Upper leg cellulite occurs when collagen fibers are stretched out, allowing fat cells to bulge, which creates a ripple appearance, called cellulite. This condition is caused by a variety of factors, including poor diet, dehydration and even a slow metabolism, according to MayoClinic.com 1. There are many purported treatments on the market; however, the experts at MayoClinic.com say that weight loss and strength training are still the most effective methods for minimizing the appearance of upper leg cellulite 1.

Create a weight loss plan. Losing weight is a highly effective way to reduce cellulite. You can use Mayo Clinic's Healthy Weight Pyramid Tool, which allows you to enter personal information, such as height, weight, age and gender. The tool will then walk you through your daily caloric requirements and food group serving recommendations for weight loss.

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Track your serving sizes. It’s easy to eat beyond the portion size you expect if you don't pay attention to package labels and serving sizes. Overeating will inhibit you from losing cellulite, as the fat cells within cellulite are creating the problem. Pre-measure your favorite foods to ensure you aren’t overeating.

Start a strength training program. Strengthening leg muscles may reduce the appearance of upper leg cellulite, according to MayoClinic.com 1. Strength train a minimum of twice weekly, recommends the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention 3. The CDC offers a list of leg exercises that you can do to reduce fat.

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Schedule aerobic activity each week. Exercise burns calories, resulting in weight loss and reduced upper leg cellulite. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends at least 150 minutes of activity each week 3. This works out to 30 minutes, five days a week.

Talk with your physician about laser treatments if brisk exercise doesn't work and your body fat is low, but you still have cellulite on your legs. According to MayoClinic.com, laser treatment is a promising method for treating cellulite 1. The treatment will massage tissue in the upper legs to minimize cellulite appearance. Expect to attend several sessions. Results are reported to last about six months.

Tips

If you’re having difficulty meeting the aerobic activity requirement, try a new approach. Two 15-minute walks daily, five times a week will quickly meet the requirement.

Warnings

A common myth is that liposuction improves cellulite. This isn’t true, according to MayoClinic.com. This procedure can, in fact, make cellulite worse. Liposuction focuses on getting rid of fat cells instead of smoothing out the skin’s appearance.