[toned]

My arms were always skinny, even after I gained weight about 20 lbs. The fat mainly deposited around my abdomen, butt, and thighs. I joined a gym to lose weight, and I went to the classes, like body pump and aerobics, and that is when I noticed my arms bulk up. I stopped exercising for a bit, and I think the muscles in my arms shrinked and the fat replaced it. Now that I started with a 12 week fit and trim program, where I lift weights about 3 times a week, my arms have gotten even bigger.

Is there any way of getting my arms to trim down? Should I stop working my triceps and biceps, or stop increasing the amount I lift?

I seem to be losing a pound a week now, will this help my arms.

Thanks for reading, I am confused about all this.

[Nori71]

I don't have this problem (skinny arms) ... but a nurse I work with sounds like you, except I don't think she would have ever described her arms as "skinny". She builds muscle extremely fast (bulks up) on her shoulders, lats and arms and her body basically looks like a V. She's frustrated with it, so I'm interested to see what others have to say - if it's an issue of intensity/reps/weight or if it's more to do with the gene pool lottery. Personally, I like what heavy weights, explosive cardio and healthy eating is doing for me, but maybe what works for one doesn't work for another.

[Mrs Snark]

You could make sure you go low weight and high rep (or just no weight) versus using heavier weights with your upper body exercises -- or no weight at all. Have you measured your arms? How much bigger are they really getting?

[aphil]

I agree-have you measured? They might not be getting bigger, just the rest of you getting smaller...

[toned]

I haven't measured, but certain shirts that were tailored to fit, are tighter in the arms. thanks for all the replies.