Man Boobs – Why Exercise Alone Won’t Remove Your Man Boobs

The new male phenomenon of the 21st century is one men dread: man boobs. To be male, otherwise in your prime, with a condition that previously only seen in pubescent boys and elderly men must be hard to live down.

Many men who have this problem might be tempted to think that exercise is the best way to lose these them. But, exercise alone will not remove man boobs, and can sometimes make the condition worse.

If only chest exercises are performed, the problem can be worsened. When the pectoral muscles are strengthened this way, they push out man boobs making them appear bigger. So, instead it is essential to work all muscle groups.

It is naïve to think that exercise alone can remove the problem. Thinking it can is based on the assumption that man boobs are just fat. What most men aren’t aware is that man boobs can be divided into two types: gynecomastia and pseudo-gynecomastia.

In simple terms, gynecomastia is the result of a hormonal imbalance that causes the swelling of the glandular tissue on the chest; whereas pseudo-gynecomastia occurs when fat builds up to cover the pectoral muscles when a man is overweight or obese. If you’re unsure which type you have, a visit to your doctor should clarify this.

The causes of gynecomastia are complex, and the exact cause of the hormonal imbalance is unknown, but there are a number of factors that are suspected of contributing to it. Here are some of the more common ones:

• Medical related gynecomastia: both medications and underlying medical conditions can cause gynecomastia
• Substance abuse of illegal drugs like heroin, methamphetamines, marijuana anabolic steroids are linked to the development of gynecomastia. High caffeine and alcohol intake is also linked to it.
• Hormone disrupting chemicals in common use like Teflon and Bisphenol A (BPA) are also suspected in the development of gynecomastia.
• So, while exercise alone won’t remove man boobs caused by gynecomastia, it does play a part in their removal. Studies have shown that exercise can help raise a man’s testosterone level, so including regular exercise is advised to help removing them. But, it isn’t the only strategy that you should employ. Try doing the following as well:
• Cut out anything that could have helped its development is the first thing to do.
• Replacing processed foods with a healthy diet, i.e. one made up of some lean protein, plenty of whole grains, and lots of vegetables, is another good idea.