Apparently, they aren’t as rare as we might like to believe. Some of the studies I’ve reviewed claim that 60% of men either have them or get them (which is, I guess, the same thing). In 2005, The Sun newspaper printed an article called, “Moobies and Shakers” which outed  the then-Prime Minister Tony Blair who “showed off a rather unflattering set of man baps as he frolicked on holiday”. The article continues with a “tit parade” of top moobs, showing off photos of Simon Cowell, Danny DeVito, Peter Stringfellow and, inexplicably, Iggy Pop.

Surprisingly, not all men are dismayed by their moobs. Check out this site, called manboobs.co.uk, which is a sort of “we’re fat and we’re proud” site for guys with boobs.  Men with boobs around the world submit photos to the site and visitors select a “Man Boobs of the Month Champion.” The “Top 10″ page sets artfully-lit photos alongside more in-your-face mobile-phone pictures. They have even met up with a photographer who specializes in art and photo work for obese men, including those with big fannies, big boobies and well, I don’t know what else. You can see the “Among Gentlemen” site here.

Oh, and here’s a sample photo of the Man Boobs of the Month. Enlarge at your own peril.

ANYWAY, I read an article here that claims you can get rid of them through hormone balancing. Otherwise, I’ve read, naturally being in the business, that liposuction and surgery are also treatments for moobs.

I’ve asked our intrepid hormone-balancing maverick, Dr. Mitch Matez, to “weigh in” (pun intended) about hormone balancing for moobs. Let’s see in our next post what he has to say about this phenomenon.

More later from your Fat Lady (yes, eating Greek yogurt AGAIN today).

Apparently, obesity decreases blood flow. Not just to your heart but to the penis, thereby causing ED. According to this study, obesity increased the impotence risk in men by 30%. It goes on to say that if you are an obese person with sexual dysfunction, you are a high risk candidate for heart disease.

Well, you’re likely to be a high risk candidate for going dateless as well.

I spent a weekend in Cancun with a fat guy once. OK, I won’t tell that story.

Anyway, diet going well. I don’t know if I am detoxed by now or not. I guess I’ll know next time I’m in Boca visiting with the Diet Nazi, Suzi, at Dr. Murray’s office. She’s truly lovely but I still smart at her chiding me about my innocent highly-spiced grilled chicken salad. I’m practically living on Fage and Oikos Greek yogurt by this time; I’ve come to love it. Almost like eating sour cream, it’s so smooth and delish (as Rachael Ray on the Food Channel would say in her hurried I’m-on-speed-voice). I confess that I eat it with unsweetened organic strawberry jam, just a tiny  spoonful in a bowl of yogurt to make it taste better than eating plain sour-cream-in-a-bowl (ewww).

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Yes, isn’t it amazing how sodium intake can lock in water, causing bloat!  Initially, when patients join our weight-loss program, they drop a pound or more almost immediately, which is released from water retention. Anything more than that is a sign that you’ve actually started to change your eating habits (Yes, you turned down pizza…good going)! Leaving out the salt and substituting salt-free alternatives like spices and herbs can make a huge difference in getting rid of bloat! Your pants and skirts will fit better and you will feel better too!

Just remember, to lose weight, you must eat less.  Impulsive eating does not permit weight loss, and planning ahead, knowing in advance what you will eat at your next meal also helps you to eat less.  You should also be aware of not only choosing the correct foods to eat but the portions of those foods as well! You may benefit from keeping a food diary.  Keeping a written record of your eating habits, the quantities you eat, the time of day and where you are helps you note your vulnerabilities. FitDay is a great site and tracking your intake is free! Are you stress eating?  Are you eating from boredom?  Are you in social situations that are too tempting to stay within the guidelines of acceptable foods or the amounts of those foods? Are you taking time to exercise in order to kick start your metabolism? These things must be addressed in order to have success!

Eating well, and using good self control will become easier and easier as time goes on and will help you achieve a healthier lifestyle…

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If you want to gain weight then you should go on a diet. That’s right, you heard me correctly.  One of the most frequent complaints I’ve heard from patients since I’ve worked with Dr. Murray Pozner is that they go on fad diets and yes, they do lose weight, but as soon as they stop the diet the weight comes right back on!  Going on a diet means that at some point you will go off the diet and will usually see a rapid weight gain.  So your next question to me should be “then what works to keep the weight off?” and my reply is “Changing Behavior!”

You have to change your weight-gaining habits to weight-losing habits. Sounds simple huh!  It isn’t unless you were one of the few people who were born with excellent inherited genes.  If you have already made the decision to lose weight, Dr. Murray Pozner will teach you how to achieve your desired weight AND live a healthier lifestyle and maintain your desired weight.  It will require a conscious effort on your part, but IT CAN BE DONE!

There are three major estrogens in the human body:

• Estrone (E1),
• Estradiol (E2), and
• Estriol (E3).

When women are young and healthy they typically have higher levels of E2 (considered to be a relatively safe estrogen) than E1 (considered to be a riskier estrogen). As a woman ages, and specifically at menopause, E1 levels rise as E2 levels fall. It is likely this imbalance of the hormone levels that predisposes aging population to certain cancers. Estradiol levels are at their highest and estrogen’s in general are better balanced when women are in their twenties, a time in which the risk for disease processes is very low. E2 levels begin to fall relative to E1 levels, typically in the 40’s or 50’s which is also when we begin to see increased risk of many disease processes, especially breast and gynecological cancers. As estrogen levels fall even further, the signs and symptoms of Menopause (hot flashes, fatigue, mood swings, decreased sex drive, osteoporosis, weight gain, etc.) appear. Prior to 2002 this set of complaints at your doctor’s office would likely have generated a prescription for Premarin, Prempro, or other synthetic hormones which may control symptoms, but at significant price (increased risk of heart disease, cancer, etc.)

Fortunately there is a safer and very effective alternative “natural” or “bioidentical” estrogen. Bioidentical estrogen replacement has a superb track record in terms of symptom relief and prevention. Menopausal symptoms can be eliminated without the increased risks of blood clotting or heart disease. Reversal of bone loss can be accomplished at a rate 2-3 times greater than with the use of Fosomax. It can be replaced by rubbing crème or gel into the skin daily, taking pills (not recommended), or the most effective method: implanting tiny hormone pellets under the skin, which last from 3-6 months. As with all hormone replacement, you should only do so under the care of a direction of a licensed and trained physician after appropriate evaluation and diagnostic testing.

According to the study information, University of Central Florida researchers found a gene called MCPIP controls the development of fat cells. Until now, the scientists said a different protein has been universally accepted as the master controller of fat cell formation. The study’s details are available on the Journal of Biological Chemistry website.

“Our research has shown that MCPIP is a regulator of fat cell formation and blood vessel formation that feeds the growing fat tissue,” Kolattukudy said. “Therefore, a drug that can shut down its function can prevent obesity and the major inflammatory diseases resulting from obesity, including diabetes and cardiovascular diseases.”

The details are here in the Washington Post. Some moron from the FDA says, “”Consumers should consult their health care professional if they are experiencing symptoms,” the agency said on its Web site. Signs of liver damage include fatigue, fever, nausea and vomiting.” Yeah, let’s wait til we have SYMPTOMS to stop taking this shit. You gotta love the protective geniuses at the FDA, we know they’re all doing such a great job at protecting the American public. Let’s wait til our liver FAILS before we get a clue about Alli. Yeah. I have a box in the cabinet in the kitchen. Never took it. Somehow the idea of feces streaming down my legs, possibly in public, was worse than the idea of remaining FAT.

Things are going well with Dr. Murray’s diet plan. Apparently it’s a detox plan–who knew ? I just thought I was starving, little did I know I was detoxing. I found out when I was at SMAC a few weeks ago and Suzie saw me eating what I took to be just the perfect fat girl lunch: grilled chicken on lettuce salad, masquerading as a lunch. Jeez. She said all the spices were bad for me, they would make my appetite soar. HAHA My appetite soars just because I am BREATHING–is she KIDDING ME? So I threw the salad out and pouted and told everybody all day that she took my salad away. Weight Nazi. But she’s a well-meaning weight nazi, so I forgive her.

Here are some fun photos from SMAC.

Dr. Matez

Entrance to SMAC

Diet Nazi, Suzi and CindyAnn

Now we will again watch her response. The pellets will last about 4-6 months and the effects are variable by individual. The first time, especially in a situation like this where the body is clearly starving for hormones, they will likely wear out in about 3-4 months.

You can now check out the insertion of Anne’s pellets on You Tube!

I must get more serious about this. Keep a daily food log. Do 20 min on the Bellicon everyday instead of 4 minutes before bed every other day (yeah that would be my habit).

Gotta get to Whole Foods and pick up some salad and greek yogurt for lunch. It’s back to the 0 fat one (instead of the 23 grams of fat in the one I have been eating!)

Suzy and I set a goal to be 8 lb thinner by Sept 17th.