7 ways to reduce cellulite

If you want to lose cellulite, here are seven things to avoid:

Drinking alcohol: Alcohol dehydrates the body and destroys B vitamins, which keep your skin elastic and smooth.

Smoking: This worst-of-all bad habit interferes with the body's use of vitamin C. You need vitamin C to make skin-strengthening collagen and to keep your body cellulite-resistant.

Eating processed foods: Highly refined foods are loaded with salt and sugar -- two additives that exasperate cellulite.

Yo-yo dieting: Going off and on diets promotes the development of cellulite.

Sunbathing: Repeated exposure to sun increases the activity of tissue-damaging free radicals, which make skin get looser and less elastic, and cellulite become more obvious.

Not exercising regularly: Women who don't exercise tend to be heavier, with more cellulite, than women who work out regularly.

Ask permission: It's very important to ask a dog's owner first if you can pet the dog.

Approach calmly: If the owner says yes, make a fist, extend your hand slowly to the dog, and let it sniff the back of your hand. Dogs recognize people by scent, so letting the dog sniff your hand lets it become familiar with you.

Where to pet: Once the dog has sniffed your hand, pet it gently under the chin or on the chest.

Don't hug dogs: Kids should never hug a dog. Wrapping your arms around a dog can stress it out and lead to an unnecessary bite.