continue to alternate back and forth. To increase the resistance, hold a medicine ball against your chest and hold dumbbells by your sides. When lunging, do not let your front knee go past your toes. For a more intense variation, place your feet in a lunge position, lower yourself down and jump in the air. After doing a set of reps, switch your lead leg and repeat.
Prone Leg Lifts
Prone leg lifts target the glutes and hamstrings on the back of the thighs. While lying on your belly, lift your right leg in the air as high as possible and forcefully squeeze your glutes and hamstrings. Slowly lower your leg and repeat with your other leg. Alternate back and forth in a steady motion. To increase the resistance, strap on a pair of ankle weights.
Squat Thrust With Twist
A squat thrust with twist works your glutes, hips, thighs and abs at the same time. Stand with your feet shoulder-width apart and clasp your hands out in front of your chest. Slowly lower yourself down until your thighs parallel the floor, and as you do so, twist your torso to your right side. Stand back up, lower yourself again and twist to your left. Alternate back and forth with every squat.
Squat Thrusts
Squat thrusts force you to contract your abs while you simultaneously work your glutes, hamstrings and quadriceps. While standing with your feet together, bend down and place your hands on the floor approximately shoulder-width apart and in front of your feet. Steadily kick your legs straight behind your body and form a straight line from your shoulders to your heels. Quickly kick your feet back forward and continue going back and forth in a steady motion. For a variation, alternate kicking one leg at a time behind you.
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