When I am out and about, I am sometimes stopped by other women complementing me on my legs and asking me how I ward off cellulite. Typically, I smile and tell them it’s a combination of diet, exercise, an anti-cellulite regimen on addition to genetics.

People might be surprised to learn that the genetics is not on my side when it comes to cellulite. My mother, who is 88 years young, still covers up her cellulite by wearing long skirts, long shorts, or slacks. She has had cellulite as long as I can remember and never shows her legs. I have asked her about it, if it bothers her, or  if she has tried to prevent it.  Cellulite is a sensitive subject to many with my mom being no different.

If you have cellulite, you are not alone. Ninety percent of all women have some level of cellulite caused by heredity, inactivity and diet. Your genes are your genes but when your food intake becomes greater than energy output, then body fat levels rise, especially as you age.

I suppose I was never truly worried about getting cellulite, since I’m also 50 percent of my dad’s good genes and I live a different health and fitness lifestyle then Mom. But still, over the years I keep a watchful eye out for that dimple appearance, due to her, and with the first slight showing of any, I hit my anti-cellulite program even harder.

So what is my anti-cellulite program? What do I recommend that works for me? It is a treatment plan and daily regimen that I have developed over the years from trial and error. Just like any exercise and diet program, you’re anti-cellulite regimen should be customized for your body type, lifestyle and genetics. This of course takes time, patience and commitment to discover what works best for you.

For me, it starts with an anti-cellulite diet. This includes a glass of cold cran-water (1 oz. 100% unsweetened, organic cranberry juice, 7 oz water and 1 teaspoon psyllium fiber) when I first wake up and before going to bed. a cup of hot water with fresh lemon before each meal, and staying hydrated with lots of fresh water throughout the day – all to help flush out unwelcomed fats and unhealthy toxins in the body.

Next up? Food! Who doesn’t like to eat? For me, I love doughy food and sweets especially which all the wrong foods to ingest when it comes to preventing cellulite. Yes, I love my pizza as well as creamy ice cream and warm chocolate brownies, none of which I eat today unless it’s a rare special treat or a revamped recipe that replaces the unhealthy ingredients with healthier choices. Hence, my daily intake is comprised of the eating clean diet which helps me to ward off cellulite in addition to other great benefits.

You need a good exercise plan as well; one that includes a minimum of 30 minutes of cardio daily to achieve fat burn. Running will burn the most, but additional great cardio exercises to help in the prevention of cellulite include: spinning, swimming, tennis, step aerobics, hiking and cross-country-skiing.

Behind closed doors, I have also developed a regimen that I do daily, every morning after showering and every evening before going to bed. It includes deep massaging my potential troubled areas with either a massage roller or a rolling pin, as suggested by a personal trainer over 15 years ago.  This was actually her mother’s trick. The more time you allow for the messaging of each area, the better. The trainer also suggested to walk (scoot) across a floor using your butt. Simply sit on the floor when your legs bent in front of you and your feet slightly touching the floor. Move forward by pushing off with one butt cheek at a time to move you across the room, continuing for 15-30 minutes. Afterward, I deep massage in anti-cellulite lotion with my hands and fingers. There are countless on the market, but I use Nivea Skin Firming Cellulite Gel-Cream Q10 Plus.

Preventing cellulite should be a part of your everyday ritual to reduce and prevent. Try any or all of my suggestions above and discover what works best for you and your genetic makeup. Staying youthful does take an extra effort, but is worth all the work in the long run for you and loved ones.

Be Fit. Be Strong. Be Well. Adriana