I carry the majority of my weight from just below my waist to my ankles -- in plain English, I think my legs are chubby. I have visible cellulite. What are some exercises that will help me trim down the fat around my leg muscles?

Exercises for a specific area of the body are unfortunately pretty ineffective for reducing fat. Despite what late-night commercials may claim, the only fat a "Thighmaster" will help you lose is any excess fat in your wallet. "Spot reducing" -- getting rid of fat by working the specific area of the body in which fat has accumulated -- just doesn't work. Fat won't come off the belly by doing crunches, no matter how many of them you do.

Here's what you can do to help remove the fat:

• Work all your muscles with weights, which will raise your metabolic rate and make you a more efficient fat-burning machine.
• Change your diet to one that is based around protein and vegetables. No sugar, flour or refined products allowed. Eat a minimum amount of starch (your best choices are oatmeal, sweet potatoes and beans) and only low-sugar, high-fiber fruit.
• Eat double the amount of fiber you think need.
• Be religious about drinking eight to ten large glasses of pure water.
• As often as practical considerations permit, don't eat after seven at night.

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