Big Arms Help

[jodiel]

I'm almost 11 weeks post op and very happy with my weight loss as of now. I've lost 62 pounds. Last time I measured I had lost a total of 26 inches. Very happy with my new life and new body.

However, I have always had big arms and although I have lost 2 inches from my arms, they are keeping me in a 2X shirt. I can wear an extra large, but the sleeves are too small for my arms and that makes them uncomfortable. Has anyone else had this problem? If so, did they shrink finally? At what point did they shrink? It doesn't have to be arms. Any body part that was particularly big that you though would never get smaller.

Can someone suggest something that would help them shrink more? I do have arthritis in my left elbow. I had started lifting weights to help with them, but that made my arm hurt worse so I had to stop. I don't belong to a gym and gyms around here are too expensive so that's out too. I need something I can do at home.

[peaches]

Sorry cant help with getting weight of places.. But just wanted to say wow!!! Congratulations

[Rescued-one]

Arms have been a slow gradual thing here...I am not happy yet, as the loose skin is sooooo gross, but I refuse to not wear summer shirts and I can now. I haven't done any specific exercises to help tone...which I should start doing...but I do walk nearly every night and the weight is just gradually going away ALL OVER my body. GIve it time.

[purplelace70]

The dreaded arms, I was a long distance swimmer in my youth and my upper body was very strong and developed. When I gained weight and lost guess what the arms were very flabby even in my late 20's. I always have to wear larger top than bottom, I find that buying a better quality larger size is a better fit. Or I look for tops with a fuller sleeve style. I know that I will never lose the skin without surgery, I do not wear sleevless or tight. Exercise helps and age has a lot to do wth it. Time seems to help also. Saw a woman in MX who had her arms done, I may look into that in the future. Just thought I would share my story with you, we are all different so best of luck to you. PS I try not to run up stairs as I will hear this flapping noise and keep wondering where it comes from. lol

[mags73]

I am a little over 11 weeks out and know how you feel about your arms. I have issues with my shoulders and wrists so I don't want to push the issue by lifting weights. I have just started swimming and hope that will help. I also walk & do Zumba. I am saying now that I don't want to have surgery on my arms but that may change once I get to my goal. I think patience is the key in all of this which is hard for me. Good luck!

[Sunflower]

Yes, I feel your pain! In addition, I used to wear a 42 DDD bra before bilateral mastectomies, and the implants I got are C cups! At least before my boobs justified the tops big enough to accomodate my arms. Also, my left ar, is noticably bigger than my right arm. I'm right-handed so this is proof to me that exercise is the key to trimming down my arms. Tops look really weird on me and it makes my stomach look pregnant in comparison to the rest of me. But, I have been doing free weights and pool weights, and it helps. The pool will help ease your arthritis. The weight loss in my arms is slow too, but I'm not going to give up. This is somethng that will take time.

[raw_foodie]

This is my dilemma as well. My arms have always been disproportionate to the rest of me. I remember being in the backseat as a child and looking at my moms arms praying "please God, I don't want my moms arms." As I got bigger so have they. I know that no exercise will help in my case, but don't give up. Get an exercise band with handles. $7 at walmart. Work the triceps. You can Google "triceps band exercises" to get some ideas that work for you. Good luck from another drumstick armed sufferer. LOL ... Hugs.

[Lynda]

Hiya, and congratulations on the weight loss. I have joined a gym but before that I was using the wii fit at home, as well as hand weights which has helped a little. Still got flabby arms but guess it will take time. I have also done aqua aerobics, that is great, supports you in the water, no stress on joints.
I have noticed taht the place I am losing weight from is my boobs, very surprised with that but happy. Means I will eventually be able to buy bra's in 'normal' sizes. Good luck with your continued weight loss.

[jodiel]

OMG....my mom is exactly the same and I remember asking my mom when I was about 5 if I would have arms like hers when I grew up. Sure enough, I have arms just like hers. Thanks for the suggestion about the bands. I'll check on them. And at my house, we call them bingo arms. You know, the old ladies use to play bingo and they would wave their arms and yell bingo and their arms would still be shaking. Those are bingo arms...LOL.

This is my dilemma as well. My arms have always been disproportionate to the rest of me. I remember being in the backseat as a child and looking at my moms arms praying "please God, I don't want my moms arms." As I got bigger so have they. I know that no exercise will help in my case, but don't give up. Get an exercise band with handles. $7 at walmart. Work the triceps. You can Google "triceps band exercises" to get some ideas that work for you. Good luck from another drumstick armed sufferer. LOL ... Hugs.

[big-daddy of 10]

Have you tried toning ur arms with light weights?

[raw_foodie]

The "bingo arms" ... hehe

OMG....my mom is exactly the same and I remember asking my mom when I was about 5 if I would have arms like hers when I grew up. Sure enough, I have arms just like hers. Thanks for the suggestion about the bands. I'll check on them. And at my house, we call them bingo arms. You know, the old ladies use to play bingo and they would wave their arms and yell bingo and their arms would still be shaking. Those are bingo arms...LOL.

[compact]

I've been told (and have found in the past) that bike riding seems to tone arms nicely. Am looking forward to doing some again when I am smaller. I don't know that it would work on a stationary bike (in the house), because I think it would be the unconscious bracing of your body as you speed and slow and turn that does it. Plenty of good advice here and thanks for posting on something I think we can all relate to.
Nel

[Grace]

Yeah, with my shaper off my upper arms keep waving long after my hand stops... I told my hubby and daughter I have a c cup under my arms... I'm exercising them as much as I can with my myofascial pain issues but don't really expect miracles.
I do wear my shaper pretty much all the time though, not sleeping or swimming but otherwise and because of that I can wear an XL. I'm in Maine so even on hot days it's not so bad. It's helped my belly from drooping as much as I believe it would have and it holds my arms in tight so I can wear the right size shirts. I wear this one..... I either fold the sleeve up if I need to or on 2 of them I took out the sewing machine and did a stretch stitch to shorten the arms up for summer. I know you're in LA so it's hotter down there, but maybe if you have a special occasion it might be an option. There are lots like this out there, just showing what I've used. I'm wearing a large right now but am almost ready to take it the sides (love my sewing machine!)
Plus Size 3/4 Sleeves shaping top by Secret Solutions® | Plus Size all-in-ones | Woman Within

[dachsie]

Doing push ups against the wall will help tone but if you go to a pool an get a noodle you can do push ups an biceps curls and putting the noodle behind you and pushing down will work your triceps.

[Sunflower]

Yeah, with my shaper off my upper arms keep waving long after my hand stops... I told my hubby and daughter I have a c cup under my arms... I'm exercising them as much as I can with my myofascial pain issues but don't really expect miracles.
I do wear my shaper pretty much all the time though, not sleeping or swimming but otherwise and because of that I can wear an XL. I'm in Maine so even on hot days it's not so bad. It's helped my belly from drooping as much as I believe it would have and it holds my arms in tight so I can wear the right size shirts. I wear this one..... I either fold the sleeve up if I need to or on 2 of them I took out the sewing machine and did a stretch stitch to shorten the arms up for summer. I know you're in LA so it's hotter down there, but maybe if you have a special occasion it might be an option. There are lots like this out there, just showing what I've used. I'm wearing a large right now but am almost ready to take it the sides (love my sewing machine!)
Plus Size 3/4 Sleeves shaping top by Secret Solutions® | Plus Size all-in-ones | Woman Within

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