Is cardio/weight training and proper nutrition and hydration sufficient for losing the cellulite (or at least decreasing it), or is massaging also necessary (my friend claims this and i want to convince her otherwise...)?

Massaging isn't necessary. It may help (I don't think it does, but that's my assumption). I've heard theories in the past about this. They go something like, "The massage breaks down the fat tissue- making it easier to eliminate."

I don't see the logic though. Cellulite is simply the body's way of storing fat- it doesn't need to even be considered "additional" fat. Some thin people have cellulite.

You have the right idea: eat well, workout often and enjoy life. Here's a little piece about cellulite.

You can't massage cellulite out. The only successful cellulite reduction is either from going under the knife or putting muscle mass on and losing bodyfat. You will need to gain mass with the weight training....so no more light weights. Cardio should become more efficient. I would suggest a form of true HIIT (so the intensity has to be HIGH and short)

I've done some reading about this and there are studies that show that endermology, or deep tissue massage, can help to temporarily improve the appearance of cellulite, but after you stop the massages (which are expensvie) the areas with cellulite go back to the way they were.

So basically, it does nothing to get rid of cellulite, only temporarily makes it look a little better in some people. Doesn't sound worth the money to me, but people will try most anything if they think there is a chance at looking better. Well, most anything except proper diet and exercise.

I've also heard that liposuction doesn't necessarily help cellulite, since it removes fat from deeper down, not the fat near the skins surface that causes cellulite. Could be wrong, but I remember reading that somewhere.

Wouldn't that be a b*tch? Spend all that $$$ on lipo, and still have cellulite.