Eighty to 90 percent of women have cellulite [1] — it's totally normal! It happens when fat cells push up against our skin [2] and the fibrous tissue that connects our skin to our muscle pulls down, resulting in a naturally bumpy appearance. Some women are more prone to cellulite, thanks to genetics (even if they're healthy!), but lifestyle can also play a role.

A post shared by Leanne Ward 🌻Here To Inspire (@the_fitness_dietitian) [3] on Apr 26, 2018 at 3:05am PDT

Leanne Ward [4], a sports dietitian known as the_fitness_dietitian [5] on Instagram, posted these before-and-after photos of herself saying, "You can take steps to reduce the amount of cellulite you have but you may never get rid of all of it (despite the good lighting in this photo - I still have a small amount!)" These photos were taken six months apart and Leanne says, "I worked my ass off in the gym & in the kitchen for that time - I dropped some body fat & put on muscle too (so ditch those scales as I'm currently the heaviest I've ever been but also the leanest!) 💪🏼"

Leanne is constantly asked how she reduced her cellulite, and as a dietitian, here are her five tips that may help you:

"❤️ Eat a healthy diet - include healthy fats, lean protein, low GI carbs & plenty of veggies & salad! Give up processed foods!
💙 Give up or reduce the booze [6] & sugary drinks. Make water & herbal tea your top fluids! Aim for 2+L per day
💜 Exercise regularly & by exercise I mean lift some heavy things [7]! I honestly think this was the biggest change for me - weight training for the win!💪🏼" Leanne also did HIIT cardio twice a week.
"💚 Regular foam rolling [8] for all your muscles but especially on the hamstrings 💛 I honestly have no idea if this works (probably doesn't but it won't do you any harm) but I bought a cellulite bristle brush & did dry brushing a few times a week."

Leanne says to remember that every body is different and results take time (six to 12 months). Most importantly, Leanne says to "LOVE & RESPECT YOUR BODY [9]." Take care of yourself, eat right, and exercise, but don't stress about a little cellulite — embrace it [10]! Pull on your bathing suit, get outside, and enjoy the sun!