Foam roller classes are appearing on health club schedules, and personal trainers are toting them to client's homes to use as an integral part of training and stretching. If you've ever rolled an achy back over a tennis ball, you're familiar with the intense feeling, but this exercise tool has a wider, more comfortable surface with give.

"Rolling your legs, back and other large muscle groups before biking or running is a great warm-up prior to cardio because you increase oxygen flow to working muscles," said Hollywood trainer Ashley Borden, who has trained Natasha Bedingfield and Mandy Moore, among other A-listers. Borden recommends all her clients roll out for 15 to 20 minutes three days a week in addition to performing consistent cardio and strength training. Here are three ways that using the foam roller boosts your body:

Anti-Cellulite Fix. The foam roller minimizes the appearance of cellulite because it works like endermologie, a very deep massage that breaks up interwoven fat fibers and rushes oxygenated blood to afflicted areas, said Borden. "Rolling out loosens and opens your muscle fascia and causes more nutrient-rich blood to move through those fibers, which breaks up fatty tissues," Borden said. "As connective tissues are stretched, circulation improves and the body expels toxins and abnormal fluid retention."
What to Roll: Lie sideways to roll inner and outer thighs, hips and buttocks.

You can't cure cellulite -- but you can reduce it.

Photo: Barbara L. Hanson, Flickr

Sorry gals, eating less cottage cheese won't get rid of your cellulite. Neither will nutritional perfection and an impeccable gym record. But maybe you'll feel better if you know the facts and a few steps you can take.

There's a reason why 90 percent of women stare at their backside in the mirror with angst, while few men ever face dimpled thighs. Blame those bumpy hills and valleys on estrogen. Doctors think excess estrogen weakens connective tissue, allowing fat to bulge up from underneath. Cellulite also has a genetic component, so if you're described as your mother's daughter and she's got bunches of it, that's likely your future.

But don't be totally bummed out, even if cellulite can't be cured, you can minimize it. Quit smoking to protect those connective tissues. Keep your weight down, too -- more fat, more cellulite. And exercise firms your skin, so skip the late-night miracle creams and hop on a treadmill. Don't head to the lipo doc, the American Academy of Dermatology says liposuction won't remove cellulite, and can actually make it look worse. But if you've got the cash, there are two FDA-approved treatments to temporarily remove cellulite. Light therapy with suction or massage breaks down and redistributes the fat, sending it out of sight to the bottom layer.

Now if it would only stay there. You can always try yoga.

Are you loading up on anti-nutrients? You might be slowing down your metabolism. Jillian Michaels has the fix in her new book: "Master Your Metabolism."

Liposuction's invasive, not to mention expensive. So what if you could have lipo in a bottle? It's not quite the same thing, but Kristen thinks it comes close. Want a smooth bottom this summer? Click on over!

Can forgiving old hurts really help you lose weight? Laura thinks so. Negative thoughts cause stress, which can lead to unhealthy habits. If you've been holding on to a grudge, Laura will show you how to let go and lose.

Here's a reason to drink up that green tea: It might stimulate the brown fat in your body. Unlike white fat, which is really just nasty stuff, brown fat is like a furnace that burns calories. So drink up!

Common diet advice holds that if you can't eat a whole food, choose a product with less than five ingredients. Not so, though, when it comes to potato chips and ice cream. Junk food is still junk food whether it's all natural or not.

Birth control pills might mess with your ability to get buff. Studies find the hormones might prevent building muscle mass in women, but don't skip that contraception just yet, especially if you're taking the Pill for good reason.

Start your spring workout wardrobe today by shopping at the Gap, the new owner of the fitness wear line Athleta. Might make a great Mother's Day present (hint, hint).

Free and convenient, office gyms are a great perk. But exercising with co-workers can feel a little weird at first. Fitz has tips for newcomers so they can take advantage of working out at work.

She's 23 years old and runs 17 miles a day so she can reach her goal of running all the way across the U.S. Meet Katie Visco, wondergirl.

Fifty years of research can't be wrong! The Mediterranean diet comes out on top -- again -- as a heart healthy diet. Not sure how to eat Mediterranean style? Read some of our other posts on the topic.

So, you've got cellulite. Who doesn't? Even if you're thin and totally fit, it's entirely possible to have a bit of orange peel skin on your booty and thighs, especially as you age. And it's not easy to get rid of, that's for sure.

But, short of lipo, what's a girl to do if she wants to ditch the cottage cheese butt? Can any of the products out there actually get rid of cellulite, or are they essentially just pricey lotions?

I had a chance to try out Elemis Body Sculpting Lip-Refining Serum and Elemis Body Sculpting Firming Cream, which are designed to work together to reduce cellulite. In fact, Elemis boasts that, in 2006, independent clinical trials showed that 96 percent of women experienced positive slimming results, and 92 percent of women found that the appearance of "orange peel" skin was reduced by up to six percent. And while that's all fine and good, what I really wanted to know was whether or not it would work for me!

Thanks to genetics, many of us lovely ladies are destined to have a run-in with cellulite and stretch marks (if we haven't already). So if you've ever seen your grandmother in a bathing suit and felt like you were looking into the future, it's good to know that there are ways to effectively prevent and minimize the appearance of these epidermal nuisances. From diet and exercise to camouflage and cure-alls, learn more from Dr. Howard Murad, a dermatologist and CEO/founder of Murad, Inc., and Dr. Ronald Moy, a dermasurgeon and professor at UCLA's David Geffen School of Medicine.

What's your cellulite and stretch mark solution?

Got a little bit of orange peel skin on your bootie? Are your thighs at all reminiscent of cottage cheese? Even if you're in phenomenal shape, you can still suffer from cellulite, and Marisa Miller is proof.

The Victoria's Secret model may look flawless, but she insists she isn't, and she's sharing her secrets to hiding cellulite. "Skin is huge and there are so many great bronzers ... if you have a little glow it really hides the imperfections -- bruises, spider veins, we all have a little cellulite. When you have that glow and you're moisturized, the light hits you in a different way."

Of course, she works hard to keep the alleged cellulite at bay, doing lots of boxing, spinning and surfing -- "I try to mix it up," says Miller. "... I just get outside and try to make it fun so my body doesn't get bored." And she's not the only one working hard but still dealing with cellulite -- Kim Kardashian is a member of that club, too.

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Have fitness questions? Fitz has your answers. Our ThatsFit.com fitness expert -- and now your own virtual personal trainer -- will help you get fit, increase your overall health and do it in a fun way. Drop your questions here in the Comments section below and we'll choose one per week to publish on That's Fit! Learn more about Fitz here.

Q. Hi Fitz, I'm a woman in my early 40s and have really let myself go over the past decade. I used to have a nice figure, but now I'm stuck with a 'lumpy bumpy butt' that is far too big. The rest of my body needs work too. I joined Weight Watchers two weeks ago, cause I saw that you wrote it was a great program. I'm down three pounds already. So, what do you advise I do to improve my backside. It's awful! Marlene

A. Hello Miss Marlene. I'm glad you sent me your question, and I'm confident I can help. There are a lot of things you can do to tighten up that tush. You've already taken the first step with Weight Watchers -- losing weight will be most important for getting rid of bulging pockets of fat.

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She's a skinny girl -- size two skinny, to be exact -- but One Tree Hill actress Sophia Bush says even girls her size can have cellulite. I believe it. Skinny can still be soft. And big can still be toned.

Bush, 26, is speaking out about skinny cellulite because she thinks it's important to remind young women that what they see in photos may not be the real deal. Don't think that stick figure on the cover of a fashion magazine doesn't have a little flab under her tight dress. And don't think that rail-thin star hasn't had her glossy likeness retouched. Even Halle Berry has cellulite, says Bush.

Staying fit is key, no matter your size. "I think it's healthy when fitness experts encourage fitness rather than getting a certain body shape," says Bush. "And I'm Italian -- I love food. I'm not going to cut out bread and pasta and wine to be thinner."

Well, when you're a size two, I guess that's easy to say. Still, she makes a good point.

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I love Sephora, but you have to be cautious about some of their products. For instance? Bliss FatGirlSleep cream promises to get rid of cellulite while you're sleeping. No, seriously. It's not the first time such claims have been issued and I'm sure it won't be the last. Regardless, it's all a bunch of baloney, and at $38 for 6 oz, it's expensive baloney.

Here's the product description:

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If you've slipped on shorts this spring and been greeted by two long, skinny ghosts, never fear, O, The Oprah Magazine is here, offering a bunch of tips to uncover your hot legs this summer.

The closest I've come to purchasing a self-tanning product is a shimmering facial bronzing powder -- love it! Gives me warm, sparkly color in the middle of winter. Now if you're ready to try self-tanning, follow this guide:

• After purchasing one of O's favorite self-tanning products, dig out your loofah and exfoliate first for a more even tan.
• Then apply a thin layer of moisturizer to prevent streaks. It will dilute the tan a bit, but a uniform look is important. It's now time to grab the self-tanning bottle.
• Do not start from your feet and work up. Start where the sun hits most -- the thighs and calves -- blending outward. Apply while standing up to avoid too much product on stretched skin over the knees.
• If you have pale skin, try smoothing on a slightly iridescent lotion over the front/back of your thighs, shins and feet. This final step has a slimming effect!

Read the full article for more hot leg tips such as minimizing bruises, cellulite, saggy knees and visible veins.

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Kinoki Detox Foot Pads claim to remove your cellulite through a pad you tape to the bottom of your foot while you sleep. When you awaken, it will be covered with icky brown junk -- these are the toxins your body needs to eliminate (apparently in the same way a tree eliminates toxins through its roots). In addition to removing cellulite, they are supposed to cure headaches, depression, and insomnia by helping your body detox through "Kinoki's Natural Power of Nature."

I'm not convinced. Not at all.

While there might be some merit in the ancient Japanese (or Chinese, depending on whether you're watching the infomercial or reading the website) secrets upon which these are based, they're not going to remove cellulite. This is one product I won't be spending my hard-earned cash on -- I'd rather use it toward a new set of running shoes or a healthy meal, both of which are more likely to yield real results.

12 "healthy" foods that really aren't:

Why? Click to find out!

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I just picked up a fantastic book called Body Drama and I think it's something every female age fourteen years old and up should have. The book is based on the nitty gritty truth about all the weird things that happened to a woman's body and how to deal with it.

A woman's body is a wonderful thing. It's also confusing, stressful, a bit gross and totally out of control sometimes. Body Drama answers the questions ninety percent of us are way too embarrassed to ask. It is choc full of explicit pictures of REAL women who randomly volunteered to show their stuff.

• Uneven boobs? Check!
• Cellulite? Check!

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Why is it that my husband lost 40 pounds on the same eating program I've implemented for myself, the one responsible for my 15-pound weight loss? Clearly, he had more weight to lose than I did. Still, his fat seemed to melt away while mine slowly dissolved. My hubby's once-soft body is now lean and defined. And while I have reached an ideal weight myself, I'm left with a fair amount of soft tummy skin that just won't go away. Why is female fat so stubborn, I wonder. According to the experts at speakingofwomenshealth.com, here's one explanation.

Women are more susceptible to showing cellulite because they store more of their fat just beneath the skin (subcutaneously). Men store their fat deep below the muscles. The more fat you have just beneath the skin, the more likely bulges will show. And even when men have a large stockpile of fat beneath the skin, they often escape the rippled look because the outer layers of a woman's skin are thinner, showing the contents underneath more clearly. Also, connective tissue compartments can be tighter and more restrictive in women. This increases the tendency of fat cells to bulge outward to a greater degree.

Another problem for the women of the world: Females concentrate their fat storage in the hips, thighs, and buttocks. If fat stores were more evenly distributed around the body, the fat effect would be reduced substantially.

There you have it, one viewpoint on why we women may never entirely escape the curse of cellulite.

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Cellulite is something that affects almost every woman out there -- even seemingly perfect celebrities. Jessica Simpson, Kate Hudson and Mischa Barton are among those who are plagued with cottage cheese flab, according to Life & Style Magazine. But cellulite doesn't always have the final word; Here are some tips for avoiding it or getting rid of it:

• Do like Jessica Simpson and choose only sugar-free drinks
• Do like Kate Hudson and get some exercise in -- though exercise alone won't make all the difference
• Do as Mischa Barton does and eat a diet low in fat and high in estrogen.
  

Good advice? What do you think?

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