In this article I'll be telling you a few things about man boobs. I may go on for a bit, because I wanted to cover everything, but feel free to skip the sections that don't interest you. If you're not worried about breast cancer for example, don't bother reading the section. If you're 17, you may not be interested in the section on old age gynecomastia – skip it.
Man boobs are a pain to live with. Unfortunately there's a lot of misleading information out there about what man boobs are and why you get them. Some say it's in your genes and there's nothing you can do about it, while others say it's an accumulation of fat and you just have to exercise and it'll go away.
The truth is, in most cases it's a bit of both, and there's more to the story than just genes and fat. Your best bet, when it comes to getting rid of your man boobs and finally living life as a normal man with a flat chest, is to learn what man boobs are and why you have them. So bare with me while I try to summarize what I know.
What Are “Man Boobs” (aka “Gynecomastia”)
Man boobs and gynecomastia aren't exactly the same thing. Gynecomastia is the term doctors use to describe a specific type of growth in your breasts. Man boobs on the other hand, can mean a whole bunch of other things.
Here's the definition of gynecomastia according to an article in the British Medical Journal (BMJ):
“Gynaecomastia is the benign enlargement of male breast tissue (>2 cm palpable, firm, subareolar gland and ductal tissue) resulting from a relative decrease in androgen effect or increase in oestrogen effect. Breast enlargement due to adipose tissue is called pseudogynaecomastia.”
So gynecomastia is when you can feel firm breast glands more than 2 cm wide beneath your nipples. This is ‘true gynecomastia‘. Pseudogynecomastia is when you have excess chest fat, either without any gland enlargement, or with only a very small amount of gland enlargement. Man boobs can refer to either one of these.
In 75% of cases you get enlargement of both breasts (bilateral gynecomastia – either symmetrical or asymmetrical), while in around 25% of cases, only one breast is enlarged (unilateral gynecomastia).
What Causes Man Boobs?
The causes of man boobs can be very complex and there are many different hormones involved. But by far the most important hormones involved are the male sex hormone testosterone and the female sex hormone estrogen. Anything that changes the levels of these hormones, changes their production, or changes the way the body uses or responds to these two hormones, can cause guys like you and me to grow boobs.
Gynecomastia can either be pathological, where it's caused by a medical illness or drugs, it can be physiological, where it's seen as a normal process in the body that isn't associated with any illness, or it could be idiopathic, where no cause is known.
The vast majority of cases are physiological and idiopathic. Though relatively few cases are associated with disease, it's always important to get it checked out. If you think you might have man boobs, then please go and see your doctor to make sure there isn't any underlying medical cause.
Here's how the stats go. Guys who see their doctor about man boobs, are found to have…
- Idiopathic gynecomastia (i.e. no detectable abnormality) – 25%
- Persistent pubertal gynecomastia – 25%
- Drugs – 10-25%
- Cirrhosis or malnutrition – 8%
- Primary hypogonadism – 8%
- Testicular tumors – 3%
- Secondary hypogonadism – 2%
- Hyperthyroidism – 1.5%
- Chronic renal insufficiency – 1%
Remember though that most guys only see their doctor if their condition is pretty severe. Severe gynecomastia is more likely to be caused by some form of underlying disease. This means that the incidence of idiopathic and physiological gynecomastia is likely much higher than the stats show above. One study even suggests that up to 90% of gynecomastia cases are idiopathic.
Pathological Gynecomastia
There are a huge number of different diseases that are associated with gynecomastia. Some of these are listed below. For a more detailed discussion on the various causes of pathological gynecomastia, go here.
- Conditions that reduce testosterone levels (called ‘hypogonadism'), such as Klinefelter syndrome or pituitary gland problems.
- An overactive thyroid gland (hyperthyroidism).
- Liver disease.
- Kidney disease and kidney failure.
- Tumors of the testicles, pituitary gland or adrenal glands.
Another common cause of pathological gynecomastia are drugs. There are many different drugs that can cause gynecomastia. I've listed a few for you below. You can have a look at a more comprehensive list here.
- Hormones: estrogens and anabolic steroids used in bodybuilding like testosterone and human growth hormone.
- Medicines that block the action of testosterone, or prevent its production. These are used in treating prostate cancer. E.g. bicalutamide, flutamide.
- Some antibiotics, such as metronidazole, ketoconazole and isoniazid.
- Some anti-ulcer medicines. E.g. omeprazole, ranititdine.
- Some cancer treatments (chemotherapy).
- Some medicines for the heart and treating blood pressure. E.g. digoxin, ACE inhibitors like enalapril, calcium channel blockers like nifedipine, spironolactone and minoxidil.
- Some medicines for psychiatric conditions (e.g. anxiety, depression, psychotic disorders). Drugs include diazepam, fluoxetine (prozac), olanzapine.
- Alcohol (especially beer).
- Illegal drugs: amphetamines, heroin, and marijuana
- Some over-the-counter drugs, herbal supplements and lotions, such as those containing lavender or tea tree oil.
If you're taking one of the drugs in the list above, then there's a good chance your man boobs will go away once you stop taking the drug. So see your doctor about coming off the drug, or changing it to something else.
Pathological gynecomastia is uncommon, but you'll never know what you have unless you get it checked out by your doctor. If you have a medical illness causing you to grow man boobs, your highest priority should be to treat that medical illness.
In most cases, when the root medical cause is treated, the gynecomastia goes away soon afterwards, all by itself. If you have pathological gynecomastia, the methods for reducing man boobs that I'll be discussing in later articles can help, but the most effective thing you can do is to treat the medical condition if it's treatable.
Treating your medical condition is the only method of action I recommend you take. Get it treated, or at least get it looked at by a qualified medical professional, then come back to this site if your man boobs are still there.
A Quick Primer on Breast Cancer…
A lot of guys with gynecomastia worry about breast cancer. Know that breast cancer and gynecomastia are not the same thing. The main difference is that gynecomastia is benign, i.e. it doesn't spread and invade other parts of your body, cancer does. Gynecomastia doesn't need to be treated, unless there is an underlying disease process, where the disease needs to be treated, or the gynecomastia is causing pain or you just don't like the look. Cancer needs to be treated.
Another important difference is that gynecomastia is damn common. Anywhere from 33-66% of guys suffer from some form of gynecomastia or other. I know that Hollywood, men's magazines and the media in general will have you believe that 99% of guys walk around with perfectly chiseled pecs and six pack abs, but in reality, way more guys than you think, are walking around with man boobs, they're just good at hiding 'em, and won't for any sum of money, take their top off for a men's magazine cover role.
Male breast cancer on the other hand, is very rare. It happens in about 1 in 100,000 men in the United States.
The best way to find out if you have gyno or breast cancer, is to go see your doctor. Your doc can usually tell from a simple examination, though he/she may send you for more tests (imaging, biopsy, etc) if they have reason for concern.
Some guys have asked me the question – “If I have gynecomastia, does this increase my chances of developing breast cancer?” Well the studies suggest gynecomastia does not increase your chances of developing breast cancer, unless you have a condition called Kleinfelter's syndrome. Kleinfelter's is a rare genetic disorder that happens in 1 in 500 to 1 in 1,000 live male births.
Now I don't mean to alarm you, but the number of men getting breast cancer has been increasing over time. It went up from 0.86 to 1.08 per 100,000 from 1973 to 1998. The chances of you getting breast cancer are increased when you are exposed to high levels of the female hormone estrogen. And a common cause of gynecomastia is high estrogen levels. Though the studies haven't found any statistical link between gynecomastia and male breast cancer, the theory would suggest gynecomastia can increase your chances of getting breast cancer.
So what does this mean?
It means you gotta get rid of those darn man boobs! Your life very well could depend on it.
Physiological Gynecomastia
There are 3 periods in a man's life when he is very likely to grow breasts:
1. As a baby:
Around 60-90% of newborn babies have gynecomastia because of estrogens transferred to them from their mother. It usually goes away completely after the first year.
If you are of this category, then damn, you sure as hell learned to read fast. You don't by any chance star in Family Guy, do you?
2. As a teen:
Gynecomastia in puberty is called ‘pubertal gynecomastia'. It occurs in 48-64% of kids during puberty. It can start as early as the age of 10, with most cases starting between ages 13 and 14.
Since pubertal gynecomastia is so common, I'll talk about it in more detail below.
3. In old age:
You can grow man boobs in old age because of naturally declining testosterone levels. The highest incidence is from ages 50 to 80.
Studies suggest that testosterone levels in men are rapidly declining in recent years because of our exposure to environmental chemicals. Many guys who are in their 30s and 40s are finding they have testosterone levels that are equal to what a 60 year old man would have had just a couple of generations ago.
As a result, man boobs caused by a so-called ‘natural' decline in testosterone with age is becoming more and more common in people younger than 50.
The good news is, whether you are in your 30s or 70s, you can make some important natural lifestyle changes that can more than double your testosterone levels in just a few weeks
Pubertal Gynecomastia (Adults Should Read This Too)
When you hit puberty your testes produce increased levels of both testosterone and estrogen. In kids who suffer from pubertal gynecomastia, all that happens is that the estrogen increases earlier/quicker than the testosterone. It can take up to 2-3 years for the testosterone to catch up and for the man boobs to go away.
Pubertal gynecomastia is seen as a ‘normal' thing to happen in kids. If you're in your teens and you see your doctor about man boobs, then chances are he/she will just do a quick examination and tell you “it's perfectly normal, just wait it out and it'll go away in a few years”.
I actually totally disagree with this. I'll tell you why in a minute.
It is true that in most cases it will go away completely if you just wait it out. In 75% of cases, the excess breast tissue disappears within 2 years without treatment, and a good 90% of kids would have lost their man boobs after 3 years without treatment.
What that means though, is that in 10% of cases – in 1 in 10 kids – man boobs don't go away, and tend to last into adulthood. This condition is called ‘persistent pubertal gynecomastia'. The bigger or more severe your man boobs, the more likely it is that your man boobs will persist into adulthood.
Now the reason you should read this section even if you're an adult and long past puberty, is that as I mentioned earlier, persistent pubertal gynecomastia is responsible for 25% of all cases of gynecomastia in adult men.
The thing is, the number of guys with persistent pubertal gynecomastia is increasing over time. More and more kids are finding that their man boobs don't go away after 3 years. This is part of the reason why there is such a huge increase in the number of guys undergoing male breast reduction surgery in recent years. In the UK for example, the number of guys having male breast reduction doubled from 2006 to 2011. In the US, male breast reduction surgery is now the 4th most popular cosmetic procedure for men.
If pubertal gynecomastia is such a ‘normal' thing to happen, why on earth would its incidence be increasing over time?
Is it evolution? Have we evolved into more feminine beings over a span of 5 years? Well we know that's not true, because evolution takes millions of years to happen. What's more likely is there are environmental factors that are increasing your chances of getting pubertal gynecomastia, and increasing the chances of pubertal gynecomastia persisting into adulthood.
In future articles, I will highlight some important environmental factors and lifestyle changes that will not only help to reduce the chances of your man boobs persisting into adulthood, but will also help to get rid of your man boobs sooner than if you were to just “wait it out” as your doctor recommends.
Factors that increase the chances of your man boobs lasting longer than 2 or 3 years is being overweight and having excess environmental exposure to estrogen and estrogen-like particles called ‘xenoestrogens'.
You can help to reduce the chances that your man boobs will last beyond 2 to 3 years, and also help to get rid of your man boobs quicker if you exercise, keep fit and maintain a low body weight. You also need to educate yourself on the topic of estrogen reduction and get good at limiting your exposure to environmental estrogens.
Idiopathic Gynecomastia
Idiopathic gynecomastia is where no obvious cause can be found. But just because a cause can't be found, doesn't mean there is no cause. A big physical change in your body like growing man boobs, doesn't happen without a cause.
There is some form of biological change that is causing your body to go against its masculine nature by developing a set of breasts. A lot of the times your doctor won't be able to find any obvious hormonal changes, because man boobs can equally result from problems in the testosterone receptors in your breast tissue, or breast tissue that is hypersensitive to normal levels of estrogen. These localized receptor and breast sensitivity issues can't be tested for. We do know however, that they are affected by certain drugs, lifestyle changes and chemicals.
Studies have shown that medical drugs like tamoxifen can help reduce idiopathic gyneocmastia. Tamoxifen works by blocking estrogen receptors in breast tissue. If tamoxifen can reduce idiopathic gynecomastia, then the natural methods I suggest in this website will help you even more.
Just like physiological gynecomastia, the incidence of idiopathic gynecomastia has also been increasing dramatically over the years. Although science hasn't found a definite causal link with gynecomastia, it's blindingly obvious to anyone who's willing to do a bit of research, that rates of gynecomastia are increasing for the same reason rates of breast cancer are increasing in both men and women, and the same reason rates of obesity, prostate cancer, various other cancers, endocrine disorders like thyroid disease, diabetes and huge hosts of other diseases have been increasing in the last few decades.
This particular cause of gynecomastia is a very important one that you must know about in order to get rid of your man boobs naturally. I'll be discussing it a little later in a future article.
Obesity – Another Common Cause of Gynecomastia
I decided to talk about obesity separately, because I'm not sure which category it would fit into above. Obesity-related gynecomastia is probably more common than all the other forms of gynecomastia put together. It's pretty natural for a guy to put on excess chest fat as he puts on more weight.
Piling on the pounds causes your body to grow man boobs via multiple different mechanisms. Being fat gives your body such a strong signal to grow man boobs, that it's near impossible for a guy with man boobs to lose his man boobs naturally without first losing weight. So in a later article, when I discuss natural methods for getting rid of man boobs, the first prescription I'll give you is weight loss! But don't worry I'll show you how you can do it easily.
We know that fat cells contain the enzyme aromatase, which converts testosterone into estrogen. This itself has a double-whammy effect, because man boobs are caused by either an increase in estrogen or a decrease in testosterone. Studies have found a direct link between rising body weight and a decline in both free and total blood testosterone levels. These declines in testosterone levels have been associated with decreased sperm concentrations, sperm motility, and fertility rates.
Fat cells also store estrogen, which means they increase estrogen levels in your body.
How Do You Get Rid Of Man Boobs?
Well that's a whole topic by itself. I'll discuss it in detail in a later article. Meanwhile, feel free to browse my site and learn about different exercises you can do to help get rid of your man boobs, and dietary and lifestyle changes you can make.
You may also like to go here to find out about the methods I have been using to help my clients lose their man boobs naturally:
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Now I don't pretend to know everything about man boobs or gynecomastia. If there's anything you feel I missed or got wrong in the above article, please feel free to let me know in the comments box below. Also, what are your experiences with man boobs? What are some of the other things you'd like me to discuss about losing man boobs naturally?
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Hi Garry. You are doing a great job.I know I have low testosterone levels and I am a bit fat as well as hv mb.could u perhaps suggest something for t levels?
Hi Sanjay, thanks for your comment.
The best way to boost testosterone is to reduce body fat. Studies have shown that people who are overweight have lower testosterone levels than those who have a slim build. Carbohydrates are known to decrease testosterone, both directly, and via insulin release. One key is to reduce your carbohydrate consumption and increase your saturated fat intake (the latter being known to boost T levels). It’s also important to get lots of sleep. Most of your testosterone is produced in the later hours of sleep, just before you wake. I recommend 8-9 hours of sleep a day.
An excellent free resource for testosterone is Brett Mckay’s Testosterone Week over at artofmanliness.com. I also go into detail about testosterone in my program, How to Lose Man Boobs Naturally.
Great article!
I just have a little question… I got my manboobs when i was about 13-14 years old. Now i’m 17, but they don’t go away. It annoys me VERY much, and actually decrease my self confidence quite a bit.
I do a lot of sport, and i live a healthy life in general. Is surgery really the only way out?
Hey Tom, thanks for your question
At this age, you are likely suffering from something called ‘pubertal gynecomastia’. Pubertal gynecomastia usually goes away after 2-3 years, but I see you’ve had it for 3 years now. After 3 years, it’s still possible to get rid of your man boobs using natural methods, but the most important thing to do is to see your doctor, just to exclude any possible underlying medical conditions that may be causing you to grow breasts.
You can learn about natural methods to reduce man boobs in the following article:
https://chestsculpting.com/how-to-get-rid-of-your-man-boobs-fast/
Unfortunately in some cases surgery IS the only option, but you can always at least use natural methods to first reduce the size of your man boobs as much as possible. This will reduce the cost of surgery, and more importantly, reduce the chances of there being any complications from surgery, and reduce the chance of recurrence after surgery.
Dear Gary. I am 15 years old and am 1.82 m tall and weigh143 pounds. I seem to have some breast tissue. but they are not that large. Infact nobody will notice it unless I remove my shirt.i seem to have breasts from as long as I remember.i used to be a bit obese about 4-5 years ago but now I am fit . I play sports regularly.i don’t do drugs nor smoke etc. I have noticed that after sports when I sweat, my chest seems more flat then usual.My nipple seems to harden for a few minutes.Sometimes this happens while bathing as well.But soon once the sweat and I dry up, my breasts return.why cant I have the previous physique all the time.when will my breasts go?perhaps over the years they have become smaller.But why haven’t they gone? Can’t I do something about them without consulting the doc or matron.Thanks a lot Gary
Hey Amaan. It sounds like you have something called ‘Pubertal Gynecomastia‘. I’ve written about this in my new crazy little blog. Click the link I just gave you to check out the blog post.
The experience you describe of your nipple hardening after exercise or a shower etc, is the same experience almost every guy with man boobs has.
I highly advise ANY guy with man boobs to see his doctor, because there’s no telling if you might have some serious underlying disease. It’s very unlikely in your case, but you never know until you get tested. Also, your doctor can offer you medical treatment for your problem. The drug tamoxifen has been found to be affective for the treatment of pubertal gynecomastia in clinical trails.
my weight is 60 kg ..My name is karan.. my nipples are quite puffy and i gt a male breast too .. it started at the age of 13 i am now 14.. can you please tell me what should i avoid.. i cant wear t shirts as its been seen .. i am feeling embarrassed .. people make fun of it.. please find me some solution please.
Hi Karan, at your age you are likely suffering from pubertal gynecomastia. I’ll be doing a detailed write-up on the topic in the near future. Pubertal gynecomastia usually goes away all by itself within 2-3 years. You can speed things along by following the methods I discuss in this article:
https://chestsculpting.com/how-to-get-rid-of-your-man-boobs-fast/
Please make sure to also see your doctor, as there’s always the chance that there might be some underlying disease process. The only way to know for sure is to be seen and examined by a medical professional.
hi garry, thanx for such an nice article.. you doing a great job..
i have the same problem as amaan.. i have bigger nipples but when i workout at the gym they become harder and smaller and my chest gets a perfect shape but after an hour or half my nipples get bigger again..now, i have decided to diet so that i can lose some fat .. but at the same time i want bigger biceps.. from the past 3 months i have really worked hard on my biceps and increased them by 2 inches and i just really dont wanna lose ’em.. is there any way to lose some chest fat without losing the overall body fat? and if i start dieting should i take my whey protein powder !?
Hi Mohit
It’s very difficult, next to impossible to lose chest fat and not lose any generalized body fat. The best that you can do with my advanced programs, How To Lose Man Boobs Naturally and the Chest Sculpting Blueprint, is to enhance the rate at which you lose chest fat, while losing generalized body fat at the same time.
Anyway, you shouldn’t rely on body fat to help with the size of your biceps. If you follow a decent weight training regimen, your biceps will continue to grow while you lose fat from all over your body. In the Chest Sculpting Blueprint for example, I discuss methods you can use to grow your biceps, while at the same time, growing muscle throughout the rest of your body as well. None of this includes spending excessive periods of time doing isolation work like biceps curls, which are of limited benefit.
The problem with your nipples is a common one. Most guys find that as they lose more and more chest fat, their nipples stay hardened for longer periods of time throughout the day, eventually achieving permanently tightened nipples.
The exception is if you have unusually large, fibrosed breast glands behind your nipples. You get these when you have been exposed to high levels of the female hormone estrogen for 1-2 years or longer. Large fibrosed breast glands can only be removed via surgery.
Hi Gary I got my man boobs around 13-14 im now 17 but they haven’t gone away but a little smaller im 6foot 1inch tall and weigh 250 I’ve recently started working out and have lost 30 pounds but it feels like my man boobs have only shrunk a little please help
Hi Jose, thanks for your question.
At your age, it’s likely you have what they call ‘pubertal gynecomastia‘. Pubertal gynecomastia is a common condition, which usually goes away within 2-3 years.
To lose man boobs, it’s important that you follow the right type of exercise, and eat the right type of foods. Too many guys with man boobs make the mistake of just exercising more and eating less. This approach can help you lose generalized body fat, but usually tends to leave the chest fat till last.
The right type of exercise includes doing hormonal training, examples being weight-training in the hypertrophy range and high intensity interval training. It’s also important to target your body’s hormones by eating testosterone boosting foods, and foods that reduce the effects of the female hormone estrogen. I discuss all the details in my advanced programs.
When you switch to doing the right type of exercise and eating the right types of food, you’ll see that your chest will start to flatten a lot sooner than if you were to follow a traditional weight-loss regimen of cardio and low-calorie dieting. I’ve had hundreds of clients and customers confirm this over the years, and I have no doubt that it works.
hey gary.. did u hear about nolvadex?? it has been shown to be effective in the treatment of gyno. i’m almost 18 is it right for me to take nolvadex to reverse my gyno? are there any side effects?
Hello Gary, My name is Wilson, I’m 5’3 and I’m 14 years old. I seem to find that in the morning my man boobs reduce but then on the evening when I come back from school it goes to the original size. I started recently to drink at least 2 cups of green tea everyday, and I started to see some results, But I still want a flat chest. How long do you think My man boobs will be gone if I keep drinking green tea like everyday and exercising and doing cardio workouts at least 2-3 times a week, Can you also give me some tips on what to eat more frequently.
Hey Wilson. At 14 years, it’s most likely that you have pubertal gynecomastia. Do get it checked out by your doctor, just to make sure it isn’t something else. If your symptoms are particularly severe, your doctor may also prescribe a drug called tamoxifen, which can be helpful. Green tea can be helpful in getting rid of man boobs, but there’s only so much it will do by itself. Try having decaffeinated green tea, since studies show that caffein can decrease testosterone, and increase bad hormones like cortisol and estrogen.
Cardio workouts can help, but only if you are doing the right type of cardio. I touch on this type of cardio in this article. You also want to add in some weight training, which will help boost testosterone levels and grow muscle to help reduce the appearance of man boobs.
When it comes to diet, you want to eat foods that target key hormones in your body. The idea is to decrease insulin by avoiding grain-based carbs, increase testosterone with foods like brazil nuts and fatty cuts of organic meat, and decrease estrogen by eating plenty of soluble fiber, cruciferous vegetables, and turmeric.
There’s a lot more to it of course, and I discuss all the details in my program, How To Lose Man Boobs Naturally.
With pubertal gynecomastia, it’s important to remember that in around 90% of cases, the man boobs completely disappear within 3 years. The best way to ensure that they do disappear, is to keep slim, stay fit’n healthy, and use natural methods (as described above) to boost testosterone and reduce estrogen.
hi Garry u r great ,u helped me to get better,I was scared of my boobs but I am 13 – 14 years.i had man boobs since I was 11.i went to a doc 2 times,he said it will go away,but now there is a lump under my left nipple,it pains a little.is it normal.anorther question is that will my boobs go completely,will they be flat after some years,because it’s embarrassing,I want to build a tough body but with such boobs it is not possible.so the main question is will my boobs become totally flat before 18 and is it common to have a lump under only one nipple,my nipples are puffy too .at present I am not active but my weight is fine it’s around 47 kg and my height is around 163 cm
Hey Davis
It is actually quite common to have a lump under just one nipple (unilateral gynecomastia). What you likely have is pubertal gynecomastia, and most cases of pubertal gynecomastia do go away after a few years. In a few cases, pubertal gynecomastia can persist into adulthood, when it becomes known as “persistent pubertal gynecomastia”. To reduce your chances of developing persistent pubertal gynecomastia, it’s important that you maintain a low body weight, and do your best to avoid exposure to environmental chemicals.
A weight of 47 kg at your height is a bit concerning though. Don’t eat so little that you suffer from malnutrition. For pubertal gynecomastia to go away, your body needs to experience a natural surge of testosterone, which usually happens a little later during puberty. Malnourishment is likely to limit that surge of testosterone, and it won’t help you much in getting rid of your man boobs. The secret is to eat well, but to eat the right foods. You can check out the diet section of my website to learn more.
Hi Gary,
I am 34 and have had moobs and mips all my life since I was a kid. I am not overweight (well within my BMI) as I eat healthy and exercise almost everyday but nothing seems to shift them. The main problem is that after 1 week of intense training I virtually always get ill so have to back off my weight training. I am considering surgery but before I go down this road can you offer any suggestions? Much appreciated.
“Eating healthy” is a very vague expression :p. Most people for example, consider vegetarianism to be the epitome of eating healthy, but I consider it to be unhealthy, especially when it comes to losing man boobs. Studies have found that vegetarians have lower levels of the male hormone testosterone than non-vegetarians. The sex hormones estrogen and testosterone play a crucial role in the development of man boobs (… what on earth are “mips” by the way? :s), and any diet and exercise program geared toward losing man boobs, should be focused on boosting testosterone and reducing estrogen in your body.
You can take a look at the diet section on my site to get an idea of what I mean by eating healthy when it comes to losing man boobs.
You mention working out almost every day. Though I would highly advise you to keep fit, I generally don’t advise people to train every day. The reason you become ill after a week of intense training, is because you are overtraining. Training too much leads to a weakened immune system. If you do your research, you’ll also find that overtraining leads to lower levels of testosterone in your body. Studies have found that endurance athletes have lower levels of testosterone than the average male who does no exercise at all. Boosting testosterone is 50% of the game when it comes to losing man boobs naturally, so it makes no sense to overtrain or to train every day.
The way I advise you to train, is via one short, intensive session, every other day, or 3 days a week. Short intensive whole-body training programs are known to lead to the biggest boosts in post-exercise testosterone. You need a day in between for your body to recover and adapt. If you train intensively every day, your body will fail to adapt and you will develop chronic fatigue syndrome, where your immune system and testosterone levels take a dive, you fall ill, lose your mojo, and signal your body to hold on to your man boobs.
I think in your case, it’s a matter of adjusting your training so you are boosting testosterone, and staying shy of overtraining. I go into detail on the training side of things in my program, the Chest Sculpting Blueprint. I go into detail on the dietary and lifestyle side of things in my program, How To Lose Man Boobs Naturally.
The links I just gave you are links to introduction videos for the programs, so you can learn more about them. The order links appear at the end of the videos.
With regards to surgery, I’m glad you are considering it, because it shows me you are serious and willing to do what it takes to get rid of your man boobs. Since I’m not a doctor and I haven’t examined you in person, I can’t say for sure that you won’t, at some point, need surgery.
What I can tell you though, is that the LEAST the natural approach will do (when done correctly), is significantly reduce the size of your man boobs.
I’ve had a few cases where guys have flattened out their chest significantly with the natural approach, but needed surgery for that last bit of fat and puffyness around the nipples. Some decided to go on and have surgery, while others were happy to keep their chest as it was. Those that did have surgery, were much better off for having reduced the size of their man boobs first using the natural method.
See, if you DO find that you need surgery, you will significantly reduce the chances of surgical complications like permanent scarring, overlapping skin and deformities, if you reduce the size of your man boobs using natural methods, BEFORE you have surgery. You also reduce the chances of your man boobs growing back, and reduce the cost of surgery.
So in all cases, I always recommend giving a good, thorough go at natural male breast reduction before going for surgery.
If you do decide to have surgery, please make sure not to just have liposuction. If you have enlarged breast glands, you won’t be happy with your results unless you also have surgical resection of the excess glandular tissue behind your nipples. I’ve had a lot of clients who felt cheated when they had liposuction, only to end up with a flat chest with puffy nipples. Make sure also, that you find a good surgeon with a good track record. The last thing you want is to end up with a permanent deformity.
I hope that helps.
Garry
sir,
am 29 yrs old male and had gynecomastia operation when i was 23. all the breast tissues were removed successfully but still i have boobs due to excess fat ;though my bmi is 21.6 which is normal. what should i do .should i go for a second surgery but i know i have no breast tissue..what can be done for this kind of moobs without breast tissue but having fat…??
Hi Sagaram
If your man boobs have grown back after surgery, then it’s likely there is a hormonal process involved. Your surgeon should not have operated on you without first referring you to an endocrinologist (a doctor who specializes in hormones).
The first thing you should do now, is to see an endocrinologist to try and identify any possible underlying medical conditions that may have resulted in you growing breasts. At the very least you should have hormone tests done to see what your estrogen and testosterone levels are.
Absent any medical conditions, your best bet would be to get started on a natural male breast reduction regimen. When it comes to man boobs, breast tissue is the most difficult to get rid of via non-surgical methods. So not having any breast tissue is a good position to be in.
To get started on a natural male breast reduction regimen, I suggest you take a look at my article here:
https://chestsculpting.com/how-to-get-rid-of-your-man-boobs-fast/
For more detailed and more advanced information, you’ll benefit from my program, How To Lose Man Boobs Naturally, which you can learn about here:
https://chestsculpting.com/how-to-lose-man-boobs-naturally/
Hi, I am 14 and I have a small lump underneath my right nipple only. I do not have man boobs, but my right nipple always looks erect. It only hurts when I squeeze it, but I am worried that it will turn into man boobs. Will it? Is this normal?
Hi Bryan.
At 14, sounds like a case of pubertal gynecomastia. It’s actually quite common for gynecomastia to be unilateral, where you just get it on one side. The fact that your nipple is tender, is a sign that there is a hormonal process involved, with breast gland enlargement.
You need to get this looked at by a doctor asap to make sure it isn’t something more sinister. Unilateral gynecomastia is more often associated with an underlying disease process. Though this is highly unlikely in your case, it’s always best to get it checked out. Also, breast gland development is best halted as soon as it starts to develop. If you leave it too long (more than 3 years), there’s a chance those glands will be there for life, and you won’t be able to remove them with anything but surgery in the future.
See your doctor dude, and get it treated as soon as possible. Studies have shown that the medical drug tamoxifen is very helpful in pubertal gynecomastia. Read about it, and ask your doctor what he thinks about it, if only to indirectly prompt him into considering this as something he can treat you with. Doctors are generally too quick to dismiss patients with pubertal gynecomastia, telling them they just need to wait it out, and without doing anything to increase their chances of their pubertal gynecomastia actually going away.
Hope this helps.
Hi what doctor should i go to for check up of man boobs? Thanks.
I always recommend seeing an endocrinologist first.
What are your thoughts on the intervention of DIM alongside exercise and a clean diet? Do you integrate DIM in your approach? Why or why not? Thanks!
Yes, DIM helps, but only if taken in conjunction with a good diet, exercise and lifestyle regimen for losing man boobs.
Hello Doctor
I am 19,Height 5’11”,weight 83.5.Since 1 and half year I am having this moobs problem. Well its just puffy nipples,there’s no disc underneath or any sort of pain but pointy and puffy nipples..comparing with the initial stage the size seems to have increased a bit..
what do you reckon? Is it just fat due to overweight or there’s any possibility of gyno?
Hi Ontu
I’m no doctor! Just a personal trainer who helps guys lose man boobs. If you have a medical condition, best seek advice from your doctor. What you describe doesn’t sound like gynecomastia, but best to see your doctor to get a full diagnosis. If there is no firm disc-like mass behind your nipples, then it’s likely just because of extra fat. Losing chest fat should help the nipples to tighten up.
Hello,
I am Aditya, 24 years old, I can’t figure out if I have Gynecomastia or not, I do have some pain in left chest when I touch it, there is a firm, solid thing beneath the nipple, I feel uncomfortable now a days while wearing T-shirts and briefs, I am confused, Can you suggest something?
Hi Aditya, sounds like gynecomastia.
If there is pain when you touch it, then there is likely an active hormonal process going on. I suggest you see a doctor as soon as possible. The sooner you start medical treatment, the less likely you are to need surgery in the future. The natural approach on losing man boobs that I suggest on my site can help you, but it can take some time and effort to get into the flow of things. Your doctor can recommend some drugs (e.g. tamoxifen, raloxifene) that will get working immediately. It’s also important for your doctor to diagnose any possible underlying sinister causes to your gynecomastia.
When you get started on your drugs, come back to my site and research the natural approach. You’ll get the best results when you combine medical therapy with the natural approach.
Please do go on to see your doctor, and I hope you get on top of this problem asap.
I am 19 years old and some swelling in my chest region. I do not have nipple but comes while taking a shower….the swelling is just within the nipple region. What can I do …I am embarassed
Hi Rishi
At 19, you may be suffering from pubertal gynecomastia. I would suggest you see your doctor, and get a diagnosis first. It’s important that your doctor first rules out any possible underlying sinister causes.
i want to know the different between chest fat and gyno?
Hi Aldi
A generally accepted definition is that gynecomastia involves the growth of breast glands beneath the nipples, while chest fat just involves adipose tissue (i.e. fat cells) overlying the chest. Usually though, the difference between the two is blurred. Most guys with breast glands tend to have excess chest fat. A lot of guys with excess chest fat, also have some glandular growth.
Hope this answers your question.
Hi Garry,
I don’t know if I have manboobs or not. You see, when I flex my chest, it is hard for the most part. Yet when I walk, it is bouncing up and down a lot. When I run or jump, my chest bounces like crazy even more.
As a bouncing/jiggling chest a sign of chest fat/man boobs? It’s weird because when I flex it, it is hard, and I heard that you cannot flex fat. Yet other men’s chest do not bounce the way mine do while walking.
Can it be because my upper pecs are less developed? Will building upper pecs help make my chest stop bouncing?
I am very skinny in other areas of my body btw.
Hi, I need to know if I have this disease, my man boobs aren’t hard or firm unless I flex if I don’t they are just flabby and can shake really easily. I have been running everyday to about 3-5 miles but it seems that my man boobs aren’t going away I’m 15 years old I’m scared I have the disease and it won’t go away. I am really scared, what should I do?
Hi David. Don’t be scared, you can get on top of this. Follow the guidance I’ve laid out in the following article regarding losing man boobs:
https://chestsculpting.com/how-to-get-rid-of-your-man-boobs-fast/