WEIRD QUESTIONS.....need advice?

Hi guys! I need some advice and tips! My cousin is getting married in February and it is going to be a VERY formal wedding and reception. I am already thinking about a dress and there are so many beautiful ones out there but I have one problem....all that I have seen are strapless or spaghetti straps. So far I have lost almost 130 pounds and I still have about 50 more to go to be at my goal. I exercise almost every day.....I walk about two miles and I also use the stair climber and I have these elastic rope things and weights that I use to tone my arms. I am fairly sure I will be at goal or close to it by February! I had a lot of weight to lose and so far all of my skin has tightened up very well EXCEPT for my arms. (I have lost five inches on my upper arms but the skin still hangs)They are flabby looking and I have loose skin. Its only my upper arms that are the problem. I have been worried about how it will look in a dress that is strapless. I don't want to have bat wings when I am out there dancing! I know I'm rambling but I'll try to get to the point of this post.....two questions...... Number 1: What can I do to tighten that skin up? (other that plastic surgery...I think its still to early after srugery for that...??) Number 2: Where might I look for a stylish dress (for a 24 year old) that won't make my arm problems so obvious? ( I know I could use a wrap but that will get in my way when I dance I think!) Any ideas or suggestion on other styles or anything? Thanks in advance for any hints or tips you can offer! Also, thanks again for putting up with the rambling!!   Karen

Honest Opinion? Who cares! I have some hanging skin on my arms and thought, "I'll never wear sleeveless until it either tighten up or gets cut off." WRONG. My 2 favorite summer shirts are strapless! I am pretty sure they aren't as bad as we make them out to be and it's not like you'll be holding them up for everyone to see! Also, since you're not on parade, no miss america waving either! I say that you should wear whatever looks good. When you try dresses on, don't hold your arms out like a clothes line just stand as you normally would and if it looks good then you will look GREAT! It's better than 130 pounds when the arms were inflated right? Flaunt it girl!!!!

Thanks Shawna! I know you are right but I am really self conscious about it! Everyone says its not as bad as it looks to me but I'm not sure if they're telling me the truth or lying to me!! LOL! Anyway, thanks for the advice. You always make me laugh when I read your posts! BTW.....I like your new avatar pic! I need to put one up but I can't seem to get around to it!!    Karen

Is it a day wedding or evening and do you have any colors in mind? I'll keep my eyes open for something that fits the occassion.  Just remember that no one is looking for your imperfections as we do ourselves(unless they are being ugly and if that's the case...pfffft!). They will all be distracted by how great you are looking!!!!

Its an evening wedding. The wedding is at 7:00 and then the reception is afterwards with the dance and all that kind of stuff. I'm nervous about the whole dancing thing too! The dress needs to be ball gown style. (floor length) I don't want anything completely straight and I really don't want a puffy puffy dress. I was thinking either black, melon, or blue. I have blue eyes so I thought the blue would look good but black is very flattering and then I saw a melon color that was very pretty so I am kind of undecided at this point! Anyway, I would really appreciate you scouting around for me! Thanks for the offer!!    Karen

Karen,  Question #1-How do I tighten up the skin on my arms???  When I am walking on the treadmill or on the road, I carry 2 pound weights in each hand, and while I am walking I raise my arms over my head and point my elbows out to the sides, fist meeting over the top of my head.  Then I reach back with my arms like I am trying to scratch my back and pump my arms, I do this as long as I can, and then walk w/my arms straight out to the sides, lifting them up and down, just anything you can think of to pull the arms tight.  This has seemed to help me, I dont have much skin at all sagging, I have been doing this from the beginning, something that my sister told me about.   Question #2-Where can I find a dress?  If you know me at all, you know my main response is going to be thrift stores and resale shops.  I have seen some absolutely georgous dresses there, most have a formal section, and I have never seen one over $50.  People buy them for proms, or they are bridemaids dresses, and we all know, we buy them and wear them once, and never wear them again, so folks are taking them to resale shops.  Everyone knows Im cheap, and I refuse to pay full price for things, if  I can help it, so I would start there.   Hope this helps, and remember, above all, like Shawna said, remember where you came from, and be proud!!!! Hugs, Rhonda D.

Hey Rhonda! Thanks for your help! I have been exercising from the beginning of this whole weight loss journey but I have not really focused on my arms. I wish I would have started sooner but I guess its like I have always heard........hindsight is 50/50. Anyway, I will keep doing the exercises with the weights and the elastic bands and I am going to try using weights and working my arms some while I walk. That sounds like a really good idea to me! Thanks again!!   Karen

Hi Karen - I know what you mean, girl I FEEL ya!  I don't like my arms at all.  But, I found a dress that I loved and I thought it looked great!!  It was sleeveless, but I found the cutest little thing at a teeny bopper store called Deb.  It's sort of a shrug type thing if you will.  There is a picture of it on my profile.  It's a black dress (yes, it's sleeveless!) with a shrug thing made of a stretchy material over the top.  Also, I have a chiffon type wrap/shrug that I wear with my formal dresses.   Hope this helps - as for the toning, I have found NOTHING because my skin is just too stretched. Blessings~

Becky  I just went and looked at your profile, to see your wrap thing, and you so make me cry.  You are such an inspiration to me.  At 13 months out, I feel I will never get rid of the flab, lol, but I know there is hope.  Prayer and work are the main ingredients, just wanted to let you know you inspire me at almost 3 years out.  Have a blessed day, Rhonda D.

Rhonda, your kind words made ME cry!  Thank you so much.  I must admit, I am having a struggling period right now, but I have NO doubt I will be successful in the end.  God is good!  I need to get to a meeting one of these days too.  I know being surrounded by people who "get it" would really get me motivated! Thanks again~