Depressing shopping trip due to BIG upper arms :-(

[Pixie Dust 526]

Today was the first time I was going to go shopping to buy myself one pair of pants & one top, in case something comes up that I need something decent to wear & everything now is too big on me. Grant it, I've only lost about 40 lbs but I've gone from a 3x to a 1x in tops & from a 3x to a 1x or 0-x in pants. I shop at Catherine's, I know a 0-x sounds weird.

Anyway, I would have been able to buy the 0 in pants but nothing was on sale, so I'm waiting but there were so many nice tops on clearance & another 60% off the lowest marked price so I was going to do some damage! I left empty handed because NOTHING smaller could fit my arms! Everything was just too tight due to all the fat & flab I have there. I remember my surgeon saying that my upper arms won't spring back after I've reached my goal so I'm just so depressed that I can't even buy clothes to feel good about my weight loss. My old clothes make me look so dumpy since they're so big on me. The only thing I can think of is to have my clothes altered but geez....we're not made of money & it's expensive to have alterations done.

Has anyone else dealt with this issue? What did you do about sleeves fitting once you got into smaller sizes? Maybe I'm the only one with all this fat/flab under my arms?? Waaaaaaaaaahhhhhhh!!!!!!!

[lsereno 2,525]

I have seen some here that use long sleeved compression garments. Not all tops have snug sleeves either. Try sleeves with a little bell, cap sleeves that are cut loose, or sleeveless under a stretchy sweater. Maybe that's why those tops were on the clearance rack!

And you look fabulous! Phooey on those crappy tops. I still remember being excited to try bras and swimsuits and then feeling really ugly after none fit right. Stupid stores!

Lynda

[SerendipityHappens 1,594]

Your upper arms won't spring back, but you should hopefully lose the volume in them and then a shirt will contain them.

My upper arms are glorious bat wings, I have lost a LOT of volume in them and I'm DEFINITELY going to get an arm lift at some point. But they fit easily into shirts and I never have to buy a larger size due to them... My issue is with my CALVES. My calves have hardly lost any weight and many pants will not fit them! Even some BOOT CUT styles will not go over my calves! YIKES! Right now it's fine because I still have a big lower stomach so I'm wearing size 20s... but if my stomach keeps going down and my calves don't, I'll NEVER be able to get them into a size 16... AND they say you lose a size or two when you have a tummy tuck.. but what will be the point if I can't fit anything over my calves??? Yeah, I feel your pain!

[Itsme! 98]

Maybe it's time to shop a new store? Maybe you don't need to go to Catherine's anymore. Last week I found good clothes that fit at Ross and Macy's. Someone else suggested I try Kohls. Look at new styles - ones you wouldn't consider before. You'll be surprised what looks good on you now

[time4me2013 20]

That might be why they were on clearance. This might sound odd, but can't you stretch the sleeves? I have big arms and have always had to do that You might want to try some compression type garment...I haven't really looked into it yet, but it's probably what I will have to do. Good luck!

[Pixie Dust 526]

Thank you ladies....I was really in a dark place yesterday & you've uplifted me from my funk. I was thinking "and all this for what???!!!" Well, I don't know if it was the tops....they are cut/sewn proportionately. I'm the one that is unproportionate for my size. My bat wings are more like the whole danged bat CAVE! How could I let myself get to this point where I have disfigured a nice body?? Didn't I see this happening to me?? I guess I just didn't care & now I do & I'm mad at myself for even having this problem!

Where would I find a compression type garment? I'm guessing you mean like a girdle for the arms? Do they sell those at stores or do I have to go to a medical supply store? Heck, I'll wear it! Wearing the smaller sized clothing made me look like I've lost a lot of weight & it made me feel good except it was cutting the circulation off in my upper arms!

[Michellemo 161]

My arms so so flabby and nasty! Sleeves fit but I only wear elbow length or 3/4 sleeves. Even in summer. I would never wear short sleeves!

[marynoel 12]

Well, I have the same problem. My arms have always been huge. I mostly stick to sweaters or stretchy tops, they are so forgiving. If I want a blouse or a crisp mens shirting look, I buy to fit the bust and then neatly cut the arms off (making a sleeveless shirt) then wear it under a cardigan or suit jacket. Or...buy to fit the arm and take the rest in...easier to cut yhe arms off. I've spent hours at the sewing machine trying to make stuff fit. Hope this helps.