One thing I really must say at the outset of this article is, that if you were to ask the majority of men to define cellulite they would most probably be completely baffled.

Then after you explained it to them in detail and told them that you suffered from it, more likely than not the reaction would be to look at you as if you were slightly mad, shrug their shoulders and say that they had actually never noticed it.

So one consolation I suppose, is that most men apparently just do not see it and do not know what all the fuss is about!

(They can be wonderful sometimes can't they!)

From a womans point of view however, cellulite is at best something which restricts what she can or cannot wear or at worst in extreme cases, something which can be downright unsightly.

If we are being brutally honest, dimples on our cheeks can be really cute, but dimples on our thighs and our buttocks most certainly are not.

It has been described as the dreaded "orange peel look" especially in relation to thighs and buttocks. Many women literally spend fortunes to try and find ways to eliminate it.

Having established that it is a big problem (for the majority of women at least), I find myself coming back to the question in my title - Is it possible to be totally free of cellulite!

In truth I think sadly that as things stand at the moment probably not, but there are many many steps that can be taken to minimise the unsightly look of cellulite.

It does really help if we try and understand some of the main causes of cellulite, and what if anything we can effectively do to both reduce the unsightly appearance (in our eyes at least), and even try and banish it completely.

We should remember that the primary cause of cellulite is weight gain. If you do gain excess weight, the layers of fat under the skin expand, but sadly not in a smooth uniform way.

We have the female hormone estrogen which promotes fat on the thighs and buttocks to thank for this.

When fat cells start to build up on the lower half of the female body, they are more likely to multiply and push against the skin. This process creates the bulged and dimpled look of the dreaded cellulite, and with very very few exceptions it is completely a feminine problem.

Another important factor is that as we age our skin also tends to lose its tautness, particularly so if we do not take any forms of regular exercise.

So having now determined the main causes of cellulite, let's look in some detail at some of the choices available to us to try and minimize the effects of it.

The first choice is that you can learn to live with it. Yes, I do actually mean that.

At the end of the day it is not going to detract from you as a woman, and there is no reason whatsoever why you cannot still be very attractive.

Do not let it become an obsession at any cost!

The second and for me personally, the most important choice available, is to make a seriously determined and long term effort to lose those unnecessary extra pounds. I strongly recommend a low fat diet as the first and vital step to take if you are to succeed in fighting this battle.

Make it a top priority to become much more active!

Simple changes such as walking more frequently, taking up a sport that you really could enjoy (perhaps something you did in the past), or alternatively taking the time to join a few exercise classes. Join those ones which concentrate primarily on hips buttocks and thighs. This will greatly help in improving and toning up those areas with cellulite.

You third choice is to try out some of the many creams that you can purchase. Use these with a deep massaging technique which will help improve the appearance of the cellulite areas.

The fourth and most drastic choice is liposuction which removes excess fat. Another such process is Endermologie, a mechanical massage that will smooth out the dimples. These methods can be really expensive, so you will have to be prepared to dig deep for them.

USEFUL QUICK FIX TIPS TO INSTANTLY DISGUISE CELLULITE

Fake Tan - Apply the fake tan normally, but just before you are going to bare your legs, rub a layer of hair serum (yes the stuff you use to stop frizz), along your shinbone. This makes the thin area of your shinbone much more prominent and will disguise those parts which are less firm in appearance.

Wear The Right Shoes - Heels or wedges will make your legs appear much longer, but beware of ankle straps and flat shoes. They really do make your legs look considerably shorter and fatter.

Take a tip from the celebrities. They wear heels with trousers and jeans, and have them made so that the trousers end about an inch below the ankle. This has the effect of making their legs look really long and slim.

Draw The Eyes Upwards - If you are wearing your jeans on a night out for example, either by wearing a bulky necklace, a glittery scarf, or maybe even a Wonderbra and a V Necked top (if you are feeling slightly daring), you will distract attention away from your thighs.

Wear dark colors as they make your bottom parts look much slimmer.

Try out a Fast Fix Treatment - Treat yourself by going to a beauty salon, and indulge in one of their cellulite instant fix procedures. These can be expensive but they really do make your thighs look smoother and sleeker.

Unfortunately these procedures only last for a short time.

The majority of women would love to have thinner cellulite free thighs, but do please remember that it is your overall appearance which matters most. If you look and feel attractive in yourself that will be the way that others will also see you.

Remember that the aim here is for improvement not perfection. Cellulite has been a femimine curse since the beginning of time, and as yet, no one has come up with either an instant or indeed permanent cure.

However until they do, and one day somebody just might, stay focussed on your overall health, take serious and meaningful steps to lose weight, and maintain a good exercise program.

That way you can at the very least keep the whole thing in perspective, and maintain your self confidence at a much higher level than it would otherwise have been.

Marie Gordon is Author and Publisher of "Your Fastest Way To Permanent Weight Loss" the complete solution to all your weight loss problems. You can find out more by visiting her website at http://www.howtoloseitfast.com