Arms of flab is a problem that affects men and women alike. Women are probably just more conscious of the sag. It might take the male species a little longer to lose their muscle tone, but eventually it heads south as well. Many of the “more experienced population” (retired and tired) like to fly south for the winter but little did we know our arms were going to do the same thing!

Talking with my hands has become a danger in recent years. If I get my hands moving to fast that puts the arms in motion and I have to duck to avoid that hanging muscle (as I like to call it) from smacking me upside the face. I am afraid that someday it’s going to come flying at me and knock me for a loop. I can see the headlines now, “Woman Knocked Unconscious by Arm of Flab.”

Do you remember when you were in school watching the teacher writing on the chalkboard, her triceps swaying to and fro in the breeze with the writing motion? Now we are those teachers and the time went by so quickly and we thought they were ancient! As a child you stood beside your grandmother to watch her cook and never realized the danger you were in as she stirred a pot of bubbling food. It was not the wooden spoon we needed to fear, it was getting hit with that muscle flailing as grandma worked intently to stir the pot.

Even though I have found no amount of exercise relieves the swinging and swaying, it can help. This is just another part of the aging process, another badge earned for our sleeve, which now has to be larger to hold the southern most point of our fallen triceps.  Women and men alike wear sleeveless tops/shirts and we need some ways to hide the active underside of our arms. I have discovered some tips to help cover up the big droop.

You are at a summer family reunion and it is a picnic at Uncle Bob and Aunt Martha’s. They have a pool, which is the first hurdle. You do not want to do the backstroke where everyone can see your arms entering the water as soon as you pull them out. The younger relatives are asking you why you are not swimming.

EXCUSES:

1.      You forgot your swimsuit.

2.      You did not realize the pool would be open, the last you heard there were some problems with the filtering system.

3.      You are allergic to chlorine.

So you got through that explanation and now you sit down to talk with people you have not seen for years. You start telling stories and your arms are flying around and you realize you are fanning everyone seated within five chairs of you. Place the palm of your hands flat on the chair, fingers slightly under your legs and try to lift yourself off the chair…your muscle will flex and tone up to look taught.

Now you want to ask Aunt Evelyn who the young lady over there is, but that requires pointing. Never point with your arm stretched straight out, you are asking for trouble… always point with your arm turned upside down. If you turn your arm over and stretch it out, your drooping muscle will be on top and not hang down.

I hope you find these tips helpful…hang in there!

Don’t worry in a few years you will have bigger problems!

Always keep laughing.