My one-year anniversary for exercising is coming up and I'm proud of myself for that. I currently do the treadmill 6 days a week for 30-45 minutes, alternating incline and interval workouts. I also do 15 minutes of weight training everyday, alternating between my arms and legs. I definitely watch my diet and average about 1200-1500 calories a day. I'm 5' 7" and weigh 138. I was feeling good about myself until I tried on a swimsuit for our upcoming vacation. The backs of my legs are flabby and have cellulite. (Gross!)

How do I take the next step and firm up my body? I thought lifting weights (I use 10-pound hand and leg weights) would do it. If anyone has any advice please let me know. I would prefer exercises that I could do at home as kids make it difficult for me to get to a gym. I also started jumping rope, but I find that aggravates my back. Let me know. Thanks!

Lynn, it sounds like you have good exercise and eating habits, and that's a terrific start. I understand the difficulty in getting to a gym regularly, so here are some exercises you can do at home.

For a good overall toning and strengthening workout routine, you need to perform at least one exercise for every major muscle group. (Your major muscle groups include buttocks, thighs, lower legs, abs, arms, shoulders, back and chest.) I like large movements that use several muscle groups at once because they use your muscles the way you use them in every day activities like climbing stairs, moving furniture and reaching for something on a high shelf.

Sample lower body exercises:

Squats: This exercise works your butt and legs.
[A] Stand tall with your feet hip width apart and your hands on your hips.
[B] Bend your knees and lower your body until you feel your upper body folding forward over your thighs. How low you go will depend on your strength and flexibility, but never go so low that your buttocks is lower than your knees or your knees shoot out over your toes.
[C] Stand slowly back up, taking care not to lock your knees.

Lunges: This exercise works your butt and legs.
[A] Stand tall with your feet hip width apart and your hands on your hips.
[B] Leading with your heel, step your right foot a stride's length forward and bend both knees until your right thigh is parallel to the floor and your left thigh is perpendicular to it. Don't allow your knees to shoot out past your toes and be careful not to arch your back.
[C] Press off the ball of your right foot to stand back up. Repeat with your left leg and alternate.

Sample upper body exercises:

Push-ups: This exercise works your chest, shoulders and arms.
[A] Kneel on a mat with about 75 percent of your weight balanced on your palms. Pull your abdominals in so your back doesn't sag and your spine is in alignment.
[B] Bend your elbows and lower your body towards the floor. Once your upper arms are parallel with the floor, press back up to the start.

Shoulder presses: This exercise works your shoulders and arms.
[A] Sit up tall in a chair or on a bench with a dumbbell in each hand. Bend your arms and raise the weights up so that they are level with your ears and your palms are facing forward.
[B] Slowly straighten your arms upward taking care not to snap your elbows. Then, slowly lower the weights until they are alongside your ears again.

Sample middle body exercises:

Crunches: This exercise works your abdominal muscles.
[A] Lie on your back with your knees bent and placed hip-width apart. Bend your elbows and place your hands behind your ears so that your fingertips are touching. Tilt your chin slightly to align your neck with the rest of your spine and round your elbows slightly inward. Pull your abdominals gently in towards your belly button.
[B] Curl upward and forward until your head, neck and shoulders clear the floor. Don't pull on your neck or head with your hands and don't allow your back to arch up off the floor.
[C] Hold a moment at the top of the movement and slowly lower to the start.

Back raises: This exercise works your lower back.
[A]Lie on your stomach with your arms and legs outstretched. Tilt your head so that your forehead rests on the floor. If this is not comfortable, turn your head to either side.
[B] Lift your right leg and arm a few inches off the floor and stretch them out towards opposite ends of the room, as if you are trying to touch something with your fingertips and toes that is just out of your reach.
[C] Hold a moment and slowly lower to the start. Repeat with your left leg and arm. Alternate until you complete all reps.

If you don't have dumbbells, try using soup cans or bleach bottles full of sand or water as weights.

You also mentioned that you experience some lower back discomfort when you jump rope. There are many contributing factors to consider: Are you jumping on a hard floor? Is your form good? Are you jumping too high? You may need to improve upon the flexibility of your lower body (hamstrings, calves, buttocks, thighs, and hips) as well as stretch out your lower back. Until you figure out what's bugging your lower back, I would "skip" skipping rope for a while. There are plenty of other low impact aerobic activities like walking, recumbent cycling, and swimming that won't make your back ache. When all is said and done, you may need to see a doctor to evaluate your lower back.

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