If your cellulite has been getting worse and you want to get rid of it, this article will show you the best exercises to reduce cellulite without weights.
Cellulite is what gives the skin around your thighs and bum the appearance of orange skin, and most women hate it.
Luckily, there are a series of exercises to reduce cellulite that you can do from the comfort of your home.
WHAT CAUSES CELLULITE?
It has for the longest time been held that cellulite is caused solely by fat. While this is true, new research has shown that muscles give fat its shape.
A weak muscle layer will make the appearance of cellulite more obvious. So, exercises to reduce cellulite should aim at building muscle and also melting excess fat.
Start these exercises off with warm-up to avoid injuries and get the most out of the workout.
BEST EXERCISES TO REDUCE CELLULITE WITHOUT WEIGHTS
1. GLUTE BRIDGES
Whoever created glute bridges had women with cellulite in mind. This is hands down one of the most effective exercises to reduce cellulite. It targets the glute and thigh muscles.
How to:
Lie flat on the floor, bend your knees while your feet remain firmly on the floor
Place a hand on either side of your body
Squeeze your glutes then lift your hips off the floor, not too high that you exert pressure on your lower back
Plant your feet firmly in the floor so you can hold this position for 2-3 seconds
Lower your hips down and repeat
2. AIR SQUATS
Squats are among the best exercises that target the thigh and butt muscles.
How to:
Start with your legs apart
Stretch your hands in front of you
Slowly lower your body, as if you intend to sit on your chair
Hold that position for two seconds and resume an upright position
Remember to not extend your knees further than your toes. Also, if your knees hurt, you are not doing it the right way.
3. JUMP SQUATS
This is a harder and more rewarding variation of the above exercise. The only difference is you jump after every squat.
How to:
Start in a squat position, of course not to low that you will have a problem jumping
Make sure your knees are ever so slightly bent
Now leap high into the air and land back in a squat. As you leap, put your feet together to make it more intense.
If you need it to be more intense, bring your hands behind your head o you have to use more effort and engage more muscles when jumping.
4. DONKEY KICKS
These, just as the name suggests, involve kicking back just as a donkey would.
How to:
Get down on both knees
Kick one leg back and high while keeping the knee bent
Lower the leg and do the same with the other leg
Do 10 reps on each leg
Take care not to unnaturally arch your back as you do this.
5. OUTER AND INNER THIGH KICKS
You will need a chair or at least somewhere to hold as you do this exercise.
How to:
Stand 0.5 m from the back of the chair, or just make sure there is enough space to swing one leg in front of the other.
Tighten your abs and rise on your tiptoes on both legs
Starting with your right leg, swing it to the left then back to the right. The swing to the right should be high to target the glutes and quads.
Do 10 reps of this, and repeat the whole process with your left leg.
Your hips should face the front all this while.
6. LEG CIRCLES
This one too will target the glutes and work on multiple leg muscles. It is a tad intense, given you will need to stand on one leg at a time while circling the other.
How to:
Tighten your abs and relax your shoulders, both feet firmly on the ground and apart to help with your balance.
Put your hands on your waist.
Lift your preferred leg to knee level, and keep it straight
In this position, make circles with the leg. The impact will be felt all the way to the glutes.
Do 10 reps and start on the other leg
7. KNEELING SIDE LEG RAISES
For this, you will need a firm flat surface but not so hard that it will hurt your knees and arms. Spread a mat to prevent pain.
How to:
Get in all fours position. Lift one hand and off the floor and face sideways.
Straighten the top leg and then slowly raise it as high as possible.
Slowly lower it to starting position and repeat.
8. SCISSOR KICKS
Your thigh muscles will greatly benefit from this exercise, and your lower abs too! Just remember not to bend your knees.
How to:
Lie down with your hands behind your hips
Lift both legs so they are about 45 degrees from the ground
Lift the right leg higher, while you bring the left down
Keep alternating them and pick up speed, such that your legs sort of mimics the movement of a scissor
Rest after 15 reps and repeat
9. LUNGES
Lunges are effective for building muscle mass not just in your legs, but in your mid-section too.
How to:
Place your hands on your hips and keep your body upright.
Make a long stride forward and then bend both knees. Lower the rear knee until it almost touches the floor and until the front knee is bent at 90 degrees.
Return back to starting position and lunge with the opposite leg. Keep alternating the legs.
10. JUMP LUNGES
By incorporating a jump into the lunge, you add more intensity even without using weights.
How to:
Do the lunge as described above and as you rise, jump and lift both feet off the floor.
Once you land, lunge again and jump.
Complete reps for one side before alternating.
