Breasts. Yes, men do have breasts. There are several medical conditions that can cause breast enlargement in men. One is gynecomastia, which can cause swollen breast tissue and even breast tenderness. This condition is usually caused by some issue with testosterone, leading to more oestrogen in the body.
However, for the majority of men, man boobs are simply a result of having excess fat on the chest. Your pectoral muscles are underneath the layer of fat. So, by losing body fat and gaining muscle, you can work to get rid of your man boobs.
You cannot target fat loss in one particular area of the body, but you can work to strengthen the muscles in specific areas. If you’re looking to lose weight, getting regular cardiovascular exercise can help.
You can get a decent chest workout at home by doing push-ups. Or, you can head to your local gym. Getting proper form is important — it will make the exercises more effective and keep you safe from injury. Here are three chest-specific workouts you can try at a gym:
Barbell bench press:
Lowering the bar should take longer — twice as long — than raising it back up. When you’ve completed your set, return the bar back to the rack.
How to:
Set your barbell on the rack and position yourself to take a medium grip on the bar.
- Lift the bar and hold it straight over your body.
- Breathe in as you lower the bar mid-chest.
- Breathe out as you return back to your starting position.
Pec deck machine:
Always keep your elbows slightly bent. Also, keep your back arched. This will help you target your chest rather than your shoulders. Before you sit at the machine, select how much weight you want to work with using the sliding pins.
How to:
- Adjust the seat so the handles are the same height as your chest.
- Sit down and grab the bar handles, and bring them toward one another as you exhale and contract your chest.
- Return to your starting position with an inhale.
Bent-forward cable crossovers:
How to:
- Select your desired weight from both sides of the machine before you start.
- Stand in the middle of the machine and grab the handles with your palms down.
- Lean your body over (maintaining a flat back) so the cables line up with your chest muscles.
- Push your arms down and in toward each other (crossing over) as you exhale.
- Return to your starting position slowly with an inhale.
Diet changes to make:
Losing weight through diet is another way to get rid of excess fat all over your body. Try making small changes to your overall eating routine. For the most sustainable weight loss, aim to lose around one to two pounds each week.
Before you change your eating habits, you may want to keep a food diary to see what you’re eating currently. Cut out foods that are high in calories and low in nutritional value, like soda, candy, and other sugary snacks. Replace them with whole grains, lean proteins, and other healthy, whole foods.
Consuming fewer calories from food and beverages doesn’t need to leave you hungry. Instead of thinking about all the foods you cannot eat on your diet, think about what you can add to your day. Fruits and vegetables are low in calories and high in nutrients, water, and dietary fibre.
These tasty snacks, for example, contain just 100 calories (or fewer):
- Medium apple
- Medium banana
- A Cup of steamed green beans
- Cup of blueberries
- 1 Cup of grapes
- Cup of carrots, broccoli, or bell peppers plus two tablespoons hummus
