Well, its that time of year when we can pack up our heavy clothes and bring out the skimpy shorts and skirts.  Unless you are like me and cover up from neck to ankle. I wish those old fashioned swimsuits would come back in style!

I hate wearing shorts and am very sensitive about my body. Why? Cellulite! The only thing that makes me feel (slightly)  better is that most women have it- 95% in fact. What is it exactly? Its lumpy fat deposits under the skin and you can thank your mom and dad for it as cellulite is genetic. Thanks a lot! Eating an unhealthy diet (sugars, fried and processed foods) doesn’t help.  Slow metabolism due to aging plus hormonal changes also bring on the cellulite.

Here’s what helps: walking and jogging reduce the appearance of these lumps and bumps by burning off fat, while yoga helps by increasing full body circulation- getting the blood flowing. Squats and lunges firm the muscles in the legs, creating a more muscular appearance.

I’ve also heard of dry brushing- using a dry body brush to brush the skin on the legs- or all over the body- to increase circulation and help drain the lymphatic system.

You can use an anti-cellulite cream twice a day (I like the one by L’Occitane) and massage it into the skin. I don’t know that its making a big difference but I do like the cooling and firming sensation of the cream.

After lots of research and reading about coffee ground scrubs, vacuum therapy and surgery, I found the most glowing review of a cellulite reduction and you can do it at home:

“Organic coconut oil and dry brushing which is very popular in Europe for circulation and for eliminating cellulite…My massuese mentioned to me you always brush in the direction of the lymphatic system so that it can circulate it out of the system quickly also increase you water intake before beginning the dry brush massage this help the system elminate toxin. For problem areas I used to spend at least ten minutes total and followed by a hot shower and I step out of the hot shower and while my pores are still open I put coconut oil all over my body and have noticed a dramatic decrease very close to eliminating all the cellulite. So it does work.”

I am going to try that- its easy and cheap and promises a likely positive outcome. In the meantime, I am stocking up on maxi-dresses.