Anonymous wrote:OP, there's a distinction between 'skinny fat,' which generally refers to someone who may not be technically overweight, but who has a high/unhealthy percentage of body fat. As a pretty slim runner, you probably have a low/healthy percentage of body fat. What you do not have, it seems, is muscle tone and definition, which will add shape to your figure. Iit can help with cellulite, in toning the muscles underneath, but cellulite is a condition that is pretty much genetic and has little to do with your weight. You can improve it with exercise, but if lifting doesn't address it, you are either looking at accepting it, or paying a lot of money for various dermatological procedures, which are expensive and have varying rates of success.

I would start with lifting weights, but you do not need even to buy free weights. There are lots of ways of using body weight--squats, lunges, push ups, tri dips, etc--that can get you going at first. The other bonus of adding weight routine to running is that it can help strengthen other parts of the body that running doesn't address and thus prevent injurties. I woudl suggest you do exercises that focus on building strength in the core and major muscle groups: glutes/thighs, shoulders/back and abs. You do not need a gym membership or a million free weights for this. Also, various kinds of yoga, like ashtanga, can really build strenght and shape.

Anonymous wrote:I will also recommend Pilates. Long time runner here (5'4" & 105). I started doing Pilates when I had a running injury and it totally transformed my body. I look so much better now than when I was marathon ready & running 3X as much.

I also do a lot of hills, I seek them out. That tones the hell out of my butt and hamstrings. Some days it makes my ass so sore, it hurts to stand up.