Tuesday 31 July 2012

Help I Have Man Boobs!



Man Boobs, 'Moobs' or to give them their technical name Gynecomastia! Whatever you call them, man boobs can be a source of great embarrassment and ridicule and if you have them, you probably can't wait find out how to get rid of them!!
Well, fellow sufferers, I am here to tell you everything you ever wanted to know about man boobs; what causes them, why its not your fault and, best of all, how to get rid of them forever. What do I know? Well, I have suffered from them almost all of my adult life. I'm not particularly overweight, I don't have hormonal issues and I don't wear a damn sports bra, thank you very much!
One of the biggest problems with man boobs, is that they aren't well understood - but hopefully I can help change all of that. You see, if you ask around, or even worse, check on-line you will find all kinds of mis-information, half truth and silly exaggerations regarding them. Well, friends, not here. This little blog aims to be 100% factual, sympathetic and non-judgmental. So, lets talk a bit about man boobs and what can be done about them.
Man Boobs - They're Just A Pair Of Breasts Right?
Wrong! In fact, the problem of man boobs (I really want to call them something different!) is that they actually fall into 3 categories:
Cat 1: The common man boob. This is where they contain a mixture of fat and tissue. Luckily, these kinds of moobs are the easiest to treat as well as being the most common.
Cat 2: Pseudo-Gynecomastia. These kinds contain only fat. Unfortunately, just like stubborn belly and thigh fat, these moobs can be difficult to shift. However, with the right kind of exercise, a healthy diet and a good dose of willpower these kinds of man boobs are also perfectly treatable. Now put down that Pizza and pay attention!
Cat3: Gynecomastia. Ah, well these are a bit of a problem, for, as you might have guessed with a name like that, they indicate a genuine medical condition. This classification of moobs contains 100% breast tissue and sometimes required surgery to get rid of.But, as we will see, that's not the only course of action open to you if you suffer from Gynecomastia.

Ok, So How Do I Tell What Kind I Have?

One of the most common questions I get asked (not that I speak about it a lot, you understand) is 'how can I tell what kind I have'? Well, its actually not that difficult. In fact all you have to do is the following:
Lie on your back, or sit upright if this is a problem, but relax,  and grab one of your breasts between your forefinger and thumb. Bear with me now - you have to slide your fingers up towards the nipple, but not so hard that you pinch yourself - its a test not a torture! If all you can feel is firm or rubbery tissue - usually about the same size as your nipple and can be quite tender to the touch - then this usually indicates gynecomastia. 
Conversely, if all you can feel is some soft, flabby tissue then, chances are is Cat 2 - or pseudogynecomastia. 
Both kinds of tissue indicate a Cat 1 or common man boob!
Help! I have man boobs? What Can I Do To Get Rid Of Them?
Well, and you knew I was going to say this didn't you, there is no quick fix for the problem! You need time, willpower and even some help from science but if you are willing enough it is possible to significantly reduce, or even completely eradicate the appearance of moobs.
There are some very good products, which we will discuss later, that really can make a difference - *cough* Gynexin *cough* - but, ultimately, like most things about your body, you have to have the correct mindset in order to succeed.
None of us like to live outside of our comfort zone, and making long term lifestyle changes can be really tough, but , I'm afraid in this case they are a significant requirement for success. Of course, and I won't lie about this, sometime surgery is the only option - but please, consult your GP and make sure you fully understand the issues involved and, for goodness sake , make this your absolute last option!
Diet and exercise, diet and exercise, diet and exercise - we all hate these words, but these factors do make a big difference to your chances of success. Later in this blog, I'll outline what I have done to tackle my problem and, hopefully, you will get some motivation from my success.
Are My Moobs My Fault?
Well, there's no use holding back here - the answer is... probably! Cat 2 pseudogynecomastia is often the result of poor diet and lack of exercise. Of course, some of us are prone to such problems and we find that fat tends to gather around our middle, thighs, chest...wherever, more than in other people, and that, unfortunately is just something you have to try and tackle.If, however you suddenly find that you are putting a lot of aft onto your chest area - and you cant shift it using 'conventional' weapons such as .. diet and exercise.. then you may be suffering from a hormonal imbalance. If you think that is the case then pop along to your GP and they will advise you.
Getting older doesn't help either - middle age spread is, unfortunately, not a myth for most of us. The way that the body breaks down, or metabolizes , fat changes as we get older meaning that it can be a lot harder to shift. Take note, I said harder..not impossible, so even if you are getting on a bit, you can still make a difference with..diet and exercise...
So, are moobs your fault? Well, who care, the fact is you have them, so stop playing the blame game and start working to get rid of them.
Its time to saddle up and hit the moob reduction trail pardners!