Doesn’t it seem as though summer is coming a bit quicker this year? Each day brings us one step closer to busting out the bathing suits and baring our bodies. This is the time of year when many people, women in particular, start scrutinizing their body closer than ever. My inbox is proof of this. I have decided to write an article about the number one question of last week- how to banish cellulite.

I was a bit surprised at the many misconceptions surrounding cellulite. A lot of women asked if such-and-such cream would work, if they should stop eating cottage cheese or if surgery was their only option.

What exactly is cellulite and what is the best way to get rid of it?

Cellulite is nothing more than additional fat cells stored in your body. We all have connective tissue that separates fat cells into little compartments. Women have honey-combed shaped compartments and men have a crisscross pattern. The honey-combed shape compartments are the reason some women have dimply thighs, or cottage cheese looking arms.

Getting rid of cellulite is simple, but not necessarily easy. The only way cellulite can be reduced is to reduce overall body fat. You cannot spot reduce or rub a cream on it. You cannot starve yourself either. The only way to rid yourself of cellulite is to follow these 5 highly effective, simple, and to-the-point tips.

1) Eat 5-6 small meals throughout the day. Each meal should be 2-3 hours apart. Each meal should contain one protein and one carb. The first meal should be eaten within an hour after waking.

2) Drink a cup of water at each meal.

3) Rest properly. This means taking at least 48 hours between strength training the same muscles, and it also means getting at least 7-8 hours of sleep per night. Lastly, it means taking 1-2 days off from exercising per week.

4) Cardio should be done at different intensity levels and different session lengths. Consider doing a low intensity/long session, a high intensity/short session and a few medium intensity/medium length sessions per week.

5) Strength train each muscle 1-3 times per week. You should lift a proper weight and perform the proper amount of sets/reps for your strength training method. If you need more guidance or exercise ideas you can head over http://www.strength-training-woman.com

All of the above things combined will result in cellulite reduction. There are no miracle creams or secrets. It’s all about good old fashioned working out. Having said that, workout smarter and not harder! Get on a great program that is tailored to your body and your goals. Everyone is different, but following these 5 tips practically guarantees your cellulite will vanish.

Copyright 2006 Lynn VanDyke

Lynn VanDyke is the head trainer at http://www.TrainerLynn.com . She will create a custom fitness and nutrition program for you. Get dramatic results with a professionally designed workout routine and menu. Work with a master trainer and fitness nutritionist 1-on-1 and finally achieve your weight loss goals! Simple and extremely effective.

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I don’t make a lot of money, but I am needing help with my weight loss. I’ve already lost 120 pounds last year and initially it was near 150 pounds, but gained a little. I am frustrated with how things are going now because I can’t seem to get my body to lose weight. I am in the 220-230 range and used to weigh 350 pounds.

I do look different, but not happy still being a plus size, albeit, I look totally different. I still have weight to lose and need help and motivation. I keep waiting for something that’s not happening. I had gone on a liquid protein diet for a year or over a year and didn’t eat solid food. In that year I lost a lot of weight and also exercised vigorously.

Now, I want the physique of a bodybuilder, but don’t know how to get it. Don’t really know what to do or if it’s possible. When I step out of the shower, I am reminded of my weight loss and how much I still want to lose. I want to get that giggly stuff off of me and be the size I know is under there.

I just don’t have a lot of money to work with. All I know is that I didn’t come this far to be a borderline plus size. What really hurt was gaining a little back and that was because I backed off of exercise initially.

I’m back at it again, but I’m not totally committed and consistent. I want to work with weights, but feel intimidated in the gym, seeing strange people and a room full of equipment that I don’t know completely how to use. I want to have the physique of a bodybuilder - a female feminine bodybuilder, not a man-ish looking woman at all. My arms are still fat (my uppers) and well, I carried a lot of weight for a long time, but things seemed to go back into place, just a flabby mess and still got 50-70 pounds to lose. It’s hard to face, but I’ve faced it- it hurts, but I’m not done losing weight. If I had not backed off the exercise, I would no doubt have already reached my goal weight of 150 pounds. I need so desperately to get there because that is where I know the true me really is.

Even though I’ve been complimented and told I’m pretty and look so good now, I’m not happy with this result. I know I need to lose more. I want a flat stomach and the things I was cheated out of physically, like having a slender body. I know it will take work and I’m ready for it, but I realized that having guidance and motivation from someone knowledgeable would certainly rekindle that fire within that enabled me to keep the determination to lose all that weight, in light of the severe difficulties that I had to overcome. Is it possible to achieve what I’m wanting? Thank you in advance of your reply,

Sincerely, Heidi

Answer: It is always possible to achieve a goal. Some goals take longer than others to achieve that’s all. You have already lost 120 pounds, that means you know you can do it. Now you just need to lose another 80 and you will have achieved your goal.

I can tell you one thing for certain. The next eighty will be easier if you are not on an all liquid protein diet. This is a terrible way to struggle through weight loss. My hat goes off to you for how hard that must have been. To tell you the truth, it’s a miracle you didn’t give up sooner.

I had to say that because if you want to do it properly with out the torture, you can eat good meals, work out normally and still lose 2 pounds a week. This means that if you start now, in ten months or August 5th 2007, you will be 150 pounds. That is the honest to goodness truth. There is no reason under the sun that I know of that can keep you from this goal other than you simply not trying or not having the proper information.

I hope this helps you Heidi. Follow your dreams and know that making a choice involves taking action. Let me know if I can help further.

Copyright 2006 Raymond Burton

Ray L Burton is a personal trainer and author of the book Fat to Fit. You can learn more about exercise at www.buildingbodies.ca and read more about his weight loss book at www.fattofitbook.com

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Happy New Year! Well I have begun my New Year the way I’ve started many others. Determined and depressed. How can you have the same feelings at the same time? Oh well, I promised to be honest, so we will be more determined together ok? There are two sides to depression, the feeling and the action(or inaction as the case may be). It is not good to supress your feelings but it is not good to be dictated by them either. Acknowledge your feelings! ” I don’t want to write this, I don’t want to do anything!” ” I’m off of work today!” “I just want to go back to bed!” “I can’t eat if I’m sleeping right?” Does that make us feel better? Probably not but this does. I’m writing. Action slowly causes those feelings to disapate. If not then you might need to seek professional help. Still with me? Then Let’s begin!

I listed foods that I like that are good to eat and here are a few:

1. Whole grain and natural carbohydrates. Raw and plain potatoes. Whole grain cereals, like oatmeal. Brown rice and similar grains. The closer to the dirt the better it is.

2. Beans and legumes- If you eat from this group, good for you! Keep it up, try dishes with beans that used to have meat in them, like casseroles! If you don’t eat beans you need to try to find some that you will eat. Ask for bean dishes at restaurants. Try exotic places and don’t be afraid to ask questions.

3. Fruits and Vegetables- Eat as many raw as possible! Cook the others as little as possible. Frozen and canned are ok if nothing else is available but no heavy syrup fruits.

4. Fish- I can not stress enough the importance of eating fish. Especially if you are limiting your intake of red meats(a good idea.) I know alot of people who say “I don’t like/eat fish”. Again, go to a restaurant to experience different kinds of fish. That is how I discovered tilapia and scrod for the first time. Like I’ve stated, I know plenty of people who won’t eat fish. Most of them are overweight. Enough said.

How about exercise? Well since I am off today I need to do more than I do in the course of a normal day. (I know, I feel like resting, relaxing, it is my day off!) I will start by walking to the rental office to pay my rent. Now to be honest I had planned to drive but I forgot to stop there on the way back from dropping off my daughter at school. Well good. I can walk. My reason for not exercising has always been laziness of course but also pain. It hurts to walk. But my mantra for this year is “Well hell it hurts anyway whether I walk or not!” Lets start to push this body this year! Let’s see what we are made of! Let’s begin ok?

Next, I will start to write down all that I eat and drink and how I move. I have never done this successfully before but I’ve been told it is critical for success. Now please don’t compare what I eat with what you “should eat” I am 350 pounds for a reason. Just like our parents said “Don’t do what I do, do what i say” Challenge yourself! Do better than me! I also need to be encouraged by you. Please Email me with your comments, good or bad. Criticism is the beginning of learning, if you are humble. I am not an exercise expert. I am not a diet expert. I am not being sponsored by any diet company. I am just a fat guy really wanting to lose weight. I am getting married this Valentine’s Day. I need to do this now. do you have a motivating goal? Do you have a person who will help you when it gets difficult? I will be that person for you. Let me help you, we can help each other. Let’s begin.

Alan “Bud” Speaker is beginning to gain a name for himself in the self help field but is also branching out into fiction. If you need to contact Bud, you can Email him at submess@aol.com

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