HELP! My arms are vile and they need not to be in two weeks time

[TheProvincialLady]

I am going to my cousin's wedding in 2 weeks time and yesterday I bought a lovely dress. It fits me beautifully, suits me and is generally lovely.

But my arms are in a horrible state and they will be on show. They are slim but not as toned as they could be - what can I do exercise wise in the next 2 weeks to improve this - swimming? weights?

They are also badly afflicted with bumps on the back above my elbows and general dryness. This has happened since being pregnant with DS2 and I think that the extended BF is robbing me of nutrients. So far I have tried exfoliating, moisturising (L'occitane body cream - it is so rich and the rest of me is smooth, but not my arms) and some quack supplements from the health food shop - to no avail.

Any suggestions welcome.

Anyone?

TRY push up's - the full ones not girlie half ones!

if you really go for it with weights for 2 weeks you might notice some difference, but to be honest if your arms are not all that, you'd be better off with a shrug or pashmina or similar

for the dryness i would try diet - avocados, nuts, etc

It's more the difference between my arms and my legs. My legs have suddenly gone ridiculously skinny and bony, whilst my arms have got just a tiny bit flabby. The contrast is really odd.

Is 2 weeks not long enough to notice a difference then? Aaagh I will try a regime of push ups (do you mean press ups?) - how many?

If diet is what is needed to sort out my bumps then 2 weeks is not going to do it. Bugger.

can;t you get a lovely little sheer shruggy thing?

I have been doing weights for about 2 weeks and yesterday DH commented that he could notice a difference already. I just used a dumbell with the lightest weights on and started with 20 on each arm for a few days to see how it felt - then up to 30. I also do a good one for 'bingo wings' where you lift the weight and bring down behind your head, then straight up again and repeat about 20 times - its def working.

Not sure about the bump thing - other than daily exfoliating and moisturising - perhaps with something non greasy and easily absorbed. I love palmers cocoa butter and its good for blemishes too.

Also reckon 2 weeks of dieting would work - just going for a healthy 3 meals a day and not eating biscuits etc (very hard when you are breastfeeding though - I know!!) sure you could loose and couple of pounds and its surprising how you can notice it.

You need to try to hang on to walk my spaniel for two weeks that will do it.

Sorry - misread - I see you are refering to a change in diet for the bumps.

Fish oil tablets for the bumps - seriously. Worked for me and I had had them forever.

Soap & Glory Scrub your nose in it will get rid of the spots straight away and then you need to moisturise every nice to get rid of the dryness.

Oh if a spaniel will do it then I will get myself down the RSPCA pronto

Yes I know I could get a shrug but the dress is so lovely that I would prefer to go without...and my pride is a bit hurt. I used to have lovely arms and legs. It's not even a weight thing - if I lost any more weight I would actually be underweight. It's just that the fat I do have has redistributed itself around my body. I think I am getting old.

It's hard to explain - not bingo wings, just larger arms that are not v toned. Compared with my legs, which look like I have been channeling Madonna and not in a good way.

Tricep dips - for the next 2 weeks and then literally just before you leave for the wedding - tones up your muscles for a few hours afterwards as well as the long term.

Body brushing

Fake tan

Bumps on the backs of arms are called keratosis pilaris, iyi.
I've just completely got rid of mine by scrubbing with a pumice stone, then using Flexitol or Neutrogena cracked heel cream.
I also have a body cream from Akamuti which keeps them at bay. It has a waxy texture, similar to the foot creams, which seems to do the trick.
I think you'll see some results from weights in a couple of weeks, although admittedly you won't have arms like Madge; I noticed a toning effect after a short time going to the gym, and that was only twice a week (using 3k weights, though).
Try and do something at least every other day and I'm sure it'll help.

Akamuti website - it's the Kalahari Watermelon Body Cream.

to echo what Fab, notyummy and OurLady have already said:

Soap & glory scrub to exfoliate arms every day in shower/bath

Flexitol (yes the FOOT cream!) to moisturise arms every day (contains urea which will sort out the bumps)

Tricep dips (use coffee table at every opportunity)

i wiuld also add St Tropez Everyday cream which has small bit of self tan in and will really improve look of arms

also on the actual day before you get dressed, apply some Dove Pro Age Body Cream OIL, ths stuff is amazing to give you a lovely sheen (looks amazing on bare legs too)

have fun at the wedding

Davina does a work out with weights for arms, I think 2 solid weeks would have some effect.

Body brushing every day.

Then fake tan on the day, covers a multitude of sins and will make you feel good.

Thanks so much everyone. OK so here is the plan - I am going to do arm exercises every day, plus body brushing and scrub (Clarins bamboo scrub, just because I have half a tube left over from a present - will definitely try the soap & glory stuff when it runs out). I am just ordering some flexitol now and will use every day. Then the dove oil stuff.

Can I use the St Tropez everyday cream on top of Flexitol, and if I am exfoliating every day will it still work or will I just scrub off what I put on IYSWIM?

I agree - push-ups/press-ups.

I went to various gym/exercise classes for over year for my wedding and nothing seemed to make any difference. I did a few WEEKS of nightly press-ups before bed - the ones with your arms really far apart, and the tricep ones, and my arms looked fab for my wedding day!

Best of luck.

hey Provincial dont worry about the exfoliator rubbing off your "tan", it will actually make it more glowy and less streaky/patchy

i would use the St Tropez in the evning after bathing and then Flexitol at night and then Dove stuff the following morning - if you cant be arsed with all that then St Trop at night and Flexitol in morning, use Dove on the actual day

That's helpful thanks GHM. Am off to John Lewis in the morning to get the St Tropez stuff. Do you think it would be safe to use on my face too? I am pretty much a self tan virgin.

The Doublebase sounds interesting. You can buy it over the counter it seems, and it's cheap.