Chook Me!

I need thinner upper arms, please help?

I'm so frustrated I don't know what to do anymore. I used to weigh 118lbs and be a model. While I was never super thin, I had nice curves and a good body. I had a bad breakup when I was 25 and my doctor put me on Celexa for depression. After a week on that I felt great, I got a full time job and didn't really have time for modeling anymore. Before I knew it I had gained over 30lbs in my stomach, thighs, and arms. I didn't even notice till I saw a recent picture of myself. I went to a formal dance last month and when I looked in the mirror at home I thought I looked gorgeous. But the professional photographer who photographed the event put the pictures online, and when I saw myself I cried. My arms were huge and i had a double chin. I'm almost laughing as I write this because it sounds rediculous, but it's happening to me. I've quit the celexa and worked out like crazy for over 2 months. I've cut my calories to 1500, i only eat fruits and veggies and grilled chicken and drink water. I still cant lose any weight and i'm most emberassed about my arms. I can hide the tummy and legs, but my arms have gotten huge. I've been using resistance tubing and while my arms seem more toned, they are still wide. I can't even fit them into most jackets anymore. I'm emberassed and depressed. I want to lose weight all over but especially I want thin arms. My trainer said not to use heavy weights cuz that will bulk me up, but nothing seems to be working. I also have bad knees from rowing in highschool and was told not to run because I may need knee surgery, I use bikes and elipticals instead. I also do what I call reverse push-ups to tone the "chicken wings" under my arms. Its just that nothing seems to work and I don't wanna be overweight like this. I've always taken great care of my body and didn't even notice it had gotten this out of hand. Guys don't look at me anymore, i'm depressed, and i feel disgusting, please help.

Public Comments

1. If you can't run and you have knee complications, try swimming intensively, it is great cardio and puts little strain on joints.
2. You are depressed, you have said it many times...be kind to yourself and go back on the meds. Did you feel better before you stopped taking them??? If yes, then you need to go back on them. Just make healthy eating choices and continue to workout and dont pay attention to the scale. Use the treadmill, walk on an incline. When you are working out on the bike and elliptical play games. Try and beat your times and increase as you do. This has really helped me. I couldnt run for a while because of an injury. When running you push yourself to go faster and farther. But I have found alot of people dont push themselves as hard when on the bike or elliptical. With the bike I try and go 1 mile in less than 3 minutes...I ride for half an hour and try and beat my time each time,sometimes I do sometimes not but I try. Weights are great! Use lighter weights with more reps and do different exercises for biceps and triceps. Yoga or pilaties helps lengthen and tone muscles so not to bulk up.