Hi - please bear with me - this is going to be a fairly long post. I did a search on "cellulite" on this web site and found TONS of stuff! I can't refer you to the exact threads, because I just copied and pasted the info into a Word document for my own use. So I'm going to paste it here, as well. I hope it helps! I am going to give it a try myself, and I have very high hopes!
THIS IS A POST FROM CATHE, TO A MEMBER WHO WANTED TO TONE HER LEGS IN A HURRY:
Hi Ashley! I have to be honest and say that a couple of weeks is really not enough time to find out what you legs will respond too plus see a huge difference in that time. But if a couple of weeks are all you have then I would say if you have never done Leaner Legs before, chances are your legs will react simply because it is something new to shock your system. While it still has squats and lunges (exercises you said have not worked for you) the workout will do them in an order, pace, and rep style that is different from what you are used to...which is a good thing.
Also, try to do about 400 (non-weighted) walking lunges (SHANNON'S NOTE: the thread went on to say that 400 lunges is for short-term, rapid results. It said a more typical number is 100 lunges) and the stability ball portion of Pyramid Lower Body two times per week.
Side Note: Remember that your legs will initially swell slightly after your first few workouts while they heal so really increase your water intake and help promote the healing process.
Try to eat as healthy and clean as possible too. This will make the biggest difference of all in a two week period.
Sample Two Week Workout:
Drink LOTS of water throughout the day, everyday!
Monday: Leaner Legs
Tues: Cardio
Wed: 400 walking lunges plus ball work in Pyramid Lower Body
Thurs: Cardio
Fri: Leaner Legs
Sat: Rest
Sun: Cardio plus 400 walking lunges plus ball work in PLB
Mon: High Intensity Cardio
Tues: Leaner Legs plus PLB ball segment
Wed: High Intensity Cardio
Thurs: Leaner Legs plus 400 walking lunges
Fri: Cardio plus PLB ball segment
Sat: Rest
Sun: Rest
THIS POST IS FROM ANOTHER MEMBER:
The Walking Lunge
This exercise requires a lot of space so you may need to take this outside in your driveway or somewhere that allows you to travel a straight distance of say 40 to 50 feet.
How to do it:
Stand with feet hip width apart, legs straight, abdominals contracted, and core muscles engaged. Keep torso centered between both legs as you take a generous step forward with the right foot, bending both knees to 90 degree angles. The right knee stays in line with the right ankle and rear thigh is perpendicular to the floor. The left (or in this case the rear knee) will point to the floor but never make contact with it. Continue to walk forward alternating lead legs until you have alternated the lead for 16 rep's per side. Do up to three walking sets if possible. Remember that even though you are moving forward in this lunge, you need to keep your stride within the range of a standard forward lunge, therefore keeping the lunging motion vertical and upright. As you step forward, sink down and feel the hips lower down as the quads and hamstrings activate. Then push off the back foot to propel forward to the other lead leg.
I ALSO THOUGHT THIS MIGHT BE USEFUL, SINCE IT WORKS ON THE BACKS OF THE LEGS.IT WAS POSTED BY ANOTHER MEMBER:
For definition in the hamstrings, you may want to bring in supine hamstring bridges with one or both heels placed on a chair or stability ball. I know Cathe has HS bridge exercises on at least one of her later releases (Pyramid lower body? Supersets and/or Push-Pull?).
My own variation is:
1. Lay on your back in front of a sturdy chair; place one heel on the edge of the seat and extend the other (non-working) leg straight up (that leg should be perpendicular to the floor);
2. Press the heel of the foot that's on the edge of the seat down and thereby bridge the lower core up; slowly lower down; repeat 12-16 times on that leg, then perform the same on the other leg
To up the intensity of this, you can place a heavy dumbbell across the pelvis, and/or put ankle weights on the ankles. You can also extend the non-working leg out only 45 degrees rather than 90 degrees.
This exercise isolates the hamstrings to a far greater degree than squats, plie squats and lunges, which are much more multi-joint and thus distribute the workload among all of the anterior and posterior leg muscles.
You may also want to check out the leg curl machine at the club. Since the prime action of hamstrings is to flex the knee, that kind of isolated work will be another good variation for you.
Just make sure not to overtrain the hams so that they become overly strong in relation to the quads. That kind of strength imbalance can have serious consequences on knee stability.
