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Ashamed to show my arms

(130 Posts)
Madwoman11 Sat 18-Feb-23 16:10:22

I'm looking forward to warmer weather but I'm late 60s and my arms are wrinkly and saggy.
I love the sun on my skin but I am genuinely embarrassed by my arms now.

Does anyone else feel the same?

knspol Tue 21-Feb-23 19:20:44

Seemed my arms went saggy and wrinkly all of a sudden last year and no amount of moisturiser or arm exercises are making any difference. Will definitely be searching out dresses with sleeves this year. I would find it very embarrassing to show them in public nowadays.

bevisp1 Tue 21-Feb-23 19:10:58

I’m just 61, and feel that my skin on my arms and legs are like that of an older woman than my age. My arms are wrinkly and my legs at the thighs are all flabby and wobbly. I’m not at all overweight, I guess my skins is losing its firmness. I didn’t have HRT at all, whether this hasn’t helped by not having this. My legs (thighs) have gone like this over last couple years.

Musicgirl Tue 21-Feb-23 18:15:22

I have lipodoema, which has spread from affecting my legs and hips to most of my body, including my arms. Lipodoema is the build up of fat cells in the affected areas and are not affected by diet and exercise. Do l like it? No. Can I do anything about it? Also no, so the best thing for me is to wear clothes that are as flattering and comfortable as possible and try not to worry about it. If other people dislike what they see then too bad.

kwest Tue 21-Feb-23 18:00:47

In hot weather I wear kaftans which are long and loose with three quarter length sleeves. Best investment I ever made.

SachaMac Tue 21-Feb-23 17:58:49

Witzend/IrishDancing….I notice people’s awful toes and toe nails in sandals too, one of my pet hates is horrible feet. I don’t know how chiropodists and podiatrists do it!!

Witzend Tue 21-Feb-23 17:43:49

IrishDancing

I’m 68 and my arms seem to have gone crepey overnight! I don’t like how they look but as summer is my least favourite season and I don’t like summer clothes I’m mostly covered up anyway. You are all sooo much nicer and kinder than me - I do notice flabby arms in sleeveless dresses and bunions in strappy sandals. I’m a horrible person … blush

I notice them too, IrishDancing, and fat/veiny/cellulite-y old legs in shorts. A friend of mine doesn’t give a hoot - she wears them a lot in summer.
And good luck to her, but I only display mine on the beach.

Witzend Tue 21-Feb-23 17:40:02

I don’t understand people saying they’re more comfortable in sleeveless things in hot weather. Maybe it’s after having spent so many years in seriously hot climates, but I find being covered up - in light, loose natural fabrics, far preferable to having the sun beating down on my skin. If your priority is getting a tan, of course that’s different.

My best buys 2 or 3 years ago were 2 long dresses with 3/4 sleeves in a light cotton cheesecloth material - brilliant on very hot days, of which we’ve had a lot for the past few years, around here anyway.

NotTooOld Tue 21-Feb-23 17:37:49

Well, my arms are the same but I'm training myself to carry on regardless. It's no use wearing more clothes than you have to in the heat we have been blessed with in recent summers. Go with the sleeveless loose dresses, ladies, and be comfortable. As others have said, no-one really notices, they are too busy worryng about themselves.

sandelf Tue 21-Feb-23 17:34:25

We all (well many of us) have 'something' we are a bit self conscious about - I take great comfort from 'me ol Ma' who would just say scornfully 'Nobody's looking at You' - ask your dearest what you wore yesterday - most of them won't know.

IrishDancing Tue 21-Feb-23 17:31:01

I’m 68 and my arms seem to have gone crepey overnight! I don’t like how they look but as summer is my least favourite season and I don’t like summer clothes I’m mostly covered up anyway. You are all sooo much nicer and kinder than me - I do notice flabby arms in sleeveless dresses and bunions in strappy sandals. I’m a horrible person … blush

Susieq62 Tue 21-Feb-23 17:29:37

I know at 72 bits of me need ironing but it is what it is. I am still going to wear sundresses as required . I wear shorts on holiday but doubt I shall put on a bikini again. However, some women on beaches don’t give a damn do they ? Good on them . Each to their own.

Juicylucy Tue 21-Feb-23 17:20:33

I’m 66 and noticed and for first time this weekend how my arms have become saggy. Up until now I’ve been really lucky but now they’ve have changed fairly quickly so I’ve started doing exercises from you tube to tighten them up as all my summer dresses are sleeveless and I’m a sun lover.

Lizzie44 Tue 21-Feb-23 16:34:09

I've never been much bothered about how I look (my mother knocked any hint of vanity out of me from an early age). Now with my 80th coming up this year I don't bother about wrinkles and flab and I wear what I want to wear. Thanks to 25+ years of Pilates and still continuing, my muscle tone is good. I do however fret a bit about my baby-fine thinning hair - anyone sitting behind me will see a bald crown. Fortunately it's usually covered with a warm hat in winter and a sun hat in summer to protect my fair skin from the sun.

PinkCosmos Tue 21-Feb-23 16:29:36

*sleeveless !!

PinkCosmos Tue 21-Feb-23 16:28:56

I am 65 and until about five years ago I never wore sleeves things as I was convinced my arms were too fat.

I am very lacking in confidence regarding my figure and always have been. My mother was always encouraging me to lose weight as a teenager, even though I was only a size 12 and 8 1/2 stone. She was constantly on a diet.

My attitude changed slightly when we started going on holiday abroad about five years ago. I now wear sleeveless dresses and tops when we are on holiday. In fairness my arms aren't too bad.

I still can't bring myself to wear a swimsuit on holiday because I am conscious about my fat dimply legs and horrible hanging belly. I bought a swim dress and some swim shorts that are more like cycling shorts. We have been away three times recently and I have taken my swimsuit each time but I have never been brave enough to wear it.

My DH says that nobody else cares what I look like on holiday, which is probably true, but I am so self conscious.

When I look back at myself in my 20's I had a decent figure, even though I thought I was fat at the time.

icanhandthemback Tue 21-Feb-23 16:22:55

Have you seen some of the younger who walk around with caterpillars over their eyes and trout lips? At least your arms are part and parcel of naturally aging. Don't let it worry you. Think about how Katie Piper had to cope and you'll realise that bingo wings are nothing in the scheme of things.

LinAnn52 Tue 21-Feb-23 16:07:39

I hate my bingo wings but my grandson loves them! When he was younger he liked to make them wobble, and said he wished he had them! Now that he is a little older, he’s looking for muscles. 😂😂

granto3 Tue 21-Feb-23 16:05:23

Love yourself and your imperfections! I have scoliosis and tilt to the right side which is quite obvious. I am sure there are people who look at me but I really don't care, (neither does my partner) Embrace what you have and don't worry about what others think. I stopped worrying a long time ago. You can't please everyone all of the time, so just please yourself

madeleine45 Tue 21-Feb-23 15:50:37

I care more about being comfortable in whatever clothes I wear, appropriate for the weather. Dont think I look too bad, but dont really care. I am clean and my clothes are clean, and I have never wanted to colour my hair or worn nail varnish for many years now. On a limited pension, my spare money is for plants and little trips out etc. If I am with other people enjoying a garden or swimming , dont think they are interested in what I look like, as I am also interested in the people themselves and their stories and knowledge, dont take any notice of their arms. When I meet people again I am much more likely to remember that they knew a lot about snowdrops than what they wore or anything.

Larsonsmum Tue 21-Feb-23 15:42:43

Remember, there are many people who don’t have arms.

Fleurpepper Tue 21-Feb-23 15:36:33

Ah well, fair enough - 72 next week- seems like there is quite a few of us 1951ers smile

Dillonsgranma Tue 21-Feb-23 15:29:13

I hate my arms ! Flabby crepey and old !
But I’m still going to wear strappy summer dresses (long ones). and enjoy the sun. My chest is like crepe paper too ! What the hell !!!!

Ladyinspain Tue 21-Feb-23 15:27:33

Apart from getting older, Ive lost a lot of weight, there is a LOT of saggy skin!! Backs of my legs are saggy too, but cant cover up everything and I live in a very hot country, so comfort is key...My best friend died at 69, Im now 72, I'd have loved her here with me, saggy wrinkles and all x

Nannapat1 Tue 21-Feb-23 15:18:10

Yes, same here. I bare my saggy wrinkly overweight arms for sunbathing but the rest of the time cover up with elbow length or 3/4 length sleeves

Fernhillnana Tue 21-Feb-23 15:16:15

I hate mine too and have done for years. Never wear sleeveless tops and envy those who can, it looks so youthful. I’ve tried every exercise going but nothing really helps….