Female - avoiding 'meaty' arms

Glowing

Hi there,

I'm a reasonably fit, size 8 female (5'5, 8 and a bit stone), late 20's. I go to the gym regularly (2-3 times a week) for spinning and weights classes, and swim occasionally.

My problem is that I'm not trying to lose weight, but my arms are still very 'meaty' looking - I'm getting married in a few months, and the last thing I want to look like in a sleeveless dress is like Hulk Hogan. I'd love slender, strong looking, shapely arms, but not quite as big as they are now.

I love doing weights and it usually gives me great results, but why are my arms still chunky looking? Am I not lifting heavy enough weights, or do I need to actually lose weight? I really can't afford to lose much more than a lb or two at the most - do I just need to persevere with the classes and keep eating well?

Thanks a mil for your advice!

Ciaran500

When you say meaty do you have too much muscle or is it loose skin?
How much weight do you lift now? What exercises do you do with the weights?

Glowing

I'm not really sure!! There's a good bit of muscle there, but also a fair bit of fat/skin too :P How can you measure it?

I generally do weight classes and do bicep curls with 5kg plus bar, chest presses with 7.5kg with a bar, and triceps stuff as well, usually with 2.5 kg on each arm -although I do make sure the weights are as heavy as I can manage, and try increase a bit each week. I'd also do shoulder presses. Usually 3 sets of each.

Oryx

Ive found that if my arms look chunky its cos Ive put on (fat) weight, which lies over the muscle and bulks my arms. Cut that and the arms look lean and toned. I do heavyish weights (20kg kettlebell) and my arms are still not 'masculine' muscular.

T-Square

Glowing wrote: »

Hi there,

I'm a reasonably fit, size 8 female (5'5, 8 and a bit stone), late 20's. I go to the gym regularly (2-3 times a week) for spinning and weights classes, and swim occasionally.

My problem is that I'm not trying to lose weight, but my arms are still very 'meaty' looking - I'm getting married in a few months, and the last thing I want to look like in a sleeveless dress is like Hulk Hogan. I'd love slender, strong looking, shapely arms, but not quite as big as they are now.

I love doing weights and it usually gives me great results, but why are my arms still chunky looking? Am I not lifting heavy enough weights, or do I need to actually lose weight? I really can't afford to lose much more than a lb or two at the most - do I just need to persevere with the classes and keep eating well?

Thanks a mil for your advice!

Are we talking Ann Robinson or Zena The Princess Warrior??

Glowing

Ok here is my big arm, how can I make it look 'normal'? ... (you can see my broken collar bone there too )

Oryx

Glowing wrote: »

Ok here is my big arm, how can I make it look 'normal'? ... (you can see my broken collar bone there too )

They do look normal...

And what on earth are you holding?

Canis Lupus

They look normal.

Glowing

I am holding a dressed-up inflatable doll.

Thanks, but i'd really like more slender arms, I'm self conscious about them and I think they look manish.

Chet Zar

Glowing wrote: »

I am holding a dressed-up inflatable doll.

Thanks, but i'd really like more slender arms, I'm self conscious about them and I think they look manish.

Hmm not sure what you define as 'mannish' - you certainly don't have mannish arms!

I would say keep up the weights and if you want to try one thing - cut down on carbs. You may lose an extra pound or two or even more of fat and it will 'dry you out' more, leaving your arms looking more cut.

WHIP IT!

Glowing wrote: »

Ok here is my big arm, how can I make it look 'normal'? ... (you can see my broken collar bone there too )

Dunno what the prob is - from the neck down you're a ride anyway! :pac:

Inspector Coptoor

i dont't think you;ve anything to worry about.
everything seems in proportion to me

T-Square

Glowing wrote: »

Ok here is my big arm, how can I make it look 'normal'? ... (you can see my broken collar bone there too )

Arms look good, you should be showing them off.

T-Square

Liam Henners257 wrote: »

i dont't think you;ve anything to worry about.
everything seems in proportion to me

But to be fair her legs look a bit crooked.

@Glowing, are they both the same length? Are they your good legs?

Barry.Oglesby

Also your back is a bit crooked. Or maybe the wall is. I'd be more worried about that if I were you. Either you're in constant danger of falling over or your house is.

corkcomp

ah lads in fairness, im all for having a laugh but we dont want to make Glowing self conscious! your arms look fine to me, the reason they are not skinny victoria beckham like arms is probably because you lift weights, nothing to worry about IMO ..

Jimmy Bottlehead

WHIP IT! wrote: »

Dunno what the prob is - from the neck down you're a ride anyway! :pac:

I second this - arms and everything else looks awesome. Fair play. You're officially a hottie.

PeakOutput

corkcomp wrote: »

the reason they are not skinny victoria beckham like arms is probably because you lift weights

its crap like that that stops women trying weights in the first place

the reason they arent skinny victoria arms is victoria is horribly skinny and the op is not anorexic

to have nice toned arms weights are necessary

to have skinny anorexic beckham arms all thats necessary is the diet of a somalian

Glowing

LOL I'm cracking myself up here, thanks everyone for your lovely comments, and your concern for my crooked back and legs :P

Do you want to see the other half of the pic? She's the real hottie .....

rubadub

:eek: And you're worried about your arms! Don't think anybody will even take notice TBH

I've heard of women wearing stripes or something to take attention away from being short etc, but this is a bit more drastic

amazingemmet

Glowing wrote: »

LOL I'm cracking myself up here, thanks everyone for your lovely comments, and your concern for my crooked back and legs :P

Do you want to see the other half of the pic? She's the real hottie .....

I'd hit it:pac:

Transform

Glowing wrote: »

Ok here is my big arm, how can I make it look 'normal'? ... (you can see my broken collar bone there too )

you are joking! Your arms look better than normal

WHIP IT!

Glowing wrote: »

LOL I'm cracking myself up here, thanks everyone for your lovely comments, and your concern for my crooked back and legs :P

Do you want to see the other half of the pic? She's the real hottie .....

I've had her!

g'em

lads, less of the sleaze please. The OP was looking for advice on her arms, it isn't a Hot or Not thread.

WHIP IT!

g'em wrote: »

lads, less of the sleaze please. The OP was looking for advice on her arms, it isn't a Hot or Not thread.

g'em, you left this behind... :pac:

Jumpy

The "meatiness" you are talking about is fat. But there is bugger all of it. If you want to lose that you will need to lose fat. You dont need to, but if you really want it gone you will need to reduce overall body fat %. It wont leave you with much left though, you are pretty much spot on ideal bf%.

trash.heap

Your arms look fine to me...tip I learned, when getting married, was if you hold your arms slightly out from your body they will look slimmer! So when you're getting your photos done, just lift your arms away from your body and the (very minimal) fat will not be flattened out resulting in more slender looking arms.

I think, if you're looking for Jennifer Anniston type arms - toned yet long and slender looking - you need to do yoga...

emsies

your arms look great which is just as well as you cannot spot reduce weight. If you wanted them smaller you would need to lose weight from everywhere which you said you don't need to do. Id be delighted with those arms!

cookerj

PeakOutput wrote: »

its crap like that that stops women trying weights in the first place

the reason they arent skinny victoria arms is victoria is horribly skinny and the op is not anorexic

to have nice toned arms weights are necessary

to have skinny anorexic beckham arms all thats necessary is the diet of a somalian

I second that. Fair play for learning that decent weights for women WILL get you in great shape, you're living proof even if you were blessed with good genes. Your arms look great, unfortunately if you lose weight you'll lose it all over but it's all in your mind anyhow! Just make the fake tan very slightly darker on your upper arms for the wedding and even you'll be amazed (test it before the wedding day!!)

Yoga/Pilates may be your best bet as you can do specific exercises to elongate muscles.

G86

Your arms look great you mad thing, not a thing wrong with them! I think it's maybe because you're quite slim that you think they're big in comparison, but they really aren't, honest!

hug0

Hi everyone, Im a runner and pretty active but am pretty bad with the whole weights. Im not with a gym, what would you recomment for me to tone up, how much do you think I should be doing to lose body fat and tone up per week?
Also do you think body conditioning classes or pilates work the same way as weights?

Thanks in advance!:)