Upper arms look awful 😞

[Monkeytapper]

Im 43 I’m a size 12, …I run 3 times a week so the rest of my body is in proportion but my upper arms are just awful.

I’ve tried upper arm exercises with weights at home and also got a ‘power spin ’ hoop that I follow a routine on YouTube.

I was heavier a few years ago so am guessing the skin has stretched and will never bounce back regardless of what I do.

Love the hot weather but just feel so paranoid if I have to wave or lift my arms up.

I know no one is looking at me but I keep going from thinking I’m just going to accept this is me and to just get on with it, to then googling surgeons.

I’m off for a run tonight and would love to put a vest on rather than a T-shirt bit in my head all I can think about is my arms flapping behind me.

Anyone else feel this way or has anyone managed to improve their upper arms?

Photo doesn’t really reflect the ‘movement’ of them

Me too.

I have no useful information for you, but wanted to say that I have the exact same problem and also find it quite depressing.

My son, who is a v keen weightlifter, assures me that if I can build up my muscles then they'll sort of 'fill' the skin better, but I don't know if that's true. He did also say it would take 6 months to a year to sort out (no idea if that's true either!)

Hi ladies, I wouldn't mind so much if they were firm, but they just feel so flappy. If there was a procedure that ‘froze’ the skin or even ‘filled’ the skin so it’s not just hanging.

Looked at cool-sculpting but I dont reckon it will help much.

I need to get into the mind -set that no one is looking or critiquing me, I am my own biggest critique. I should be able to go out and think ‘this is me’ and not worry.

I just don’t believe there is any exercises that can fill loose skin, maybe make it look a bit better. I’ll keep trying though.

It is hard not to be critical of yourself. Your arms look fine to me. People really don’t look as much as we think they do.
I’m overweight, and I have bumps in my arms that make it look like I have got an arse on my arm. I’m looking to do toning exercises too to slim them down as much as I can.

I don't see what is wrong with your arms? They look totally normal to me.

Mine are dreadful and always have been but getting worse with age. I never wear anything sleeveless, even to the gym. I even have a long sleeved swimsuit.
I've always exercised but nothing changes. I considered surgery but saw a plastic surgery documentary where an upper arm lift was done and it looked so painful and scarred alot.

@Pixissmoke thank you, photo doesn’t show the way they hang/flap

I think yours are fine! They look normal tbh. I’m almost the same age and size as you, I swim, ride and do yoga and mine look a lot worse!

I did try to post a photo but no luck!

Isn’t that just how normal arms look?

The lower muscle is “hanging” as not being stretched in that pose?

My arms are exactly like yours and I wasn't worried. Now I am!

Do you do tricep curls?

I think we just have unrealistic expectations from those with really toned arms. Even my fitness instructor who has very toned arms and legs has a bit of arm flop.

@habibihabibi yes, looks expensive, painful and leaves you with unsightly scars.

I put it to the back of my mind but it’s when it’s lovely weather it feels worse. I do wear short sleeves but am always conscious of not lifting my arms up when I’m out and about.

Reading this back I know I sound absolutely pathetic.

@Leftbutcameback, they look ok to me, if you flap your arms do they swing!?

Pilates. So far I’m only doing it once a week and the bingo flap and clap has definitely turned to just a flap. With 2 sessions I’ve been promised the flap will go too but my core is currently too weak.

I used to hate my upper arms and never wore any sleeveless tops.

I still don't love them, but they are so much better since I've started lifted weights.

@Ozanj….I’ll look into Pilates, thanks….Got one of these, so will keep doing the routines twice a day.

2 words:

Caroline Girvan.

Discovered her in February and never looked back

Have you thought about going to a personal trainer? They’d be able to focus on muscle building in that area. You need to be lifting good heavy weights to make a difference.

Your arms look normal to me, try not to worry

@Monkeytapper very much so even in yoga I can't get them to go taut. Actually quite a lot of my body is like that. I'm not overweight but I am flabby.

I feel you op! I've lost ten stone, exercise regularly and lift weights. Yours look amazing in comparison to mine! I have no option except surgery which I'm just not going to do.

Stop looking at them? You look lean, fit and strong. Whose asking for perfection? Enjoy your life. Live a bit. Imagine if I focused on my ankles and refused to ever bare them and spent hours trying to make them more shapely every week while getting less and less satisfied with them. Step out of the negative feedback loop. See the big picture by thinking of the huge percentage of people who would envy your arms.

Keep going with weights, it will 'help'

However, you really shouldn't let it stop you wearing vest tops etc or be worrying about the wave/jiggle. Your arms are lovely and you shouldn't let what YOU see as an imperfection bother you so much. Life is too short!

@GoWalkabout you are totally right, my husband says I look fine and would only focus in on something else if it wasn’t my arms.

I’ve joined a running club and I’ve said to people, ‘oooh, I hate my arms’….why the hell I draw their attention to them I do not know??!

Sod it, I’m going for my run this eve with a vest on, nice and cool.

Think it’s come to the surface again as some photos were taken yesterday in the garden and it was the most unflattering photo of my arms.