Getting in Shape

Odd predicament

I need to build muscle and lose fat (don't we all?). 

I'm 5'5, 125lbs (I am normally 120 but the past few weeks I've been traveling and eating out a lot so I put on some weight). 

You would think that at that weight I'd be nice and fit and lean, right? Nope! I have very little muscle in my arms, shoulders, chest, and back. While I definitely want to lose some pounds and get back to 120 by my wedding (which is a year away) I want to fix this problem of having no tone what-so-ever in the ribs-and-up area. If I do wear a strapless dress (which I don't want to do) I have a problem with the dress fitting perfectly everywhere except around my chest area. I have that dreaded armpit fat--you know, the kind that hangs over the front and back of the dress near your arms--and on top of that my arms don't look very firm at all. 

So my predicament? I don't want to be going down an entire size, nor do I want to be losing a lot of weight. I just want to lose the fat and gain the muscle. 

Is it worth getting a personal trainer for this problem? I have tried lifting dumbells countless times (with proper posture) and nothing seems to help.

I have an elliptical and trails at my disposal. 
Can anyone recommend anything that would help me to tone up my arms? How long before results? Two months? I never seem to see any even after three weeks of lifting. 
And.... should I go to the gym and invest in a personal trainer? Did it help any of you?

Thanks. 

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