Cellulite and Pregnancy
By Lisa Stone, ACE

Q. What would be the best exercise to do during pregnancy to prevent any more cellulite and what can I do to reduce the appearance of cellulite that I already have? Is it ok to start doing weights if I haven't done weights in many months?

A. Cellulite is just fat that is close to your skin's surface - it is best controlled through your food choices combined with exercise. So, make sure you're eating a healthy diet rich in fresh fruits and veggies, whole grains, low-fat dairy products, low-fat proteins (white meat chicken, fish, etc.), and LOTS of water.

Aerobic exercise such as walking, swimming, biking, and low-impact aerobics will help you burn excess fat and calories. Strength training exercise using light weights will help you increase your muscle mass which will speed up your metabolism and keep you in a calorie- and fat-burning mode throughout the day. After checking with your healthcare provider, start a program using light hand weights (soup cans or bottles of water work well, too) to strengthen your upper and lower body. Start with one set of 8-15 repetitions and build up to 3 sets of 8-15 reps.