MAN BOOBS …. AND HOW TO LOSE THEM

Many men, young and old, will at some time be afflicted with this syndrome. Statistics tell us that 30-50% of males are thought to have experienced at some time during their life. Perhaps just one breast, or both.

So before we talk about ways to lose them, how do we get man boobs in the first place? ‘Man boobs’, ‘male breasts’, ‘moobs’ …. Call them what you will, but if your condition is not just a simple misplacement of extra fat, then the condition is called ‘gynecomastia’ which originates from a Greek phrase meaning ‘women-like breast’. And in this case, there is a very easily recognized symptom – a button-like growth under the nipple area.

All men start off as boys, and all young lads hit puberty with a small amount of breast tissue under the nipple or areola area. But when the hormones associated with all the other changes that happen during puberty start to kick in, the testicles produce hormones which will prevent further growth of breast tissue. So, as you can see, hormones do play a huge part in ‘man boobs’. And if they play a part in creating man boobs, they can certainly also play a big part in your bid to lose your man boobs too!

An imbalance in the hormones can see the man boob condition continuing after puberty and in some cases intensifying significantly. So, first thing to check when you are looking at ways to lose your man boobs is the production of estrogens (female hormones). If you suffer from liver disease or obesity, your estrogen production will be higher than what is considered normal, and may be accountable for your man boobs.

Exercise is always a good option, not only for general health, but as part of your plan to lose your man boobs. Weight training increases testosterone levels and will address the hormonal balance which could be the root of your problem – and at the same time you’ll be toning up underlying muscles! Tight pectoral muscles will lift the breast area and reduce the man boob appearance whether their cause is hormonal or excessive fat. So, either way, have a go at ‘toning it up’ by working those pecs! And that old standby, cardiovascular exercise, is also proven to improve and balance hormonal levels.

If you don’t think your condition is caused by excessive fat tissue or hormonal imbalance, then take a look at medications prescribed by your GP. Medications for ulcers, heartburn, and high blood pressure can all cause hormonal imbalances which will exacerbate a pre-existing condition causing man boobs.

Of course, surgery is an option, but before you starting thinking about going under the knife to lose your man boobs, check out the alternative options. And, if you do have an excess of breast tissue, remember to check your man boobs regularly…. breast cancer, while predominantly a female disease, is definitely not exclusive to females. Ask your medical practitioner for a guideline on how to do this.