Two words, ladies-listen in: cellulite relief. Readers, I know whereof I speak. I used to be a beauty editor at this very magazine, and I spent a good deal of time searching out how to improve the appearance of cellulite. The treatments I tried were free, I was badgered to try them by well- meaning public- relations people, and there was always a summer or a resort issue around the corner that needed body stories. Plus, there was my own cellulite, so eagerly awaiting the discovery of a magical formula to liberate it from its unstinting vigil. Even failing that, a few handy little tips on shaping, toning, and firming would have relieved both it and me.

But unless I was to write about actual exercise (and that, I reasoned,was surely the health editor's beat), there was no secret solution to be found. Instead, I ended up writing about fake tanning a lot, and learned that if you want a toned body you have to tone your body. It's called getting to the gym.

Last week I revised my opinion. I went to see Tracie Martyn, and instead of giving me a facial, which is what she is famous for, she showed me a new trick. She gave me what she calls a Resculpting Body Treatment, and what I call no mean feat.