I've lost quite a bit in the past few months and I notice that some areas are thinning up faster than others and while I have no problem doing overall exercise to help the overall weight loss, I have to admit that the one area I'm currently horrified by is under my arms. I'm seriously afraid I will pull a flying squirrel if I move my arms wrong.

I know I need to do more arm work to help tone the muscles in the tricep area to give support to my bat wings; anyone have some good advice on what worked for them?

Thanks!

I recommend just googling for triceps exercises (so you can see pictures). A really good one that just involves body weight is dips-- http://www.beebleblog.com/images/tricepdip.jpg

Straighten your legs to make it more difficult.

i lift two 5lbs weights and i do several repetitions, and i do pushups as well. I try to do two sets of 10. It's really hard, but after some months you start seeing the difference.

Yes! Push-ups are a fantastic exercise for most of the muscles of the upper body-- with a big focus on the triceps. And there are so many ways to modify it based on your fitness level- you can stand a foot and a half away from a wall, put your hands on the wall and do "pushups " in that position, or on your knees on the floor, etc.

I do the P90x arms and shoulders video. I have noticed a difference the last few weeks.

Pushups and dips worked well for me, I have a nice tone to my arms. I do have ever so slight bat wings, but my underarms were at one stage a big concern.

being pear shaped, I never had huuuuuge arms anyway. I began my journey at a BMI of 36, and by the time I had gotten down to about where you are, between about 28 and 31, I was dismayed at the weird things going on under my arms. I had bat wings and I had awful side boobs, this roll of soft flesh that hung over my bra at the sides. I had to choose bras with huge thick sides and full coverage, because all that soft flesh spilled over at the front too, gave me that awful look you get when your bra is too small even though it wasnt.

I thought boy, can you have a side breast lift?

Anyway, although I was upset at what I thought was extra skin, a miracle happened there. I lost more weight, got right down to a lowish BMI of 22 and somewhere along that way, all that flesh disappeared. All I have to show for it is a slight wrinkly bit under each arm. Even the saggy, loose skin floppy boobs improved. Now I'm fairly small breasted these days from having big DD's, that's the sacrfice but big boobs have never been an ambition of mine anyway.

In my experience, toning of course is great, but its really getting rid of ALL the fat that makes a huge difference to "loose skin" under our arms, on our tummies etc.

I'm just starting this: one hundred push ups

Hi Betsy,

How long post surgery did you wait before exercising. My dr says 4 weeks, but I can start on treadmill and elliptical about 2 weeks out. You give really great advice on your posts so I'd like your opinion pls.

Katie

Ooh, Betsy- the pushup challenge looks awesome! (albeit painful). I think I'm gonna try it, too!!

I was just watching an infomercial that looked like it might help:

Marie Windsor's new pilates system with the resistance tool. I've never done pilates, personally, but I will when I've lost some weight and want to tighten and tone my skin, too.

Betsy, I am starting the 100 push up challenge too!!! Thanks for the awesome web page and challenge!!! I am always up for a challenge! Thanks again!!! :biggrin:

In my experience, toning of course is great, but its really getting rid of ALL the fat that makes a huge difference to "loose skin" under our arms, on our tummies etc.

Curse having to have patience! :w00t:

It's nice to know other people have the same bumps in the road, although I hadn't noticed the side boobs until you mentioned it!

My arms need work anyway since my legs get all the workout love so I'll start some pushups and see how it goes from there. Hopefully I don't look like a flying squirrel much longer.

Betsy - that program looks awesome! How did you find it? I'm very excited about trying this - thanks!!